Hall of Fame

 



cornelius k. g. billings

Year of Birth: 
1861
Immortal: 
Yes
DriverTrainer: 
Yes
OwnerBreeder: 
Yes
Driver: 
Yes
Owner: 
Yes
Elected as Immortal: 
1958
Year of Death: 
1937
Biography: 

Cornelius Kingsley Garrison Billings was born in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1861 and was educated in Wisconsin. In 1887, upon the death of his father, he became president of the People's Gas Light & Coke Company in Chicago. He inherited his love of the trotter from his father and in 1899 drove his first horse, Lucille, on the road. From then on Billings purchased the best horses to be found, including Uhlan 1:58, William 1:58 1/2 and Lou Dillon 1:58 1/2. "Doc" Tanner was placed in charge of his stable and they toured the world on exhibition. The Billings horses were not raced for money, but went many record miles to saddle, high-wheel sulky, and wagon. C. K. G. Billings retired to Santa Barbara, where he died on May 6, 1937.

Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals