Harness Racing Immortality



A harness horse named Southwind Amazon broke Niffit's record and re-wrote the harness racing history books on Nov. 5, 2024, earning his 138th career victory.

That is 138 career wins.

I repeat: 138 wins.

The sad thing is he turns fifteen in January 2025 and must retire from racing on Jan. 1, 2025 as the rule prohibited any (harness) horse with an age of fifteen or older to compete.

So he must retire from racing on Jan. 1, 2025.

Southwind Amazon mainly competes in midwestern tracks and his majority of wins came at Northfield Park in Northfield, Ohio.

On Tuesday December 17, 2024, the talented gelding will look for win 139 against conditioned company in the opening race on the program at his home base track Northfield Park.

Making his 398th carer start, Southwind Amazon has taken his connections on the ride of a lifetime.

"He has raced against some of harness racing's greatest of all-time, I couldn't be prouder of him," said Paul Holzman (his trainer).

Southwind Amazon is expected to have two more starts following his race on Tuesday December 17, 2024, before he brings the curtain down on his career.

"In a couple weeks when we bring the curtain down on his career, I'm not sure I will know what to do, it's going to be bittersweet."

Southwind Amazon will be honored one last time, when he makes his final career start the final week of December, his connections will pull his shoes in the winners’ circle before he walks off into the sunset.


Gosh, I would've love to be at the racetrack on-site for his last few races, but not possible.

I don't know about you -- I have a lump in my throat and some little teary-eyes just thinking about this horse getting his shoes pull in the winners’ circle and perhaps envisioned him walking off into the sunset while on-lookers cheer.

I need a napkin!