RIVA

(This is the second of a three part series.)

The 1970s began, in no small part, with the residual torrent of  cultural, societal, and political unrest that had swept through the preceding tumultuous 1960s, its tide spilling over into the new decade. At its focal point was the ongoing American involvement in the Vietnam War, a conflict it wouldn’t win, and one which provided little indication of a forthcoming armistice. An energy crisis, marked by price controls and gas rationing, further painted a landscape of frustration. And a political scandal, eventually brought to full light by the Watergate hearings, and resignation of a U.S. President, exacerbated a national anxiety, adding the dimension of distrust toward government.

As the social, political, and economic climate flutuated, people of all backgrounds and views could come together for a respite within the arena of sports, including Thoroughbred horse racing. Although not a remedy for the country’s woes, athletes, both two and four-legged,  extended to their loyal public some semblance of normalcy and reassurance, amid the whirlwind of uncertainty. As the new decade began, little did anyone know that the Sport of Kings was about to experience a whirlwind of its own, producing an incredible number of equine superstars, who swept its followers through breathtaking experiences—and also one heartbreaking one—with incredible achievement and vastly superior prowess.

Within the next ten years, as the country’s discordance quieted, the tye-dye, psychedelic motif of the '60s, put in its historical context, and replaced by the ‘70s themes of discotheques and polyester, Thoroughbred racing would have three Triple Crown winners, a near winner, a three-time Horse of the Year and last true weight carrier, and arguably not only the greatest racehorse of all time, but also the greatest filly.  

It could be suggested that the 1970s remains horse racing’s last “Golden Age.” As the dawn of that era began, the Meadow Stable’s bay colt, Riva Ridge, would be one of its earliest and brightest stars.

PART TWO: THE FAME AND THE GLORY

Growing pains

French Canadian Roger Laurin was the original trainer of Riva Ridge, until taking the enviable job of handling the stable of the prominent Phipps family. Upon Roger’s recommendation, his father, Lucien Laurin, became the new conditioner for the Meadow. Chuck Baltazar was the colt’s first rider. On June 9, 1971 the two-year-old Riva Ridge made his inaugural start in a 5 ½ furlong Maiden Special Weight at Belmont Park, under 122 pounds. The track was listed fast and Riva Ridge faced nine others, breaking from post seven. In an inauspicious debut, he was eliminated from any contention by a rough trip, and finished seventh, sixteen lengths behind the winning Search for Gold, a full brother of  the future legendary stallion Mr. Prospector.  Laurin reeled Riva Ridge back two weeks later in another MSW, at the same weight and distance, and the youngster decisively beat seven rivals by 5 ½ lengths over fast surface conditions, finishing in 1:05. The runner-up was a bay son of Graustark, out of the Princequillo (GB) mare Key Bridge, named Key to the Mint.

On July 9, Riva moved across town to Aqueduct for another 5 ½ furlong test, a $10,000 allowance, among a field of eight, and won by four lengths, in a time of 1:04 1/5. His next outing would be the 5 ½ furlong Great American Stakes on July 21, a contest his sire, First Landing, had won fourteen years earlier. But the son was the eighth arrival at the wire, ahead of only two juveniles, while in receipt of three to seven pounds from the top three.

Stepping fast up the ladder

On August 2 the Saratoga meeting got under way, and Riva entered post six, for the six furlong Flash Stakes, with a purse of $34,950. It would be his first of six consecutive victories, all stakes events, carrying over into the following year. Now under new rider, Ron Turcotte, another French Canadian, Riva’s winning margin was two and a half lengths against eight opponents, on a surface labeled good. His time for the dash was a solid 1:09 4/5. Returning to Belmont Park on September 18, for the 6 ½ furlong Futurity, he tracked the early leaders before assuming command, and held off Chevron Flight by more than two lengths to capture the race over sloppy going. After splits of :22, :45 1/5, and 1:09 4/5, Riva Ridge stopped the timer in 1:16 3/5. He made his next start in the 100^th edition of the Champagne Stakes, on October 9. His first outing at a mile, the Champagne remained one of the premiere races for a two-year-old who aspired to a championship.

