George Wilkes, foaled in Orange County, NY in 1856, was owned by Judge Thomas Felter of Greenwood Lake. The son of Hambletonian and Dolly Spanker, he showed speed as a three-year-old and was sold for $4,000 to W. L. Simmons. He proved to be the third fastest trotter of his day and in twelve years of racing his best mark was 2:22. He performed under saddle, to wagon and sulky, and finished in the money every start. He was one of four of Hambletonian’s sons who established sire lines that lead to nearly all trotters and pacers racing in America today. George Wilkes died in Ashgrove, KY in May 1882. He was inducted into the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame’s Hall of Immortals in 1955.
