Between November, 1968 and June of 1969, a beautiful chestnut colt was the brightest star in American horse racing. Majestic Prince, impeccably bred, physically gifted, and extremely handsome, seemed to have no equal on a racetrack. His career however was as brief as his star was bright, having taken the strain of chasing history's Triple Crown elite for a share of their glory. Never crowned a champion, every race he ran was championship level, including his last, gallant start; and the only one he lost.
Majestic Prince was bred by Leslie Combs at his Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. In tail-male line, he was a fifth generation descendant of Sickle (GB). The son of Phalaris (GB), out of the Chaucer (GB) mare Selene (GB), Sickle was a top quality racer, among the best two-year-olds of 1926, and third place finisher in the following year's Two Thousand Guineas. After limited success as a stallion in England, he came to the United States, becoming a pivotal sire. Moving a few generations after Sickle, Majestic Prince was a paternal grandson of Native Dancer.
Sire - Raise a Native - Chestnut Colt -- b. 1961
Raise a Native, by the great Native Dancer, was out of the black-type winning mare Raise You, by black-type winner Case Ace. Raise a Native was an extremely fast colt, so good that despite making only four career starts, he bested or equaled the track record in three of them. After suffering a tendon injury, Raise a Native was retired and began his second career as a phenomenal sire. Of his 863 foals to race, 77 were black-type winners and his overall progeny earnings were in excess of $20 million.
Among Raise a Native's children was Exclusive Native, born in 1965, out of the mare Exclusive, by Kentucky Derby/Belmont Stakes winner Shut Out. Bred in Florida, Exclusive Native was a stakes winning or placed chestnut colt, victorious in the Sanford Stakes at age two, and one mile Arlington Classic Stakes as a three-year-old. Exclusive Native was the sire of Triple Crown winner Affirmed and Derby winner and champion Genuine Risk.
Dam - Gay Hostess -- Chestnut mare -- b.1957
Bred in Kentucky, Gay Hostess was unraced. Heavily inbred, top and bottom, she was a daughter of the group winner and great stallion Royal Charger (GB), out of the Alibhai (GB) stakes placed mare Your Hostess. In 1963, Gay Hostess produced the filly Lovely Gypsy, a black-type winner by Armageddon, and in 1969 foaled the chestnut colt Cairo Prince, by Raise a Native, and a group winner in England.
When first bred to Raise a Native, Gay Hostess gave birth to a male foal, on March 19, 1966. A handsome chestnut colt, with two rear socks, he became Majestic Prince. Through the dam, he was inbred 5Dx5D to English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough (GB), and Bleinheim II (GB), an Epsom Derby winner, who later distinguished himself in America, siring Calumet Farm's Triple Crown winner Whirlaway and two-time champion Coaltown.
The yearling, Majestic Prince, was bought at a Keeneland auction for $250,000, a record amount at the time, and gained instant notoriety, generating high anticipation about his potential as a racehorse. His new owner was Frank McMahon, a Canadian multimillionaire, who had made his fortune in the oil industry.
The two-year-old
Majestic Prince was trained by Johnny Longden, the former jockey, who had retired after amassing a previous all-time record 6,032 career victories, including the Triple Crown aboard Count Fleet, in 1943. Bill Hartack would be the Prince's only rider. On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1968, Majestic Prince made his anxiously awaited debut in a six furlong test among eleven other juvenile maidens at Bay Meadows, offering a $4,000 purse. With over 14,000 watching, the young colt easily put away his rivals, crossing the finish line with a two and three-quarter length margin, in a sharp time of 1:09 2/5.
Majestic Prince was scheduled to make his next start in Bay Meadows' $20,000 added San Mateo Stakes on December 7, a one mile prep for the $50,000 added Bay Meadows Juvenile Championship; however, Longden decided to ship his charge to the Southland for the races at Santa Anita. On the track's opening day, December 26, Majestic Prince was entered in the fifth of nine races, a six furlong allowance worth $6,000. He would tentatively face fifteen others and carry high weight of 120 pounds, giving three to eight pounds.