Under 122 pounds, Riva was in the outside stall in a field of seven. When the gate opened, he took the lead and never looked back, posting a seven length win at the finish. His time on the fast surface was 1:36 2/5 and his share of the $195,150 purse was a tidy $117,000, boosting his total to $236,196.

Riva Ridge, now well on his way to year-end honors, was asked to make two more starts for the season, both at 1 1/16 miles. The first was the Laurel-Pimlico Futurity on October 30. Facing just four horses, Riva broke from the three-hole, settled in third, before moving ahead, up by daylight after about six furlongs, and widening his lead to eleven emphatic lengths as he sped home in 1:43 2/5. He put in a similar performance two weeks later at Garden State Park, in the Garden State Stakes, defeating seven rivals by two and a half lengths with Freetex next, followed by Key to the Mint. Breaking fourth, Riva advanced to the lead after about three-quarters, hitting the wire in 1:43 3/5.

His juvenile year now over, Riva Ridge had recorded nine starts for seven wins, with five of these in stakes, and his earnings of $503,263 were surpassed only by Buckpasser’s two-year-old campaign of 1965.

Eclipse

In 1971, Thoroughbred racing in America implemented a new system to award its best equine and human participants. The Eclipse Awards, named after the great eighteenth century racer and stallion Eclipse, became a collaboration of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, National Turf Writers Association, and Daily Racing Form. Eventually the TRA was replaced with the current National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The first Eclipse Horse of the Year was the five-year-old bay Ack Ack, who remains the only racer to ever receive this honor after a campaign entirely in California. Ack Ack was also named Eclipse champion older male and sprinter. The first Eclipse two-year-old female and male champions were Numbered Account and Riva Ridge respectively.

Could Riva bring his championship form into a three-year-old campaign with Triple Crown implications?

Delivering the Goods

As Riva Ridge began 1972 as juvenile champion and head of the sophomore class, it was now to be seen whether he could take the genes of First Landing to a higher level. To everyone’s surprise, his journey would consist of just three prep races culminating with a starting berth at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May; but that was only the beginning. Riva certainly had the physical tools and demeanor of a horse who could contest, and conceivably win, all three American classics, at the demanding distances of ground. The Meadow was now being managed by the charming, Ivy League educated Penny Chenery Tweedy in lieu of her ill father Christopher Chenery. Penny loved Riva and in just a few short months, the colt would let her know if he could deliver the goods.

Favorite

Riva was the winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby. His drills had gone incredibly well, leading up to his first start of the year, the $25,000 Hibiscus Stakes at Hialeah Park on March 22. Covering seven furlongs, Riva Ridge was in post six among a field of eight runners. His staunchest foe appeared to be New Prospect, who would get a seven pound allowance from the champion. New Prospect had won three straight races, including a win over the Arnold Winick trained Hold Your Peace in Hialeah’s Bahamas on March 3, when he covered the seven furlongs in track record time of 1:21 2/5. Hold Your Peace was a tough little bay colt who had won the six furlong Arlington-Washington Futurity during the previous season. The same day that New Prospect won the Bahamas, two nicely regarded stablemates of Riva Ridge, Upper Case, also owned by the Meadow Stable, and Roy Anderson’s Spanish Riddle, were one-two finishers in the 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Eight days later, on March 11, Upper Case and Spanish Riddle were trounced by Hold Your Peace, who made a ten length getaway in Hialeah’s Flamingo Stakes.

Mike Manganello would be aboard New Prospect for the Hibiscus. Two years earlier, Manganello had ridden Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander.

Riva and Freetex would each shoulder top weight of 122 pounds. Freetex had been a credible runner-up to Riva Ridge in the Garden State Stakes in November. When the field was away, New Prospect took the lead, running the quarter in :22. Riva sat back in fourth before making his bid in the far turn, and collaring the pacemaker in the stretch. The Meadow colt, running easy, continued down the lane, winning by more than two lengths, in a time of 1:22 4/5, before continuing with a strong gallop past the wire. New Prospect was next, followed by Second Bar. The purse of $33,800 netted Riva $22,000, as he recorded his sixth successive victory.

