Last Updated: March 26th, 2006
Copyright 2006 WHHA
Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame
Guest Star
1942-
Inducted 1994
Guest Star was purchased as a yearling in Lexington, Kentucky for $200 by Albert Friess of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The bay colt came cheap as a pair of splints were enough to scare most buyers off. Friess, a cattle dealer and avid horseman, took the colt back "up north" to prep him for what was to become a history making career. Guest Star began racing as a three year old at the fairs in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. He won six starts and showed enough pace to prompt Friess to ship him to California for his four year old season in 1946. Guest Star came to compete on the Grand Circuit in Milwaukee and set a track record for three consecutive heats. Race secretaries around the country wanted Guest Star at their tracks and he became the first horse to "fly" across the country while others shipped by van or rail. Guest Star raced from coast to coast setting track records for the mile, 1 1/8 mile handicapped and the 1 1/16 mile. He also set a world mark at Arcadia, California for 1 1/16 mile. This iron horse would make 325 lifetime starts winning 62 and finishing second or third 52 times. He would win over $70,000 in the days when it was real money. Guest Star became the equine ambassador for the Badger State.
Nominated by Kathleen Larson
The Wisconsin Harness Horse Association
