The Breeders' Cup - Kentucky Derby Classic Double - One Year at a Time

 

Kentucky Derby - Breeders’ Cup Classic Double - One Year at a Time

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Sovereignity winning the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic
(Barbara Livingston)

With Sovereignty’s authoritative victory in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, it has come to mind other thoroughbreds that have completed a Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic double. (See “The Kentucky Derby - Breeders’ Cup Classic Double,” https://tjtgreen.blogspot.com/, October 22, 2025.) First was Ferdinand in 1987, followed consecutively by Alysheba (1988), Sunday Silence (1989) and Unbridled (1990). Then there was a gap until Triple Crown hero American Pharoah completed the double in 2015. Five years later, Authentic, under COVID-19 conditions in 2020, parlayed his Kentucky Derby win in September with a gate-to-wire victory in the Classic in November. Perusing the preceding list, it is noted that only Ferdinand and Alysheba won the Classic in the year after their respective Kentucky Derby triumphs. One could argue that is a more difficult feat than winning both races in the same year, albeit as a three-year-old. So, with that premise, I would like in paying homage recall both Ferdinand and Alysheba’s victories in the Classic.

On November 21, 1987 at Hollywood Park, the stage was set for the fourth Breeders’ Cup Classic. A field of 12 entered the starting gate headed by two Kentucky Derby winners, Ferdinand and Alysheba. The former, a four-year-old son of Nijinsky II out of the mare Banja Luka, owned and bred by Mrs. Howard B. Keck and trained by the venerable Charlie Whittingham. The classically moulded chestnut colt was a surprise winner (at 18-1) of the 1986 Kentucky Derby. Pamela and Dorothy Scharbauer, the daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of the owners of 1959 Kentucky Derby winner Tomy Lee had purchased Alysheba as a yearling for $500,000. The rugged, raw boned bay son of Alydar was turned over to Jack Van Berg to train. Winner of both the 1987 Derby and Preakness Stakes, Alysheba failed in his Triple Crown bid, finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes to Bet Twice.

Going into the Classic, Ferdinand appeared to have the upper hand as the older competitor racing at a track where he won the Hollywood Gold Cup (at the same 1¼ mile distance as the Classic) and bringing a series of sparkling workouts leading up to the race. There was some support for the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Skywalker and Canadian bred three-year-old Afleet. The son of Mr. Prospector had finished second in the Queen’s Plate, but in the U. S. had won the Jerome Handicap and the Pennsylvania Derby before finishing second to Crème Fraiche in the Meadowlands Cup Handicap by a nose, but ahead of Cryptoclearance, another Classic entry. The durable Nostalgia’s Star was also in the race after his victory in the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap in which he defeated, among others, Crème Fraiche. Other contenders were Gulch, Candi’s Gold and the Whittingham trained Judge Angelucci. The last named had developed into more than just a pace setter for Ferdinand. Since his second to his stablemate in the Hollywood Gold Cup, the son of Honest Pleasure had won three of four races including the Bel Air, Longacres Mile and Bay Meadows Breeders Cup Handicaps.

The Classic was, to employ an overused expression, a thriller. Candi’s Gold and Judge Angelucci went for the lead and set a steady pace. Ferdinand began in mid-pack but raced into contention along the backstretch. Alysheba was initially placed far back and made a bold move on the outside as the field headed around the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Ferdinand, under Bill Shoemaker, cruised up alongside the battling leaders, Judge Angelucci and Candi’s Gold. Knowing his mount’s habit of pulling himself up once he gains the lead, Shoemaker was waiting to the last moment to urge Ferdinand forward. However, when he saw Alysheba coming resolutely to his right, Shoemaker called on Ferdinand who surged to gain a clear advantage. In the shadow of the finish line Alysheba closed dramatically to just miss winning by a nose. (An unforgettable memory is race caller Tom Durkin’s pronouncement that “the two Derby winners hit the wire together.”) Third, 1¼ lengths behind was a very game Judge Angelucci with Candi’s Gold another 1½ lengths back in fourth place. (Skywalker in his attempt to win the Classic again finished 12^th and last.) As a result of this victory, Ferdinand, despite having lost his first six races of the year was voted the Eclipse Award both for Male Older Horse and Horse of the Year. Alysheba, because of his national record and powerful performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, was awarded Champion Three-Year-Old. 

