The game superstar who raced herself to death
by Lisa Harkema
She was on her way to possibly becoming one of the best trotters in history when tragedy struck. The tale of Sadie Mac is one a trotter so superior it’s almost unparalleled, but also contains an ending so sad it’s almost incomprehensively.
When John M Johnson of the Calais Stock Farm in Calais, ME in 1899 bought Fanella, in foal to Peter the Great, as well as a colt foal by Bingen by her side, at $500, he was surely hopeful of it being a good deal – but he had no idea what kind of steal it was. The foal became known as Todd. He was a sensation at 2 and trotted eighths in 15 seconds flat (a 1.14,6-speed). It also meant he was paid handsomely for Todd’s one year younger sister, named Miss Todd, who was sold to Lon McDonald and Howland Russell for $4,000. Writes Johnson in the Calais Stud Farm catalogue: “Miss Todd showed as much speed in her yearling form as her half brother. She took the blue ribbon at the Maine State Fair, and awarded the same distinction at the New England Breeders’ Meeting at Readville. The Judges, Messrs Wm Russell Allen and David Bonner, said that the class in which she was exhibited was the best lot of yearling fillies she had ever seen together. I sold Miss Todd to Mr Howland S Russell also for $4,000. The day he bought her she showed an eighth in 18 seconds (a 1.29,5 speed)”
Miss Todd continued her development and McDonald and Russell were offered $7,000 for the untried 2-year-old filly in Apr 1902. That was turned down, but shortly thereafter Russell sold his half for $6,000 to George D Sherman of Port Henry, NY.
That July, the filly was reported to work in 2:24 (1.29,5), the last half in 1:10. According to one article, “all who have seen Miss Todd, the 2-year-old Peter the Great Filly, pronounce her the fastest at the age they ever have seen.” In the middle of the month, she worked out in 2:31 1/2 at Readville, last half in 1:09 1/2, last quarter in 32 1/2, last eighth in 15 1/2 seconds, and was then let up for a few weeks. McDonald was clearly very aware of the filly’s huge talent, but not wanting to rush anything Miss Todd didn’t start at 2.
A new name
In Apr 1903, the filly was entered in numerous 3-year-old stakes under a new name, Sadie Mac, in honor of McDonald’s teenage daughter. She was sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as “Sadie Mc” or “Sadie Mack.”
Though not starting Sadie for a long time, McDonald had clearly trained very well. On Aug 23, 1903, newspapers reported that “if workouts go for anything Lon McDonald has the kingpin of all the 3-year-old trotters in Sadie Mac, a daughter of Peter the Great and Fanella 2:22, by Arion. This filly is a Forbes farm product, both her sire and the sire of her dam being owned there, and was a fast 2-year-old. The other day she stepped the Empire track in 2:13 3/4, 2:12 3/4 (1.23,1 and 1.22,5), the last half of the second mile being done a shade under 1:05 (1.20,8-speed). Like all the other really sensational 3-year-olds this season Sadie Mac is in the Kentucky Futurity, and that race will certainly be a wonder for speed if only half the entries that have already shown well hold their form.”
She made her debut just four days later, on Aug 27, when Sadie Mac won The Tyro, the 3-year-old trot, at Readville in two straight heats, winning in 2:12 1/4 and 2:15 (1.22,8 and 1.23,9). According to newspaper reports, the race “was in the nature of a procession, although Mary Gage gave Sadie Mac a close tussle for the first heat.”
As Sadie impressed, so did her dam. Since Fanella didn’t get in foal, Johnson put her back in training. Coming into the season with a 2:22 (1.28,3) record, she trotted against time in 2:16 1/4 (1.24,7), in August, and on Sep 14 she lowered that to 2:13 (1.22,7) at Readville.
Futurity queen
On Sep 7, Sadie Mac won the Hartford Futurity, taking the second and third heats in 2:12 3/4 and 2:11 1/2 (1.22,5 and 1.21,7). According to the Boston Globe, the race “was a bit of a disappointment, for the reason that Sadie Mac proved so much better than the high-class filly Ethel’s Pride. A break cost the daughter of Peter the Great the first heat, but when she stayed on the trot the result was never in doubt, and she won almost pulled up.”
After Sadie won the Hartford Futurity, Horse World gave the following description of the new champion: “Sadie Mac is a bay filly, 15 1/4 hands (155 cms) high, with black points, and is what horsemen would call an Electioneer-gaited trotter. By this is meant full round action forward with not much hock action, and a line trotter. She wears few boots, quarter and shin forward, and shin and ankle boots behind; a six-ounce shoe forward and four-ounce behind. She drives on an easy rein and seems to know nothing but trot, having never made a break. She has stepped an eighth in better than 15 seconds, and a quarter in 30 seconds. A sounder one was never foaled.”
Despite only starting twice, Sadie was now the massive favorite ahead of the Kentucky Futurity at Lexington. She was sold at 2-to-1 favorite for the big race when the auction pools were opened, and was regarded as a cinch despite the age group being considered strong.