HANDICAP PERFECTION

(This is the fourth of a five part series.)

Note to reader: Part Three of this story discussed three winners of the Handicap Triple Crown in New York. Shortly after posting that segment, it was discovered that a fourth horse, the colt Fit to Fight, also swept this triage in 1984. Part Three was edited to include information about Fit to Fight's achievement.

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Although every effort has been made to provide good information in the segment below, it is still simply a sketch of a great horse, and not a comprehensive account. For the interested reader a more detailed study can be found in two excellent authoritative works strongly recommended by this writer: Eva Jolene Boyd's Native Dancer, in the "Thoroughbred Legends" series (Eclipse Press, 2000), and John Eisenberg's Native Dancer: The Grey Ghost; Hero of a Golden Age (Warner Books, 2003). 

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As Tom Fool continued to assert himself as the American turf king, and dominate the handicap ranks as no other horse had previously done, another colt was capturing much of the national spotlight, delighting spectators with his handsome grey looks, charisma, and superior form; and like clockwork, he was winning one race after another. In 1953, as television grew in popularity and rapidly reached millions of homes, one of its brightest new stars was a big “Grey Ghost” who streaked across those black and white picture tubes, into the living rooms, and hearts, of sports fans. The public was thoroughly enchanted by him…and madly in love.

PART FOUR: NATIVE DANCER, AND THE ASCENDENCY OF TOM FOOL

Color him grey

In the early 1950s, he might have seemed an aberration, a grey horse enjoying success on Thoroughbred racing's highest level. If people couldn’t see him in person at a racetrack, the novelty of television still made it possible to witness this equine marvel of strength and beauty. Native Dancer grew into a magnificent 16.2 hand, 1,200 pound colt with an incredulous stride of twenty-nine feet. Nickamed the "Grey Ghost" or simply "the Dancer” he enjoyed the kind of fame experienced by very few horses throughout history. As the newspapers had narrated the mighty feats of Man o’War earlier in the century, creating a gigantic persona, television was doing the same for Native Dancer in the early 1950s, giving him star power unrivaled by previous champions.

Native Dancer was bred in Kentucky by owner Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a wonderful man, World War II veteran, and a racing visionary.  A member of the rich, elite aristocracy, Vanderbilt recognized the dignity of every person, and related warmly to them regardless of their status in society.

The breed

Foaled in 1950, Native Dancer’s only five generational inbreeding was to the great English champion sire Polymelus (GB), the father of the twentieth century's foremost progenitor, Phalaris (GB). The Dancer's sire, Polynesian, was a top level stakes racer and champion sprinter in 1947, at age five, and retired with fifty-eight starts, twenty-seven wins, 10 seconds, 10 thirds, and career earnings of $310,410. 

Native Dancer's dam, Geisha, was unremarkable as a racehorse; however, her sire, Discovery, also owned by Vanderbilt, was a standout weight carrier in the 1930s, and the first official Handicap Champion in 1936. Through Discovery, Geisha's great-grandsire, Fair Play, sired Man o'War, the most revered of all American Thoroughbreds.  Geisha’s broodmare sire was John P. Grier, the only horse to legitimately test Man o’War in a race. Her maternal great-grandsire was Whisk Broom II.

Already the best

Conditioned by Bill Winfrey, the Dancer's storied race career began at Jamaica, on April 19, 1952. He was among nine juveniles in a five furlong Maiden Special Weight, and Eric Guerin, a Cajun from Louisiana, would ride the grey in all but one of his twenty-two lifetime starts. Native Dancer easily won by four and a half lengths, in a time of :59 3/5, under 118 pounds. He stepped up to stakes company just four days later, winning the five furlong Youth Stakes with a commanding six length margin, stopping the clock in :59 2/5. He started seven more times in 1952, all in major stakes contests, breezing to victory each time. In Belmont Park’s 6 1/2 furlong Futurity, on September 27, Native Dancer hit the finish by more than two lengths, equaling the world record of 1:14 2/5. He made his final start over a route of ground, winning the two turn 1 1/16 mile East View Stakes, and setting a juvenile season earnings record of $230,496 to eclipse Top Flight's old money mark set in 1931.

Native Dancer was named Two-Year-Old Champion Male, and also became the first juvenile to receive at least a share of Horse of the Year (Thoroughbred Racing Associations), along with the Three-Year-Old Champion Male One Count (Daily Racing Form).

Triumph and heartbreak

In 1953, the three-year-old Native Dancer became the only legitimate challenger to Tom Fool for American racing supremacy.  On John B. Campbell's Experimental Free Handicap, the grey colt was assigned high weight of 130 pounds, four pounds over Tom Fool's leading weight the previous year. Bound for the Kentucky Derby, Native Dancer would have two preps at Jamaica.

