A Salute to Buckpasser

He was a perfectly conformed, nearly 17 hand horse, and beautiful to look at. In his two-year-old debut in 1965, he finished fourth in a 5 ½ furlong maiden special weight. He would never be unplaced again in 30 more starts, and immediately rattled off eight consecutive wins. On a later streak, he would almost double that number. In each of his three seasons, he was a champion, despite physical ailments in both his three and four-year-old campaigns. And even after missing the Triple Crown races, he was voted Horse of the Year at age three.

Buckpasser had wonderful talent, an easy disposition off the track, and a fierce desire to compete on it. He didn't always make winning look easy however, and after coming from off the pace, and taking the lead, if unchallenged by another horse, he tended to get lazy, sometimes pulling himself up, until faced with the prospect of losing. He would then dig in, giving the impression that he wouldn't get home in time; yet he usually arrived first, even if by the barest of margins.

Buckpasser was a bay colt, owned and bred by Ogden Phipps. Foaled in Kentucky, in 1963, he was sired by the great handicap champion and 1953 Horse of the Year Tom Fool. Buckpasser's dam, Busanda, was sired by Triple Crown winner and 1937 Horse of the Year War Admiral. Busanda was also a multiple stakes winner, among her credits the 1951 Suburban Handicap over males.

The Youngster at Two

Buckpasser was first trained by Bill Winfrey, who had previously conditioned the illustrious Native Dancer. The colt was ridden in all but three races by Braulio Baeza, making his first five starts at Aqueduct. His debut, on May 13, 1965, showed a lack of experience, and a fourth place finish, 1 ¼ lengths shy of the winner. He broke his maiden on next asking, going five furlongs on a sloppy track. He obviously liked the winner's circle, because he stood in it seven more times in succession. His wins included a dead heat with Hospitality in the 5 ½ furlong National Stallion Stakes in late June, the Tremont, at the same distance, Monmouth's six furlong Sapling, the 6 ½ furlong Hopeful at Saratoga, and the seven furlong Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington Park. Buckpasser then returned to Aqueduct, and fell a half length short at the wire in the 6 ½ furlong Futurity, when the filly Priceless Gem outlasted him. He concluded his juvenile year on October 16, with a four length victory in the one mile Champagne, one of the few times when he actually created good separation. With nine wins, and a second in eleven starts, and well over a half million dollars in earnings, he was deservedly accorded the two-year-old male championship.

Streak and Setback

As a three-year-old, Buckpasser would now be conditioned by Eddie Neloy, and Bill Shoemaker would ride him in his next three starts. The colt returned on February 14, 1966 at Hialeah, in a betless exhibition, but lost to his stablemate and eventual sprint champion Impressive, by 4 ½ lengths, when the winner equaled the seven furlong track record in 1:21 4/5. Buckpasser would not lose again until mid-June of the following year, winning 15 straight races, beginning with the 1 1/8 mile Everglades. He next seized the 1 1/8 mile Flamingo Stakes by a nose, on March 3, then suffered his first setback. A quarter crack to his right front hoof knocked him out of the spring classics. He didn't race again for three months, returning in an Aqueduct six furlong allowance on June 4, and scored an impressive two length win over older horses, in the rapid time of 1:09 1/5. On June 18, at Delaware Park, he conceded twelve pounds to five others in the 1 1/8 mile Leonard Richards Stakes. Still well behind going into the far turn, he found a way to get the measure of Wood Memorial and Belmont Stakes placed Buffle, in receipt of twelve pounds from the champion, the margin less than a length.

Buckpasser made his next start seven days later in the one mile Arlington Classic, and in the field with him was Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Kauai King. Well off the early pace, he began to roll around the far turn, and came home with a new world record of 1:32 3/5, breaking the mark set only a week earlier by Hedevar in the Equipoise Mile, on the same track. Kauai King couldn't do better than fifth. Buckpasser continued his success at Arlington Park, winning the 1 1/8 mile Chicagoen on July 9, then took on older horses again in Aqueduct's 1 ¼ mile Brooklyn Handicap. Top weighted, the favored Buckpasser remained two to three lengths in back of the leaders before moving in the stretch, and just managed to get his head in front of the stubborn Buffle.

A Triple Afterall

Buckpasser visited Arlington Park again on August 6. Along with his two earlier wins at the venue, a score in the 1 1/8 mile American Derby would give him the Mid-American Triple. The colt would give seven to eighteen pounds to his eight rivals, including twelve pounds to Advocator, second in the Kentucky Derby, and third in the Belmont Stakes. Breaking slow and carrying 128 pounds, Buckpasser beat Jolly Jet, also under 116, by a neck, stopping the clock in track record time of 1:47.

Millionaire

A win in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 20, would make Buckpasser racing's first three-year-old millionaire. After trailing early, he caught Belmont Stakes winner Amberoid about a furlong from the finish, finally forging ahead to the wire by three quarters of a length. The horse had also equaled the track record of 2:01 3/5 for the 10 furlongs. With his ninth straight victory, he now had a bankroll of $1,038,369.

On October 1, Buckpasser raced in the Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct, facing older horses, including the highly regarded Tom Rolfe, the previous year's Preakness winner and three-year-old champion. Tom Rolfe was a genuine star, who had also won the Mid-American Triple before travelling to France, and finish sixth behind the great Sea-Bird in the 1965 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Although Tom Rolfe had been more than sixteen lengths behind the winner, he had beaten fourteen other runners in his turf debut.

