RAMBLING WILLIE (1970 - 1995)

Affectionately known around the country as "The Horse that God Loved," Rambling Willie was a bay Standarbred pacer who won a record 128 races and record earnings of $2,038,219. Among his 128 victories were a record 79 races which he completed in an astonishing two minutes or faster. Rambling Willie had 69 second and 43 third place finishes. Among his 128 victories were a record 79 races which he completed in two minutes or faster. Willie's fastest effort was 1:54 3/5, made as a seven-year-old in 1977 at Brandywine Raceway in Wilmington, Delaware. Bob Farrington, one of harness racing's greatest drivers and a member of the Living Hall of Fame drove Willie in most of his 305 races.

Willie was bred by Raymond L. Gibson of Monroeville, Indiana. As a two-year-old, Willie finished second in three of four starts at Indiana county fairs. At three he raced at the fairs and in conditioned races around Chicago. Willie is the only horse of any note sired by Rambling Fury. His dam, Meadow Belle, has had nine other foals. Only four got to the races and one of those never earned a cent. In 1973, Bob and Vivian Farrington of Richwood, Ohio and the late Paul Siebert of Cincinnati purchased Willie privately for $15,000. Mrs. Farrington tithed 10% of Willie's earnings to her father's church in Mansfield Ohio, amounting to more than $200,000. As a result of this publicity, Willie appeared on CBS-TV's top rated "60 Minutes" program and the syndicated "PM Magazine." He also has been the subject of a book entitled, "The Horse That God Loved," co-authored by Don Evans and Phil Pikelny.

Willie retired from racing to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1983. On August 24, 1995 Willie was humanely euthanized and is now buried near his paddock at the Hall of Champions.

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"The horse that God loved."

Standardbred Pacer Bay gelding (foaled, April 18, 1970, in Indiana)
by Rambling Fury - Meadow Belle
Owner: V. Farrington Stables, Inc. and Estate of Paul Sebert
Trainer/Driver: Bob Farrington

Accomplishments
Voted Champion Aged Pacer of the Year 3 tmes, 1975, 1976, 1977.
Most starts by a Standardbred - 304
Most wins by a Standardbred - 128
Highest earnings by a Standardbred - $2,038,219
Most 2-minute miles or under - 79
Richest Standardbred in history at time of retirement - 1983
Best time for 1 mile - 1:543/5

Willie retired from racing to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1983. On August 24, 1995, Willie was euthanized and is now buried near his paddock at the Hall of Champions.

Rambling Willie's Career Record Totals and Pedigree

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