The public bet Majestic Prince down to 3-5, and he won by a nose over Right Cross in a time of 1:13, to earn $3,300. In post three of eight, Majestic Prince had a dull break and was the sixth runner in line, as Track Surveyor began the proceedings. Majestic Prince was two lengths back after a quarter in :22 3/5, but eventually found his rhythm and caught the leader in the far turn. He was briefly passed by Salud Y Pesetas in mid-stretch, and with encouragement from Hartack re-gained the lead, persevering when challenged late by Right Cross, who was charging from the outside, under Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Turning three-years-old in just a matter of days, Majestic Prince had enjoyed early success in addition to earning a little money, in the amount of $5,500. As good as he seemed to be, the two non-stakes starts were insufficient for any post-season award. Racing in the East was a small chestnut Florida-bred named Top Knight. Trained by Ray Metcalf, Top Knight had won or placed in eight of his nine juvenile starts, including wins in Saratoga's Hopeful, and Belmont Park's Futurity and Champagne Stakes, and was named the two-year-old champion male.
With his reputation growing, Majestic Prince would soon have a much busier, and monumental campaign in 1969, which included meetings with Top Knight.
Superior
On January 7, 1969, the sophomore, Majestic Prince, started in his first stakes contest, the 6 1/2 furlong Los Feliz Stakes, at Santa Anita, for an added $20,000. When the gates opened, he was off quickly, matched early strides with Right Cross, while being rated by Hartack. The quarter was cut in :22, with Right Cross staying with him through a half in :44 3/5. Majestic Prince took a commanding lead in the stretch, the three-quarters polished off in 1:09 2/5, and drew away to the finish with a four length winning margin. His time of 1:16 1/5 equaled Royal Orbit's record set ten years earlier, and he picked up a $14,500 paycheck. Following the runner-up, Right Cross, was Salud Y Pesetas, another five lengths back.
In February Majestic Prince easily captured both Santa Anita's seven furlong San Vincente by five lengths, and one mile San Jacinto Stakes by four, the latter over duel stakes winner Mr. Joe F.
Longden's praise
Longden gushed over his protege. And who could blame him? The colt had five consecutive wins, the last three in stakes company, with most of his victories coming with wide margins and remarkable ease. Johnny was comparing him to Count Fleet, extremely high praise for a horse who hadn't yet stepped onto the national stage. But Majestic Prince appeared to have all the tools necessary to become a great horse. He was fast, powerful, spirited, and his incredible good looks enhanced his appeal.
Between the San Jacinto and his next start, the Santa Anita Derby, Majestic Prince worked a mile in 1:34 and change on a fast, sealed track.
Big test
On March 29, Majestic Prince faced his biggest test yet, in the 32nd running of the Santa Anita Derby. The 1 1/8 mile run had a field of ten, each carrying 120 pounds, with Majestic Prince a 1-5 favorite. Rated during the race behind the leaders but well placed, Majestic Prince passed Mr. Joe F and Right Cross in the final turn and merely galloped toward the wire, in an eight length romp, in front of 48,000 spectators. The margin was the biggest in the race's history, as he stopped the clock in 1:49 1/5. With a purse of $132,000, the winner earned $87,200.
On the opposite coast that same afternoon, champion Top Knight, under Manny Ycaza, ran off with the 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby by five lengths, in 1:48 2/5. Finishing second, among the small field of five, was the Virginia-bred Arts and Letters, owned and bred by Paul Mellon's Rokeby Stables, and sired by the 1950s European superhorse and duel Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ribot (GB).
Top Knight, by Vertex, out of Ran--Tan, by Summer Tan, started his sophomore season on February 5 with a win in a division of the seven furlong Bahamas Stakes at Hialeah; however, he was disqualified and put third. Two weeks later he finished second, among twelve entries, three lengths to the rear of Arts and Letters in the 1 1/8 mile Everglades, then turned the tables on that horse on March 4 in the Flamingo Stakes, also in a field of twelve, two lengths to the good of his rival. Metcalf wasn't sure yet if he'd run his colt in one more prep race, the Wood Memorial, or train up to the Derby, then elected to train.
