Dick Dallas dies

Richard “Dick” Dallas, best known for his work with the 1978 Meadowlands Pace winner Falcon Almahurst, died Friday, April 24, in Winter Park, Fla., after a long battle with bone and lung cancer. He was 78.

Born in Kendallville, Ind., Mr. Dallas retired from harness racing in the mid 1990s. He continued to work with horses, finding a job driving horse-drawn carriages at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdome, a position he held until retiring several years ago.

Over the years Mr. Dallas conditioned many horses, but it was Falcon Alamahurst’s 3-year-old campaign in 1978 that brought him to the spotlight. Falcon Almahurst’s biggest victory came in the $560,000 Meadowlands Pace, at the time the richest race ever in Standardbred history. Contested on a rainy night, among Falcon Almahurst’s rivals that race were Abercrombie and Flight Director.

Falcon Almahurst later won the Jug Preview at Scioto Downs and then after capturing his elimination for the Little Brown Jug in a world-record 1:55.2, he settled for third-place honors in the race-off behind Happy Escort.

Falcon Almahurst then won at The Red Mile in Lexington, Ky., in a world-record 1:52.2. When he retired at the end of the year he did so as the fastest 3 year old on both a half mile and mile racetrack. Falcon Almahurst died in 2005 at the age of 30.

Mr. Dallas is survived by his daughters, Jean Martin, Kristie Comon, and Kathy and Jodie Dallas; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

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