His story nearly ended at birth. Instead, Shade On became a legend.

Before he became a world-record pacer known across the country, Shade On was a young colt in Ewing with a broken leg and an uncertain future. Known for his resilience and, according to historical accounts, "almost human intelligence," Shade On became one of the region's most recognized racehorses.

More than a century later, information about the horse continues to be preserved through exhibits at the Antelope County Museum, the Shade On Memorial in Riverside Park in Neligh, and local historical records such as "Before Today: A History of Holt County, Nebraska, a book sponsored by the Holt Coun...