Riva's next start was the track’s 1 1/8 mile Everglades on April 1, with a purse of $66,800, when he would face Hold Your Peace, who had finished third behind Riva in Belmont’s Futurity the previous September. However, Hold Your Peace was currently fitter than Riva and had already raced at 1 1/8 miles, in his decisive Flamingo win, a distance Riva had yet to contest.  

Bump in the Road

One of the horses Riva Ridge soundly defeated in the Hibiscus was a colt named Head of the River, whose dam, First Feather, was sired by First Landing. Head of the River was a Rokeby Stable Virginia-bred chestnut, trained by Elliott Burch, and a stablemate of Key to the Mint.

Among a group of six three-year-olds, Riva, the 3-5 choice, was assigned 122 pounds, ten more than the 19-1 longshot Head of the River. He would break from the rail, over a sloppy surface, and from the start had nothing but problems. Laying in third, he got trapped in a pocket, tried to clear in the far turn, and hit the rail. Head of the River had only one horse beaten until entering the stretch, but was able to grasp the lead about a half furlong out with Hold Your Peace in pursuit. At the wire, Head of the River had three-quarters of a length on Hold Your Peace with New Prospect four lengths farther back. Riva Ridge was a disappointing fourth, more than five lengths behind the winner, whose time was 1:49 4/5.

Back on the Beam

Riva Ridge’s next objective was Keeneland’s 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes on Thursday, April 27. The Blue Grass had produced several Derby winners, namely Tomy Lee in 1959, Chateaugay in 1963, Northern Dancer (CAN.) in 1964, Lucky Debonair in 1965, Forward Pass in 1968(elevated from second to first in KY Derby upon a DQ of Dancer’s Image), and Dust Commander in 1970. Riva would face ten rivals, break from the outside post, and negotiate a fast track. When they were sent away, he settled into a striking position, while Sir Woodley and Mr. Charge vied for the lead. After a mile, Riva began rolling, advanced going into the far turn, and went ahead a half furlong out, while keeping Sensitive Music contained in the stretch. He easily bounded away to win by four lengths, in a pedestrian 1:49 3/5, and took $32,305 to the bank.

Two days later, Hold Your Peace won Churchill Downs’ seven furlong Stepping Stone Purse. The race had seen two horses win the Run for the Roses, Venetian Way in 1960 and Majestic Prince in 1969.  Sword Dancer, in 1959, also used the Stepping Stone as his last stop and finished second in the Derby. Now it was Hold Your Peace’s turn to try.

Meanwhile, on the following Tuesday the Derby Trial was won by Key to the Mint. Also trained by  Burch, Key to the Mint would bypass the Derby however, and race later in the Preakness. On Thursday, Riva Ridge and Hold Your Peace both put in five furlong moves, to the satisfaction of Laurin and Winick, respectively.

Sweet Sixteen

As expected, Riva Ridge was the favorite for the 98^th edition of America’s most famous race, followed by Hold Your Peace and No Le Hace. Among sixteen starters, Riva appeared in a good spot, in post nine. From the inside out were Freetex, Sensitive Music, Hold Your Peace, Introductivo, Dr. Neale, Our Trade Winds, Big Brown Bear, Kentuckian, Riva Ridge, Pacallo, Hassi’s Image, Majestic Needle, Napoise, Head of the River, Big Spruce, and No Le Hace.

In the absence of genuine speed horses, either Riva Ridge or Hold Your Peace could take the lead. Riva typically liked being close, but not necessarily on top of things, the lone exception being last year’s Champagne. Hold Your Peace was a similar runner to Riva, going gate to wire only in his Flamingo romp. The weather forecast called for possible showers.

Kentuckian, a bay horse by the California-bred, American grass champion T.V. Lark, had been unraced at age two and for the current year had competed exclusively in California. He would be ridden by Don Brumfield, the jockey of 1966 Derby/Preakness winner Kauai King.  Head of the River entered the race boasting his win over Riva in the Everglades. No Le Hace had previously won the Louisiana Derby, over sloppy conditions, and the Arkansas Derby. Hassi’s Image was handled by Juan Arias, the trainer of the Venezuelan raced Canonero II, winner of the first two classics in 1971, the latter in record time. Canonero’s rider, Gustava Avila, was now aboard Pacallo.

