On March 4, 1989, an unlikely competitor made his debut at Golden Gate Fields in California—a racing buffalo named Harvey Wallbanger. Owned, trained, and ridden by T.C. Thorstenson, Harvey faced off against a quarter horse named Two Eyed Burt, ridden by "Cowboy" Jack Kaenel, in a thrilling 110-yard sprint.
As the race unfolded, the massive buffalo stunned the crowd with his unexpected speed and power, edging out his equine rival by half a length. Despite his size, Harvey displayed remarkable agility, proving that he was more than just a novelty on the track.
At 8 years old and weighing 2,000 pounds, Harvey Wallbanger completed the sprint in an impressive 9.4 seconds. This victory marked his 21st win in 26 races, cementing his reputation as one of the most unique and successful racing animals in history.
