Peter the Great (horse)

File:Peter The Great 28955 structure chart notation pedigree.pdf

Peter the Great was bred by D. D. Streeter at The Oaklands, Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the age of two years he was trained by Peter V. Johnston. Stableman Jud Graine stated that Peter the Great was "Spirited and gentle as a kitten ... He was wise ... That is one reason his offspring were such great horses." Peter the Great did not have a name until the last hours before the Kentucky Futurity's posting time.

In 1898, Peter the Great was sold to J. Malcolm Forbes who was from near Boston, Massachusetts. Peter The Great was directly put into service on Forbes Farm in Massachusetts. Henry Titer trained him for racing. From 1901 and on, he was solely used at stud. Peter the Great entered the sale ring at Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1903. Peter Duryea (New York) and E. D. Stokes bought him. They sent him to serve on Patchen Wilkes Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. From 1908 Peter Duryea owned Peter the Great.

In 1916 he changed owners again, moving to Stoughton Fletcher and Tom Taggart, who lived in Indianapolis, Indiana. They placed him at Forkland Farm, Kentucky, for two seasons. Thereafter, he lived at Laurel Hall Farm, Indianapolis in a special barn. It looked like a summer cottage with a padded floor. He is buried at Tom Taggart's residence near French Lick, Indiana. In 1928, the ashes of his groom, Jacob Councilman, were spread on his grave.

In honor of Peter the Great, a monument was erected. In 1997 it was revitalized and later relocated to a wooded area near the West Baden Hotel, West Baden, Indiana. The inscription read: "By sheer merit he lifted his name to the head of all trotting progenitors. Death left him unrivaled by one of his own breed regardless of era, age, or breeding."

Peter the Great was 15.3 hands at the withers, 15.2 at the hips, and 16.1 hands long. His nose had a slight Roman tendency. His ears were wide at the base, the eyes large and full of expression. The neck was long, with somewhat upright shoulders. His croup was long, wide and well muscled. His color was chestnut. He had a white star on his forehead and on the left hind leg a white sock.Berry, Barbara J. (1979). "The Standardbreds". London: Thomas Yoseloff, Ltd. {{ISBN|049802251X}}Hager, D. (1975). "Peter the Great - A Racing Legend". Kalamazoo Gazette, June 1st 1975.Patton, R. A. (1944). "Made famous by horse". Kalamazoo Gazette, October 1st 1944.Ryder, Tom (1979). "The High Stepper". 2nd edition. London: J. A. Allen & Co Ltd. {{ISBN|0851313086}}

Peter the Great established the American Standardbred bloodline through the Hambletonian 10 offspring Happy Medium.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215108/http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/hoofbeats.aspx?articleid=51340&zoneid=13 Hoffman, Dean A. (2012). "Solid Foundation". Hoof Beats Magazine] Retrieved 2012-12-16 During his life, Peter the Great covered thousands of mares.

His {{glossary link|glossary=Glossary of equestrian terms|tail-male}} pedigree was Pilot Medium/Happy Medium/Hambletonian. His {{glossary link|glossary=Glossary of equestrian terms|tail-female}} pedigree was Santos by Grand Sentinel/Swallow by Joe Hooker/Dixie by Sam Johnson's horse/Dam by Cumberland^xx.

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• Peter The Great[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/peter-great Harness Racing Museum: Peter The Great]
• Peter Scott[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/peter-scott Harness Racing Museum: Peter Scott]
• Scotland[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/scotland Harness Racing Museum: Scotland]
• Spencer Scott[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/spencer-scott Harness Racing Museum: Spencer Scott]
• Rodney[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/rodney Harness Racing Museum: Rodney]
• Speedster[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/speedster Harness Racing Museum: Speedster]
• Speedy Scot[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/speedy-scot Harness Racing Museum: Speedy Scot]
• Speedy Crown[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/speedy-crown Harness Racing Museum: Speedy Crown]
• Speedy Somalli[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/speedy-somolli Harness Racing Museum: Speedy Somalli]
• Baltic Speed[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/baltic-speed Harness Racing Museum: Baltic Speed]
• Valley Victory[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/valley-victory Harness Racing Museum: Valley Victory]
• Yankee Glide[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/muscles-yankee Harness Racing Museum: Muscles Yankee]
• Glidemaster
• Muscles Yankee[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/muscles-yankee Harness Racing Museum: Muscles Yankee]
• Deweycheatumnhowe
• Muscle Hill
• Beach Towel[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/beach-towel Harness Racing Museum: Beach Towel]
• Sir Taurus
• Speedy Rodney
• Green Speed[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/green-speed Harness Racing Museum: Green Speed]
• Hoot Mon[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/hoot-mon Harness Racing Museum: Hoot Mon]
• Scott Frost[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/scott-frost Harness Racing Museum: Scott Frost]
• Peter Volo[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/peter-volo Harness Racing Museum: Peter Volo]
• Volomite[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/volomite Harness Racing Museum: Volomite]
• King's Counsel[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/kings-counsel Harness Racing Museum: King's Counsel]
• Solicitor
• Overtrick[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/overtrick Harness Racing Museum: Overtrick]
• Worthy Boy[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/worthy-boy Harness Racing Museum: Worthy Boy]
• Star's Pride[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/stars-pride Harness Racing Museum: Star's Pride]
• Nevele Pride[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/nevele-pride Harness Racing Museum: Nevele Pride]
• Victory Song[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/victory-song Harness Racing Museum: Victory Song]
• Noble Victory[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/noble-victory Harness Racing Museum: Noble Victory]
• Poplar Byrd[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/poplar-byrd Harness Racing Museum: Poplar Bird]
• Bye Bye Bird[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/bye-bye-byrd Harness Racing Museum: Bye Bye Bird]
• Keystone Ore
• Sampson Hanover
• Sampson Direct
• Direct Scooter[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/direct-scooter Harness Racing Museum: Direct Scooter]
• Matt's Scooter[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/matts-scooter Harness Racing Museum: Matt's Scooter]
• Potomac Lad
• Su Mac Lad[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/su-mac-lad Harness Racing Museum: Su Mac Lad]
• Peter The Brewer[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/peter-brewer Harness Racing Museum: Peter The Brewer]
• The Laurel Hall[https://harnessmuseum.com/content/laurel-hall Harness Racing Museum: The Laurel Hall]

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Category:1895 racehorse births

Category:1923 racehorse deaths

Category:American Standardbred racehorses

Category:United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Racehorses bred in Michigan