Amid widespread anticipation, and almost six months to the day he ran his final juvenile race, Native Dancer began his campaign on April 18, 1953, in the 1 1/16 mile Gotham Stakes. Under 120 pounds, he effortlessly defeated eight rivals by two lengths. One week later, in the 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial, the colt barely took a breath when cruising past six rivals by more than four lengths. 

Spring destination

On May 2, 1953, eleven horses entered the Churchill Downs starting gate for the 79th running of the Derby, before well over 100,000 spectators. Among the entries was the favorite Native Dancer, and the number two choice, Correspondent, a California-bred speedster, who set a track record in the 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes. Other horses who could factor into the outcome were Royal Bay Gem, a good stretch runner, sired by Australian-bred Royal Gem, and possibly Money Broker, winner of the Florida Derby. The wealthy philanthropist, Harry Guggenheim, owned a brown colt, who had never won a route race, and had been questionable for the ten furlong event. He was a fast horse who had shown signs of promise, but lacked consistency; somehow the "light went on" during Derby week, when he posted an impressive win in the Derby Trial, while skirting around the track record. That was good enough for Guggenheim and trainer Eddie Hayward, and the colt was given the chance to show his stuff in the race of a lifetime. His name was Dark Star.

Dark Star

Dark Star was another son of Royal Gem. The sire had raced in Australia, before standing at stud in the United States. Dark Star, a Kentucky-bred, was out of the brown mare Isolde, by the prominent stallion Bull Dog (Fr.), who was also the broodmare sire of Tom Fool. 

At age two, Dark Star got off to a quick start, winning the three furlong Hialeah Juvenile Stakes by two lengths. He then finished third in Belmont's Juvenile Stakes and third again, this time to Native Dancer, in the Futurity.

Conditioned first by Moody Jolly, the colt was later transferred to the Cain Hoy Stable of Hayward. Ranked twenty-third on the Experimental Free Handicap, the late Derby entry Dark Star had  Henry Moreno in the irons. Apparently somebody forgot to tell Dark Star that his odds were 25-1, because on Derby Day, the colt was anxious to show his appreciation for getting in.

Derby shocker heard 'round the racing world

Favored Native Dancer was coupled with stablemate Social Outcast at 7-10. He broke fast from post position six, but was out-footed by Dark Star, who subsequently dropped down to the rail, and led the parade, with Correspondent, under Eddie Arcaro, following his cue, ahead of Ace Destroyer. The Dancer, in early traffic, was holding a position in sixth. Entering the clubhouse turn, Moneybroker, under Al Popara, was just ahead of Native Dancer and to his outside. With instructions from Moneybroker’s trainer, Tennessee Wright, to get to the rail, Popara attempted to circle the big grey, then would clear him, and drop over; however, Moneybroker had other ideas and abruptly came down on the Dancer at the same time that Curragh King, to the grey’s inside, bore out, taking the Dancer with him. Squeezed hard between the two horses, Native Dancer was jolted, losing his stride, and causing Guerin to take him back in an effort to regain maneuverability. 

As they sped down the backstretch, Native Dancer had a lot of ground to make up and did just that, blowing by horses, and advancing to fourth. Through the far turn, he continued to race wide. Dark Star still held all the cards and was rating well under superb riding by Moreno, while Correspondent, holding his second spot, tracked about one and a half lengths behind the leader. Coming into the stretch, Guerin steered Native Dancer inside and it looked like he had a clear shot, but sensing the big horse’s approach, Moreno moved Dark Star toward the rail, and effectively shut off the lane. Guerin now redirected the Dancer out on the track and from there his twenty-nine foot strides propelled him relentlessly closer to his target. By now Correspondent had nothing left for the drive, leaving Dark Star all alone with the grey beast bearing down on him. Now the chase was on between two gallant horses, one desperately holding his lead, the other desperately trying to take it. Dark Star was tiring as Native Dancer got closer and closer. There wasn’t much real estate left. Would Dark Star hang on?

Dark Star was empty when he hit the wire. Native Dancer was right on top of him, and flew across the finish… just late.

The glory
It isn’t called “the greatest two minutes in sports” for nothing. Dark Star’s light was now brighter than any Thoroughbred in the racing universe. Aided by Moreno’s exceptional riding, Dark Star ran like he belonged, and this moment in history was his forever. His achievement was especially significant, and would never be forgotten, because of the horse he defeated. For Native Dancer’s large legion of fans, it was a moment of heartbreak, bewilderment, and mourning. Dark Star had given Native Dancer the only blemish on an otherwise spotless career.

