Mr. Muscleman
Two-Time Trotter of the Year, Standardbred Trotter
Quick Facts
Earnings
$3.58 million
Record
67 starts, 37-17-7
Retired
2009
Just two starts into his two-year-old season, Mr. Muscleman caught the attention of his present owners, Adam Victor and Son Stable, who purchased “Muscles” privately for $150,000 and sent him to Noel Daly, one of the top trainers in harness racing.
As a three-year-old trotting gelding, Mr. Muscleman set a new earnings record. In the fall of 2003, Mr. Muscleman won four races in just three weeks. He was voted 2003 Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.
In 2004, winning the Maple Leaf Trot and American-National Stakes helped Mr. Muscleman earn the title of Older Trotter of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada.
In 2005, five-year-old Mr. Muscleman set a record of 1:51.1 in the Titan Cup and Classic Series. In that year’s Breeders Crown Open Trot, a feisty “Muscles” showed his grit and determination. He was voted Trotter of the Year.
In 2007, seven-year-old Mr. Muscleman finished a close second in Sweden’s prestigious Elitloppe and won all four of his North American starts.
He had been a stoic athlete throughout a long and storied career, but wear and tear and persistent minor leg issues forced his retirement in 2008.
The members of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame elected him to their Living Horse Hall of Fame in December 2016. With 37 wins out of 69 starts, Mr. Muscleman finished off the board only 8 times in 6 seasons of racing.
Before retiring at the Hall of Champions, he competed in horse shows, winning ribbons in both under-saddle and pleasure driving classes.
He was a very stoic equine athlete, which made it difficult for his trainer to discover minor injuries.
He was the first trotting Standardbred for his Hall of Fame trainer, Noel Daly.
Notable Wins
2002
The Harold Dancer
NJ Sire Stakes
2003
Canadian Trotting Classic
Kentucky Futurity
Transylvania Trot
Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Trot
2004
Maple Leaf Trot
American National Open Trot
2005
A.J. Cutler Memorial
Titan Cup
Breeders Crown Open Trot
Maple Leaf Trotting Classic
Trainer of Sand Vic
Facts
Earnings
$3.58 million
Record
67 starts, 37-17-7
Retired
2009
Pedigree
Muscles Yankee, Meadowbranch Irene
Nickname
Gentle Giant
Attributes
Bay Gelding
Foaled
2000
Best mile
5 years old, 1:51.1
Height
17.1 hands
Trainer
Noel Daly
Breeders
Brittany Farms, Spar J. Stables
Owners
Adam Victor & Son Stable
Driver
Ron Pierce