Stepping up
Majestic Prince was now going back to his Kentucky birthplace and run in either Keeneland's 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes on April 24, or the seven furlong Stepping Stone Purse two days later, on the first day of the Churchill Downs meet. On the day of the Blue Grass he covered four furlongs in :46 1/5, and galloped out another furlong to finish the work in :58 2/5. He started in the Stepping Stone, which was probably a wise choice. In a visually stunning performance, against only two hapless rivals, the Prince won by a half dozen lengths, in 1:21 3/5, just a tick shy of the track record. Fast Hilarious was next, and Texas Dancer, who had initially held a brief lead, finished a distant third, twenty-one lengths behind Majestic Prince.
The winner of the Blue Grass, by fifteen lengths, was Arts and Letters, under Bill Shoemaker.
Majestic Prince's next start was the Kentucky Derby on May 3 where he would finally meet up with Top Knight, Arts and Letters, and five others, including the Gotham and Wood Memorial winner Dike, a son of Herbager (FR.), out of the Nasrullah (GB) mare Delta.
The 95th running of the "greatest two minutes in sports" had eight entries. It was a small field but a tough one, with Majestic Prince going off at 6-5, and Top Knight 9-5. Majestic Prince, 16.1 hands and 1,120 pounds, was fit and ready to go. His odds fluctuated slightly, going to 7-5. Braulio Baeza would ride Top Knight, replacing the injured Bill Shoemaker. The purse was $155,700 and the winner's share $113,200.
A horse race
The track was fast as 100,000 people watched the field sent off with Ocean Roar taking the lead, followed by Arts and Letters. Top Knight was next on the inside, with Majestic Prince in fourth. Ocean Roar increased his advantage to four lengths heading for the clubhouse turn. Entering the backstretch Ocean Roar maintained his lead but eventually was challenged by Top Knight, who took command nearing the far turn. Majestic Prince had kept in third or fourth most of the way but in striking position. As they turned into the stretch, Arts and Letters slipped through on the inside and took a slight lead as Majestic Prince moved into second, and Dike, who had gradually improved his situation from way back, now advanced to third, with Top Knight retreating to fourth. Majestic Prince was quickly even with the new leader and in the stretch was between Arts and Letters and Dike. The three horses charged down the lane toward the wire with Majestic Prince holding a slight advantage. When they crossed the finish, Majestic Prince was in front by a neck with Arts and Letters next, and Dike another half length behind. In back of Dike was Traffic Mark, Top Knight, Ocean Roar, Fleet Allied, and Rae Jet. The finishing time was 2:01 4/5, after fractions in :23 3/5, :48, 1:12 2/5, and 1:37 3/5. For one of the few times in his career, Majestic Prince had been in a horse race.
Many tried to explain Majestic Prince's success and the others' failure: Shoemaker's absence from Arts and Letters, Ycaza's ride on Top Knight, the five week gap between Top Knight's last prep and the Derby, the distance, the surface conditions. One individual was so sure his horse would beat the Prince next time that he was willing to bet thousands of dollars, even though the horse had lost by more than ten lengths. The big disappointment was Top Knight.
Longden didn't feel that Majestic Prince had peaked in the Derby, and would do better in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore. Off the track he was a very laid back horse.
Act II
In two short weeks Majestic Prince would have to prove himself all over again, but for now, he was the best three-year-old in the country. He was versatile, could win under various scenarios, could be on or near the pace or off. He had been successful over various surface conditions, and had won from six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. The Prince had also become the first racer since Morvich in 1922 to win the Derby while undefeated. He now had the opportunity to be the first in history to take the Derby and Preakness as an unbeaten horse.
Arts and Letters and Top Knight were also heading to Maryland for another crack at Majestic Prince. Other probable starters included the multiple stakes winner Al Hattab, among his victories the Fountain of Youth; Jay Ray, winner of the California Derby; Greengrass Greene, Captain Action, and Glad's Theme.
