Biography

A hero on the racetrack and a legend as a stallion, Northern Dancer won major races such as the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and had a monumental impact on the sport through the remarkable success of his progeny.

A son of Nearctic out of the Native Dancer mare Natalma, Northern Dancer was bred in Canada by E. P. Taylor and campaigned under Taylor’s Windfields Farm banner. Taylor owned the stakes-placed Natalma and bred her to his Nearctic, a Canadian Horse of the Year. Taylor, the founder of Woodbine Racecourse, had international aspirations for Canadian racing and breeding. His own breeding program was derived from careful selection of European bloodstock with horses such as Nearctic being an end result.

Taylor wanted to promote his program and therefore entered his Nearctic—Natalma yearling in his annual pre-priced yearling sales at his farm in Oshawa, Ontario. The diminutive colt, however, failed to meet the reserve and Taylor kept him.

Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Horatio Luro, Northern Dancer showed considerable promise as a juvenile, winning the Summer Stakes and Coronation Futurity in Canada and the Remsen Stakes in New York. He won seven of his nine starts as a 2-year-old and was named Canada’s top juvenile.

As a 3-year-old in 1964, Northern Dancer swept his prep series of the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby, and Blue Grass Stakes on his way to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. Sent off as second choice behind Hill Rise in the Derby, Northern Dancer defeated the favorite by a neck under Hall of Famer Bill Hartack in then-record time of 2:00 that stood until Secretariat came along.

Two weeks after the Derby, Northern Dancer delivered an emphatic victory in the Preakness, but his Triple Crown hopes were dashed when he finished third behind Quadrangle and Roman Brother in the Belmont Stakes.

Returning to Canada, Northern Dancer dominated the prestigious Queen’s Plate by 7½ lengths in his final career start. Tenderness in a left front tendon convinced Taylor to retire his standout with a career record of 14-2-2 from 18 starts and earnings of $580,647. He was named Horse of the Year in Canada for 1964 and Champion 3-Year-Old Male in America.

Northern Dancer initially stood at Taylor’s Oshawa farm. His first crop yielded Canadian Horse of the Year Viceregal. His second crop included Nijinsky II, the first horse in 35 years to win the English Triple Crown. By then, Northern Dancer was standing at Taylor’s Windfields division in Chesapeake, Maryland. Northern Dancer’s success helped propel the stunning rise in yearling auction prices during the late 1970s and early 1980s, as his offspring became the focus of legendary bidding battles between English horseman Robert Sangster and the Maktoum family of Dubai.

At one point, Northern Dancer’s stud fee had risen to $1 million and at the age of 20 a European syndicate unsuccessfully offered $40 million to buy him. Northern Dancer’s fertility waned in his later years and he was euthanized at the age of 29 on Nov. 16, 1990. In all, Northern Dancer sired 146 stakes winners and was the sire of the dams of 214 stakes winners.  

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Male (Canada) — 1963
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1964
Horse of the Year (Canada) — 1964
Champion 3-Year-Old Male (Canada) — 1964

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1964
Won the Preakness Stakes — 1964

Biography

Bon Nouvel — meaning “good news” in French — was the stop steeplechaser in North America in 1964, 1965, and 1968. Breeding pundits had difficulty predicting steeplechasing success for Bon Nouvel, who was bred to be a sprinter. His sire, Duc de Fer, was a sprinter and the son of a sprint champion, Spy Song. Bon Nouvel’s dam, Good News was a daughter of Happy Argo, also a top sprinter. Bon Novel, however, grew to be 17 hands, the opposite of the short, stocky types generally associated with sprinting.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, Bon Nouvel was sent to Hall of Fame trainer D. M. “Mikey” Smithwick in 1963 as a 3-year-old. He won a race on the flat at Pimlico and broke his maiden at Aqueduct in his fourth start over hurdles ridden by A. P. “Paddy” Smithwick, the trainer’s brother and a Hall of Fame rider. Bon Nouvel’s debut over big fences (a steeplechase, rather than a race over hurdles) at Saratoga that summer was most impressive. He won by 25 lengths and set a course record with Jamie Hruska up because Paddy Smithwick couldn’t come close to making the weight of 135 pounds.