Wired

In attendance was a record 130,564 spectators. When the starting gate opened, Hold Your Peace wouldn’t take the initiative, so Riva Ridge did the honors. Going by the stands, the field was bunched with Majestic Needle in second, and Hold Your Peace farther inside, holding third. Riva was squarely in command, and entering the backstretch was up by a length. Hold Your Peace positioned himself to Riva’s outside, as Majestic Needle started to retreat. Hold Your Peace moved up within a half length of Riva, and the two opened up several lengths on the others.  It appeared to be a two-horse contest but approaching the far turn, Riva Ridge began to exert his authority, and coming into the stretch he surged ahead, putting more and more separation between himself and his rivals. Hold Your Peace, now back near the rail, gamely tried to stay close but couldn’t match strides with the leader. No Le Hace, breaking about seventh, had steadily improved his situation, settled in fifth in the backstretch, moved up another notch going into the far turn, and then caught Hold Your Peace in the stretch; but he was too far off Riva Ridge, who crossed the finish easily the best by three and a quarter lengths. No Le Hace finished three and a half lengths ahead of Hold Your Peace, who had the same margin on the fourth horse Introductivo.  

Riva, dictating the entire pace, travelled the first quarter in :47 3/5, six furlongs in 1:11 4/5, a mile in 1:36, before completing his 1 ¼ mile journey in 2:01 4/5. There was a record handle for the ten-race card of $7,164.717, a betting record for the Derby itself, and for Riva a paycheck of $140,800, swelling his bank account to $701,210.

Riva Ridge had been the first Derby front running winner since Kauai King led the parade six years earlier, finishing in 2:02 over fast going. Riva’s track, although fast, was apparently drying out, playing a bit loose, and Turcotte kept him off the rail. The race was run clean, and free of any mishaps. Hold Your Peace had laid his heart on the line, and Winick would now steer him clear of Riva. No Le Hace, originally set to skip the Preakness Stakes, would show up after all.

Riva Ridge had clearly put most of his opposition on notice and many horsemen, awed by his superiority, were reluctant to give him another go. The son of First Landing, who had given his stable, jockey, and trainer, their first Derby winner, was now at the peak of his fame and success. It was time to savor the moment and Riva was being spoken of in the same breath as Citation, racing’s biggest hero since Man o’War.

Riva had won the Derby with more in his tank, came out of the race in good order, and on Monday would ship to Baltimore, home of Pimlico’s Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the Triple Crown.

The Challenge

With plenty still to do, Riva Ridge wouldn’t sit on his laurels long, his next challenge the 1 3/16 mile Preakness, only two weeks away on May 20.  Laurin, seeking his first Preakness victory, was also considering the entries of Upper Case and Spanish Riddle. Riva came into the Preakness as racing’s top celebrity, during one of the most glamorous springtime events in sports. Since 1919 only eight horses had swept the Triple Crown, and done so with reasonable regularity, the largest gap being eleven years between Sir Barton in 1919 and Gallant Fox in 1930. Two more horses successfully completed the race trio in the 1930s, and four did it in the 1940s. But after Citation’s crown in 1948, an ever widening chasm had developed into twenty-four years. Several horses had won two-thirds of the series, the last just the previous season, when Canonero II, took the Derby and Preakness but couldn’t stretch himself far enough in the Belmont Stakes, finishing fourth. Riva Ridge at least looked capable of ending the drought, and become the ninth runner to join the exclusive club.

People had been stunned that Laurin would run the horse in only three preps prior to the Derby, but he wanted a fresher horse. In contrast, Hold Your Peace had made six starts in 1972, finishing either first or second in all of them. No Le Hace had started five times, winning the first four, before a second place effort to Key to the Mint in the Derby trial. Both Hold Your Peace and No Le Hace had raced within a week or less of the Derby. The plan now for Hold Your Peace was the Hawthorne Derby, the same day as the Preakness.