In the weight-for-age Woodward, Buckpasser carried 121 pounds to his elders' 126. The track was muddy and after trailing early, the colt moved toward the rail and outfinished Royal Gunner by three quarters of a length. Buffle, who had now lost to Buckpasser for a fourth time, finished third, and Tom Rolfe was fourth. On October 19, Buckpasser annexed the 1 5/8 mile Lawerence Realization by two and a half lengths, and ten days later, took the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, with the Argentinian bred Niarkos one and three quarter lengths behind.

Clearly the Best

In November, Buckpasser was named Horse of the Year, three-year-old male champion, and top handicap horse by Daily Racing Form and Morning Telegraph. The Thoroughbred Racing Association also awarded him two of the titles, while naming Bold Bidder handicap champion.

On the last day of 1966, Buckpasser won the seven furlong Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park, to complete a sophomore campaign of 14-13-1-0.

Still a Champion

Buckpasser didn't rest before he began to race as an older horse. On January 14, 1967, the four-year-old Buckpasser won Santa Anita's 1 1/8 mile San Fernando Stakes. His physical troubles recurred, starting with another quarter crack early in the year, and ankle trouble over summer. Buckpasser would race just five more times, all at Aqueduct. He did not compete again until the end of May when he captured his fifteenth consecutive win in the one mile Metropolitan Handicap, under 130 pounds, conceding twenty-two and seventeen pounds to the second and third finishers respectively. His earnings, now at $1,342,204, put him in third place on the all-time list behind only Kelso and Round Table.

Buckpasser needed one more start to join the immortal Citation in boasting the most consecutive wins; however, if he achieved it, he would have to do it on the grass, because his connections wanted to take the horse to France for the 1 9/16 mile Grand Prix de Saint Cloud. To get him prepared for such a race, he was next entered in the 1 5/8 mile Bowling Green Handicap. Not only was Buckpasser trying the lawn for the first time, he would also be required to carry 135 pounds, his highest assignment yet. He finished a credible third, giving the winner, Poker, twenty-three pounds, and runner-up Assagai, eight. Although his streak was snapped, and the prospect of going to Europe gone, Buckpasser still eventually scored sixteen straight wins on dirt.

On July 4, the horse carrried 133 pounds, and took the 1 ¼ mile Suburban. Behind him was Ring Twice, under a mere 111, and Yonder with a feathery 109. Having previously annexed the Met, Buckpasser had now won the first two legs of the New York Handicap Triple Crown and would try and join Whisk Broom II (1913), his sire (1953), and Kelso (1961) as only the fourth horse to sweep the series. The 1 ¼ mile Brooklyn Handicap was next on July 22. Assigned 136 pounds, against four other runners, Buckpasser was a distant second, as Handsome Boy, in receipt of twenty pounds from the great horse, romped home by eight lengths in a blistering 2:00 1/5, just a few ticks off the track record.

Final Curtain: The Great Race

Not since the Trenton Handicap had determined the Horse of the Year, ten years earlier, between future Hall of Famers Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, and Round Table, had there been a more highly regarded race than the 1967 Woodward Stakes, commonly referred to as the “Race of the Decade.” The contest brought together three horses who were among the biggest guns in the history of the American track: Buckpasser, Dr. Fager, and Damascus. One horse had already earned the sport's highest year-end honor, the other two would each receive it in succeeding years, and all three were later inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. Between them, these three horses decimated records, won 12 championships, made 85 starts, for 64 wins, 13 seconds, 5 thirds, and $3,641,437, a good amount of money in the 1960s. Each horse was also unplaced only once.

Buckpasser entered the contest as the favorite with the three-year-olds Dr. Fager and Damascus the co-second choices. The other three runners were Handsome Boy, Hedevar, and Great Power, the latter two employed as pacemakers on behalf of Damascus and Buckpasser respectively, to prevent the devastatingly fast Dr. Fager from getting a lone lead, and to ultimtely soften him up for the closers. Both rabbits did their jobs, and sacrificed themselves for the privilege. Covering the first three-quarters in an insane 1:09 and change, Dr. Fager had already put Great Power away, and Hedevar was now ready to call it an afternoon. But the Doc's torrid pace, with a half mile still to run, had taken its toll. Damascus, who had been biding his time patiently in the background, was now powering up and ready to roll. Buckpasser, also coming from off the pace, gave it the old college try, but was no match for Damascus who blew by with the fury of a tornado. When the dust finally settled and the havoc examined, Damascus' winning margin was ten lengths. Buckpasser, in his final act, managed to cross over next, just ahead of Dr. Fager.

Buckpasser would again be named champion handicap horse (TRA). His remarkable career reflected thirty-one starts, twenty-five firsts, four seconds, one third, and earnings of $1,462,014.

Legacy

Retired to stud duty at Claiborne Farm, Buckpasser was a strong influence. Among his more than thirty stakes winners was champion Numbered Account, the future dam of Private Account, who would sire the incomparable Personal Ensign. Another Buckpasser daughter was Canada's illustrious champion filly and Horse of the Year La Prevoyante. Buckpasser was especially notable as a broodmare sire, leading this list four times, and siring the dams of Coastal, Slew o' Gold, El Gran Senor, Seeking the Gold, Touch Gold, as well as the great Easy Goer.

Buckpasser was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1970 and died in 1978. In his day, he had been one of racing's preeminent figures, exemplifying all the qualities of the great Thoroughbred: beauty of conformation, class, courage, tenacity, and talent. In an era when the Sport of Kings flourished, Buckpasser was one of the major stars who enriched it. His many descendents have carried his torch and legacy admirably.

Copyright 2010, 2012 by John Califano