A SONG FOR DAMASCUS

(This is the fifth of a six part series.)

PART FIVE: A HORSE FOR THE AGES

Damascus continued to collect post-year awards.  Turf and Sport Digest also named him Horse of the Year, and best three-year-old, by a huge margin over  Buckpasser, who was selected the best among the older horses.  Now, as he began 1968, Damascus would bring into his older campaign career earnings of $843,806, of which $817,941, earned in 1967, was a season record, exceeding Nashua’s old mark of $752,550, set in 1955.

Damascus would sit only so long on his laurels. With a new season, came new challenges… including the return of Dr. Fager.

California, here I come…

Damascus’ trainer, Frank Whiteley Jr., didn’t give his superstar a vacation between his three-year-old and the start of his four-year-old campaign. The reigning Horse of the Year headed to the West Coast for a three-race appearance in the Charles H. Strub series, at Santa Anita Park, beginning with the seven furlong Malibu Stakes on January 6, 1968. Bill Shoemaker was back aboard the colt.

Damascus, carrying high weight of 126 pounds, was among a field of eight four-year-olds, and would break from post position four. The field included the California-bred stretch running Ruken, under 123, owned jointly by Louis Rowan and C.V. Whitney.

As the gates opened to introduce to more than 50,000 spectators the greatest racehorse in America, Damascus broke alertly, then settled in third as Rising Market and Suteki went out in front. Damascus, flaunting his superiority, assumed the lead, in his customary fashion, entering the stretch, then drew away easily by two and a half lengths in a sharp time of 1:21 1/5, just three ticks off the track record set by Imbros in 1954. Rising Market, under 120, finished next, and then Ruken. The winner earned $27,850 of the $45,850 purse. Next on Damascus’ agenda was the 1 1/8 mile San Fernando Stakes on January 20.

Damascus was a 1-5 favorite for the 1 1/8 mile San Fernando, a distance the great colt had an affinity for, winning all four of his previous starts. He would again carry top weight of 126 pounds, and face five others in his age group. The Santa Anita turnout was almost 52,000 for a race which offered a $50,000-added payoff. Ruken also returned, under 120. It was another day at the office for Damascus. The tempo was slow and Shoemaker apparently had to keep his mount on his business. Damascus stayed closer to the pace, stalking in second before taking charge of the situation, and drawing away by two lengths in a modest 1:48 4/5. Another California-bred, the roan colt Most Host, arrived next, followed by Ruken.  The winner’s paycheck was $34,450, bringing his grand total now to $906,106 while having won seventeen of his twenty-two lifetime starts.

Injury, boycott, defeat

Bill Shoemaker fractured his femur a few days following the San Fernando. It was a serious setback not only to the jockey, who would be laid up for a protracted period, but also for Damascus. No rider knew Damascus better than Shoemaker, and his absence would be keenly felt. To replace him, Whiteley called Ron Turcotte, but his time on Damascus would be short-lived.

The third leg of the Charles H. Strub series was the race of the same name over 1 ¼ miles, and would be run on a surface made slow by rains. It was scheduled for February 3, but due to a horsemen’s boyott, the race was postponed until the following week.

Damascus’ impost stayed at 126 pounds and he would again meet Ruken and Most Host, but Most Host had no intention of following the previous script.

In what appears to have been an admirable but undistinguished career, Most Host would make 100 starts. His sire, My Host, wasn’t an outstanding racer, but did become broodmare sire of the fine California multiple stakes winner and stallion Eleven Stitches. Most Host’s grandsire was the outstanding sire Alibhai (GB), whose long list of illustrious runners included Determine, the first gray, and the first California-bred, to win the Kentucky Derby. Determine went on to sire another Cal-bred Derby winner, Decidedly. Most Host’s dam was Alga, a chestnut Chilean-bred and stakes winner in South America. He had inbreeding to English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough (GB) through his son, the great Hyperion (GB).

Six horses ran in the Charles H. Strub Stakes, with a total purse of $118,700. Damascus broke sharply from post one, and settled well back in fifth. Entering the stretch, Damascus and Most Host vied for leadership with the latter inching away at the wire, his margin over Damascus a head. The winner earned $73,700, which at that point in time was more than he had previously earned in his entire career. Damascus collected $20,000, bringing his lifetime account to $926,106. His visit to California over, Damascus had copped two-thirds of the series and headed back east. He would now get an extended break and make his next start in June.

While Damascus had his respite from competition, Dr. Fager, the Florida-bred, Tartan Farm son of Rough ‘n Tumble-Aspidistra, by Better Self, made his four-year-old debut in the seven furlong Roseben Handicap at Aqueduct, on May 4, 1968. Manhandling a small contingent of four opponents, and carrying 130 pounds, Dr. Fager hit the ground running, under substitute rider Johnny Rotz, and scorched the track in 1:21 2/5, just shy of  the track record. Two weeks later, Nerud showcased his colt in what would be his only appearance in California. On May 18, Dr. Fager met thirteen runners, in the Californian Stakes, including the brilliant filly Gamely, who would go on to divisional championships over the next two years. For the remainder of Dr. Fager’s career, Braulio Baeza would sit on his back. After taking the lead in the stretch, the colt easily pulled away to a three length winning margin, with Gamely, under 116, in second, a length ahead of Rising Market. As 50,000 fans watched Dr. Fager become the first horse to win the Californian under that impost, his final time over 1 1/16 miles was a quick 1:40 4/5.

Dr. Fager was next pointed for the 1 ¼ mile Suburban Handicap, on Independence Day, when he would again meet Damascus, in the race’s 82^nd edition.

Return to the races

After his extended vacation, Damascus returned in a one mile, seventy yard allowance affair at Delaware Park on June 17, with Manual Ycaza in the irons. Facing four relatively weak opponents, Damascus settled behind the early leader, Light the Fuse, before taking command in the stretch and pulling away by three and three-quarter lengths. His next race would be the Suburban and his third meeting with Dr. Fager.

An old and grand race

Except in 1911,1912, and 1914, when the race was not run, Belmont Park’s Suburban Handicap has been continuous since 1884, when the six-year-old bay horse General Monroe became its first winner. General Monroe was a son of the multiple stakes winner Tom Bowling, and grandson of the greatest American sire in history, the sixteen-time leader Lexington, to whom General Monroe was inbred 2SX4D. 

The Suburban Handicap,  the second leg of the New York Handicap Triple Crown, along with the Metropolitan and Brooklyn Handicaps, is a triad won by only three horses, Whisk Broom II, in 1913, Tom Fool, in 1953, and Kelso in 1961. Kelso won his second Suburban two years later. The race was shortened to its current 1 1/8 miles in 2010.

Closing in on seven

The Suburban of 1968 could have been a potential benchmark for Damascus. It was his chance to go ahead of Dr. Fager in their rivalry, and perhaps position himself well for year-end recognition. With a victory in the $107,000 race, Damascus would also take away more than $69,000, pushing him very close to the one million dollar mark.

Damascus, breaking from the one post, had originally been coupled with his pacemaker Hedevar, who was subsequently scratched after a mishap following a workout. He would carry 133 pounds. Leaving the gate from post three was Dr. Fager under 132. The short field of five would also include In Reality, under 125, who had just won the mile Metropolitan Handicap. Others in the contest were Bold Hour, carrying 116, and the filly Amerigo Lady, assigned 110.  