Two days before the Preakness, Majestic Prince worked a half in :45 flat, very close to the world record. Top Knight worked his half in :46 and change, and Jay Ray worked three furlongs in :35 and change. Arts and Letters, who went six furlongs on Wednesday, galloped on Thursday.
On May 17 more than 43,000 spectators showed up to witness the Preakness, offering a purse of $182,000, with the winner earning $129,500. From the rail out was Top Knight, Captain Action, Glad's Flame, Jay Ray, Majestic Prince, Arts and Letters, Al Hattab, and Greengrass Greene. The track was fast, and the field got away in good order with Majestic Prince, Greengrass Greene and Glad's Flame leaving first. Greengrass Greene seized the lead with Glad's Flame close by, and as they made their way past the stands for the first time, these two separated themselves, with Top Knight, Majestic Prince, and Al Hattab next. Heading into the clubhouse turn, there was no change with Greengrass Greene and Glad's Flame hooked up, five lengths ahead of the next pair, Majestic Prince and Top Knight. As they continued down the backstretch Majestic Prince moved inside and held a slight advantage over Top Knight. Six furlongs were covered in 1:11 2/5, and entering the far turn Majestic Prince closed in on the two leaders on their outside, putting his head in front in the stretch. Glad's Flame backed out of it but Greengrass Greene stubbornly held second. Top Knight was still in contention. Arts and Letters, who had been much farther back along with Jay Ray, now rallied from way out on the track. As the horses charged home, Arts and Letters had taken second, driving toward the new leader and Jay Ray was also closing fast. Arts and Letters kept at it, getting closer to Majestic Prince, but once again he wasn't going to win the argument as Majestic Prince crossed over first, followed by Arts and Letters, just a head back. In third, four lengths behind the runner-up, was Jay Ray, who in turn was four lengths to the good of Top Knight. Greengrass Greene, Captain Action, and Glad's Flame followed. The winning time of 1:55 3/5 was a full second off Nashua's record mark set in 1955.
Majestic Prince wasn't declared the winner for twenty-five minutes as the stewards deliberated on an interference claim by Baeza, who felt Hartack and his mount impeded Arts and Letters around the first turn. The order was left alone and Majestic Prince, the first undefeated horse in history to win both the Derby and Preakness, now had a chance for the first sweep in twenty-one years.
To run or not to run
The rigors of a long, busy campaign were beginning to catch up to Majestic Prince. He had lost about one hundred pounds, and was fatigued. Longden felt that horses who had run in tough Derby and Preakness races, and returned in the Belmont Stakes, were never at their best again.
Longden could become the first person to win the Triple Crown as both a jockey and a trainer, but he wasn't about to put glory ahead of his horse's best interests. Majestic Prince was the only thing that mattered, and he wanted to take the colt to his ranch in Riverside, California for a rest before resuming his campaign in late summer or fall. The day after the Preakness, the trainer announced that Majestic Prince would not run in the Belmont Stakes. At first McMahon went along with him, although with less decisiveness.
It was suggested to Longden that some may think he was holding his colt out of the race for fear of a drop in his value should he lose. He scoffed at the idea, and was considering races later in the year, namely the 1 1/8 mile American Derby at Arlington, with a $100,000 purse, and perhaps an East Coast race. Both Majestic Prince and Arts and Letters had also been asked to the $100,000 Monmouth Invitational on August 2.
On Thursday, May 22, Majestic Prince fell asleep on the job--literally--and missed his scheduled gallop, showing up for work later that morning. Longden usually exercised the horse himself, but today it was Larry Adams. It appeared he would run in the Belmont Stakes after all, pending his condition, but so far all systems were go.
Highest standard
If Majestic Prince ran in the Belmont Stakes, he could become the first American Triple Crown winner since Citation, and emulate the great horse from Calumet Farm after others had failed. But the Belmont Stakes was a race Majestic Prince would have been better off bypassing.
