Hall of Fame

Born in Gloversville, New York in 1923, Bill Haughton began his harness driving career at upstate fairgrounds. He matured as a driver and trainer at the highly competitive meets at Roosevelt and Yonkers Raceways. In a career that spanned four decades, "Billy" Haughton rose to the top, not only as a trainer-driver, but as head of the largest harness racing stable in the country. He won twelve money winning titles and six dash winning crowns. Among major laurels gathered by Haughton were four Hambletonians, seven Messenger Stakes and pacing's 1968 Triple Crown with Rum Customer. It was Billy Haughton who developed Nihilator, the richest and fastest (in a race) three-year-old Standardbred to that date. Billy Haughton was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame in 1968. He died in July, 1986 as a result of a race accident at Yonkers Raceway.

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

Museum statuette sculpted by Bev Lopez (1922-2014)