No Easy Going

Under an overcast sky, the 1972 edition of Maryland’s signature race offered a purse of $189,800. Riva, wearing stickers, would be confronted with several new horses, in a field of seven. One of them was Key to the Mint, with Braulio Baeza aboard. Turcotte had already won a Preakness, back in 1965, aboard Tom Rolfe. Now it was Riva’s time, and coupled with Upper Case, had favoritism again, at 1-5. Key to the Mint was next, followed by No Le Hace. Eager Exchange, a chestnut gelding, sired by the great California-bred Swaps, out of the Nashua mare Melanie’s Girl, was also making his first classic appearance. Eager Exchange, runner-up in the Gotham Stakes, was coming into the Preakness off a brisk five furlong work. Another new shooter was the dark bay/brown colt Bee Bee Bee, a speedball and seven length winner of Pimlico’s Survivor Stakes. Purchased by William Farish III early in the year, Bee Bee Bee, was a Maryland-bred, and sired by record holder Better Bee. Eldon Nelson would be aboard the Del Carroll trained Bee Bee Bee, who was 18-1.

Freetex, a closer, would be in the mix again, as would Hassi’s Image. Festive Mood, a bay gelding, was also entered, and previously recorded a distant second place effort behind Riva in the Laurel Futurity.

Previous rains had made the Pimlico track muddy on race day. Upper Case had proved an excellent mudder, but for various reasons, Laurin decided to scratch him and let Riva go it alone. Upper Case would run the following weekend in either the Metropolitan Handicap or Jersey Derby.
The winner of the race’s 97^th running would earn $135,300.  Bee Bee Bee was expected to take charge of the proceedings, but it was assumed when heading home, he’d be through.  When the race started, Riva Ridge did not get off well as Bee Bee Bee went to the front. While Riva took a moment to gather himself and get his feet under him, Bee Bee Bee was moving along, carving out solid fractions of :47 for the half, 1:11 for six furlongs, and a mile in 1:36 2/5. In the backstretch Riva was positioned well, and close to Key to the Mint, but when Ronnie asked the horse to go, he didn’t respond in his usual manner. Into the far turn, Riva and Key to the Mint ran in tandem, and continued at it until a half furlong from home, when Key to the Mint gained the edge. Meanwhile Bee Bee Bee had kept to his task, never giving up his lead, and crossed the wire one and a quarter lengths ahead of the late closing No Le Hace.  Key to the Mint was third, a neck in front of Riva. The mostly overlooked Bee Bee Bee posted a final time of 1:55 3/5, over sloppy conditions, the fifth fastest Preakness ever run, and gave both Carroll and Nelson their first Preakness victory.

What happened?

The most problematic factor for Riva Ridge was likely the off going.  As to how much Riva’s poor break affected his race is uncertain, but it certainly didn’t help him. After controlling the pace in the Derby, he was now initially well off of it, although as the contest unfolded, Ronnie had the horse well positioned. But the poor start gave the speedy Bee Bee Bee a critical advantage which Riva was unable to overcome.  By the time the Meadow colt was set down and in his stride, Bee Bee Bee was already gone, squarely in command in the first turn, and had no intention of slowing down. He was fast, he was loose, and he got away. Key to the Mint fared only slightly better than Riva, albeit with a placing, and didn’t handle the track well either. Eager Exchange, with Eddie Maple aboard, also had surface problems and finished sixth.

It had also been reported that Laurin was not happy with Turcotte’s handling of Riva in the backstretch, feeling he was too preoccupied with Key to the Mint, out of concern he might slip away; however, this critique of the ride cannot be fully ascertained by the writer. The two colts did duel coming out of the far turn and kept at each other heading for home, but at that point they were probably running for minor awards.  In an ironic twist, the last horse to win the race over an off track was Christopher Chenery’s Hill Prince, in 1950, over slow going.

Upper Case, who may have acquitted himself well in the Preakness, ran in the Jersey Derby on May 29, and finished seventh.

Test of the Champion

Riva Ridge would return in three weeks for the final and longest run. The Belmont Stakes was the oldest of the classics, its inaugural race held in 1867, and won by the filly Ruthless, albeit at a shorter distance of 1 5/8 miles. By 1926, the event was permanently extended to its current 1 ½ miles. Few horses had the fortitude to go that far, in cavernous Belmont Park, with its wide, sweeping turns, especially if they had already raced ten and 9.5 furlongs within a two week period. Different than the often congested Derby, where circumstances independent of a horse’s ability, could play against him, and perhaps not requiring the same degree of finesse or speed as the Preakness with its smaller oval—although the impression that Pimlico has sharper turns is probably a false one—,the Belmont Stakes, over ‘big Sandy,’ required strength, stamina, perseverance and courage. It was the 'Test of the Champion.'