Dark Star’s performance was anything but a fluke. He had set all the fractions, dusting off the initial quarter in :23 4/5, a half in :47 4/5, six panels in 1:12 1/5, and a mile in 1:36 3/5, before a fast finish in 2:02, only three-fifths shy of Whirlaway's stakes and track record. Dark Star ran the race of his life. He set the tone of the race, dictated it after taking the lead right from the gate, established perfect position along the rail, and avoided all the traffic, which enabled him to maintain leadership. He also rated beautifully under a fine ride by his jockey, and persevered with courage in the final critical yards to pull off a shocker. The winner also collected a nice paycheck worth $90,050 of the $118,100 purse.

Analysis

The Derby leaves practically no margin for error, and can be a merciless breaker of hearts. It doesn’t take the best horse to win the race, it takes the most fortunate horse to win it, and if the horse also happens to be the favorite, all the better. If circumstances go against the best horse, he has no more chance than a longshot.

There was speculation that the bumping incident in the clubhouse turn was intentional. The only person who knew with certainly whether it was or not was Al Popara, and he always denied any accusation. As an isolated event, it’s difficult to determine the degree of impact the bumping had on the race; however, based on the rider’s reaction and adjustments he felt needed to be made, the bumping probably set up a sequence of activity asked of Native Dancer, the dynamics of which even a great racer could not overcome. From his entry into the backstretch until he crossed the finish, the colt was simply too busy, racing wide and roaring down the backstretch, then going inside leaving the second turn, and finally forced wide again heading for home where he had to turn on the after burners in an attempt to catch the eventual winner. There were too many questions and the colt did everything in his power to answer them, and just about succeeded.

Moving forward

Native Dancer quickly regained his winning stride and would never relinquish it again. On May 16, he recorded a four length victory in Belmont Park’s one mile Withers. One week after that, he won the Preakness, just holding off Jamie K, by the skin of his teeth, the margin at the wire a head. Dark Star was also in the race and again took the lead, but sadly, bowed a tendon in the run for home, an injury that ended his racing career.  When it counted the most however, on that first Saturday in May, Dark Star came through with brilliance, determination, and courage.

Native Dancer next won the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes, and in July, captured the 1 1/4 mile Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct, over four others. He then moved to Arlington Park fourteen days later and romped by nine lengths in the one mile Arlington Classic, beating seven opponents, including Jamie K, over a heavy track while conceding weight.  

Meeting of champions?

The Maryland Jockey Club set a tentative date of October 24 for the Pimlico Special, the same race which fifteen years earlier had seen the matchup between Seabiscuit and War Admiral. They also increased the purse from $25,000 to $50,000 to attract Tom Fool and Native Dancer. The 1953 edition would have a full field. The Westchester Racing Association was hoping to bring the two superstars to Belmont Park, suggesting the one mile Sysonby on September 26. The race had been scheduled later in the meeting, but to accommodate Native Dancer, it was changed and the purse also increased from $20,000 to $50,000. The race would be weight-for-age, requiring the four-year-old Tom Fool to concede weight.

On August 15, Native Dancer ran in the 1 1/4 mile Travers Stakes, destroying four hapless rivals by five and a half lengths, under 126 pounds, giving runner-up Dictar six pounds and the third arrival, Guardian, a dozen. 

The meeting of Tom Fool versus Native Dancer was intensely anticipated. The fans were in Native Dancer’s corner, but many horsemen and turf writers felt that Tom Fool was the better horse, praising Native Dancer as an outstanding three-year-old, but of the opinion that the handicap leader would have the edge. Tom Fool would be a more aggressive runner, and especially tough at a mile, while Native Dancer would do his best running coming from off the pace, and closing powerfully. Tom Fool should prove superior, although at longer distances it was more uncertain, with Native Dancer having more chance of winning the farther they ran. Yet Tom Fool had won three races at 1 ¼ miles, one in which he carried 136 pounds. 

In the American Derby on August 22, Native Dancer carried 128 pounds, and faced seven horses. After running eleven lengths behind in seventh during the early going, he advanced into fourth as the race progressed, before effectively closing ground and drawing away from Landlocked, under 120, crossing the finish by two lengths.  Landlocked finished next, one and a quarter lengths ahead of Precious Stone, given an assignment of 114. The time for the 1 1/8 mile trip was 1:48 2/5.