When the field was away, Dr. Fager took the lead. Damascus was in close pursuit in second, at one point getting within a head of his arch rival, who was running easy. Damascus eventually faltered in the stretch as Bold Hour overtook him. As they approached home, Dr. Fager pulled away for a two length win, after a gate to wire record performance, with his 1:59 3/5 clocking shaving a full second off the stakes mark, and equaling Gun Bow’s track record. Damascus finished third, more than three lengths behind the runner-up and five behind the winner.  He earned $10,700, giving him a career total of $943,316, and still $56,684 shy of the magic number. Also of note was In Reality, who suffered a career ending canon bone fracture.  Retired and off to stud, In Reality became an important stallion in prolonging the Man o’War sireline.

Damascus was now three for five on the year. Dr. Fager was three for three and would meet Damascus again in his very next start, the 1 ¼ mile Brooklyn Handicap on July 20. Damascus however, would race again before that, in the Amory Haskell Handicap, at Monmouth Park, on July 13.

A stumble makes two

Damascus would carry 131 pounds in the Haskell and face seven opponents including Bold Hour, under 116. Mr. Right, a five-year-old winner of the Santa Anita Handicap earlier in the year, got away with 114. The purse was $111,000, with the winner collecting $72,150.

Right from the start things went badly for Damascus. When they popped the gate, he stumbled out of post six. Once the colt got going, he was in sixth position, advanced to third, and eventually inched into second, but was passed by Mr. Right, who fell one and a quarter lengths shy of Bold Hour, who had taken the lead entering the stretch and kept at it to the finish. Damascus, again finishing third, picked up $11,000, to bring his career bankroll to $954,416. He was knocking on the millionaire club door but it seemed those last few dollars were getting more difficult to earn. He had also lost two races in succession for the first time in his career.

Considering how the complexion of the race developed after the stumble, Damascus’ effort was credible. He was racing often and the following week would have to meet Dr. Fager for the fourth time in the Brooklyn Handicap. Nerud’s colt held a 2-1 advantage in their series, and if he won again, any speculation about which horse was better would more than likely be resolved. Damascus needed to put his best foot forward if he was going to defeat an adversary who was about to explode in the racing universe with amazing star power.

Within a span of sixteen days, Damascus would make three starts, all covering 1 ¼ miles, with two against Dr. Fager. He returned to Aqueduct for the Brooklyn, and based on the Suburban outcome, received a five pound allowance from Dr. Fager, who was assigned 135 pounds to Damascus’ 130. And Damascus wouldn’t run alone. Hedevar would join in the fun.

The Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Handicap had its inception just three years after the Suburban, in 1887. The race’s inaugural winner, the four-year-old bay colt Dry Monopole, won the contest under a feathery 106 pounds, negotiating the 1 ¼ mile distance in 2:07. The Brooklyn is currently run at 1 1/2 miles.

Getting even

The 80^th running of the Brooklyn Handicap, with a purse of $109,400, took place on July 20, 1968, with a field of seven.

Damascus would break from post two, next to the 3-5 favored Dr. Fager, stationed in three. When they left the gate, Hedevar, under Tommy Lee, was out first and went about his duty. Baeza was riding Dr. Fager and trying to use as much restraint as possible to keep him reasonably back of the leader. Dr. Fager, hoisting 135 pounds, was pulling his rider, and trying to chase down a speed freak, who opened up some daylight. The fractions, initially set by Hedevar, were punishing Dr. Fager, the quarter in :22 4/5, and a half in :45 4/5. Eventually Baeza let out the stops and the colt sped into the lead and the far turn, covering six furlongs in 1:09 2/5, before hitting a mile in 1:34 3/5, a pace reminiscent of the previous year’s Woodward Stakes. Damascus, who had left the gate in fifth, and trailed by eleven lengths in the early going, had patiently waited, and now it was time to pounce on his prey. Well within himself, he was moving beautifully, and began to speed up around the far turn, before coming alongside Dr. Fager in the stretch. The Tartan colt tried valiantly to keep going but had nothing to offer his rival, who streaked ahead and drew away by more than two lengths at the finish.

Dr. Fager’s track equaling mark was fleeting. Damascus, with a devastating move, had just broken it, covering the 1 1/4 mile Brooklyn in a time of 1:59 1/5. He was a full second shy however of Noor’s American mark, set under 127 pounds, in the 1950 Golden Gate Handicap.  It must have been one of the sweetest victories for Damascus and his trainer. In addition, the win netted Damascus $71,110, making him racing’s eighth millionaire with earnings of $1,025,526.

Damascus and Dr. Fager were through with each other, leaving a four-race rivalry in a draw.

Dynamos

Dr. Fager made his next start on August 3 in the 1 1/8 mile Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Carrying 132 pounds, and giving eighteen pounds to three hapless opponents, he won the race about as easily as a horse could, running off by eight lengths at the finish. His next start would be mind boggling.

On August 24, at Arlington Park, Dr. Fager entered post position nine, among ten horses, for the one mile Washington Park Handicap. In one of the greatest performances in history, the big colt carried 134 pounds, won by ten lengths, and finished in an unbelievable 1:32 1/5 for a world record that would stand for almost thirty years.

Damascus also won his next two starts, both under 134 pounds. Twenty-one days after the Brooklyn Handicap, on August 10, Damascus was asked to face a short field of four opponents in the William DuPont Handicap at Delaware Park, over 1 1/16 miles. Braulio Baeza would be aboard the colt for four races. Among the field were black type winners Big Rock Candy, a six-year-old Tennessee-bred, the five-year-old Fast Count, a son of 1951 Horse of the Year Counterpoint, and Charles Elliott, a four-year-old, whose second dam, War Siren, was a daughter of Man o’War.

With a tepid pace, Damascus moved rather close to the proceedings, before making short work of the overmatched field, his margin at the finish two lengths with the next arrivals, Big Rock Candy and Charles Elliott, getting twenty-one and twenty-four pounds respectively from the winner.

Damascus’ capacity to race frequently continued and he met five runners on September 2, at Aqueduct, for the 1 1/8 mile Aqueduct Stakes. The tempo was slow and Baeza again kept him closer. The reigning Horse of the Year pulled away with authority in the stretch, his winning margin a length and a half, while giving stakes winners More Scents, in second, and third finisher, Fort Drum, twenty pounds each.

Damascus performed like a powerful, relentless locomotive, but one had to wonder how long he could keep it up.

“Horse of Steel”

Damascus was named after a type of durable steel, called Damascus steel, used in the production of swords. The name was fitting since his sire was Sword Dancer; but there was a more significant reason. Damascus indeed had been a “horse of steel,” sound, durable, sharp, who could race with quick turnarounds, considerable weight, and usually win or at least finish in the money. Yet, as marvelous as the great colt was, he was not made of any metal. Beneath that tough, hard frame was still a mortal creature of blood, flesh, and bone. He only had so many performances to give, and his time on the track was running out.

Damascus raced again only twelve days later, carrying 133 pounds, in the Michigan 1 1/8 Handicap, at Detroit Race Course. He would face eleven runners and break from the rail. Among the field was Nodouble, a three-year-old chestnut colt and budding star. Beginning with a victory in the 1 1/8 mile Arkansas Derby, Nodouble would race through his five-year-old season, earn two handicap championships (Thoroughbred Racing Associations), and never compete in any contest that wasn’t a stakes. Nodouble also finished a credible fourth in the Preakness after an impaired trip, and second in the 1 1/8 mile American Derby. Now he would meet Damascus, and enjoy a twenty-two pound pull.

