octave blake
Year of Induction:
1968
Year of Birth:
1895
Immortal:
Yes
DriverTrainer:
Yes
OwnerBreeder:
Yes
Executive Official:
Yes
Driver:
Yes
Owner:
Yes
Executive:
Yes
Election Into Living Hall of Fame:
1967
Year of Death:
1969
Biography:
Owner of Newport Stock Farm, Octave Blake owned and bred many great performers such as Newport Dream, winner of the 1954 Hambletonian and Forbes Chief, winner of the 1947 Little Brown Jug. He was instrumental in gaining driver acceptance of the safety helmet. Blake was president of the Grand Circuit for more than twenty years, during a period when harness racing was emerging from a minor to a major sport. He was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame in 1968 and was Chairman of the Board of the Grand Circuit at the time of his death in 1969.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals