More than a half century ago, the most popular sports in America were baseball, boxing and horse racing. In 1957, the Dodgers played their final season in Brooklyn before jumping the continent to Los Angeles. Floyd Patterson, a true gentleman inside and outside the ring, was heavyweight boxing champion of the world. And the Sport of Kings was represented by a group of three-year-old Thoroughbreds, considered among the brightest stars to ever shine in its firmament. Two of them would be a Horse of the Year and ultimately a third horse would join the pair in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Speed and Brilliance
Bold Ruler, owned and bred by Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps' Wheatley Stable, was the son of the great English sire *Nasrullah, out of the Discovery mare Miss Disco. Trained by the revered James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, the dark bay colt had a sparkling juvenile campaign in 1956, with seven wins in ten starts, including three stakes. Between January and March of 1957, Bold Ruler met Calumet Farm's standout Gen. Duke four times, the first three meetings at Hialeah Park, and the fourth at Gulfstream Park. Gen. Duke, a brown colt, sired by the remarkable stallion Bull Lea, out of Wistful by Sun Again, was conditioned by the esteemed H.A. (Jimmy) Jones. The two horses split their four-race series, with three of the contests in record time, and one near-record. Bold Ruler, one of the era's fastest runners, won the seven furlong Bahamas by four and a half lengths over Gen. Duke, equaling the track record of 1:22. Federal Hill, who would later set a world record at 6 ½ furlongs, finished third. Gen. Duke turned the tables a few weeks later in the 1 1/8 mile Everglades, beating Bold Ruler by a head, in a torrid 1:47 2/5, just a tick off the track record. Another Calumet entry, Iron Liege, also by Bull Lea, out of Iron Maiden by Triple Crown winner War Admiral, got up for the show. Gen. Duke, having received twelve pounds from Bold Ruler on both occasions, again challenged him and Iron Liege two weeks later, under equal weights, in the nine furlong Flamingo. Bold Ruler just managed to outrun his rival by a neck in a track record 1:47. Iron Liege again had to settle for third. The 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby, at the end of March, was Gen. Duke's finest hour. With regular rider Eddie Arcaro aboard Bold Ruler, and Bill Hartack in the irons on Gen. Duke, a classic confrontation developed. Running at equal weights, Gen. Duke prevailed over the Wheatley colt by two and a half lengths, equaled the world mark of 1:46 4/5, and became the Kentucky Derby favorite. The horse who finished third was Iron Liege.
Little Englishman
Meanwhile, another three-year-old bay colt gaining notoriety was Ralph Lowe's British import Gallant Man, sired by Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Migoli (GB), and trained by John Nerud. Among a field of twelve in the six furlong Hibiscus Stakes at Hialeah on January 19, Gallant Man sprinted to an eye catching victory, stopping the clock in 1:10 to equal Relic's 1948 stakes record. On the same Hialeah card three races earlier, Iron Liege won a six furlong allowance over ten other horses.
Sturdy Son
Round Table, by leading sire Princequillo (GB), out of the Sir Cosmo (GB) mare Knight's Daughter (GB), was a smallish bay colt. He was born on the same day, and on the same farm, Claiborne, as Bold Ruler. Owned by oilman Travis Kerr, Round Table was handled by Willie Molter. He had completed his two-year-old season with five firsts, two of them stakes, and a second in ten starts, then began his sophomore year slowly, losing his first two attempts, a dismal tenth to Gallant Man in the Hibiscus, and a sixth in an allowance twenty days later to Iron Liege, when Gen. Duke was runner-up. The following week, Round Table proceeded to win a seven furlong allowance. After losing the 1 1/8 mile Santa Anita Derby on March 2 by a head and nose to Sir William and Swirling Abbey respectively, and a fifth place effort in the San Bernardino Handicap, Round Table later won the 1 1/16 mile Bay Meadows Derby, on April 6, in 1:41 3/5, the fastest a three-year-old had ever run on that track. Nineteen days later, Round Table won Keeneland's 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes, under 126 pounds, sweeping past the finish line with over six lengths separation, in a track record 1:47 2/5.
Duel
On April 20, in the 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial at Jamaica, among five other horses, Gallant Man and Bold Ruler turned the affair into a two-horse slugfest. Bold Ruler stuck his nose across the wire first, and needed a track record of 1:48 4/5 to do it.
The Other Horse
In the Derby Trial, Federal Hill won, a race General Duke also contested; but much to Calumet's chagrin, General Duke bruised his foot and consequently missed the 83rd edition of America's greatest horse race. Calumet now had to rely on their “other horse,” Iron Liege. On a frigid May 4, a small field of nine runners lined up in the starting gate at Churchill Downs. When the dust had cleared, Round Table finished a credible third. Bold Ruler and Federal Hill set the early pace, ultimately finishing fourth and fifth respectively. The biggest misfortune occurred to Gallant Man. Catching Iron Liege in the stretch, the colt's rider, Bill Shoemaker, misjudged the wire's proximity, and stood up in the irons prematurely. Gallant Man's momentum, slowed for an instant, allowed Iron Liege just enough time to cross the wire first. His margin was a nose. After ending up third in three previous battles, Iron Liege had won the war.
Aftermath
In the Derby's aftermath, Round Table skipped the Preakness Stakes and headed back to California. After finishing second on May 25, in Hollywood Park's 1 1/8 mile Californian, as the only three-year-old in a field of eleven, Round Table won his next eleven races, defeated older horses, and became the first three-year-old to annex the Hollywood Gold Cup, where he sped the 1 ¼ miles in 1:58 3/5 to equal the time of Swaps. No three-year-old had ever run the American classic distance that fast. Gallant Man also bypassed the Preakness, and won the 1 1/8 mile Peter Pan Stakes, disposing of five other horses, who were in receipt of ten to sixteen pounds. He drew clear by two and a half lengths, in a sizzling 1:48 2/5, a few ticks off the track mark.
Second Jewel
Entering Pimlico's Preakness Stakes on May 18, were Bold Ruler, Iron Liege and Federal Hill, along with four other horses. In the 1 3/16 mile contest, Bold Ruler broke fast and went on freely. After sparring with Federal Hill in the backstretch, the son of Nasrullah opened up and came home by a commanding two lengths in front of Iron Liege.
One week after the Maryland classic, Iron Liege showed up for the 1 1/8 mile Jersey Stakes, and beat Clem, in receipt of eight pounds, by a nose.
Rabbit
Gallant Man and Bold Ruler returned for the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes on June 15. Bold Nero, employed to pressure Bold Ruler into a hot pace, set up Gallant Man's virtuoso performance. The cast of characters played their scripts to perfection. As Bold Ruler charged along in front, Bold Nero stalked him for several furlongs until the leader, unable to sustain the grueling effort, tired badly. Gallant Man picked up Bold Ruler around the second turn and in the stretch romped home by eight lengths, crossing the wire with a new track, stakes, and American record of 2:26 3/5. Bold Ruler, completely done in, was also overtaken by former claimer Inside Tract for second. Gallant Man's record stood until 1973, when in a twist of irony, Bold Ruler's son, Secretariat, crushed the record by more than two seconds, a feat probably never to be equaled.
Top Form
Later that summer, Gallant Man won the Travers Stakes. He also defeated older horses, including Dedicate++, in the 1 1/8 mile Nassau County Handicap, finishing in 1:47 1/5, a new track record. Ten days later, Gallant Man ran second to Dedicate in the 1 ¼ mile Woodward Stakes, and returned to the winner's circle on October 12, capturing the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Bold Ruler returned on September 9, and won six of seven races in a two-month period, carrying at least 130 pounds in four of them, while giving considerable weight allownces. He took the Jerome Mile and seven furlong Vosburgh Handicap, both under 130, and on sloppy surfaces, with the latter against older horses, and in track record time. Ten days later, he won the 1 1/16 mile Queen's County Handicap under 133. Two weeks after that, in the Benjamin Franklin Handicap, covering 1 1/16 miles, and assigned an impost of 136 pounds, Bold Ruler destroyed a mismatched field by twelve lengths, giving runner-up Sarno twenty-seven pounds. During his autumn stretch, the only race he lost was the Woodward, finishing third.
Showdown in Jersey
On November 9, in the 1 ¼ mile Trenton Handicap, at New Jersey's Garden State Park, Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, and Round Table met up again, in a three horse showdown. Bold Ruler and Gallant Man had already met in five races, with Gallant Man outfinishing his rival in three of them. Bold Ruler and Round Table had previously met in the Derby, while Gallant Man had defeated Round Table in their three meetings. After a previous night's rain, Bold Ruler and Gallant Man handled the good track, but Round Table, not at his best under these conditions, failed to threaten. Bold Ruler proved much the best and easily defeated Gallant Man by two and a quarter lengths, who in turn finished eight and a half lengths ahead of Round Table. In what was probably the deciding factor for the top championship, Bold Ruler had affirmed his supremacy and named Horse of the Year (Daily Racing Form).
The Later Years
The following year, these stars continued to excel as four-year-olds. Gallant Man raced five times. He finished third to Bold Ruler in the Carter Handicap and defeated him in the Metropolitan Mile. He went on to take the Hollywood Gold Cup and Sunset Handicap under 130 and 132 pounds respectively. Gallant Man concluded his career with a record of 26-14-4-1, and earned $510,355. He was later a success at stud, and broodmare sire of Derby winner and champion filly Genuine Risk. Gallant Man was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1987.
Bold Ruler won five handicaps, and never carried less than 133 pounds. He retired with a record of 33-23-4-2, and $764,204 in earnings. Bold Ruler's stud career was so extraordinary that only the great 19th century stallion Lexington led the American sire list more often. Bold Ruler was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1973.
Round Table was the complete package. He continued a distinguished career at ages four and five, successfully carried high imposts, set numerous records, and won major championships, including Horse of the Year in 1958. He had an amazing record of 66-43-8-5, and earnings of $1,749,869. While he demonstrated exemplary form on dirt, Round Table became one of the greatest grass horses the sport has ever seen, and also one of the soundest. After demonstrating excellence on the track, he produced excellence in the breeding shed. Round Table was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1972.
The one sad note, on an otherwise glorious story about this crop, was Gen. Duke, a fine runner and budding star, who after being sidelined with his foot injury, never returned to the track. He developed the neurological disease Wobbler's Syndrome, and was euthanized.
Ongoing generations still experience the same stirring moments of equine performance that was witnessed a half century ago. The Thoroughbred racehorse in flight is truly an art form; as much now as in those idyllic days when the Class of '57 streaked across the track. The legacy continues.
++Dedicate was named Horse of the Year for 1957, by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations.
Recommended Reading
Edward L. Bowen, Bold Ruler Thoroughbred Legends, No. 24 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2005).
John McEvoy, Round Table Thoroughbred Legends, No. 16 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2002).
By the Staff and Correspondents of The Blood-Horse, the 10 Best Kentucky Derbies (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2005).
Daily Racing Form, Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds, Revised Edition, Champions from 1893-2004 (New York: Daily Racing Form Press, 2005).
The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Champions, Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century (Lexington, KY: The Blood-Horse, Inc., 1999).
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