When they were sent away, Hedevar, under 112 pounds, and Misty Run, carrying 109, took the lead. Hedevar then stalked in third, but retreated in the backstretch, as Nodouble advanced. Damascus was in tenth. As Nodouble and Misty Run fought for leadership in the far turn, Damascus made his move and zoomed past Misty Run, but was unable to reach the eventual winner who hit the wire two and three-quarter lengths in front. Damascus, in second, had a head over Misty Run.

Damascus’ loss compromised his reputation and jeopardized his chances of repeating the year-end honors which he had basked in. He would race again in two weeks in the Woodward Stakes and if he could defend his sensational triumph of 1967, another championship, and perhaps Horse of the Year, might still be within his reach.

Nix that

The Woodward Stakes, with a purse of $106,800, on September 28, was exactly one year, shy of two days, since Damascus’ famed win in the race that vaulted him to Horse of the Year. The Woodward had returned to the re-opened, renovated Belmont Park, marking Damascus’ debut appearance in the cavernous venue with the main track’s wide sweeping turns, and more than 42,000 spectators on hand to watch him. This time, there would be no Buckpasser or Dr. Fager. The field was small, consisting of Damascus, black-type winner Grace Born (Arg.), Fort Drum, and Mr. Right. Each horse would carry 126 pounds.

Damascus broke from post three, and was moved along by Baeza, closely tracking a sluggish pace, with the lukewarm leader Grace Born. Damascus went to the front in the stretch, but Mr. Right, slow to get going under Heliodoro Gustines, was now driving, and got even with Damascus, who was ready for a fight. The two runners battled all the way to the wire in a photo finish, but Mr. Right was declared the winner by a nose. Now along with his “big ‘Cap” win, he could add a Woodward Stakes victory in a head-to-head confrontation with the Horse of the Year.  In addition, he had won the Trenton Handicap in his previous campaign, would capture that race twice more, and also annex the Suburban Handicap as a six-year-old.

Damascus’ loss was a crushing blow. Whiteley wasn’t happy about the ride, and the crowd, after heavily betting Damascus, expressed their dissatisfaction with a chorus of boos directed toward Baeza, who was taken off the mount.

Ycaza was supposed to return on Damascus, but due to a back injury, was unable to ride. Larry Adams got the call, and would be aboard the horse for the first time in Belmont Park’s Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 26.

Exit

Damascus would face five runners in the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, on a surface labeled “good.” The purse was worth $109,800 and the winner would take home $71,370.  On the meeting’s last day, more than 40,000 were in attendance.

A startling change for Damascus was the application of front leg bandages, something he had never worn before; but he seemed keen to go.  When they were off, Mr. Right led the parade, but in the clubhouse turn, the outstanding California-bred stayer, and multiple handicap winner Quicken Tree, under Bill Hartack, was in pursuit. Chompion stayed back in third. After a mile and three-quarters, Quicken Tree had a solid lead, and widened it to five lengths in the stretch, with Funny Fellow closing. Damascus had been the third horse out of the gate, and kept well shy of the leaders. He began his patented bid in the far turn but couldn't seem to advance. The colt then stalled, and steadily retreated further and further back of the field as  Quicken Tree held off the oncoming Funny Fellow by a length and a quarter at the wire, in a time of 3:22 4/5. Damascus stayed in the race and appeared to bobble when finally crossing the wire, after finishing last, thirty-seven lengths behind the winner, and the only time he was ever out of the money. There was good reason for his lack of performance. He had bowed the tendon in his left front which became evident at the finish. What should have been Quicken Tree’s day in the limelight was understandably negated by the injury to Damascus, with concerned eyes focused on him.

In obvious distress, Damascus was vanned off, and with him went shattered hopes for any year-end honors; but even more significant, Damascus’ storied career was over. With his retirement announced two days later, the great colt had recorded a four-year-old season of twelve starts, ten in stakes, six wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, and $332,975, a respectable but modest campaign for a horse of his stature, especially when compared to 1967. What mattered most was his injury but Damascus had always been sound and resilient. He would recover, and the remainder of his life would be rewarding.

One reign ends, another begins

Damascus’ reign as America's racing king was about to end. The year 1968 belonged entirely to Dr. Fager, who emphatically seized the moment and ultimately the crown currently worn by his great foe. After his world record performance in the Washington Park Handicap, Dr. Fager made his lone start on turf.  On September 11, in Atlantic City’s 1 3/16 mile United Nations Handicap, the colt defeated the exceptional multiple stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Advocator, and reigning grass champion Fort Marcy. His margin of victory was only a neck, but he carried 134 pounds, giving the aforementioned second and third place finishers twenty-two and sixteen pounds respectively. Following this win, Dr. Fager ended his career on November 2, returning to the Aqueduct main track against six runners. Carrying 139 pounds, in the Vosburgh Handicap, he blasted the seven furlongs, landing across the wire in track record time of 1:20 1/5, with a winning margin of six lengths.

Victorious in seven of his eight starts, and never carrying less than 130 pounds, Dr. Fager had electrified the turf world and would sweep all four of the sport’s major championships, Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse, Champion Grass Horse, and Champion Sprinter, the latter for the second time. Arguably the greatest dirt miler of all time, and the sport’s fastest horse, Dr. Fager earned a lofty place in history, and one envied by most Thoroughbred stars.

Damascus vs. Dr. Fager… for all time

Despite the two-to-two tie in their private series, was one horse greater than the other?

Damascus would always have to carry the “rabbit” stigma, as Dr. Fager’s followers adamantly claim this was the only way he could ever beat their horse. Perhaps that's true but Dr. Fager always took the bait and essentially invited a formidable rival to reel him in; yet, in the absence of Hedevar, Damascus was defeated twice. The horse may have had good reasons, but he still lost to an adversary who was at least his equal.

Their last three confrontations covered 1 ¼ miles, all in record time, the first by Damascus, then Dr. Fager, and finally Damascus again.

Outside of these four meetings, their overall race campaigns were somewhat dissimilar. Dr. Fager’s two-year-old campaign was more challenging and involved three stakes races compared to Damascus’ one stakes, but at ages three and four, Damascus had more arduous racing agendas, including the entire Triple Crown, when he won two of the three races, while posting the second fastest Preakness time to that point. Among Damascus’ other major stakes wins were the Remsen and Bay Shore at age two; the Wood Memorial, Dwyer, American Derby, Travers, Aqueduct Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup at three; then at age four the Malibu Stakes, San Fernando Stakes, and a repeat win in the Aqueduct Stakes. Dr. Fager, at two, won the Cowdin; at three he won the Withers, Arlington Park Classic, Hawthorne Gold Cup, Vosburgh and Roseben Handicaps; then at four, the Californian, Whitney, United Nations Handicap on grass, and his second score in the Vosburgh.  

As a three-year-old, Damascus defeated older horses three times, in the Aqueduct Stakes, while conceding weight, the Woodward Stakes, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He lost his first outing against his elders by a mere nose in the William Du Pont Jr. Handicap, while giving the four-year-old winner eight pounds. It is unclear to this writer how often Dr. Fager prevailed over his elders, but he did so at least once, in the Vosburgh Handicap, while also giving weight.

Both horses were out of the money only once, when Dr. Fager won the Jersey Derby, as a three-year-old, by more than a half dozen lengths, but was disqualified and placed last, and Damascus due to injury.

The two rivals had opposite running styles.

Dr. Fager was an eager, aggressive runner, with lightning speed, who relished being on the lead or close to the pace, before exploding with unbelievable power to leave opponents in his wake, often either with record or near record performances, while carrying and giving tremendous weight. His records in the Washington Park and Vosburgh Handicaps bordered on otherworldly.

