PART TWO: STARTING GATE
The man and his little horse
Northern Dancer was bred and owned by Edward Plunkett Taylor, the most prominent businessman in Canada, who ran five major industries through his Argus Corporation. A previous home-bred of Taylor's,Victoria Park, had run third in the 1960 Kentucky Derby. In 1962, when Northern Dancer was a yearling, standing under fifteen hands, Taylor tried to sell him for $25,000. Nobody was interested. The owner and his horse returned home, no one knowing at the time that arguably the greatest bargain in Thoroughbred history had been passed up.
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Taylor's horse enterprise consisted of the National Stud Farm in Oshawa, and racing operation at Windfields Farm in Toronto. He also had a Windfields operation in Maryland. Taylor was the primary force behind the rejuvenation of what had been a struggling Canadian racing condition.
Early training and off to the races
Northern Dancer was short but sturdily built and compact. He would be conditioned by the Argentine Huratio Luro and his assistant, Peaches Fleming. A heel problem delayed the juvenile's early training and he finally had his first breeze in early June at Woodbine, a respectable three-furlong work. With exercise rider Ramon Hernandez on his back, Northern Dancer had his first gate drill the following month, and it was here that his natural disposition and running style surfaced. Northern Dancer made it clear he didn't like being touched with a whip. Hernandez did just that and the young colt was off to the races, hell bent for leather, moving at racehorse speed. He was subsequently sent to Fort Erie and drilled again a week later. Precocious and green, Northern Dancer was amazingly quick out of the gate, and covered four furlongs in a tick under the track record.
He made his first three starts at Fort Erie, beginning on August 2, 1963 in a restricted 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight for Canadian-breds. Donning the turquoise and gold silks of Windfields Farm, he faced seven other juveniles, breaking from post seven with Canadian Ron Turcotte aboard. The jockey was told not to use the whip. The colt was close to the pace through five furlongs, when a half furlong out Turcotte lightly touched the horse with his whip. The response was immediate and Northern Dancer took off, drawing well clear of the others, and hitting the wire eight lengths in front. The finishing time was 1:06 1/5.
Paul Bohenko got the call on Northern Dancer for his next two races, starting with the 6 1/2 furlong Vandal Stakes on August 17. Turcotte was aboard Ramblin' Road, an excellent, experienced runner, who under 122 would give Northern Dancer thirteen pounds. In a field of eleven, Northern Dancer, carrying a feathery 109, left post five, dueled with Brockton Boy, under 115, for the lead through roughly six furlongs, cutting out fractions of :23 1/5, :46 4/5, and 1:12 2/5, before running out of steam. Both horses were then passed by Ramblin' Road who had expanded his margin to four lengths when he crossed the wire in 1:19. Northern Dancer was next after winning his skirmish with Brockton Boy who arrived third, another two and a half lengths back.
Early training and off to the races
Northern Dancer was short but sturdily built and compact. He would be conditioned by the Argentine Huratio Luro and his assistant, Peaches Fleming. A heel problem delayed the juvenile's early training and he finally had his first breeze in early June at Woodbine, a respectable three-furlong work. With exercise rider Ramon Hernandez on his back, Northern Dancer had his first gate drill the following month, and it was here that his natural disposition and running style surfaced. Northern Dancer made it clear he didn't like being touched with a whip. Hernandez did just that and the young colt was off to the races, hell bent for leather, moving at racehorse speed. He was subsequently sent to Fort Erie and drilled again a week later. Precocious and green, Northern Dancer was amazingly quick out of the gate, and covered four furlongs in a tick under the track record.
He made his first three starts at Fort Erie, beginning on August 2, 1963 in a restricted 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight for Canadian-breds. Donning the turquoise and gold silks of Windfields Farm, he faced seven other juveniles, breaking from post seven with Canadian Ron Turcotte aboard. The jockey was told not to use the whip. The colt was close to the pace through five furlongs, when a half furlong out Turcotte lightly touched the horse with his whip. The response was immediate and Northern Dancer took off, drawing well clear of the others, and hitting the wire eight lengths in front. The finishing time was 1:06 1/5.