During the week leading up to the Belmont Stakes, Riva Ridge worked nine furlongs in 1:49, and then with his exercise rider trying to pull him up, strongly galloped out another furlong. In his final drill three days before the race, Riva and Upper Case both worked five furlongs. Upper Case, who was also being considered for the Belmont Stakes, passed on it.

Burch gave Key to the Mint a gallop. The horse looked great and physically imposing. Key to the Mint was Rokeby’s top runner at age two, but had injured himself in a gate mishap in mid-March of his three-year-old campaign. He was put on the shelf until his win in the Derby Trial. Burch was no stranger to champions and had trained two colts who went on to be named Horse of the Year. Sword Dancer, in 1959, and Arts and Letters, ten years later, had used wins in the one mile Metropolitan Handicap as a springboard to later victories in the Belmont Stakes.  Sword Dancer’s Met/Belmont spacing had been two weeks and Arts and Letters ran back in only a week. Burch also won the race in 1964 with Quadrangle, after the horse finished second in the Met. Key to the Mint used a one length win in the mile Withers Stakes on May 31 as his Belmont prep. Baeza, still aboard Key to the Mint, had already won three Belmonts aboard Sherluck in 1961, Chateaugay in 1963, and Arts and Letters in 1969. Lucien Laurin had won the race in 1966 with Amberoid. If Riva Ridge won on Saturday, it would be the first time for Ron Turcotte.

The race would also include the Johnny Campo trained Prince Fauquier, and Frank Whiteley’s Cloudy Dawn, the latter who had made three previous starts, all on the lawn, and annexing two. Cloudy Dawn, a grey colt, was the son of Grey Dawn (FR.), the only horse to ever defeat the great European superstar Sea-Bird (FR.). Cloudy Dawn represented Pen-Y-Byrn Stables, owned by William Woodward Bancroft, the son of the late owner of Damascus, the horse who in 1967, won the Belmont Stakes and later defeated Buckpasser and Dr. Fager by ten lengths in the Woodward Stakes. Also conditioned by Whiteley, Damascus, himself a Horse of the Year, was forever enshrined along with his two rivals, among racing’s greatest runners.

No Le Hace, not only runner-up in the first two classics, but also to Key to the Mint in the Derby Trial, was the third choice in the betting. Angel Cordero would now replace Phil Rubbicco in the irons. Another entry was Florida-bred and Jersey Derby winner Smiling Jack, a horse who had physical problems as a juvenile and again during the current year which forced him out of the Kentucky Derby picture. After Smiling Jack had won the Jersey Derby by seven lengths, his connections decided to take a shot in the Belmont Stakes.

Riva Ridge drew the rail. Going out from there were Zulu Tom, No Le Hace, Freetex, Big Spruce, Key to the Mint, Cloudy Dawn, Prince Faquier, Ruritania, and Smiling Jack. Conspicuously missing was Bee Bee Bee, who would opt for the Leonard Richards on June 18.

Prior to the main event, in race five of the Belmont Stakes undercard, Spanish Riddle made his first start on the grass and won.

Scare

Riva threw a scare into his trainer and owner and almost missed the race. With the riders up, and the horses parading in the paddock, Riva whacked himself in the left hind leg. His first few steps were gimpy, causing Laurin enough alarm to immediately tell a crestfallen Penny Tweedy that he was scratching the colt. But Riva soon recovered; or perhaps it would be more accurate to say his resilience enabled him to “shake it off,” and be poised to run. And run he did.