Damascus was best coming from off the pace, ramp up in the far turn, and with scary acceleration reach full throttle in the stretch, putting the opposition at his mercy. He was also a successful weight carrier, but what made him remarkable was his capacity to emerge from way out of it, and still win by overwhelming margins, with his Travers Stakes a nonpareil performance by a stretch runner.

Damascus left the track with a lifetime record of 32 starts, 21 wins, 7 seconds, 3 thirds, and $1,176,781 in earnings, while winning from six furlongs to two miles, all on the dirt. His resume included two track records, a third track record equaled, and one stakes record. Damascus also had the distinction of being the only horse to defeat Dr. Fager in 1968, and thus denying the Tartan colt a perfect campaign.

Dr. Fager retired with 22 starts for 18 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, and $1,002,642. He won from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 ¼ miles on dirt, and at 1 3/16 miles on the lawn. He recorded three track records, while equaling another, and one world record.

Whether one’s allegiance is to Damascus or Dr. Fager, everyone would agree that the two colts were genuine superstars, who enriched the history and grandeur of Thoroughbred racing immensely. 

A new life

After Damascus received widespread attention by various breeding interests, the son of Sword Dancer-Kerala arrived at Claiborne Farm, in Paris, Kentucky, near the end of 1968, to begin the next phase of his life. It would be a life blessed with longevity, full of promise, and rich in fruition.

To be continued...

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Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2001), p. 291.

Ed Schuyler, Jr., “Damascus Out to Better Racing Image,” The Evening News, September 27, 1968, p. 20A, col. 3.

Heckman, Damascus, pp. 124-127.

Joe Nichols, “Mr. Right Defeats Damascus By Nose In Woodward,” The New York Times, September 29, 1968, p. 1, col. 1, p. 5, col. 2.

A.P., “Quicken Tree Beats Lame Damascus,” Schenectady Gazette, October 28, 1968, p. 27, col. 3.

Joe Nichols, “Damascus Hurt, Runs Last; Gold Cup Taken By Quicken Tree,” The New York Times, October 27, 1968, p. 1, p. 9, col. 2.

A.P., “Dr. Fager Named Horse Of Year,” The Morning Record, November 13, 1968, p. 13, col. 3.

“Dr. Fager,” Thoroughbred Champions, p. 33.

“Damascus,” Thoroughbred Champions, p. 71.

A.P., “Damascus Syndicated For $2.5 Million,” The Morning Record, November 23, 1968, p. 9, col. 3.

Copyright 2012 by John Califano

A SONG FOR DAMASCUS

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

PART FOUR: DEFINING MOMENT

The dynasty

The Woodward Stakes was named for a towering figure of the industry, William Woodward Sr., who was chairman of the Jockey Club for twenty years, from 1930-1950. The owner of Belair Stud, Woodward bred two Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox (1930) and Omaha (1935), the only time in history when a Triple Crown winner sired a Triple Crown winner. Mrs. Edith Bancroft, the owner of Damascus, was Woodward’s daughter. Her brother, William Woodward Jr., owned the great 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua; however, Woodward Jr., tragically died by accident at the hands of his wife, and ownership of the colt eventually changed over to Leslie Combs II and a syndicate. In 1956, Nashua became racing’s second equine millionaire, and the first horse to eclipse Citation’s career earnings record.

History

The Woodward Stakes, currently run at Saratoga, was first held in 1954 over one mile, and won by a horse named Pet Bully. It has been contested at various distances up to 1 ½ miles, and in certain years was held at Belmont Park and Aqueduct. Damascus’ sire, Sword Dancer, won the Woodward Stakes twice, in his stellar three-year-old season of 1959, and again in 1960. From 1961-1963, the legendary gelding Kelso won the race, before losing by a mere nose to the highly talented Gun Bow in 1964. The mighty weight carrying gelding Forego was victorious four times from 1974-1977, his first two wins covering 1 ½ miles, followed with a pair of victories over 1 1/8 miles. Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Affirmed took the Woodward in 1978 and 1979 respectively. In what remains the last walkover in Thoroughbred racing, Spectacular Bid galloped around the Belmont Park racecourse to take the 1980 edition. Other repeat winners have been Slew o’Gold in 1983-1984, Cigar in 1995-1996, and Lido Palace (Chi.) in 2001-2002. In an epic 2004 running, Ghostzapper and St. Liam put on a furious stretch duel, with Ghostzapper outlasting his opponent by a neck at the wire. St. Liam returned to the race the following year, and won.

To this writer’s knowledge, the stakes record for the Woodward Stakes, when negotiated over 1 1/8 miles, is jointly held by Forego (1976), and Dispersal (1990), in a time of 1:45.80. Forego’s performance was achieved under 135 pounds, while Dispersal carried 123. The record over 1 ¼ miles, is 2:00.00, set by Seattle Slew in 1978, under 126 pounds.  In 1973, four-year-old Prove Out, under 126, upset the three-year-old superhorse Secretariat, in a winning time of 2:25 4/5, over sloppy conditions, the fastest mark travelling over 1 ½ miles.

Pivotal Race

Through 2011, twenty-two winners of the Woodward Stakes went on to be named Horse of the Year during the same campaign, with Kelso, Forego, and Cigar repeating several times between them. In 2009, Rachel Alexandra became not only the first female to win the race, but the first three-year-old filly to defeat older males. Havre de Grace won the contest as a four-year-old filly in 2011. Both these females were named Horse of the Year during the same season as their Woodward victories. Rachel Alexandra bypassed the Breeders’ Cup in 2009, but after her sensational season, highlighted by the Woodward win, the filly trumped Zenyatta for the highest Eclipse honor, even though the great mare became the first female to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Havre de Grace followed her Woodward score with a credible fourth place performance in the Classic.

The hype and the players

Most observers were calling the 1967 edition of the Woodward Stakes “The Race of the Decade,” and even “The Race of the Century.” The hype was genuine. Never before, and probably not since, has a horse race involved three legitimate superstars, and counting Handsome Boy, a fourth major player.

In all likelihood, the instant that either Buckpasser, Dr. Fager, Damascus, or even perhaps Handsome Boy, crossed the wire first, the Horse of the Year title was his. Buckpasser, who won the race in 1966, on his way to Horse of the Year honors, was coupled as an entry with his pacemaker, Great Power, and favored to win.  Both Dr. Fager and Damascus were co-second choices with Handsome Boy next in favoritism. The Woodward was a weight-for-age affair, with five-year-old Hedevar, and the four-year-olds Handsome Boy, and Buckpasser carrying 126 pounds, versus the three-year-olds, Great Power, Dr. Fager, and Damascus, who were assigned 120. The purse was $107,800.

Ogden Phipps’ Buckpasser came into the race as the sport’s leading earner in training, and third all-time leader behind only Kelso and Round Table. His resume and talent earned him tremendous respect, but he had continued to be plagued with foot problems and quarter cracks. As big a star as Buckpasser was, much of the lure of this 14^th running emanated from the second meeting between Dr. Fager and Damascus.  After Dr. Fager had defeated Damascus in their first battle, it was time to see if Damascus could even the score.

Damascus had gone through a heavier campaign than Dr. Fager, and there had been some skepticism that Dr. Fager’s trainer, John Nerud, was intentionally avoiding Mrs. Bancroft's star. The Tartan Stable colt had been slated to face Damascus in the Travers Stakes earlier in the summer, but after catching a virus, that meeting had to be scrapped; however, Dr. Fager’s dazzling displays of speed and superiority should have dispelled any idea that he was not up to the task of defeating Damascus again.