Next out, with Paddy Smithwick up, Bon Nouvel easily won the Harbor Hill Steeplechase at Aqueduct then added wins in the Broad Hollow and Brook handicaps. After the Brook victory, the Morning Telegraph said, “When Bon Nouvel, carrying 152 pounds, coasted to the finish of the Brook a dozen lengths in front, he confirmed what had been suggested here before, that he’s the best young steeplechase horse in years.”

Bon Nouvel then won the 1964 Grand National by more than 20 lengths, defeating Amber Diver, the prior year’s winner. He carried 156 pounds, the most ever carried by a 4-year-old in the Grand National to that date. Bon Novel finished his 4-year-old season with a record of 5-3-3 from 13 starts and earnings of $62,823 to earn the first of his three championships as North America’s top steeplechaser.

In 1965, Bon Nouvel was brought along slowly with the rich fall races in mind. Hall of Famer Tommy Walsh took over as his regular rider because Paddy Smithwick had other commitments. Bon Nouvel won the Broad Hollow, Brook, and Temple Gwathmey. In the latter, Bon Nouvel carried 170 pounds and won by 30 lengths, cutting 3⅖ seconds from the course record. His impressive performances led to a second consecutive championship as top steeplechaser.

Bon Nouvel suffered a tendon injury in 1966 that shelved him for the majority of the year as well as all of 1967. Returning to the races as an 8-year-old in 1968, Bon Nouvel won the William C. Langley Memorial Cup, Beverwyck Steeplechase Handicap and three other races to join the great Neji as the only three-time champions to date.

Bon Nouvel was retired in 1968 with an overall record of 16-11-7 from 51 starts and earnings of $176,148. He died at the age of 26 in 1986.

Achievements

Champion Steeplechase Horse — 1964
Champion Steeplechase Horse — 1965
Champion Steeplechase Horse — 1968

Biography

A bay filly by Rosemont out of the Discovery mare Good Thing, Bed o’ Roses was a champion as a juvenile in 1949 and again as a 4-year-old in 1951. 

Bred by Alfred G. Vanderbilt and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Winfrey for Vanderbilt’s Sagamore Farm, Bed o’ Roses won the Matron Stakes, Demoiselle Stakes, Selima Stakes, and Marguerite Stakes as a 2-year-old. That year she also won the filly division of the National Stallion Stakes and Rancocas Stakes and a division of the Colleen Stakes. She started 21 times as a 2-year-old with a record of 9-3-2 and earnings of $199,200.

As a 3-year-old in 1950, Bed o’ Roses won the Lawrence Realization Stakes and set a seven-furlong track record of 1:21⅗ at Santa Anita. She also finished second in the Travers Stakes, Arlington Classic, and Gazelle Stakes, concluding her sophomore season with a mark of 5-3-0 from 12 starts and earnings of $49,800.

In 1951, Bed o’ Roses won the Vineland Handicap and Comely Handicap with top weight and finished with a record of 3-2-3 from 10 starts and earnings of $86,375.

Bed o’ Roses raced three times as a 5-year-old in 1952. She won the Santa Margarita Handicap, finished third in the San Antonio Handicap, and was fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap in her final career start.

Overall, Bed o’ Roses posted a record of 18-8-6 from 46 starts and earnings of $383,925.

Bed o’ Roses died in 1953 and was buried at Sagamore Farm in Maryland. 

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly — 1949
Champion Older Female — 1951

Biography

A three-time Eclipse Award winner, Susan’s Girl was one of the top female racehorses of the 1970s and the first filly or mare to surpass $1 million in earnings in North America. She won 24 stakes races in her career, including 12 graded events. Several more of her stakes victories came during her 3-year-old campaign of 1972, which was prior to the grading of races.

