It is rare nowadays to find North American Thoroughbred races that top a mile and one-quarter in distance. With the exception of longtime stalwart events like the Belmont and San Luis Rey Stakes at a mile and one-half and the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about a mile and three-quarters on the turf, there are not all that many stakes races in the sport that contains a marathon distance.

Back in racing's early days, contests of this nature were more common and showcased the stamina of a Thoroughbred. This also applied to California racing, which held contests at various distances exceeding ten furlongs.

And in the case of one long forgotten horse, winning a pair of races at more than a mile and one quarter back in 1940 gave him a unique spot in Santa Anita history.

He went by the name of English Harry, a bay gelding by Mowlee out of Honesty who was five years old in the winter of 1940. Owned by Mrs. J.F. Waters, English Harry had not had much luck at the Santa Anita winter meet, going winless in his first five starts there in the claiming ranks. His best finish during that period was a third going a mile and three-eighths. Entered in the seventh race on the February 16, 1940 card, English Harry was asked to go a much longer distance in this claiming contest: two and one-quarter miles.

Trainer Eual Wyatt (who has the distinction of being the first trainer to win a Hollywood Park training title) had jockey Lester Balaski aboard, and the rider and English Harry had the lead at the half-mile mark before switching places with Big Ed for a little while around Santa Anita's main track. As one might expect in such a long race, the fractions were beyond glacial: :25 1/5, :50 3/5, 1:17 2/5 and 1:44 2/5 over the first mile. English Harry and Balaski let things unfold, for there was of course no reason to go fast that early in the race.

After staying in second at the mile and one-half checkpoint, English Harry took back first place by the time he reached deep stretch. He also had it at the wire, coming in with a track record of time of 3:55 3/5 in an amazing display of strength and stamina in front of the Santa Anita crowd while putting a halt to his winless streak (Big Ed would get his moment in the sun exactly one week later in the Kyrat Handicap, setting a track record for a mile and one-half in 4:22 flat while turning the tables on English Harry).

But English Harry had another big run in him just over a week later on March 1. Now asked to go three miles in another claiming race, English Harry had Johnny Adams in the irons and no Big Ed to contend with. Again, the pace was anything but fast, with the first mile timed in 1:41 2/5 and the mile and a quarter in 2:09 2/5. English Harry did what he did against Big Ed, letting Tobacco Road lead for a time. But when he was in the last stretch of the race, Big Ed again had the lead. And once more, he emerged as the winner.

The time was 5:20 1/5, and it was another track record for English Harry. It was an impressive achievement, setting a pair of new standards on Santa Anita's main course. During most weeks, that would be the main topic of discussion. But just one day later, Seabiscuit finally captured his long awaited victory in the Santa Anita Handicap before retiring. That moment attained legendary status an in instant, and it overshadowed English Harry's run at three miles.

But while the gelding has been forgotten some eight decades after conquering those marathon distances, English Harry lives on in the record books. As of the summer of 2023, English Harry stands as the only horse to hold two track records at Santa Anita. While it is true that races at two and one-quarter miles and three miles are no longer around in the United States, it cannot be denied that English Harry put together something amazing over those couple of weeks in the winter of 1940.

And for that period in his career, English Harry is defined by time. He was a horse of his time. He has been obscured by time. He set track records for time. And those records will likely stand for all time.