Pacemakers

If Dr. Fager was left to his own devices, no stretch runner, regardless of how good he was, would be able to run him down. This is where Hedevar and Great Power came into the picture. It was their job to prevent Dr. Fager from getting too far in front. Hedevar was of particular concern to Nerud. Having equaled a world record at a mile the previous year, Hedevar was now asked to cover 1 ¼ miles, and while he wasn’t expected to win, he could cause a lot of damage. Hedevar was extremely fast, and along with Great Power, would blast out of the gate and just keep rolling. Dr. Fager’s style and temperament wouldn’t stand for that, and therefore, it was hoped that either Buckpasser or Damascus, when making their stretch runs, would be the beneficiaries of a Dr. Fager meltdown.  Nerud was getting a double dose of his own medicine. Ten years earlier, he had conditioned Gallant Man (GB), and pulled the same stunt on the Wheatley Stable’s brilliant colt Bold Ruler in the 1957 Belmont Stakes, when he sent Bold Nero in as a “rabbit” to soften up Bold Ruler. After being pressured into a contentious pace, Bold Ruler was rubber legged in the stretch, setting the race up perfectly for Gallant Man, who flew past him, crossing the finish eight lengths in front with a new track record.  

Buckpasser’s trainer, Eddie Neloy, and Frank Whiteley, the trainer of Damascus, both recognized Dr. Fager’s aggressive, front running style, and his hell-bent-for-leather attitude against any horse who wanted to contest the lead with him. The opposing trainers were going to use his aggression to their advantage.

The Battle of Titans

More than 55,000 people were in attendance at Aqueduct, on September 30, 1967, to watch the biggest stars in the sport go at it. From the rail out were Hedevar, under Ron Turcotte, Dr. Fager, with Bill Boland, Great Power, under Bobby Ussery, Handsome Boy, with Eddie Belmonte, Damascus, under Bill Shoemaker, and Buckpasser on the outside, under Braulio Baeza. Hedevar was an entry with Damascus.

Dr. Fager was sandwiched between the “rabbits” in the starting gate.

When the gates opened for this extraordinary edition of the 1 ¼ mile Woodward Stakes, Great Power and Hedevar were sent. As expected, Dr. Fager, always eager to meet a challenge, reacted immediately, going right out with them and the trio tore past the grandstand as if their tails had been set on fire. Sitting on Dr. Fager’s back, Boland tried to gear him down, but there was small chance of controlling a headstrong half ton beast, with a mind of his own, and determined to run his foes into the ground. The best Boland could do was hang on. After an opening quarter in a torrid :22 2/5, Great Power decided he’d had enough of this nonsense and dropped off.  Hedevar wouldn’t go as easily, as he and Dr. Fager roared around the oval, with the half in a blistering :45 1/5. Handsome Boy, a quick front runner himself, could not keep up with the suicidal pace and was well behind. Meanwhile, the two stretch runners, Damascus and Buckpasser, who had left their posts last, were at least a dozen lengths back. The six furlongs were covered in a blazing 1:09 1/5, and Hedevar finally cracked, going by the wayside. Dr. Fager now had the lead to himself as he continued down the backstretch; but with four furlongs still to run, the needle on his gas gauge was nearing empty. As the Doc's high performance engine began to sputter, Damascus rounded the far turn, increasing his speed.

The powerful storm named Damascus approached rapidly. With incredible acceleration he was quickly alongside Dr. Fager entering the stretch, and in another moment vanished. Buckpasser was also trying to make his bid but would never be able to advance on the new leader. Damascus was roaring toward the finish line at break-neck speed, expanding the distance between himself and the others, before soaring over the wire with a new stakes record of 2:00 3/5, and a winning margin of ten lengths. Buckpasser managed to catch the exhausted Dr. Fager just before the wire, and grabbed second place by a half-length. Thirteen lengths further back of Dr. Fager was Handsome Boy, followed by Hedevar and Great Power.  

Damascus earned $70,070 for the win, bringing his bankroll for the year to $723,651, and with the $25,865 he collected in 1966, his career total was now $749,516.

There was nothing left to do except assess the damage. When the dust had cleared and the rubble swept away, everyone knew who America’s premiere racehorse was.

Aftermath

Buckpasser had made his last start. Bothered by a sore foot during the race, heat was detected in the right front pastern afterward, a condition he had endured through the summer. If he had been sound, it’s likely the complexion of the race would have been different, although it's hard to argue that the winner still wouldn't have been Damascus, even perhaps without the pacemakers; never-the-less, Buckpasser had an excuse, and unable to run up to his capacity, it was now time to change direction and begin the next phase of his life.

Upon his retirement, “Buckpasser would again be named champion handicap horse (TRA) . His remarkable career reflected thirty-one starts, twenty-five firsts, four seconds, one third, and earnings of $1,462,014.” (1)  Now headed to the breeding shed, the colt had already been syndicated for $4,800,000 and would become a stallion at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. An enormous influence as a sire, Buckpasser produced thirty-five stakes winners, in addition to leading the broodmare sire list four times.  “Buckpasser was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1970 and died in 1978.” (1)

Dr. Fager made two more starts that year, on October 21, in the 1 ¼ mile Hawthorne Gold Cup, and easily won by two and a half lengths, in a sharp time of 2:01 1/5. He returned to Aqueduct on November 7, and toyed with eight other runners in the seven furlong Vosburgh, under 128 pounds. His winning time was a very swift 1:21 3/5 that flirted with the track record.

Damascus raced again approximately one month later, in the $106,600 two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, against older horses. He took the lead two furlongs from home and drew away, his margin at the finish four and a half lengths, with Handsome Boy, and Successor, second and third respectively. With the win, he banked $69,290.

In the last race of his monumental season, Damascus made his first, and only, effort on the grass in Laurel Park’s 1 ½ mile Washington D.C. International. The field would have nine runners from seven different countries: Chateaubriand (Arg.), a star four-year-old colt from Venezuela; Japan’s four-year-old Speed Symboli; two three-year-olds from Great Britain, Ribocco, an American-bred, and the filly In Command; Australia’s five-year-old Tobin Bronze; the three-year-old filly Casaque Grise of France; and four-year-old He’s A Smoothie of Canada. Representing the United States were Damascus, favored to win, and America’s best grass runner, Fort Marcy.

Fort Marcy

Fort Marcy, a bay Virginia-bred gelding, foaled in 1964, was a five generation outcross with impeccable breeding. Sired by black-type winner Amerigo (GB), Fort Marcy was a grandson of the immortal champion Nearco (Ity.), and only four generations removed was the progenitor Phalaris (GB). Amerigo’s second dam, the unraced brown mare Sun Helmet (GB), was sired by the English legend Hyperion (GB).

On his bottom, Fort Marcy’s dam was the unraced Key Bridge, sired by the great Princequillo (GB), while his second dam was black-type winner Blue Banner, a daughter of U.S. Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year War Admiral, making Fort Marcy another of Man o’War’s illustrious descendents.

In what would become a long, distinguished career, Fort Marcy was a phenomenal workhorse of the highest order.  In 1967, he would make eighteen starts, and be headed to a divisional championship, yet wouldn’t even hit his prime for another three years. His early days of racing were strictly on the dirt, and he had limited success, winning only twice, before he would begin to make a name for himself on the lawn, and ultimately become highly identified with American grass racing. Between June 28 to August 9, 1967, the turf horse Fort Marcy had consecutively won a division of Monmouth’s one mile Long Branch Handicap, Arlington Park’s 1 1/16 mile Nashua Handicap, Aqueduct’s 1 1/8 mile Tidal Handicap, and Saratoga’s  Division  2  of the 1 1/16 mile B. Baruch Handicap.