Bred in Florida by Fred Hooper, Jr. and owned by his father, Fred Hooper, Susan’s Girl established herself as a star during a 3-year-old campaign in which she strung together six consecutive victories, including the Pasadena, Santa Susana, Santa Ynez, La Troienne, Kentucky Oaks, and Acorn. Later in the year, she added wins in the Cotillion, Gazelle, and Beldame (setting a stakes record) to secure the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly with a seasonal record of 9-2-2 from 13 starts and earnings of $352,678.

As a 4-year-old in 1973, Susan’s Girl won the Santa Maria Handicap, Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (carrying 127 pounds), Santa Barbara Handicap (carrying 129 pounds), Susquehanna Handicap, Delaware Handicap (carrying 127 pounds), and Spinster Stakes to be named Champion Older Female.

A leg injury cut short Susan’s Girl’s 1974 season, but she returned to top form as a 6-year-old in 1975, winning the Apple Blossom Handicap, Long Beach Handicap, Matchmaker Stakes, Delaware Handicap, Beldame Stakes, and Spinster Stakes to win her third Eclipse Award. She was retired at the end of the year with a career mark of 29-14-11 from 63 starts and earnings of $1,251,668. 

“In over 40 years of breeding and racing, we’ve bred a good number of stakes winners,” said owner Hooper. “But I’ve never admired or been more fond of a horse. She’s one of the greats.”

Susan’s Girl died on Oct. 18, 1988, at the age of 19.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1972
Eclipse Award Champion Older Female — 1973
Eclipse Award Champion Older Female — 1975

Biography

One of the most brilliant fillies of the 20th century, Ruffian was a two-time Eclipse Award winner and undefeated in 10 career starts until tragically breaking down in a match race with Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.

As a 2-year-old, Ruffian won all five of her races. After breaking her maiden with a 15-length win in her career debut, Ruffian equaled the Belmont Park track record for 5½ furlongs when she won the Fashion Stakes in 1:03. In succession, she then won the Astoria by nine lengths, the Sorority by 2¼ and the Spinaway by 12¾. A hairline fracture to her right hind ankle in the Spinaway kept Ruffian away from the races for the remainder of the year, but her spectacular achievements were rewarded with the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.

Trainer Frank Whiteley, Jr. brought Ruffian back to the races on April 14, 1975, at Aqueduct and the champion filly didn’t miss a beat, winning an allowance by 4¾ lengths. She then romped by 7¾ lengths in the Comely before taking aim at the New York Filly Triple Crown, consisting of the Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks. Ruffian continued to demonstrate her rare abilities in the prestigious series, winning the Acorn by 8¼, the Mother Goose by 3½, and the Coaching Club American Oaks by 2¾.

Having no legitimate competition among the fillies of her generation, Ruffian met Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in a match race on July 6, 1975, at Belmont Park. Ruffian was slightly outbroken by Foolish Pleasure, but the filly quickly made up for it after a blazing first quarter-mile in :22⅕. They went stride for stride for a while before Ruffian began to edge away. Then tragedy struck. Ruffian took a bad step and her right front ankle was gashed open and both proximal sesamoid bones were broken.

Efforts to save Ruffian were unsuccessful. Surgery was performed, but the shock and stress of the injury caused her to become violent in her recovery stall and the decision was made to euthanize the great filly. Ruffian was buried in the Belmont Park infield. She posthumously received the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and was inducted into the Hall of Fame the following year.   

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly — 1974
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-old Filly — 1975

Biography

Alsab proved to be one of the greatest bargains in racing history. Purchased by Chicago attorney Al Sabath from breeder Tom Piatt for $700 at the 1940 Saratoga yearling sales, Alsab earned more than $350,000 in his remarkable career.

A son of Good Goods, who produced only four stakes winners from his 168 foals, Alsab was out of the Wildair mare Wind Chants, who was winless in eight career starts and earned only $115 in her racing career.

Sabath, who was president of Hawthorne Race Course, turned Alsab over to trainer August “Sarge” Swenke. The bay colt arrived at the races as a 2-year-old in 1941 and finished last in his career debut before breaking his maiden in his third career start.