A formidable adversary
In the end, Longden did not get his way. McMahon reconsidered and decided if Majestic Prince could run, he would. A Triple Crown was not an easy prospect to resist. Elliott Burch, the trainer of Arts and Letters, had already won the Belmont Stakes in 1959 with eventual Horse of the Year Sword Dancer. He won the race again five years later when Quadrangle spoiled Northern Dancer's bid for the classic sweep. Now it was Arts and Letters who would have an opportunity to be a spoiler. Arts and Letters was no pushover as Majestic Prince had already found out. The little horse, who stood only 15.2 hands, had fighting genes in him. His sire, Ribot, was a fierce competitor and later as a stallion developed quite a temper, requiring strong handling. But with his fire, Ribot retired undefeated in sixteen starts. The broodmare sire of Arts and Letters was the champion Battlefield, a racehorse with a huge heart, who always dug in. A descendent of Man o'War, Battlefield was inbred 4Sx4D to the notoriously irascible Hastings. Battlefield was always ready for a fight, and his opponents knew it, including the great handicap horse Tom Fool.
Sword Dancer had won the one mile Metropolitan Handicap prior to the Belmont, and Quadrangle had finished second in the Met. One week before the Belmont, Arts and Letters had won it over older horses, in a good time of 1:34. If history repeated itself, Arts and Letters could have the final say.
On Sunday, June 1, Majestic Prince worked 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 4/5, and 1 1/2 miles in 2:36 1/5 with Longden aboard for the drill. Two days before the race, Majestic Prince breezed four furlongs in :45 4/5, before a 5/8 finish in :59. Arts and Letters covered the same distance in a sharp :45 1/5, while easing off five in a torrid :57 3/5, and a six furlong gallop in 1:11.
Test of the Champion
Six runners, Arts and Letters, Dike, Rooney's Shield, Prime Fool, Distray, and Majestic Prince lined up for the 101st running of the Belmont Stakes, on June 7, 1969. The contest was for a purse of $125,000 added for a total of $147,800.
Arts and Letters was in post position one with Majestic Prince in post three. When the gate opened Arts and Letters and Dike were the quickest to leave and they assumed control of what was to be an extremely slow pace, so slow that Dike, a typical closer, was intially out in front, until challenged by Arts and Letters. Majestic Prince was further back. The complexion of the contest did not change and Arts and Letters called the shots, never extending himself as Baeza kept the horse steady and relaxed. Arts and Letters was firmly in command four furlongs out, and began drawing away in deep stretch as Majestic Prince made a strong closing rush, sailing past Dike; but he couldn't make up his early deficit and had no chance of running down the eventual winner who hit the finish with a five and a half length margin. Majestic Prince, suffering the first defeat of his career, arrived next, two lengths ahead of Dike who was ten lengths ahead of the next horse, the longshot Distray. Rooney's Shield and Prime Fool completed the group.
For Arts and Letters it was vindication after his close calls to Majestic Prince in the first two legs, and he took away $104,050. His finishing time was 2:28 4/5, well off the stakes and track record set by Gallant Man (GB) in 1957, after dawdling fractions of :51 for the quarter, 1:16 1/5 for six furlongs, 1:40 1/5 for the mile, and 2:04 2/5 for ten furlongs. Arts and Letters had taken his time, until two furlongs out, when he flew home in :24 1/5.
Burch had won his third Belmont Stakes, and so did Baeza, who had previously been aboard Sherluck in 1961, and Chateaugay in 1963.
Questions
The general opinion was that Majestic Prince lost the race because Hartack had kept the horse too far back despite such a slow pace. Baeza alluded to this rather saracastically. Eddie Arcaro, the only jockey to win a Triple Crown on two different horses (Whirlaway, Citation), and currently a television commentator, was exasperated that Majestic Prince had been stuck so far behind when the going was so slow. Majestic Prince was not a one-dimensional runner and could adjust to a variety of scenarios. Longden didn't blame his rider, although conceded that perhaps the horse shouldn't have been back as far as he was. By the time he got going, Arts and Letters was too far ahead to catch.
