Monthly Archives: November 2010

In response to popular demand, I continue this series with Charles Hatton’s description of Northern Dancer in 1964 from the 1965 American Racing Manual. ——————————————————————————————- A charming little bay colt called Northern Dancer holds the Kentucky Derby record of 2:00 … Continue reading →

November 1, 1947, was the day Man o’ War died. Lordy, you should have seen this town. Everyone went out to the burial. Talk about being in mourning. The day they shot Kennedy, well, it weren’t even close. I was … Continue reading →

The Great Horse of the Year Debate is on once again. I would like to make a few observations on the subject, albeit more foolosophically than most (I hope). Some people seem to think that Horse of the Year (HOTY) … Continue reading →

I resume with Charles Hatton’s description of Native Dancer in 1954 from the 1955 American Racing Manual. Take it away, Mr. Hatton. ———————————————————————————— A champion–hailed rather than merely acknowledged–each of his three seasons in competition, Native Dancer was voted Horse … Continue reading →

I resume with Charles Hatton’s description of High Gun in 1954 from the 1955 American Racing Manual. Take it away, Mr. Hatton. —————————————————————————————– At the close of the 1953 season, it was the experts’ appraisal that the new generation of … Continue reading →

I resume with Charles Hatton’s description of Tom Fool in 1953 from the 1954 American Racing Manual. Take it away, Mr. Hatton. —————————————————————————————— What is “a great horse”? There are many definitions. The criteria which qualify a thoroughbred for this … Continue reading →

Voters for Horse of the Year in 1953 faced a touch decision. Native Dancer had won nine of ten starts that year, at age three, including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Tom Fool was undefeated in ten starts that year, … Continue reading →

Thoroughbred racing is full of stories with fairy-tale endings. Mine That Bird winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby was a fairy-tale ending. So was Funny Cide winning the 2003 Kentucky Derby. So was Seabiscuit winning the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap. Fairy-tale … Continue reading →