Cardigan Bay (1956–1988) was a bay pacing gelding by Hal Tryax out of Colwyn Bay by Josedale Dictator. He was affectionately named Cardy and was the first standardbred to win $US 1 million in prize money. Along with his arch-rival the USA's champion of the day Bret Hanover, he is one of the greatest standardbred racehorses ever. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A trotter training at Vincennes hippodrome Harness racing is a form of horse-racing in which the horses race in a specified gait. ... A gelding is a castrated animal—specifically, a castrated male horse. ... Colwyn Bay (Welsh: Bae Colwyn) is a town and seaside resort on the coast of the Irish Sea in north Wales. ... Standardbred harness racing horses are so called because in the early years of the Trotting Registry, the standardbred stud book established in the United States in 1879 by the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders, only horses who could race a mile in a standard time or better, or whose... Bret Hanover (1962-1992) was a Standardbred (pacer) born at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania. ...

He began racing in New Zealand and his first stake money was won in a saddle pace on a grass track. He won all their major open class races including the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup ( from 78 yard handicap ). Term used in Standardbred Harness racing to mean that the event is open to all comers. ... The New Zealand Cup is harness racings most prestigious event in New Zealand. ... The Auckland Cup is a major horse race, held for standardbred horses in Auckland, New Zealand each year. ...

Cardigan Bay even won a major event at Addington raceway in Christchurch while the grandstand was on fire! He also won the Inter-Dominion Championship final in Adelaide, Australia. Addington is the name of more than one place. ... Situated on the Eastern coast, Christchurch is the principal city of the South Island of New Zealand. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ...

"Cardy" was taken to the USA where he won many races there and in Canada. He beat the famous US Champion Overtrick twice at Yorkers raceway. His most famous encounter was with possibly the greatest standardbred horse ever, Bret Hanover in the Pace of the Century, in 1966. Cardigan Bay was only one of two horses to have beaten the mighty Bret Hanover. However Cardy had met his match, and it wasn't to be that evening. Overtrick was a champion US standardbred racehorse, which broke many world recotds. ... Bret Hanover (1962-1992) was a Standardbred (pacer) born at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania. ... The Pace of the Century was a match race between two of the greatest ever standardbred harness horses, namely Bret Hanover and Cardigan Bay. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ...

He won 80 races all up and retired to New Zealand.

Cardigan Bay and Phar Lap are the most famous racehorses ever to come from New Zealand. Tommy Woodcock with Phar Lap (1930). ...

See also: Harness racing A trotter training at Vincennes hippodrome Harness racing is a form of horse-racing in which the horses race in a specified gait. ...