A memorable duel

Shoemaker was aboard Damascus for the D.C. International, and the pair broke from post two, taking a position in fourth.  Fort Marcy, with Manuel Ycaza riding, came rolling from post six, and settled in third, as He’s A Smoothie started the proceedings with fairly modest fractions. Fort Marcy and Damascus tracked the leader, and into the backstretch, Fort Marcy took the lead, with He’s A Smoothie in second, as Damascus passed Speed Symboli, keeping in third until the far turn. Fort Marcy stayed ahead, but now Damascus overtook He’s A Smoothie for second and the duel was on. The two Americans battled to the wire but Damascus was never able to get quite even with his rival, and as they crossed the finish, Fort Marcy had him measured by a nose. It was a glowing triumph for the gelding and an auspicious turf debut for Damascus.

Fort Marcy collected $90,000, and would be voted the year’s Champion Grass Horse. He would race for four more years, and in 1970 be named not only Champion Grass Horse again, but Horse of the Year (Daily Racing Form) and Champion Handicap Horse. He retired with seventy-five starts, 21 wins, 18 seconds, 14 thirds, $1,109,791, and ultimately make his way into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1998, seven years after his death at the age of twenty-seven.  Damascus’ loss, by a razor thin margin, to this great turf horse, required no apologies, and no explanations.

Praise and reward

Bill Shoemaker was extremely high on Damascus, who after posting sixteen starts in 1967, recorded 12 wins, eleven in stakes company, 3 seconds, all in stakes, and a third, which was his Kentucky Derby loss, when the crowd and noise made him extremely agitated. His three-year-old earnings were $817,941. He was voted Horse of the Year unanimously, and also named Three-Year-Old Champion Male. In addition, Damascus was selected Handicap Champion (Daily Racing Form), sharing that award with Buckpasser (Thoroughbred Racing Associations). The son of Sword Dancer would return as a four-year-old for a 1968 campaign.

Dr. Fager was named Champion Sprinter. He had posted nine starts in 1967, for seven wins, including his Gotham victory over Damascus, with his only losses coming through a disqualification in the Jersey Derby, after he had won, and the defeat to Damascus in the Woodward Stakes. Along the way he had put on speed clinics and record setting performances, indicating what people could expect the following year. In 1968, the four-year-old Dr. Fager would establish his place among the pantheon of greats. And his pedestal would be quite high.

The rivalry between Damascus and Dr. Fager was only half over. With the score tied at one win each, the next season might reveal which horse was actually greater for all time. Or would it?

To be continued…

Note

1.     John Califano, “A Salute to Buckpasser,” Gallop Out, http://wwwgallopout.blogspot.com/

Bibliography

Thoroughbred Times Co. Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009 (Lexington, KY: Thoroughbred Times Books, 2008), p. 494.

Lucy Heckman, Damascus Thoroughbred Legends No. 22 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2004), pp. 15, 17.

A.P., “Fabius and Nashua in Big Victories; All-Time Money Winning Mark,” Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 22, 1956.

Edward L. Bowen, Nashua Thoroughbred Legends No. 8 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2001), pp. 133,138.

Daily Racing Form, The American Racing Manual 1992 (Hightstown, NJ: Daily Racing Form Inc., 1992), p. 1061.

Thoroughbred Times Co. Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, p. 494.

Shirley Povich, “Turf Giants Ready," St. Petersburg Times, September 30, 1967, p. 2-C.

Art Grace, “Tracks To Televise ‘Race of Century,’” The Miami News, September 26, 1967, p. 3-C.

AP., “Four Glamour Horses To Go On Saturday,” The Gettysburg Times, September 29, 1967, p. 7.

“Top U.S. Horses Enter Laurel Race,” The Gettysburg Times, September 29, 1967, p. 7.

“Ocala-Bred In ‘Race Of Year’ Saturday,” Ocala Star-Banner, September 27, 1967, p. 12.

U.P.I., “Buckpasser duels Damascus, Dr. Fager today,” The Times Herald Record, September 30, 1967, p. 50.

Joe Nichols, “Six Horses To Run In 14^th Woodward,” The New York Times, September 30, 1967, p. 37.

Steve Haskin, Dr. Fager Thoroughbred Legends No. 2 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2000), pp. 83-84.

Lucy Heckman, Damascus, p. 96.

Joe Nichols, “Damascus Scores Over Buckpasser By 10 Lengths; Dr. Fager Is Third,” The New York Times, October 1, 1967, p. 1, col. 1, p. 4, col. 2.

U.P.I., “Damascus unchallenged in Woodward,” The Windsor Star, October 2, 1967, p. 24.

A.P., “Damascus Tops Buckpasser,” The Telegraph-Herald, October 1, 1967, p. 27.

Steve Cady, “Shoemaker Pays Tribute To Victor; Calls Damascus ‘as Good a Horse as I Ever Rode,'” The New York Times, October 1, 1967, p. 198.

Joe Nichols, “Dr. Fager Is Third, $5.60, Breaks Woodward Record With 2:00 3/5,” The New York Times, October 1, 1967, p. 195.

U.P.I., “Damascus Explodes With Power To Win Woodward Stakes By 10 Lengths,” Anderson Sunday Herald, October 1, 1967, p. 26.

Special To The Express News, “Damascus Scores Over Buckpasser,” San Antonio Express News, October 1, 1967.

A.P., “It’s Damascus by 10 Lengths,” Independent Star-News, October 1, 1967, p. A-4.

A.P., “Horse Of Year Honor Is Won By Damascus,” Panama City News, October 2, 1967, p. 14.

U.P.I., “Champ retired by Phipps,” The Windsor Star, October 3, 1967, p. 23.

A.P., “A Life of Ease For Buckpasser,” St. Petersburg Times, October 3, 1967, p. 4-C.

Canadian Press, “Weekend world of sports in brief,” Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 30, 1967.

A.P., “Argentine-Bred Horse Invited To Laurel Race,” The Morning Record, October 31, 1967, p. 8.

“Fort Marcy,” Equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=171227&registry=T&horse_name=Fort Marcy&dam_name=Key Bridge&foaling_year=1964&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Amerigo,” Equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=PROCESS_SUBMIT&horse_name=Amerigo&foaling_year=1955&reference_number=11574&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Sun Helmet,” Equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=486624&registry=T&horse_name==Sun Helmet (GB)&dam_name==Point Duty (GB)&foaling_year=1940&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Key Bridge,” Equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=PROCESS_SUBMIT&horse_name=Key Bridge&foaling_year=1959&reference_number=251801&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Blue Banner,” Equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=PROCESS_SUBMIT&horse_name=Blue Banner&foaling_year=1952&reference_number=48985&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

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. 265-266.

“Fort Marcy,” Thoroughbred Champions: Top 100 Racehorses of the 20^th Century (Lexington, KY: The Blood-Horse Inc., 1999), pp. 220-221.

A.P., “Damascus Beaten,” The Montreal Gazette, November 13, 1967, p. 45.

A.P., “Fort Marcy Captures International,” The News and Courier, November 12, 1967, p. 7-C.

"Damascus," Thoroughbred Champions, p. 73.

Daily Racing Form & Morning Telegraph, “Damascus Chosen Horse of Year,” The Pittsburgh Press, November 24, 1967, p. 54.

A.P., “Damascus Captures Best Horse Award,” Lewiston Morning Tribune, November 24, 1967, p. 17.