Both Majestic Prince and Arts and Letters would get a break and resume racing later in the year. For Arts and Letters the Belmont victory was only the beginning of a whirlwind run toward year-end honors. Two months later, on August 8, he returned with a ten length win in the one mile Jim Dandy, and two weeks after that captured the 1 1/4 mile Travers Stakes by more than six lengths. Arts and Letters later took on older horses again, in the 1 1/4 mile Woodward Stakes, winning by two lengths, before a romp in the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup by a staggering fourteen for his sixth straight win.
Majestic Prince never raced again.
Aftermath
Majestic Prince developed inflammation in both his front ankles. Longden had suspected something was amiss even during the Preakness when the colt bore out. The treatment of choice was "pin firing." In November the horse began to gallop but still endured splint and knee problems, making his racing future dubious.
On February 25, 1970, the retirement of the great Majestic Prince was announced, due to leg and ankle maladies. He would now return to Kentucky and Spendthrift Farm, but not before he was paraded in a final appearance at Santa Anita on February 28.
Majestic Prince had won nine of ten races, including two-thirds of the Triple Crown. His only blemish was a courageous second in the Belmont Stakes, after a questionable trip. He had earned $408,700 in his three-year-old season, and a career total of $414,200. Although his spring campaign had been spectacular, he did not win a championship. Arts and Letters had deservedly collected both a divisional title and Horse of the Year honors.
Majestic Prince at stud
At Spendthrift, Majestic Prince sired 32 stakes winners, with overall progeny earnings exceeding $10 million. Among his offspring were Belmont Stakes winner Coastal, and multiple graded stakes winners Sensitive Prince, and Eternal Prince. Other notable progeny were the chestnut gelding Prince Majestic and chestnut colt Majestic Shore, both multiple stakes winning or placed runners. Majestic Prince's finest son was Majestic Light, a grade one and multiple stakes winner on dirt and turf, and later the sire of 69 stakes winners, including Prince True, San Juan Capistrano Invitational and Cinema Handicaps; Hidden Light, Santa Anita, Hollywood, and Del Mar Oaks; gelding Solar Splendor, Man o'War Stakes twice; and Lite Light, Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Santa Anita Oaks. Eclipse champion two-year-old male Maria's Mon, and his sons, Kentucky Derby winners Monarchos and Super Saver, trace in tail-male line to Majestic Prince through Majestic Light's son Wavering Monarch.
Goodbye, dear Majestic Prince
Majestic Prince didn't have a chance to live a full life. On April 22, 1981, the magnificent horse, only fifteen-years-old, passed away, apparently from a heart attack. In 1988, he was posthumously inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. It was the perfect tribute, and his sport is so much the better for the achievements and contributions he made to it.
Majestic Prince always raced like a champion. It is strongly hoped that what he did, forty-five-years ago, is still locked away in the memories and hearts of those who were fortunate to see him. The laid back horse, with the easy spirit, rests happily with his fellow racing greats.
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A.P., "Majestic Prince Stalks Preakness," Sarasota Journal, May 14, 1969, p. 22, col. 4, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1798&dat=19690513&id=L_geAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MIwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7290,2258423.
Daily Racing Form, The American Racing Manual 1992, pp. 714, 783.
A.P., "Majestic Prince Preakness Ready," Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian, May 16, 1969, p. 12, col. 6, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19690515&id=FsUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n9gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=866,4961657
A.P., "Majestic Prince Triumphs; Derby Winner Takes Preakness," The News and Courier, May 18, 1969, p. 1-B, col. 6, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2506&dat=19690518&id=omBJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QQoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=720,4628533.
A.P., "Interference Charge Disallowed," The News and Courier, May 18, 1969, p. 1-B, col. 2, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2506&dat=19690518&id=omBJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QQoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=720,4628533.
