Did You Know ... ?
Dan Patch was a pacer who broke world records at least 14 times in the early 1900's. He lived in Minnesota from the time when M. W. Savage bought him in 1902 until his death in 1916.
Dan Patch only lost two heats in his career and never lost a race. At the top of the poster on the right, you can see the words "NEVER BEATEN" over his name. He was so good that other owners eventually refused to race their horses against him. He spent most of his active career running against the clock.
Dan Patch's official record of 1:55¼ for the pacing mile was set in 1905 in Lexington, Kentucky. His 1:55 unofficial record for the pacing mile (set in 1906 at the Minnesota State Fair but not officially recognized because of the use of a prompter with a windshield) was tied 32 years later in 1938 when Billy Direct became the official 1:55 world record holder. Savage was so indignant about Dan Patch's 1:55 mark not being recognized (the rules had recently been changed) that he renamed the International Stock Food Farm to the International 1:55 Stock Food Farm. The 1:55 mark was equaled again but it was not finally broken until 54 years after Dan Patch's run, when in 1960, Adios Butler paced the first sub-1:55 mile in 1:54:3.
The City of Savage, once called Hamilton, was renamed for Dan Patch's owner, Marion Willis Savage in 1904. I have been told that there are a few local fools who think that "Savage" is too politically incorrect and should be changed back to Hamilton. Sigh..... and sorry about the use of the word "fools" (NOT!)
Over 100 years later, the land in Savage where the famous "Taj Mahal" stables and race tracks once stood is still all but vacant. The outline of the racetracks can still reportedly be seen from the air. You can still see some of the grade of the ½ mile track on the ground, too, if you look for it. The land is ringed with "No Trespassing" signs. There is no historical marker or anything at the site that would indicate that anything of significance once stood there.
The Dan Patch Legacy Lives On
Dan Patch Web Links
When I was about 10 years old in the 1960's I read Fred Sasse's book, "The Dan Patch Story" and even though it all happened long before my time, I've had the Dan Patch bug ever since. Eventually, I hope for this to be a place where Minnesota and the world can remember and/or learn the story of Dan Patch. The story of his years here shortly after the turn of the last century is something that needs to be kept alive.
I would also like to drum up some interest in having a marker or something finally be erected at the site of the International 1:55 Stock Food Farm - something that has apparently never been done during the last 100 years, though I can't imagine that it hasn't been attempted. Hmmmm... a fairly good-sized piece of vacant land that is both historically significant and lies on a flood plain... what a perfect place for a park dedicated to the memory of Dan Patch. I have heard that there is some talk about doing just that. I hope so... the brush grows thicker on the land with each passing year. So does the likelihood of the land being developed, even if it is on a flood plain. Dan Patch is buried there somewhere. The outlines of both racetracks that were part of the farm are still faintly visible in satellite imagery, but barely. There should at least be a spot for a historical marker set aside.
I have tried to be as accurate as possible with the information on this site, but this story has been kicking around for so many years that it is sometimes hard to find accurate information. For example, some accounts I've seen have had M. W. Savage dying the day after Dan Patch died. Other accounts have him dying 2 days or 4 days later. When the man died is still not clear to me. I guess I'll have to go down to Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, find his grave, and find out for myself. There is one antique site that I found on the Web that claims they have an official Dan Patch watch for sale. They also claim he was a Kentucky Derby winner. Needless to say, there is probably lots of information out there that is wrong. I have already had to change some of the dates and times on the site. Please let me know if you see anything here that you know is not accurate.
Please enjoy your visit, and be sure to bookmark this page as I will be gradually adding more and more to it.
"1:55" thanks to Chuck Nelson, Museum Curator for the Minnesota Masonic Homes, for the excellent reference material he loaned to me for creating this site, and Lisa Thorpe, Web Coordinator for the Minnesota Masonic Homes for putting me in contact with him. The Bloomington campus of the Minnesota Masonic Homes is located across the river from the stable site and was the site of Marion Savage's summer home.
The Amazing Dan Patch ... COMING SOON
M.W. Savage: A Man Ahead of His Time ... COMING SOON
The International Stock Food Company ... COMING SOON