Alsab began to heat up in the summer of 1941, opening a 10-race win streak in track-record time in the Mayflower Stakes at Suffolk Downs. He set another track record in the Washington Park Juvenile and added victories in the Washington Park Futurity and Prairie State Stakes before finishing in a dead heat with Colchis while giving the latter nine pounds.

Following the dead heat with Colchis, Alsab met Requested in a $10,000 match race at 6½ furlongs at Belmont Park. Alsab drew off by 3½ lengths, setting a track record of 1:16, more than a second faster than the previous mark that had stood for 21 years. Alsab defeated Requested again 10 days later in a 7½-length victory in the Champagne Stakes. His time of 1:35⅖ for the mile was a world record for a 2-year-old. Alsab added a couple more victories to his ledger to conclude his juvenile campaign with a record of 15-3-1 from 22 starts and earnings of $110,600.

As a 3-year-old, Alsab lost his first eight starts before winning the Preakness Stakes. He then added victories in the Withers Stakes and American Derby before being sent to Narragansett Park for a $25,000 match race against 4-year-old Whirlaway, who won the Triple Crown the year before. Alsab defeated the older champion by a nose. Shipped to New York, Alsab defeated Vagrancy by 3½ lengths in the 1⅝-mile Lawrence Realization before meeting Whirlaway again in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. This time, Alsab was unable to withstand Whirlaway’s closing rush and was beaten by three-quarters of a length.

Following the Gold Cup, Alsab and Whirlaway met again in the 2¼-mile New York Handicap. Alsab delivered another impressive performance, defeating Obash by a nose with Whirlaway five lengths back. In his 23rd and final start of the year, Alsab won the Victory Handicap to finish his sophomore season 9-7-3 with earnings of $234,565.

Alsab started five times as a 4-year-old in 1943, but he was no longer the force he was the previous two years, winning only a single allowance race. He raced once at 5, finishing out of the money. At the end of 1944, Alsab had banked $350,015. Only Whirlaway ($561,161), Seabiscuit ($437,730), and Sun Beau ($376,744) had earned more purse money.

At stud, Alsab sired Myrtle Charm, the best 2-year-old filly of 1948; Armageddon, who earned $191,700; Subahdar, who earned $113,400; and Alabama Stakes winner Sabette. Alsab died at the age of 24 in 1963.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1941
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1942

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Preakness Stakes — 1942

Biography

The most accomplished of the famed “Barbarous Battalion,” Ruthless earned her high place in racing history by winning the inaugural edition of the Belmont Stakes in 1867 and the fourth running of the Travers Stakes later that summer.

Bred and raced by Francis Morris, Ruthless was sired by Eclipse out of the Simoom mare Barbarity. She was foaled in New York at her owner’s farm in Westchester County. Ruthless was the first of five full sisters by Eclipse out of Barabrity. Along with Ruthless, there was Relentless (winner of the Saratoga Stakes in her lone start, defeating subsequent Belmont winner General Duke); Remorseless (champion 2-year-old filly of 1869 when she won the Flash, Nursery, Saratoga, and Hunter stakes); Regardless (winner of the Flash, Monmouth Oaks, and Alabama), and Merciless (winner of the Alabama).

Ruthless, a strapping bay of 16 hands, was the best of the great sisters.

As a 2-year-old in 1866, Ruthless was trained by William Brown. She made her debut in the all-scarlet silks of her owner on July 28 at Saratoga in the Saratoga Stakes at one mile, finishing second to Red Wing. Two days later, she broke her maiden at Saratoga, defeating August Belmont’s Maid of Honor, Red Wing, and three colts for a $500 purse.

On Oct. 1, 1866, Ruthless won the Nursery Stakes at Jerome Park, again defeating Maid of Honor, as well as two other colts. Nine days later, she finished second to stablemate Monday in the Trial Stakes at Patterson, New Jersey, concluding her juvenile season with two wins and two seconds in four starts.

For her 3-year-old campaign, Ruthless was trained by A. J. Minor and ridden by Hall of Famer Gilbert W. Patrick, who had ridden Hall of Famers such as Boston and Lexington. Ruthless opened her sophomore season with a victory in the Spring Stakes at Jerome Park on May 23, 1867. She returned one day later and won a $500 purse, defeating Leonard Jerome’s 5-year-old Luther.