Paul Bohenko got the call on Northern Dancer for his next two races, starting with the 6 1/2 furlong Vandal Stakes on August 17. Turcotte was aboard Ramblin' Road, an excellent, experienced runner, who under 122 would give Northern Dancer thirteen pounds. In a field of eleven, Northern Dancer, carrying a feathery 109, left post five, dueled with Brockton Boy, under 115, for the lead through roughly six furlongs, cutting out fractions of :23 1/5, :46 4/5, and 1:12 2/5, before running out of steam. Both horses were then passed by Ramblin' Road who had expanded his margin to four lengths when he crossed the wire in 1:19. Northern Dancer was next after winning his skirmish with Brockton Boy who arrived third, another two and a half lengths back.
Northern Dancer made his third start one week later in the one mile Summer Stakes, the colt's first of two races on turf. He broke first but then had difficulty negotiating the soft ground. He maintained his hard pressed lead to the wire with a 1 1/4 length margin over Slithering at equal weights of 115. His finishing time was an understandably pedestrian 1:43 2/5. It had been an impressive effort, considering the conditions.
Northern Dancer was again entered in a turf race on September 28 at Woodbine. It would also be the first time he traveled over a mile. The contest was the restricted 1 1/16 mile Cup and Saucer, with a field of sixteen, on a firm course. Turcotte was back on the horse, assigned 124 pounds, and the pair contested the pace, grabbed a slight lead at six furlongs, then grudgingly relinquished it to the relatively obscure Grand Garcon, under 113, who won by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:45 3/5.
Three more restricted starts were scheduled for Northern Dancer, starting with a one mile, seventy yard allowance on October 7, followed five days later with the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity, both at Woodbine, and in early November the seven furlong Carleton at Greenwood in Toronto. Northern Dancer swept all three, his winning margin in the Coronation more than six lengths against fourteen others, and the victory in the Carleton on a muddy track.
Having asserted himself as the best two-year-old in Canada, Northern Dancer next traveled to Aqueduct and prevailed in his final two starts of 1963, under Manuel Ycaza. Entered in a one mile allowance, called the Sir Gaylord Purse, he was given co-high weight of 124 pounds along with Belmont's Futurity winner Bupers, a son of black-type winner Double Jay, out of the War Admiral stakes winning mare Busanda, who in April had foaled a bay colt given the name Buckpasser. Northern Dancer romped home by eight lengths with Bupers next. Again assigned 124 for the one mile Remsen Stakes, Northern Dancer won by two lengths, giving the runner-up and third horse twelve and seven pounds respectively.
Rest and patch work
Northern Dancer's two-year-old season was over. He had made nine starts, posted seven wins, two seconds, and earned $90,635, while always breaking quick to eagerly contend the pace. But there had also been a downside. In addition to the earlier heel condition, he had started developing a quarter crack. The colt would now get more than two months rest and point for a busy sophomore campaign. During the recess, Luro would have a farrier apply a special patch to protect the hoof.
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Still a youngster at threeOn January 1, 1964, Northern Dancer turned three-years-old, per the Thoroughbred calendar, although he was still biologically two until late May. He was one of the youngest horses among his crop, and probably the best.
The first three races of the colt's three-year-old season would take place at the Hialeah racetrack in Miami, Florida, beginning on February 10, with a six furlong allowance, among a field of seven, on a track labeled fast. Bobby Ussery was in the irons, and Northern Dancer broke from post two; but his trip was compromised after first getting hit by Bazaar at the break. Ussery had to drop him back to last, then steered him over to the rail, but as the race progressed Northern Dancer had no room to run. The previous year's Cowdin Stakes winner, Chieftain, a son of Bold Ruler, was all out to beat Mom's Request by a head, with Northern Dancer two lengths behind in third.
Two weeks later, Luro got a seven furlong contest he had actually wanted for Northern Dancer in his previous start. Bill Shoemaker would ride and the colt turned the tables on Chieftain, defeating his rival by seven lengths at equal weights. The race, deemed a Special Weight, was only an exhibition, with no purse or wagering, and Trader was the only other runner. Although it didn't count on Northern Dancer's record, a win was still a win, and he had looked impressive, stopping the clock in 1:23 2/5 on a track that was only "good."
