Inducted 1986

DAN PATCH
(1896 - 1916)

On April 29, 1896, Dan Patch was foaled at Oxford, Indiana, the property of Dan Messner, Jr.  Following his first year of racing at 4, Dan showed such phenomenal speed that he was sold to out-of-state interests and became the first national sports hero.  The legendary pacer lowered the world record four times from 1903-05.