On June 4, 1867, Ruthless finished second to stablemate Monday in the 1½-mile Jersey Derby. Monday was a standout colt, winning five of his seven starts, including the Patterson Derby and Sequel Stakes. His only defeats were to Ruthless in his first and final races.

Fifteen days after the Jersey Derby, Ruthless defeated three colts — De Courcey, Rivoli, and Monday — in the first running of the Belmont Stakes, which was contested at 1⅝ miles at Jerome Park. Patrick is credited with a clever ride on Ruthless that led to a half-length victory.

Seven weeks after her victory in the Belmont, Ruthless confirmed her superiority over colts by winning the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, contested at 1¾ miles. Only R. B. Connolly and De Courcey showed up in an unsuccessful effort to challenge the great filly.

Ruthless won once more, defeating Virgil and De Courcey in the two-mile Sequel Stakes at Saratoga five days after the Travers. On Sept. 1, Ruthless finished second in the 2¼-mile Jersey St. Leger, failing in her attempt to give weight and a beating to De Courcey for a fifth time.

A leg injury while training that fall prompted Morris to retire Ruthless with a career record of 7-4-0 from 11 starts and earnings of $11,000. Ruthless was bred to Monday, producing the colt Battle Axe, winner of the Kentucky Stakes at Saratoga.

In 1876, a vagrant hunter shot Ruthless, supposedly mistaking her for a deer, while she grazed in her paddock. She lingered for five weeks before dying at the age of 12.  

Turf historian Walter S. Vosburgh regarded Ruthless as the best filly he ever saw.  

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Belmont Stakes — 1867

Biography

Bred by Max Hirsch at King Ranch in Texas, Stymie was a classic story of persistence and an underdog overcoming long odds.

Claimed early in his career for $1,500 by Hall of Fame trainer Hirsch Jacobs, Stymie lost his first 13 career starts and had only seven wins in 57 races by the end of his 3-year-old campaign. Jacobs partnered with Isidor Bieber in Stymie’s ownership with the horse competing in the silks of Mrs. Jacobs. The Bieber-Jacobs Stable campaigned many successful horses, but none as accomplished as Stymie. By the time he retired in 1949, Stymie was one of the most beloved horses in American racing and owned the record for career earnings.

From 1945 through 1948, Stymie was among the elite racehorses in America. His victories included the Aqueduct Handicap (1947, 1948), Brooklyn Handicap (1945), Butler Handicap (1945), Continental Handicap (1945), Edgemere Handicap (1946), Gallant Fox Handicap (1946, 1947), Grey Lag Handicap (1945, 1946), International Gold Cup (1947), Manhattan Handicap (1946), Massachusetts Handicap (1947), Metropolitan Handicap (1947, 1948), New York Handicap (1946), Pimlico Handicap (1945), Questionnaire Handicap (1947), Riggs Handicap (1945), Saratoga Cup (1945, 1946), Sussex Handicap (1947, 1948), Westchester Handicap (1945), and Whitney Handicap (1946).

Throughout the course of his career, Stymie defeated the likes of Triple Crown winner Assault, as well as other Hall of Famers such as Gallorette and Devil Diver. He also beat standouts Pavot, Natchez, and Round View, among others. Stymie was injured in the 1949 Monmouth Handicap and retired with a record of 35-33-28 from 131 starts and record earnings of $918,485.

Stymie died in 1962 at the age of 21.

Achievements

Champion Handicap Horse — 1945

Biography

One of the best and most durable mares of the 20th century, Shuvee won 15 major stakes in her career — at distances from eight furlongs to two miles — and retired with the highest earnings of any filly or mare in American history.

Shuvee was impeccably bred. Sired by Nashua out of the Hill Prince mare Levee, the chestnut Shuvee was built like a stallion. Standing 16.1 hands and weighing more than 1,100 pounds, Shuvee’s size was problematic early in her career as she was developing into her frame while learning to train and race.