Any hopes for a meeting between the two titans became dashed when it was discovered that Native Dancer had bruised his foot in the race. Unable to compete at his best, and behind in his training, the decision was made to put him away for the year. The excitment and suspense over a meeting were over.

Great vs. great

Tom Fool and Native Dancer, undoubtedly the two greatest racehorses of the 1950s, never met. Speculation about which horse was actually better would go on to the present day with no foregone conclusion. With the passing of years, Native Dancer has generally been held in higher esteem, perhaps due to his participation in the Triple Crown races, and the ongoing allure that these and other three-year-old events maintain. It is also hard to argue against a horse who won twenty-one of twenty-two starts, with his lone loss by a mere head after a troubled trip.

Native Dancer became a true legend; however, in 1953, Tom Fool was probably better. This requires no apologies from Native Dancer. As all racing followers know, a great four-year-old will typically defeat a great three-year-old.  In future decades, four-year-old Seattle Slew beat his younger counterpart Affirmed, and the following year Affirmed, at age four, defeated the three-year-old Spectacular Bid. The superiority of the elder does nothing to diminish the credibility or greatness of the three-year-old, especially if the sophomore acquitted himself strongly. Tom Fool, as a four-year-old, was not going to be beaten by anybody. He won over a range of distances, against tough competition, and showed amazing versatility, while carrying burdensome weights, and becoming only the second horse at that point in time to win the Handicap Triple Crown.

Native Dancer was an icon. He was nationally better known, and whether by large margins or razor thin ones, the horse knew how to reach the finish line first. In the end that is the only objective, and Native Dancer must have had an intense will to win, and did so with amazing consistency.

Both Tom Fool and Native Dancer would certainly have elevated their historic status among the greats to even higher levels if not for conditions beyond their control. Tom Fool missed the Triple Crown due to sickness. Native Dancer had his three-year-old season cut short because of injury, and never faced older horses.

Native Dancer returned as a four-year-old, and although starting only three times, showed he could also carry weight successfully. After winning the Metropolitan Handicap under 130 pounds, he capped his career with a nine length victory under 137. Native Dancer earned $785,240 in his three years, and later equaled his achievements on the track with amazing contributions in the stud. He became one of the most influential sires of the second half of the century with a legacy which flourishes today.

Perfect

In the absence of his only credible threat, Tom Fool headed to Belmont Park for the Sysonby to face Alerted and the filly Grecian Queen. There had been four defections. He had put in a quick work during the week, covering a mile in 1:35 4/5, faster than the 1:36 2/5 winning time when he took the race the year before. Tom Fool took the lead soon after the start and kept it, eased off by his rider as he approached the finish, the margin three lengths in a clocking of 1:36 4/5. He profited $36,400 of the $54,500 purse. 

In the 1 3/16 mile Pimlico Special, worth $50,000, on October 24, Tom Fool put away Navy Page and Alerted by eight lengths after seizing the lead from the start. Posting fractions of :47 4/5, 1:11 4/5, and a mile in 1:37 1/5, the great colt hit the wire in 1:55 4/5 for a new track record, eclipsing Capot's old mark. It was his eleventh straight victory and tenth for the year without a defeat. He left the racetrack with first prize money of $30,000, giving him $256,355 for 1953. Navy Page outlasted Alerted by a nose for second, and received $10,000, while Alerted netted $7,000.

Closure
Tom Fool had run his last race in what had been one of the most extraordinary handicap campaigns in history. His conquests had ranged from 5 1/2 to ten furlongs, usually in dominating, decisive fashion. He had also set a track record, and equaled another.

Tom Fool retired with a record of thirty starts, for 21 wins, 7 seconds, 1 third, and career earnings of $570,165. He had finished out of the money only once. Even in his “sub-optimal” year of 1952, the colt had defeated older horses three times.

The greatest horse in America

Tom Fool deservedly earned three titles in 1953. He was named Champion Handicap Horse, Champion Sprinter, and Horse of the Year. Native Dancer was named Champion Three-Year-Old  Male, and returned in 1954 to be chosen Horse of the Year for the second time.

The next chapter

The racehorse Tom Fool would now return to Greentree to become the stallion Tom Fool. It was only a matter of time before his influence on American racetracks would extend into the breeding shed, and perpetuate a great legacy.

To be continued...

Bibliography

“Native Dancer,” Thoroughbred Champions: Top 100 Racehorses of the 20^th Century (Lexington, KY: The Blood-Horse, Inc., 1999), p. 36.

Eva Jolene Boyd, Native Dancer Thoroughbred Legends No.7 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2000), photo-p. 1.

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Copyright 2013 by John Califano