Many people know that Marion W. Savage owned the legendary Dan Patch, but did you also know that he was a prominent businessman and a genius at promotion? Marion Savage was born on a small farm in Iowa in 1859 and was the son of a country doctor. He loved horses and literally grew up with them. In 1881, he married, and because it had always been his desire to own a farm, he purchased land in Iowa. But high water ruined his crops, forcing him to quit farming. His uncle offered him a job as a clerk at the local drug store. Still interested in farmers' problems, he watched the purchases made by farmers for their livestock and decided to manufacture the supplies himself. He partnered with a "friend" who soon made off with all their funds, leaving Savage almost penniless. So, in 1886, Savage sought a new start and headed for the Twin Cities. Minneapolis had become the center of expanding dairy, farming, and livestock industries. Here Savage started a stock food company which became the International Stock Food Company. His factory, which specialized in stock feed and veterinary supply products, covered 18- acres of land in Minneapolis and employed 425 people. Though still a young man, he built what became the largest stock-food business in the world, and through his unique advertising methods, he became one of the more talked about businessmen in America. 

In 1902, as his fortune grew, Savage focused on his dream to breed champion horses. He began purchasing land along the south side of the Minnesota River in the town of Hamilton, later renamed Savage. He built and maintained a magnificent farm on that land called the International Stock Food Farm. This complex included a mile track, an indoor half-mile track, and a magnificent, heated stable affectionately called the Taj Mahal for its size and onion dome. Also, in 1902, Savage purchased Dan Patch for $60,000 (estimated to be around $1.2 million today). Dan Patch was born to be a champion, and four years later, on September 8, 1906, he made harness horse history before an enthusiastic crowd of over 90,000 people at the Minnesota State Fair. Dan Patch paced the mile in the fastest time of his career at the previously unheard-of time of 1:55. Crowds welcomed Dan in downtown Minneapolis and a jubilant M.W. Savage, always a showman, renamed his firm the Dan Patch 1:55 Stock Farm Food Company. Dan Patch went on to break at least 14 world speed records in the early 1900s.

M.W. Savage built on Dan Patch's national reputation by traveling the country with him in a luxury rail car built for his private use. They say he made the horse famous, and the horse made him a fortune. Decades before images of sports figures began appearing on cereal boxes and in TV commercials, Dan Patch started to endorse everything from cigars to cars to washing machines. Under Savage's watchful eye, he was transformed from a racetrack wonder into a household name. By 1910, Mr. Savage was a promotion machine marketing 49 animal remedies through the International Stock Food Co., ten remedies for horse and colts through International 1:55 Stock Food Co., bottling five different waters and soda with Tah-wa-nee Spring Co., and manufacturing five different breakfast foods and flavorings under Quick- Clean Soap Co. Another of his business interests was the M.W. Savage Company, a catalog company that promoted his company's wares in catalogs and offered coupons – a concept that had never been done. 

While managing all of these business dealings, he started to have problems communicating between his stock farm and Minneapolis. So, he announced plans for a new railroad to serve southern Minnesota. The railroad was named the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Dubuque Electric Traction Company but later became known as the "Dan Patch Line." One of the Dan Patch Electric Line destinations was Antler's Park, an amusement resort in Lakeville. Savage built it on Lake Marion, which was named after him. 

By a curious coincidence, on July 4, 1916, both Savage and the great pacer Dan Patch became ill. Dan Patch died of an enlarged heart on July 11 at the age of 20. Savage, who was in the hospital for minor surgery, died the following day at the age of 56. Their funerals were held on the same day. The livestock farm was sold following Savage's death, and the stables burned to the ground about 1920.