Hall of Fame

 



lou dillon

Year of Birth: 
1898
Immortal: 
Yes
Elected as Immortal: 
1955
Year of Death: 
1925
Gait: 
Trotter
Record: 
t,T1:58 1/2
Sire: 
Sidney Dillon
Dam: 
Lou Milton
Sire of Dam: 
Milton Medium
Biography: 

The first trotter to go 2:00 (Readville, Massachusetts, 1903), Lou Dillon, by Sidney Dillon-Lou Milton, was foaled in 1898, near Santa Ynez, California by the Pierce Brothers Stock Farm of Santa Rosa. Upon the death of her owner Henry Pierce in 1903, Lou Dillon was purchased by C. K. G. Billings at the Cleveland Sales for $12,500. She was trained by Charles Tanner, who drove her in many amateur events until she proved herself and then went to Millard Sanders, who campaigned her on the Grand Circuit. In 1903 at Memphis, Lou Dillon trotted in 1:58 1/2, driven by Sanders. She also trotted 2:00 to wagon, driven by Billings. Lou Dillon was retired in 1906, but was taken on an extended tour of America and Europe, going exhibition miles, driven by Billings and Tanner. She was returned to Billings' estate near Santa Barbara, California, where she died at the age of twenty-seven on January 15, 1925. Uhlan and Lou Dillon were buried in an area where streets bearing their names are found today. The original headstones of both these champions are preserved on the fairgrounds at Santa Barbara.

 Santa Barbara, CA

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