Colins Ghost

Taking a week off from the history but thought I would do a short post on a memorable Saturday at Monmouth Park. I have been to Monmouth a few times and have to say it definitely ranks as one of my favorite tracks.

History is palpable at Monmouth — from the subtle things like the signage around the track to the overt homages to the past found in the flags under the grandstand. While few tracks match Saratoga for the presence of the past, Monmouth certainly has its own unique historical flavor. If you have never been, it is worth a trip.

The highlight of Saturday, of course, was Presious Passion running them all off their feet in the United Nations. While the track record time might be in question, you can’t question the company Presious Passion joined as a dual winner of the prestigious turf race. Round Table, Manila, Mongo, and recent turf champ English Channel are among the runners who have won the UN twice. Presious Passion has proven – since winning last year’s UN – that he is one of the most determined and entertaining racehorses in the country. Looking forward to see how he progresses on his way to the Breeders Cup — something tells me we might see a rabbit (or two) in his next race.

Presious Passion and Elvis Trujillo into the winner’s circle

If you missed the race, be sure to check out the replay over at Thoroughbred Times

To top off an already great day, Mrs. Colin’s Ghost and I had one of our best days ever at the betting windows, cashing some big tickets on the nose of Presious Passion. I had handicapped to play pick three’s (my bet of choice) on the last five races, but forgot that Monmouth doesn’t offer pick threes on the first leg of the pick four. So I decided to play the pick four using Presious Passion as a free square in the UN. I handed my picks to Mrs. Colin’s Ghost and told her to add who she liked before we put the bet in. She made one addition: Coal Play in the Salvator Mile.

We hit the pick four on a $36 ticket (I loved Exploit’s Kid in Race 8). We each had a winning pick three ticket in our pockets too. We play relatively modest bankrolls so a day like Saturday will not soon be forgotten.

Image: The brains behind the Wagering Division of Colin’s Ghost Inc. handicapping at Saratoga, 2008. Further proof that women at the track are more than decoration.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Back to the history next week.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

How many horses can match the career of Dr. Fager? He won races from seven furlongs to a mile and a quarter – breaking track, stakes, and world records along the way. Of his 18 career wins, Steve Haskin wrote it was his only race on turf, in the 1968 United Nations, that “may have been Dr. Fager’s greatest performance.”

Image: John Nerud and Dr. Fager in an advertisement from the Thoroughbred Record, January 13, 1968

According to Haskin, trainer John Nerud entered Dr. Fager in the U.N. to drum up publicity for the race but had no intention of actually running. On August 24th, Dr. Fager broke the world record mark for a mile at Arlington Park, eighteen days later, Nerud decided to run him in the prestigious turf race at Atlantic City. Nerud said later, “I thought ‘Hell, I’ll send him down there and show them he could do anything.”

In spite of his lack of turf experience, the track handicapper assigned him high weight of 134 pounds. He would be spotting the field anywhere from 12 to 22 pounds. Add to that, his competition included Australian champion Tobin Bronze; Flit-to, the 1967 winner of the U.N.; multiple grass stakes winner More Scents; Irish Rebellion, winner of the Pan American Handicap; and the the 1967 D.C. International winner and turf champ Fort Marcy.

But, with all that talent in the race, it was the 30 to 1 Advocator (carrying only 112 pounds) who gave Dr. Fager one the toughest races of his career. Advocator had won multiple stakes on the dirt and finished second in the 1966 Kentucky Derby. While untested on the turf, Advocator had the blood to run well on the weeds, his sire – Round Table – was (and is) considered one of the best grass horses in American racing history.

Watch Dr. Fager refuse to lose the 1968 U.N. at Atlantic City:

Here is how Harry Hoffman from the Atlantic City Press, described Dr. Fager’s victory:

“Dr Fager earned his PhD in courage at the Atlantic City Race Course Wednesday.

“Hooked from start to finish by lightweight Advocator for the mile and three-sixteenths of the $100,000 United Nations Handicap, this super horse called on all of his courage in the final yards to best his determined foe by a neck at the wire.

“It was a brilliant performance by a brilliant horse, and his trainer John Nerud called it ‘Dr. Fager’s toughest race,’ as he toasted his champion an hour after the important victory.

“‘I believe that Dr. Fager proved that he is the Horse of the Year, the horse of any year, out there today,’ commented the happy trainer. ‘It was his first trip on the grass and last night’s rain certainly didn’t help him. I would have liked it much more if it had not rained and the footing had stayed a bit firmer. But Dr. Levy [Chairman of the Board, Atlantic City Racing Association] was counting on us to go. There had been a lot of publicity throughout the country on Dr. Fager’s appearance, and we couldn’t pull out just because of the rain’

“Dr. Fager was sent off at 4 to 5 by the 16,557 fans, and the odds would been a lot less if it were not his first test over the infield course.