A.P., "Majestic Prince May Not Compete In Belmont Stakes," Observer-Reporter, May 19, 1969, p. C-7, col. 2, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19690519&id=cnFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sWENAAAAIBAJ&pg=2219,2117034.
A.P., "Majestic Prince to Skip Belmont Stakes," Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian, May 19, 1969, p. 11, col. 2, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19690517&id=F8UfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n9gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3313,5139982.
A.P., "Majestic Prince Ruled Out of Belmont," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 19, 1969, p. 32, col. 2, p. 36, col. 2, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19690519&printsec=frontpage&hl=en.
A.P., "Majestic Prince Johnny's Greatest Concern," The Spokesman-Review, May 20, 1969, p. 14, col. 2, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19690520&id=X7lWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5963,1874181.
U.P.I., "Majestic Prince Works Out In N.Y.," Palm Beach Post, May 23, 1969, p. 29, col. 5, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1964&dat=19690522&id=W8AiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VLYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4135,8034154.
U.P.I., "Majestic Prince Takes It Easy," The Pittsburgh Press, June 2, 1969, p. 44, col. 3, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19690602&id=5dEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HVEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1630,1680531.
Shirley Povich (Special To The Times From The Washington Post), "Majestic Prince Could Climb Belmont's Last Uphill Quarter," St. Petersburg Times, June 6, 1969, p. 4-C, col. 4, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19690606&id=YMpaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0XsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6849,4364269.
Dwight Chapin (The Los Angeles Times), "Can Majestic Prince Stand Comparison With Citation?" The Tuscaloosa News, June 6, 1969, p. 6, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19690606&id=lV80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=B5wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7267,1405319.
"Ribot," bookmakers1.com, http://www.bookmakers1.com/ribot.html.
"Ribot (horse)," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribot_(horse).
Ed Schuylter, Jr., "Majestic Prince Faces Test of the Champion Saturday," The Day, June 6, 1969, p. 19, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19690606&id=iNlGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RvgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2203,951137.
A.P., "Majestic Prince's Bid Is Shattered," Spartanburg Herald-Journal, June 8, 1969, p. B-1, col. 3, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19690606&id=43ssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2cwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7029,1082370.
A.P., "Longden 'Knew It' After A Half-Mile," The Herald-Journal, June 8, 1969, p. 1-B, col. 6, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=19690608&id=UTwgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NmYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7228,1869338.
A.P., "Can Majestic Prince regain form in fall?" Rome News-Tribune, June 9, 1969, p. 7, col. 6, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19690609&id=MUkvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pDEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6986,5450786.
A.P., "Majestic Prince Out for Season," Free Lance-Star, June 23, 1969, p. 16, col. 4, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=9fRKRCJz75UC&dat=19690623&printsec=frontpage&hl=en.
A.P., "Majestic Prince's Racing Days Over," The Victoria Advocate, February 26, 1970, p. 2B, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19700226&id=7_xHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xoAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=7034,3888065.
AP., "Majestic Prince Is To Be Retired," Spartanburg Herald, February 26, 1970, p. 38, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19700226&id=kDssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BswEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7299,4842475.
Blood-Horse Staff, "Top Sire Majestic Light Dies at Age 27," Blood-Horse, July 12, 2000, http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/390/top-sire-majestic-light-dies-at-age-27.
"Prince True," Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/prince+true.
"Hidden Light," Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/hidden+light.
"Solar Splendor," Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/solar+splendor.
"Lite Light," Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/lite+light.
"Wavering Monarch," Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/wavering+monarch.
"Maria's Mon," equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=1401243®istry=T&horse_name=Maria%27s%20Mon&dam_name=Carlotta%20Maria&foaling_year=1993&nicking_stats_indicator=Y##.
Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009 (Lexington, KY: Thoroughbred Times Books, 2008) pp. 95, 290, 293, 304, 340, 346, 367, 386, 437, 440, 446.
"Hall Of Fame, Thoroughbred Race Horses," National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame, http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/Horses.asp?varsort=name.
Copyright 2014 by John Califano
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