stephen c. phillips
Year of Birth:
1842
Immortal:
Yes
DriverTrainer:
Yes
Driver:
Yes
Elected as Immortal:
1974
Year of Death:
1934
Biography:
It was after serving as a soldier in the Civil War that Stephen C. Phillips began his career with the trotters. He went to Xenia, Ohio in 1867, and for the next 66 years devoted himself to his horses and their sport. Among his best mounts were Bobby Burns, prominent in 1892, and the pacing champion Sleepy Tom. World champion in 1879, Tom's achievements were all the more remarkable because he was completely blind. Phillips had to literally see for his horse and his voice became the horse's eyes, as he talked him through race after race. Phillips last winning race was in 1932 at age 90 with Frederick McKinney 2:03 1/4. Stephen C. Phillips died in 1934 in Lebanon, Ohio.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals