An Orphan in the Hills
In 1980, poachers attacked Collin “TC” Thorstenson’s buffalo herd in North Dakota, leaving a three-year-old calf without a mother. TC, who had grown up training animals on a Sioux reservation, bottle-fed the orphan and kept it in his car. He named it Harvey Wallbanger after its habit of slamming into barn walls.
From Barn to Racetrack
Harvey grew close to TC and learned to follow commands. By 1985, Harvey made his racing debut at Energy Downs, a real racetrack, in a 110-yard sprint against a quarter horse. Weighing over a ton, Harvey stunned spectators by winning the race by 2½ lengths.
Harvey’s Racing Career
Harvey Wallbanger went on to race across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He won 79 of 93 races, earning $108,000 in 1990 alone. Despite doubts about his rivals and race conditions, Harvey became a spectacle for fans unfamiliar with racing bison.
The Final Lap
In 1991, Harvey died after ingesting toxic hay. TC sued and won $475,000. He later trained Harvey Wallbanger Jr., who appeared in films before dying from a rare virus. TC eventually opened a cowboy-themed venue in Arizona and continued training animals nationwide.
In 1980, after poachers attacked his buffalo herd in North Dakota, animal trainer Collin “TC” Thorstenson rescued a three-year-old orphaned calf.
He named it Harvey Wallbanger. TC raised Harvey by hand, and soon the buffalo followed him everywhere like a loyal dog…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/k7hseGADRJ
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 23, 2025