Playing for keeps
On March 3, 32,000 spectators showed up to see Northern Dancer put to the test in the 1 1/8 mile Flamingo Stakes against a solid field of ten other three-year-olds, that included Mr. Brick, a speedy front-running sort. The small Florida-bred bay gelding Roman Brother, although lacking notoriety, was a steady, consistently good runner. There was also Ishkoodah, another Florida-bred and son of 1956 Kentucky Derby/Belmont Stakes winner and champion Needles. If the pace was lively, Ishkoodah's stretch running style could be to his advantage. The other horse in the field was another relative unknown named Quadrangle, owned by Paul Mellon's Rokeby Stable and bred in Virginia. The consensus seemed to be that Quadrangle would be in the money. They were running for the winner's share of a $138,200 purse and with Shoemaker staying aboard, Northern Dancer was at even odds.
When the group left the gate, Mr. Brick got the jump, with Northern Dancer tracking. In the stretch the Nearctic colt took the lead for keeps, with his winning margin two lengths. Mr. Brick was next, followed by Quadrangle, Journalist, and a dead heat for fifth between Roman Brother and Dandy K. The winner checked in with a time of 1:47 4/5, just four ticks off Bold Ruler's track and stakes record set seven years earlier. Northern Dancer pocketed $89,830 to bring his career total to $180,865.
Heading to stardom
Northern Dancer raced again four weeks later, on March 28, cutting back to seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park. Ycaza would ride again, and the pair faced six rivals. The allowance contest was known as the Mrs. Florida Purse, and Northern Dancer carried high weight of 122 pounds. Offering a modest purse of $6,000, he broke fifth, but after four furlongs was second, then took charge going into the stretch, extending his lead to three lengths before adding another length at the wire. After way-station clockings of :22, :44 3/5, and three-quarters in 1:09 3/5, Northern Dancer stopped the clock in 1:22 2/5 equaling the track record. The runner-up was The Scoundrel, a California-bred chestnut colt, trained by Rex Ellsworth, the man who had conditioned Swaps. Trailing The Scoundrel by two and three-quarter lengths was Troy Our Boy.
High profile
Northern Dancer continued to race without any significant spacing between starts. Only a week after his allowance win, he contested Gulfstream Park's thirteenth running of the 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby, along with The Scoundrel. Shoemaker was again on Northern Dancer in a field of eight, with his mount breaking from the rail. The purse was $116,500.
A crowd of 30,000 watched Greek Episode set a tepid pace, with a quarter in :23 2/5, and half in :47 3/5. Northern Dancer sat in third, then advanced one position with six furlongs covered in 1:12 1/5. With a mile run in 1:38, the Canadian took the lead leaving the backstretch. As he made his way to the finish, The Scoundrel, under Henry Moreno, was closing well but unable to reach the leader, once again having to settle for second, as Northern Dancer prevailed by a length in a time of 1:50 4/5. Dandy K crossed in third, followed by Roman Brother, Greek Episode, Ky. Pioneer, Ishkoodah, and Saltville.
Northern Dancer's growing high profile had made him one of the heavy favorites for the Kentucky Derby; but he would first go to Keeneland for one more prep.
Thus far in his career Northern Dancer had been ridden by six different jockeys, not a good situation for any horse, especially one of this caliber. Shoemaker decided to jump off Northern Dancer in favor of another California-bred with a glowing reputation, but a horse he had never ridden. His name was Hill Rise, a big, beautiful bay son of black-type winner Hillary, out of the Russia II (AUS) mare Red Curtain. Shoemaker had seen Hill Rise and felt he was the better choice to win the 1 1/4 mile "run for the roses." Luro had to engage the services of a seventh jockey for his little colt, but this wasn't any ordinary rider, and for the duration of Northern Dancer's race career, he would team with Bill Hartack, already a three-time Derby winner. Hartack had won in 1957 on Iron Liege, with Venetian Way in 1960, and aboard Decidedly in 1962. Ironically, Luro had trained Decidedly, who was owned and bred by George Pope's El Peco Ranch. Pope also owned Hill Rise.
Keeping momentum
On April 23 Northern Dancer made his sixth start of the year in Keeneland's 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes, among a small field of five horses, a race Decidedly had won in route to his Derby victory.