Daily Racing Form, Champions, p. 192.

Copyright 2012 by John Califano

A SONG FOR DAMASCUS

(This is the third of a six part series.)

PART THREE: THE IMPENDING STORM

After the Kentucky Derby loss, Damascus became so good that it was apparent he was headed toward at least a divisional honor, and a prominent place in racing annals. He contested the other two three-year-old spring classics and nobody could touch the bay colt, who was representing in grand style the white and red dotted silks of Mrs. Edith Bancroft. Damascus arrived at Pimlico from his Laurel Park base on Saturday morning of the Preakness Stakes, with stable pony Duffy accompanying him. The change in Damascus was evident in a much calmer, composed horse than the agitated, nervous sort he had been at Churchill Downs that conceivably cost him Triple Crown immortality.

Balancing the Triple

The 92^nd running of the Preakness offered a purse of $194,000 with the winner earning $141,500. When the gates opened, Damascus, under Bill Shoemaker, breaking from post position two, among a field of ten, was back in eighth, but went to the lead in the stretch and came home two and one-quarter lengths in front of In Reality. In third, another four lengths behind In Reality, was Proud Clarion. The winner covered the 1 3/16 mile classic in 1:55 1/5, then the second fastest effort in history. Damascus, an entry with Celtic Air, saw the latter set the pace, along with the Eddie Neloy trained Great Power. In the far turn, In Reality, Damascus, and Proud Clarion  made their bids, with Damascus prevailing.

Belmont Park was closed from 1963-1967 due to construction of a new grandstand. Damascus had a three furlong breeze at Delaware Park before vanning to Aqueduct for the 99^th edition of the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes. Proud Clarion also worked the same distance at Aqueduct. Damascus drew post one, while Proud Clarion, the second choice, would leave from four. Braulio Baeza would also replace Bobby Ussery aboard Proud Clarion, and try to put his mount closer to the pace. Two horses expected to set the pace, were Prinkipo and Canadian-bred Cool Reception. Prinkipo was a bay colt by Belmont Stakes winner and 1952 Horse of the Year One Count. He had won his last three races on the front end by wide margins. Cool Reception, a chestnut colt, sired by Neartic, had been the top two-year-old male in Canada.

Damascus broke about sixth in the field of nine runners, but quickly moved up closer to the pace, took charge a furlong out from home, and scampered away by two and a half lengths. His win was tragically marred by an injury to Cool Reception. The horse fractured his right front foreleg during the race yet continued gallantly the last one-sixteenth of a mile and finished second, a half-length ahead of Gentleman James. An operation was later performed in hopes of saving Cool Reception but the colt reinjured the extremity after the surgery and had to be euthanized. The courageous Cool Reception would eventually be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Damascus earned $104,950 after posting a time of 2:28 4/5. Proud Clarion, finishing out of the money, would now get a vacation. The Triple Crown had taken a lot out of him and he had lost weight.

Damascus’ trainer, Frank Whiteley, was highly confident in Damascus and felt that perhaps with two-thirds of the Triple Crown locked up, his colt had already earned at least divisional honors, and perhaps Horse of the Year; however, the general sentiment was that for Damascus to be so honored, he would have to defeat Dr. Fager.

Magical Summer

Beginning in the middle of June until early September, Damascus raced six times. On June 17, the colt faced five horses at Delaware Park, in the 1 1/8 mile Leonard Richards Stakes, with Ron Turcotte riding. With minimal effort, he won by three and one-quarter lengths after giving runner-up Misty Cloud and third finisher Favorable Turn, seven pounds.

On July 8 Damascus made his first start against older horses, with Bill Shoemaker back aboard. His reputation had climbed so high that he was required to give weight to his elders. Carrying 121 pounds, in Delaware Park’s 1 1/16 mile William DuPont Handicap, Damascus lost by a mere nose to the four-year-old Exceedingly, under only 113, with the five-year-old Flag Raiser, under 114, four lengths behind Damascus in third.

Damascus - Fager

Returning to Aqueduct on July 15, Damascus would next run in the 1 ¼ mile Dwyer Handicap. On the same day, at Rockingham Park, Dr. Fager was entered in the Rockingham Special, covering 1 1/8 miles, over fast conditions. Since his win over Damascus in the Gotham in March, Dr. Fager had annexed the one mile Withers Stakes in a rapid 1:33 4/5. He then proceeded to win the 1 1/8 mile Jersey Derby at Garden State Park by more than six lengths but was disqualified and placed last, the only time in his career when he was out of the money. On June 24, Dr. Fager destroyed a field of ten in the one mile Arlington Park Classic by ten lengths, over sloppy conditions.

The Dwyer, worth $75,000-added, was over slop. Damascus was in a field of nine and would carry 128, conceding as much as twenty-two pounds. He would collect $54,178 of the total $83,350 if he won. Dr. Fager, carrying 124 in the Rockingham Special, gave three to twelve pounds to six other horses. The favored Fager would net $53,802 of the $85,400 purse if he was victorious.

As the second choice in the Dwyer, Bold Hour contested the early pace, while favored Damascus broke last from post six, and rallied late to catch lightly regarded Favorable Turn, who ran one of his best races. With Shoemaker’s stout encouragement, two furlongs out Damascus hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front of the game Favorable Turn, under 112 pounds. Bold Hour faded, finishing sixth.

At Rockingham, Dr. Fager took charge early, led the entire way, and won easily, setting a track record of 1:48 1/5. Tentative plans called for a meeting between Dr. Fager and Damascus, at Saratoga on August 19, in the 1 ¼ mile Travers Stakes.

Damascus was again the favorite to capture the 57^th running of the 1 1/8 mile American Derby, at Arlington Park, on August 5. Dr. Fager would start again on September 2 in the New Hampshire Sweep Classic at Rockingham, over 1 ¼ miles, and carry 120 pounds.

Damascus breezed three furlongs the day before his race. Assigned 126 pounds, he would again face In Reality, under 120. In Reality was a son of 1959 American Sprint Champion Intentionally, and his dam, My Dear Girl, was by Rough ‘n Tumble, the sire of  Dr. Fager.

Trained by “Sunshine” Calvert,  In Reality had already made sixteen starts and finished unplaced only once. By the end of his career, he would boast a superb racing resume with only one other non-placing. A tail-male descendent of Man o’War, and also inbred to Man o’War, 4Sx4D, In Reality would help sustain the Man o’War sire line, which continues today by his descendent Tiznow.

There were five others in the line-up, including front runners Barbs Delight, who had won the Assault Handicap on July 22, and Diplomat Way. Hollywood Derby winner Tumble Wind was also entered.

The race was no contest as Damascus won by seven lengths, once again coming from well back with his patented stretch run. His finishing time of 1:46 4/5 was a track record. In Reality was next, followed by the honest Favorable Turn .

Domination

The Travers meeting between Damascus and Dr. Fager fell through when Dr. Fager caught a virus.