After losing her first six starts as a 2-year-old in 1968, Shuvee began to figure things out. She defeated Hall of Famer Gallant Bloom in the Frizette and followed that with an upset of Process Shot in the Selima Stakes.

Shuvee became a force as a 3-year-old, winning the New York Filly Triple Crown: the Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks. She also won the Cotillion Handicap, Alabama Stakes, and Ladies Handicap in 1969.

Shuvee, however, was arguably at her best during her 1970 and 1971 victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup against males at two miles. No other filly or mare had ever won the race. Other victories for Shuvee included two editions of both the Top Flight Handicap and Diana Handicap and a win in the Beldame Stakes. Shuvee was named Champion Older Female in 1970 and 1971.

After the 1971 season, Shuvee was retired with a record of 16-10-6 from 44 starts and earnings of $890,445, more than any other filly or mare in history. She produced 11 foals, including the stakes winners Tom Swift, Shukey, and Benefice.

Shuvee died in 1986 at the age of 20.

Achievements

Champion Older Female — 1970
Eclipse Award Champion Older Female — 1971

Biography

Jay Trump was a true rags-to-riches story, rising from the claiming ranks as a flat racer to winning some of the most prestigious prizes as a steeplechaser, including the famed English Grand National and three editions of the Maryland Hunt Cup.

A dark bay bred in Maryland, Jay Trump was sired by Tonga Prince out of the Bernborough mare Be Trump. The breeding was unplanned between the two paddock mates — Be Trump was thought to be infertile — and it was considered anything but fashionable. Not surprisingly, Jay Trump showed little when brought to the races as a 2-year-old in 1959.

At ages 2 and 3, Jay Trump raced eight times in West Virginia between Shenandoah Downs and Charles Town. He never won a race and his best finish was second in a $1,600 claiming race.

Jay Trump, however, attracted the attention of young steeplechase rider and trainer Crompton “Tommy” Smith, who purchased the horse for $2,000 for his godmother, Mary C. Stephenson, as a hunter prospect. Jay Trump was sent to Butler, Maryland, for schooling at the Warburton Farm of H. Robertson Fenwick, who found the horse to be in top condition and an outstanding jumper. Jay Trump was used as a hunter and did not race as a 4-year-old.

With Smith as his rider, Jay Trump won his first two official steeplechase races in 1962 at the age of 5. In 1963, Jay Trump won the Maryland Hunt Cup, setting a course record in the process. He repeated in the Maryland Hunt Cup in 1964 — then trained by Hall of Famer D. M. "Mikey" Smithwick — and also won the American Grand National and My Lady’s Manor to complete the Eastern hunt “Triple Crown.” Later in 1964, Jay Trump was shipped to England to prepare for an attempt at the Grand National at Aintree. With Fred Winter overseeing his training in England, Jay Trump won the Autumn Trial Chase at Sandown Park and the Brocas Steeplechase at Windsor in the fall of 1964.  

In 1965, Jay Trump became the first horse bred, owned, and ridden by an American to win the Grand National. Regarded as third choice in the race behind Freddie and The Rip in the field of 47, Jay Trump defeated Freddie by a length in 9:30⅗ for the journey of four miles and 856 yards, as 33 of the entrants failed to complete the course. More than 100,000 spectators were on hand to watch the historic event.

Jay Trump then finished third in France’s Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil before returning to America. He won the My Lady’s Manor for a second time and tied a record previously set by five others when he won his third Maryland Hunt Cup in 1966. Jay Trump won the race by eight lengths against old rival Mountain Dew. Both horses had previously won the race twice and Mountain Dew went on to win the Maryland Hunt Cup a third time in 1967 following Jay Trump’s retirement.

Following his 1966 campaign, Jay Trump was retired with a record of 12-4-1 from 26 starts and earnings of $75,926. Jay Trump spent the rest of his life at Stephenson’s farm near Cincinnati, Ohio, and died in 1988 at the age of 31. His remains were transported to the Kentucky Horse Park, where he was buried near the finish line of the steeplechase course.