Star Pointer

Star Pointer (1889–1910) was the first Standardbred race horse to complete a mile in less than two minutes. He was a pacer by Brown Hal out of Sweepstakes. Star Pointer was bred by Captain Henry P. Pointer of Spring Hill, Tennessee. His sire was Brown Hal and his dam was Sweepstakes. He began racing in 1894. On August 28, 1897, driven by David J. McClary, he broke the 2 minute mile barrier at around 4:00 pm with quarter times of 30 sec, 29, 29, 30 for a 1:59 time. His record stood until 1903, when it was beaten to 1:59 by Dan Patch. David J. McClary Hall of Fame Inductee, 2002 The first person to drive a standardbred horse to win at a mile in less than two minutes was David J. McClary, a native of London, Ont. He achieved the feat on Aug. 28, 1897, when he drove pacer Star Pointer to an epic 1:59 1/4 at Readville, Mass. Star Pointer, owned by James Murphy of Chicago, had been a big, clumsy-gaited, knee-knocking pacer, particularly when going slow. But under McClary's careful tutelage Star Pointer in full flight traveled faster than any horse of his time. His record stood until 1903, when it was lowered to 1:59 by the legendary Dan Patch.