Damascus was still on course for Saratoga’s signature three-year-old event. The Travers Stakes had a long, rich history. Interestingly, the inaugural running, in 1864 of this upstate New York race, was won by a horse named Kentucky in a time of 3:18 ¾ when it was contested at 1 ¾ miles. The race had also covered various other distances including 1 ½ miles, 1 ¼ miles, 1 1/8 miles, and finally back to 1 ¼ miles, where it has remained since 1904. To this writer’s knowledge the stakes record for the current distance is still 2:00 flat, by General Assembly, a son of Secretariat, and posted in 1979. From 1927-1932 the race was called the Travers Midsummer Derby, and is still known figuratively today as the “Mid-Summer Derby.” It is reasonable to suggest that the Travers Stakes is the most prestigious three-year-old contest outside of the Triple Crown.  Past winners include Twenty Grand, Granville, Eight Thirty, Whirlaway, Shut Out, One Count, Native Dancer, Gallant Man (GB), Sword Dancer, and Buckpasser. In 1978, Affirmed won the race only to be disqualified. Other winners have been Arts and Letters, Honest Pleasure, Forty Niner, Easy Goer, and Holy Bull, while recently the race has seen Medaglia d’Oro, Birdstone, Bernardini, and Street Sense stand in its winner’s circle. In 1920, Man o’War defeated just two other horses, one who had handed him his only career defeat when he was two, and the other who had put him to the test in the Dwyer Stakes, Upset and John P. Grier respectively.  In 1982, Runaway Groom defeated all three winners of the Triple Crown classics, Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol, who finished unplaced, Preakness winner Aloma’s Ruler, who finished second, and Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo, who arrived in third.

The 98^th Travers Stakes had only four runners, Damascus, Reason to Hail, Tumiga, and Gala Performance. The purse was $75,000-added for a total of $80,100, with the victor collecting $52,065. When they were sent away, Gala Performance and Tumiga broke quickest and gained a huge advantage. Shoemaker, aboard Damascus, was undaunted and began to urge his mount after four furlongs. Flying over the slop, Damascus, who had been as much as sixteen lengths back, made up ten lengths with devastating quickness, and with incredible acceleration caught the leaders in another furlong, then swiftly passed them, widening his lead in the turn for home. In an unabashed display of superiority, Damascus' winning margin at the finish was twenty-two lengths. He also equaled the track record of 2:01 3/5, first set by Jaipur in 1962, and Buckpasser in 1966. It was his ninth win in eleven outings on the year, eight of them stakes, and his career earnings were now at $584,161.

On September 2, Dr. Fager ripped around the Rockingham Park track to win the $265,900, 1 ¼ mile New Hamsphire Sweepstakes Classic, and smash the track mark with a finishing time of 1:59 4/5.  The incredible Fager defeated In Reality by one and a quarter lengths, although in receipt of  six pounds from the runner-up, with Barbs Delight third.

Two days after Dr. Fager’s blistering performance, Damascus made his next start in the 1 1/8 mile Aqueduct Stakes, where he was supposed to meet reigning Horse of the Year and champion Buckpasser; however, the four-year-old colt had irritated his right front foot in a workout and missed the race. Damascus again won rather effortlessly by two lengths, under 125 pounds, and conceding weight to the next two arrivals, Ring Twice under 119, and Straight Deal under 116.

Damascus and Dr. Fager were both quickly earning a future seat with racing’s all-time greats. Another horse already had his place reserved.

Buckpasser

“He was a perfectly conformed, nearly 17 hand horse…. In his two-year-old debut in 1965, he finished fourth in a 5 ½ furlong maiden special weight. He would never be unplaced again…. And even after missing the Triple Crown races, he was voted Horse of the Year at age three.”

Buckpasser was a bay colt, owned and bred by Ogden Phipps. Foaled in Kentucky, in 1963, he was sired by the great handicap champion and 1953 Horse of the Year Tom Fool. Buckpasser’s dam, Busanda, was sired by Triple Crown winner and 1937 Horse of the Year War Admiral. Busanda was also a multiple stakes winner, among her credits the 1951 Suburban Handicap over males.”  (1)

Buckpasser was first voted a champion at age two, winning five straight stakes races. Then at age three he was simply sensational, sporting an almost unblemished record. After finishing second in a seven furlong allowance to begin his sophomore campaign, Buckpasser rattled off thirteen straight victories and became Thoroughbred racing’s first three-year-old millionaire with a bankroll of $1,038,369.  He won at a wide range of distances, from five furlongs to two miles, among his victories the Leonard Richards Handicap, the mile Arlington Classic Handicap, where he set a world record of 1:32 3/5, the Brooklyn Handicap, Travers and Woodward Stakes, Lawrence Realization, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Buckpasser built up an extraordinary record despite a quarter crack to his right hoof that kept him out of the spring classics. “In November, he was named Horse of the Year, three-year-old male champion, and top handicap horse by Daily Racing Form and Morning Telegraph.” (1)

On the last day of 1966, Buckpasser won Santa Anita’s seven furlong Malibu Stakes and came right back on January 14, 1967 to begin his four-year-old season with another win at the venue in the 1 1/8 mile San Fernando Stakes. He then returned to New York to finish out his extraordinary career. At Aqueduct, on June 17, Buckpasser made his first start on grass, in the 1 5/8 mile Bowling Green Handicap under 135 pounds. His fifteen race winning streak was broken by stablemate Poker, under a feathery 112, with Assagai in second under 127, and. Buckpasser third.  Although failing to equal Citation’s consecutive win record, Buckpasser did eventually win sixteen straight races on the dirt, capturing the 1 ¼ mile Suburban Handicap, carrying 133 pounds, and giving the second and third horses twenty-two and twenty-four pounds respectively. Buckpasser had captured two-thirds of the New York Handicap Triple Crown, with the Suburban and one mile Metropolitan Handicap wins, the latter under 130 pounds. A win in the Brooklyn Handicap would make him only the fourth horse to capture all three handicap races, after Whisk Broom II in 1913, his own sire Tom Fool in 1953, and Kelso in 1961;  but he again had to give enormous weight allowances. “Assigned 136 pounds, against four other runners, Buckpasser was a distant second, as Handsome Boy, in receipt of twenty pounds, romped home by eight lengths in a blistering 2:00 1/5, just a few ticks off the track record.” (1)  Buckpasser was denied his handicap triple, but considering the circumstances, he had still performed like the champion he was.

Handsome Boy

Handsome Boy was a four-year-old colt in 1967, owned by Hobeau Farm, and a grandson of the great Count Fleet.  Sired by Beau Gar, he was out of the Nasrullah mare Marullah. At age three, Handsome Boy had defeated older horses in the 1 ¼ mile Trenton Handicap. He also won the 1 1/16 mile Hawthorne Diamond Jubilee Handicap, and in 1967 had already taken the one mile Washington Park Handicap. He would later run second in the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup.  And he had defeated Buckpasser. This was obviously a very nice horse.

Great Power, Hedevar

Wheatley Stable's Great Power was a three-year-old, and a stablemate of Buckpasser. He was sired by Bold Ruler out of the Ambiorix (FR.) mare High Voltage. As a two-year-old, Great Power had won the six furlong Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park, defeating In Reality, and equaled the stakes record of 1:09 2/5. He also won the Delaware Valley Handicap.

The five-year-old Hedevar was a stablemate of Damascus. An extremely fast, front running bay colt, Hedevar was another grandson of Count Fleet. On June 18, 1966, in Arlington Park’s Equipoise Mile, Hedevar equaled the world record of 1:33 1/5, which was eclipsed by Buckpasser the following week.

Six

Handsome Boy, Great Power, and Hedevar planned to meet up on September 30, 1967, at Aqueduct, in the 1 ¼ mile Woodward Stakes. They weren’t coming alone. Joining them would be Damascus, Dr. Fager, and Buckpasser.

It was time for everyone to put their cards on the table.

To be continued…

Note

1.     John Califano, “A Salute to Buckpasser,” Gallop Out, http://wwwgallopout.com/2010_11_01archive.html

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Copyright 2012 by John Califano