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Hall of Fame: Midnihte
Original article written by Douglas Marley posted 1 year 4 weeks agoIn Y23 six new breeds were created for SIMRacing (Arabian, Appaloosa, Paint, Quarter Horse and Standardbred trotters and Pacers). This type of event creates a situation that does not exist outside of novels. One of these situations was the discovery of a black Arabian stallion that, with unknown parentage sets the racing world on its ear. Does this sound like the plot of a Walter Farley book? Well, it is but it our story will be about the life of SimHorseracing legend Midnihte who became Y23 Arabian Champion Male.
Midnihte was created/discovered in Y23 at the age of four. He had no pedigree and his sire and dam do not exist or are lost to history; you choose which makes the story better.
Midnihte was owned by Murray McNickle, who entered the SIM during the Y17 break. McNickle is known for his other good horses like Y22 Steward Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Super Weapon, and stakes winner Saturn Five.
Midnihte began his career in a six-furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Los Angelitos racetrack. Midnihte showed his potential with a two-and-a-half length victory in a time of 1:20.96. Two weeks later Midnihte won his second start in five-furlong non-winners of two race, again at Los Angelitos. In that race, Midnihte faced only two competitors. With two wins under his belt McNickle was ready to match Midnihte against stakes competition.
Midnihte faced a field of five other horses in the $60,000 California Fire Stakes at 6 furlongs. Midnihte bore out on the turn finishing third by less than a length.
In his next race, the $80,000 June Weather Stakes at five furlongs. Midnihte came in second to Nar, who later became the Y25-Arabian Horse of the Year, Y25-Arabian Champion Older Male and Y24-Arabian Champion Older Male.
Midnihte won his next two races, the $50,000 Coma Stakes at six furlong and the $75,000 Inauguration Stakes at five furlongs, respectively. These victories seemed to set Midnihte up for his greatest challenge of his four-year-old campaign, the $150,000 Arabian Cup at five furlongs.
In the Arabian Cup Midnihte faced seven other horses including the eventual winner and future hall of fame resident, El Pantera. This victory allowed El Pantera to continue his winning streak. Also, in the field was Nar. Against this competition Midnihte could only manage a sixth-place finish.
After his victory in the Arabian Cup, El Pantera would be voted two SIMMY’s as Y23-Arabian Horse of the Year and, Y23-Arabian Champion Three-Year-Old Male. Midnihte, based on his record of 7 4-1-1 with earnings of $96,100 and two stakes wins allowed Midnihte to be voted Y23 Arabian Champion Male.
Midnihte returned to the racetrack in Y24, for his five-year-old campaign, His first start was in the $40.000 Red Fire Stakes at six furlongs. He could finish no better than second. In his next start, the $50,000 Asir Stakes at five furlongs. Midnihte was able to defeat his old nemesis, El Pantera, by half-a-length in a time of 1:05.98. Midnihte’s next start in the $60,000 California Fire Stakes at six furlongs. Midnihte quarter-length victory convinced McNickle that his champion, who had never raced farther than six furlongs, was ready to stretch out.
Midnihte easily won a mile and a half allowance race and seemed ready to face stakes competition. In Midnihte’s next start, the $75,000 Endurance at two miles he was able to come in second by half a length. Midnihte repeated his victory in Inauguration Stakes and seemed ready rectify his sixth-place finish in the prior year’s Arabian Cup. Unfortunately, it was not to be and Midnihte again finished sixth, again behind El Pantera. Midnihte did not catch the eye of SIMMY voters and received no end of the year honors.
Even though Midnihte returned at six, the shine was off the apple. Midnihte started seven times, his only three victories were in Allowance company. He did start four times in stakes competition, at distances a mile and a quarter to two miles. In stakes competition he finished second twice in the $50,000 Desert Nights and the Grade 1 $100,000 Endurance Championship. His record proved his quality even if he could not put together a record like that of his four-year old campaign.
As a sire Midnihte has produced 31 stakes winners including Midnihte Snack sire of Mp WithoutTriumph who retired with a record of 20 15-2-1 and earnings of $1,890,700 and two SIMMY’s as Y44-Arabian Horse of the Year, Y44-Arabian Champion Older Female.