Two out of three

The 104^th running of the Belmont Stakes carried a purse of $155,900, with the victor collecting $93,540.  The track was fast and with more than 56,600 spectators attending, on a mostly overcast and cold Saturday afternoon, Riva was installed the 8-5 favorite followed by Key to the Mint. Ruritania, apparently anxious to get on with it, busted the gate early and had to be reloaded. When it opened for keeps, Zulu Tom had the jump but Smiling Jack quickly drew even with him. Approaching the clubhouse turn Riva Ridge easily secured the lead, with Smiling Jack and Key to the Mint closely following, and the trio created a three length gap from the others. The order up front remained unchanged, with Riva ahead by a length through the backstretch, and the three horses built up a six length margin on the rest of the field. As they exited the back stretch into the far bend, Key to the Mint attempted to get even with Riva, who was starting to pull clear. Riva never felt the whip and bounded further and further away in the stretch, until he hit the finish by seven lengths in a time of 2:28, the third fastest Belmont ever recorded to that point, after Gallant Man (GB) in 1957, and Stage Door Johnny in 1968. Riva was always well positioned in the race, close to the rail, and well within himself. He had yet to take the lead in a race and relinquish it. His winnings boosted his bankroll to $802,250.

Despite his premature break, Ruritania rallied to get second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Cloudy Dawn, who was another five lengths in front of Key to the Mint. Big Spruce was next to arrive, followed by No Le Hace, FreeTex, Smiling Jack, Zulu Tom and Prince Fauquier.

Riva Ridge had reasserted his supremacy as the top three-year-old, and perhaps the top horse in the country. Year-end honors, including Horse of the Year, seemed well within his reach.

 But not so fast…

A bit much

Three weeks later, Riva was on the West Coast for his only appearance in front of California race fans. The contest was Hollywood Park’s 1 ¼ mile Hollywood Derby, run at that time on the dirt during the summer. The purse was an added $109,900 with the winner’s share $59,900. Part of an eight horse field, Riva would have to confront two very fast runners in Finalista, a one mile record setter back in May, and who would come in under 120 pounds; and the lightning rod Quack, assigned 126. Two weeks following his race against Riva Ridge, Quack would set a ten furlong stakes record of 1:58.20 in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Riva, assigned high impost of 129 pounds, led from the start but Turcotte had to go to the whip to get the colt to hold off Bicker, under 114, the winning margin a diminishing neck. Finalista rounded out the trio another half length back. It was another big win, but a stressful one, under a considerable impost and it took something out of the colt. Riva  returned home to New York to resume racing in early August.

Seven days after Riva’s win in California, Key to the Mint would begin a rapid ascent toward divisional leadership. And in Riva’s own barn, a gorgeous chestnut colt was about to make his two-year-old debut.

Any aspirations Riva had for more year-end honors would soon fly out the window.

To be continued…

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Associated Press, “Riva Ridge Best In Blue Grass Test,” The Blade, April 28, 1972, p. 29.

U.P.I., “Hold Your Peace Romps To Victory In Stepping Stone,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, April 30, 1972, p. 6-C, col. 1.

A.P., “Hold Your Peace wins at Churchill,” Rome News-Tribune, April 30, 1972, p. 3-C, col. 1.

U.P.I., “Riva Ridge Heads 16-Horse Derby Field,” The Pittsburg Press, May 4, 1972.

U.P.I., “Challenger Is Found For Riva Ridge,” Williamson Daily News, May 5, 1972.

A.P., “Riva Ridge Is Favored To Take 98^th Kentucky Derby,” Spartanburg Herald-Journal, May 6, 1972.

Red Smith, “Riva Ridge and Turcotte: Right Horse, Right Man;” The New York Times, May 7, 1972, pp. S1, 3.

George Vecsey, “’He Will Always Be a Champion,’ Says Happy Stablehand; Derby Winner Easy Companion Among Barn People,” The New York Times, May 7, 1972, p. S2.

A.P., “Riva Ridge Winner With Ease In Derby,” Toledo Blade, May 7, 1972.

A.P., “Riva Ridge tops field for star in Kentucky run,” Rome News-Tribune, May 7, 1972, Section C.

Joe Nichols, “130,564 See Riva Ridge Win Derby By 3 ¼ Lengths,” The New York Times, May 7, 1972, Section 5, pp. 1,3.

Jim Murray (Los Angeles Times Special), “Riva Ridge Too Classy for Rivals,” Milwaukee Sentinel, May 8, 1972, Page 6, Part 2.