“Dr. Fager was carrying 134 pounds, conceding 16 pounds to grass champions Fort Marcy and Tobin Bronze. As it turned out Advocator, with a feathery burden of 112, was the chief rival for the Tartan Stable speedball

“Two Panamanian riders Braulio Baeza aboard Dr. Fager and Laffitt Pncay Jr. astride Advocator, sent their steeds out of the starting gate together.

Image: Clip from the Atlantic City Press listing the writers covering the 1968 U.N.

“Advocator had the hedge and Pincay made good use of that advantage to save every inch of grass, while Baeza had Dr. Fager away from the hedge. In most of his races, except when he is opposed by the ‘rabbit’ Hedevar, Dr. Fager is able to steal away from his foes early and go winging along on his own pace, until Baeza asks him for something extra to ward off any challenges by the late runners.

“But Pincay and Advocator did not allow that to happen in the spectacular UN. Pincay kept Advocator right alongside Dr. Fager down the backstretch, applying pressure every step of the way. Leaving the backstretch, Pincay applied extra pressure on his own horse and took almost a length lead.

“However, Dr. Fager responded to that challenge by letting out another notch himself to regain a slight advantage entering the stretch. But still Ada L. Rice’s Advocator refused to fold before the Horse of the Year. Back he came along the inside to shove his determined head in front again with about and eighth of a mile to go.

“Now it was Dr. Fager’s turn to show the enthralled racing fans why he deserves his many accolades. Even though the softened grass and the 134 pounds and the 22 pounds he was conceding his rival were working against his making the lead again, make it he did.

“Baeza applied some extra hand pressure and pushed his neck back in front seconds before the duelers flashed across the finish line….

“…Dr. Fager went the distance in 1:55 1/5, one-fifth seconds off the track record set last year by Fit-to while carrying only 110 pounds over a firm course…

“…Trainer Nerud hedged a bit when asked about future plans for his great thoroughbred, ‘Right now I want to enjoy this victory champagne and let Dr. Fager relax for a while. Then we’ll see what we’ll do with him. This was a very tough race. He was hooked every step of the way. He certainly earned a rest after that performance.’

“Jockey Baeza never considered using a whip to ask Dr. Fager for something extra in the stirring stretch duel, ‘This horse goes on his own courage. He would sulk, if I hit him. I just use my hands to urge him. He came back strong at the end. I was never certain we had it won until I saw the finish line. The other horse ran a strong race, and Dr. Fager had to be the best to win it.’

“Dr. Leon Levy, chairman of the board at Atlantic City Race Course, called Dr. Fager’s victory, ‘My greatest thrill in racing. It was a stirring performance by a great horse. We have never had a better horse race or a better horse run over the track. It was a very moving as those two battled to the wire and Dr. Fager stuck his neck out to victory. I certainly would not have liked to see him lose here. He’s a great champion’

After his grueling win in Atlantic City, Nerud gave Dr, Fager nearly two months off before entering him in the Vosburgh at Aqueduct. On November 2, 1968, in the final start of his career, Dr. Fager finished first under an astounding 139 pounds. He completed the 7 furlongs in 1:20 1/5 – breaking the track record and missing the world record by only a fifth of a second.

UPDATE: Ron Micetic was kind enough to scan and send along the program cover and page from the 1968 United Nations (below). Ron shared a copy of the program from War Admiral’s maiden win a few months ago. Thanks Ron!

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS

“Dr. Fager Assigned 134 for U.N. ‘Cap,” Atlantic City Press, September 10, 1968
“Dr. Fager Favored in Debut on Grass,” Atlantic City Press, September 11, 1968
“Dr. Fager Wins U.N. ‘Cap by Neck,” Atlantic City Press, September 12, 1968

Steve Haskin, Dr. Fager: Racing’s Top Record Setter (Eclipse Press: 2007)

Needless to say, I was thrilled to find video of the ‘68 U.N. at YouTube. Thanks to YouTube user cf1970. S/he has compiled a great collection of classic races, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/user/cf1970

UPDATE (7/3/09): Read Charles Hatton on Dr. Fager’s ‘68 campaign from Dan Illman’s FormBlog

Check out more history of the United Nations and Round Table in a post from last year.

I will be in the house for this year’s running of the United Nations at Monmouth on Saturday — very much looking forward to it.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

On Saturday, Monmouth Park hosts the United Nations Handicap. In honor of the great American turf race, let’s look at a horse considered by many as the best turf runner in American racing history: Round Table.

Image: Round Table wins 1959 United Nations, Thoroughbred Record, September 26, 1959

But first a little background on the United Nations:

Run for the first time in 1953 at the Atlantic City Race Course, it was, at the time, the richest turf event in the U.S. A Chilean bred, Iceberg II, won the first running, breaking the track record for the mile and three sixteenths (1:55 4/5) in front of over 20,000 fans. The New York Times added these details to the story of the first U.N.:

“With the Chilean national flag fluttering overhead, the winning owner led the 7-1 shot into the victor’s circle. H.A. Luro, the trainer, and [jockey Jorge] Contreras patted his neck as a blanket of blue and white gardenia was draped on him….”