Besides Northern Dancer, other entries were Arkansas Derby winner Prince Davelle, and Saltville, who had lost previously to Northern Dancer. Saltville was owned by Darby Dan, the group who also campaigned the previous year's duel classic winner and three-year-old champion male Chateaugay. Royal Shuck, the Arkansas Derby runner-up, was also in, as was Allan Adair. Northern Dancer was assigned the classic weight of 126 pounds, with Prince Davelle at 123, and the others under 121. Northern Dancer won by a half length over late driving Allan Adair, with the win easier than the margin might have suggested.
Beginning in Canada, less than nine months earlier, and continuing in the Lower '48, Northern Dancer had amassed eleven wins in fourteen starts, with two runner-up finishes, and a third. It was now time for the colt to show a national and international audience what a Canadian was really capable of. And show them he would with a performance that could only be described as monumental.
To be continued...
Bibliography
Orlo Robertson, "Success of Northern Dancer Brings Popularity to Owner," Reading Eagle, July 5, 1964, p. 39, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19640705&id=K7YhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MJ0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5587,1974476.
Muriel Lennox, Northern Dancer; The Legend and His Legacy (Toronto, ON: Beach House Books, 1995), pp. 64-66.
Daily Racing Form, Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds, Revised Edition, Champions from 1893-2004 (New York: Daily Racing Form Press, 2005), p. 216.
Lennox, Northern Dancer, pp. 67-69, 72-75.
"Northern Dancer," Thoroughbred Champions; Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century (Lexington, KY: The Blood-Horse, Inc., 1999), p. 135.
Art Grace, "No Room To Run, Northern Dancer Loses," The Miami News, February 11, 1964, p. 4B, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19640211&id=cawyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GeoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=716,4640866.
Dave Goldman, "Northern Dancer Top Gun," Ocala Star-Banner, March 1, 1964, p. 20, col. 5, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19640301&id=uJAUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CgUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5144,181509.
A.P., "Northern Dancer Wins Flamingo By 2 Lengths," The Morning Record, March 4, 1964, p. 5, col. 4, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19640304&id=kKFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PQENAAAAIBAJ&pg=2694,239602.
"Northern Dancer Equals Record In Gulfstream Win," The Gazette, March 30, 1964, p. 22, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19640330&id=PcQtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nJ8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5815,5394089.
A.P., "Northern Dancer Snares Florida Derby Win," Sarasota Herald-Tribune, April 5, 1964, p. 47, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19640405&id=QuchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sGUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7506,1077780.
A.P., "Northern Dancer Takes Final Derby Prep In Blue Grass Stakes Today," The Gazette, April 23, 1964 p. 30, col. 1.
Copyright 2014 by John Califano
Muriel Lennox, Northern Dancer; The Legend and His Legacy (Toronto, ON: Beach House Books, 1995), pp. 64-66.
Daily Racing Form, Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds, Revised Edition, Champions from 1893-2004 (New York: Daily Racing Form Press, 2005), p. 216.
Lennox, Northern Dancer, pp. 67-69, 72-75.
"Northern Dancer," Thoroughbred Champions; Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century (Lexington, KY: The Blood-Horse, Inc., 1999), p. 135.
Art Grace, "No Room To Run, Northern Dancer Loses," The Miami News, February 11, 1964, p. 4B, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19640211&id=cawyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GeoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=716,4640866.
Dave Goldman, "Northern Dancer Top Gun," Ocala Star-Banner, March 1, 1964, p. 20, col. 5, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19640301&id=uJAUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CgUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5144,181509.
A.P., "Northern Dancer Wins Flamingo By 2 Lengths," The Morning Record, March 4, 1964, p. 5, col. 4, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19640304&id=kKFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PQENAAAAIBAJ&pg=2694,239602.
"Northern Dancer Equals Record In Gulfstream Win," The Gazette, March 30, 1964, p. 22, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19640330&id=PcQtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nJ8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5815,5394089.
A.P., "Northern Dancer Snares Florida Derby Win," Sarasota Herald-Tribune, April 5, 1964, p. 47, col. 1, Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19640405&id=QuchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sGUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7506,1077780.
A.P., "Northern Dancer Takes Final Derby Prep In Blue Grass Stakes Today," The Gazette, April 23, 1964 p. 30, col. 1.
Copyright 2014 by John Califano
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