Joe Nichols, “Racing Triple Crown Has Double Meaning to Laurin,” The New York Times, May 8, 1972, p. 51.

A.P., “Riva Ridge Makes Believers of All Experts; Compared To Greats of Racing,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 8, 1972, p. 24.

Times Wire Service, “Few Willing To Challenge Riva Ridge In Preakness,” St. Petersburg Times, May 8, 1972, pp. 1-C,4-C.

Bob Cooper (A.P.), “Riva Ridge scaring horses away from Preakness,” Kentucky New Era, May 8, 1972.

Ira Berkow (NEA), “Riva Ridge Chases Triple Crown,” The Nevada(Mo.) Daily Mail, May 19, 1972, p. 10.

Washington Post Special, “Riva Ridge Faces Toughest Challenge,” Milwaukee Sentinel, May 20, 1972.

Post Wire Services, “Riva Ridge Emerges With Mud in His Eye,” Palm Beach Post-Times, May 21, 1972, p. E5.

Joe Nichols, “Payoff is $39.40; No Le Hace Runs 2d, 1 ¼ Length Back, in Pimlico Mud Preakness Won By Bee Bee Bee, The New York Times, May 21, 1972, pp. S1,6.

Steve Cady, “Bee Bee Bee Accolade: ‘He Just Wouldn’t Stop;’ Losers in Daze, Describe Mud as Key Factor,” The New York Times, May 21, 1972, p.S8.

Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Champions, p. 150.

U.P., “Hill Prince Easily Wins Preakness,” The Pittsburgh Press, May 21, 1950, p. 65, col. 3.

Gordon Beard, “Riva Ridge Trainer Says Jockey Held Horse Back,” Portsmouth Times, May 22, 1972, p. 17.

U.P.I., “Jockey Blamed for Riva Ridge’s Loss,” Milwaukee Sentinel, May 22, 1972, Page 4, Part 2.

Joe Hirsch, “Bee Bee Bee Wins Preakness. Riva Ridge Fourth,” Daily Racing Form, May 22, 1972, pp. 1,6.

C.P., “Riva Ridge’s Trainer: It wasn’t a bad ride,” The Windsor Star, May 23, 1972, p. 27.

The Associated Press, “Jersey Derby winner to defy Belmont Logic,” Miami News, May 30, 1972, p. 2-B, col. 3.

Red Smith (New York Times News Service), “No Television, No Fans As Riva Ridge Prepares,” Bangor Daily News, June 7, 1972, p. 26.

U.P.I., “Riva Ridge In Final Tune Up For Belmont,” The Pittsburgh Press, June 7, 1972, p. 69.

Phil Dandrea, Sham: Great Was Second Best, A Brave Bay’s Rivalry with the Legendary Secretariat (Boston, MA: Acanthus Publishing, 2010), p. 267.

Joe Nichols, “Riva Ridge Captures Belmont Stakes By 7 Lengths;” The New York Times, June 11, 1972, Section 5, p. 1, col. 8, p. 6, col. 5.

“Preakness Finish His Lone Regret,” The New York Times, June 11, 1972, p. 6.

Ray Ayres (U.P.I. Sportswriter), “Riva Ridge Injured Leg Before Belmont,” Deseret News, June 12, 1972, p. 6B.

U.P.I., “Riva Almost Missed Race,” Milwaukee Sentinel, June 12, 1972, Page 4, Part 2.

A.P., “Turcotte: Riva Ran Own Race,” Ocala Star-Banner, June 11, 1972, Section D.

Teddy Cox, “Riva Ridge in Belmont Romp. Front-Running Choice Seven Before Surprising Ruritania,” Daily Racing Form, June 12, 1972, pp. 1,6.

A.P., “Laurin: Riva Is Wonder Horse,” The Day (New London, Conn.), June 12, 1972, Page 31.

“Riva Ridge Is Choice,” The Tuscaloosa News, July 1, 1972, p. 5.

U.P.I., “Riva Ridge to rest before New York Classics,” The Gazette, Montreal, July 4, 1972, p. 17.

Copyright 2012 by John Califano