“Rudecindo Ortega Masson, Chilean Ambassador to Washington and permanent representative of his country at the United Nations, was joined by Mrs. Masson as he presented the trophy to the winning owner. The crown piece of the trophy is a clock, giving the time in all the world zones. It is set into a globe and surmounts a handsome pedestal

“The triple turf classic, carrying an aggregate of $100,00 in added money, a race series unique on United States turf courses, was inaugurated this year by the Atlantic City Racing Association. It has as its main purposes the fostering of better relations between nations and the selection, ultimately, of the ‘turf course horse of the year.’ The turf course here is one of the nation’s finest.”

One of the most historically significant United Nations was the 1968 running when Dr. Fager scored his only victory on turf, less then a month after his world record mile in Chicago. After being headed in the stretch and fighting back to win by a neck, Dr. Fager’s trainer John Nerud told reporters: “My horse is not a grass horse, he won on class and heart alone…I have to repeat: He is not a good horse on the turf.” Dr. Fager would run his final race just two months later, winning the Vosburgh by six lengths carrying 139 pounds!

Image: Cover of The Blood Horse with the 3-year-old Round Table winning the 1957 United Nations, September 31, 1957

Dr. Fager might be the best racehorse to ever win the United Nations but Round Table was the best turf horse to win it. It was on turf where Round Table carved his niche in racing history. Round Table won 43 of 66 starts. He won 14 of 16 starts on grass. Of those 14 victories, writer John McEvoy called Round Table’s 1959 United Nations “perhaps his best race ever.” Round Table won the 1957 U.N. as a three-year-old and lost the race by a half length the following year. Prior to the running of the 1959 U.N., in what would be Round Table’s final turf start, the great writer Joe Hirsch wrote:

“Now, at 5, as he keeps winning the big ones with his weight up in the relentlessly professional thoroughness of the New York Yankees in Ruth’s day and DiMaggio’s, the applause grows louder with each passing hour until it is a crescendo of appreciation and admiration for one of the greatest performers in the history of U.S. racing.”

Chicago was one of Round Table’s many adopted homes (he won races at 15 different tracks). John McEvoy wrote a brilliant introduction to his book Round Table about his days watching and following his favorite horse as a Chicago area native. The Chicago Tribune reported on Round Table’s 14th turf victory in the 1959 United Nations Handicap:

“Atlantic City, Sept. 19 — Round Table stopped here Saturday on his coast-to-coast fund raising tour and picked up another quick $65,000. The world’s richest thoroughbred – his nest-egg now stands at $1,679,539 – captured the seventh running of Atlantic City’s United Nations handicap, just as he did the fifth edition two years ago…

“In capturing his 30th stakes, and in moving closer to the two million dollar goal, set by owner Travis Kerr, Round Table carried the highest impost of his career over the mile and 3-16th on grass. By shouldering 136 pounds, including Willie Shoemaker, he conceded from 14 to 22 pounds to the classy opposition…

“…His time of 1:55 1-5 was only three-fifths over the course record set a year ago when Clem, under 113 pounds, beat Round Table by a half a length in the same race. Since Shoemaker had the mount that afternoon on Clem, Saturday’s success was his third consecutively.

“In winning his seventh race in eight tries since suffering a quarter crack at Santa Anita last February, Round Table got off alertly, with only Li’l Fella ahead of him. They ran in that order, with Tudor Era challenging, all the way around the grass oval until the favorite took charge turning into the straightaway. He got clear and finished driving, with Shoemaker never having to go to the whip.

“For Round Table, which will be shipped to New York Monday for next Saturday’s Woodward engagement with Hillsdale and Sword Dancer, this was the 42nd victory in 63 races. He has lost on the grass only twice – in the upset here by Clem and in the Washington’s birthday test when he was injured in the course of the race.”

Round Table ran his final three races at Aqueduct on dirt — losing the Woodward to Sword Dancer a week after the U.N., winning the Manhattan Handicap two weeks later, and losing again to Sword Dancer in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Round Table returned to his birthplace, Claiborne Farm, for stud duty and died in 1987 at the age of 33.

Good luck this weekend and a Happy 4th of July!

NOTES AND ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Iceberg II Breaks Atlantic City Record in Taking United Nations Handicap, New York Times September 19, 1953

Round Table Picks Up an Easy $65,000, Chicago Daily Tribune, September 20, 1959

Dr. Fager Catches Advocator at Wire and Takes U.N. Handicap by a Neck, New York Times, September 12, 1968

John McEvoy, Round Table: Racing’s Iron Horse (Eclipse Press : Lexington, 2002) — Thoroughbred Legends series published by Eclipse Press.

Quote from Joe Hirsch about Round Table originally published in Daily Racing Form, quoted here from McEvoy’s Round Table

Clip from YouTube showing Round Table in action

Round Table’s biography, pedigree, and racing record at www.thoroughbredchampions.com

List of past winners and brief history of the United Nations Handicap at Wikipedia

Thanks for reading!