Ferdinand (inside) defeating Alysheba in the 1987 Classic
(BloodHorse)

The next year saw the Breeders’ Cup races run over a very sloppy Churchill Downs. Alysheba’s four-year-old campaign was spectacular. The now four-year-old son of Alydar started the year winning the Charles S. Strub Stakes. Then he won the Santa Anita and San Bernardino Handicaps (defeating arch rival Ferdinand in both). After suffering loses in both the Pimlico Special and Hollywood Gold Cup Handicaps, Alysheba (racing now without blinkers) came into the Breeders’ Classic with victories in the Iselin (at Monmouth Park), the Woodward (at Belmont Park) and the Meadowlands Cup Handicaps.  

It was generally thought that unless Alysheba won the Classic, Horse of the Year would go to the undefeated filly Personal Ensign who had earlier in the day won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff dramatically. The nine horse Classic field contained all the remaining top horses in training. Alysheba, Waquoit, Cryptoclearance, Personal Flag, Cutlass Reality and Slew City Slew represented the four-and-older division, whereas Forty Niner, Seeking the Gold and Lively One comprised the sophomore set.

Alysheba’s overall record, plus the fact he was coming off two track record performances at the Classic 1¼ mile distance and racing where he won last year’s Kentucky Derby made him the most probable winner. The doubters pointed to his recent narrow victories suggesting there was not much difference between him and his competitors. With the muddy conditions, there were memories of his floundering in the slop at Saratoga in the previous year’s Travers Stakes. Nevertheless, Alysheba was the solid post time favorite. Waquoit, off his dominating Jockey Club Gold Cup win, was the surprisingly second choice with Forty Niner the third betting favorite. Seth Hancock, head of Claiborne Farm, still annoyed over a jockeys’ strike at Aqueduct, chose Julie Krone over Laffit Pincay as Forty Niner’s rider, a decision that would come back to haunt him. The entry of Seeking the Gold and Personal Flag was the fourth choice, and there was some degree of confidence in the Phipps stable that Seeking the Gold was prepared to run his best race.

Waquoit and Slew City Slew went head and head for the early lead, Cutlass Reality was third with Alysheba in fourth place. Forty Niner was just inside Alysheba down the backstretch. Alysheba launched his rally as the field approached the far turn. Forty Niner was moving with him when suddenly Julie Krone lost control, and the Mr. Prospector colt dropped back to last place. (Krone reported post-race that she felt her mount had stumbled.) At the top of the stretch, several runners were in contention but the strongest were Alysheba and Seeking the Gold who had rallied outside of everybody. For an instance it looked that Seeking the Gold had the advantage, but Alysheba, resolute as always, held the younger rival’s surge at bay and finished ½ length in front. Five lengths back in third was Waquoit with Forty Niner closing gamely from his setback along the turn, finished a neck back in fourth in a performance that should have had him closer. The impact of the race resulted in Eclipse Awards for Alysheba for both Older Male and Horse of the Year.

Alysheba winning the 1988 Classic
(BloodHorse)

Now Sovereignty has joined this select group that have demonstrated their mastery over a year span in arguably the two biggest races on the American calendar, proving he imbodies the essence of the highest class, that is quality tested over time.

The Greatness of Buckpasser

 

The Greatness of Buckpasser

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Buckpasser
(BloodHorse.com)

With the triumph of Golden Tempo in this year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes memories of the stalwart runners in the Phipps family stable have flooded my mind. Co-owned by the partnership of Phipps and St. Elias Stables, Golden Tempo joins in the legacy of elite equines bred and raced by the Phipps family umbrella which included Mrs. Henry C. Phipps’ Wheatley Stable, Ogden Phipps, Ogden Mills Phipps, Stuart Janney III and now Phipps Stable. Champions and/or classic winners such as Bold Ruler, Bold Lad, Buckpasser, Numbered Account, Personal Ensign, Easy Goer, Heavenly Prize, Inside Information, Rhythm and Orb have raced under the purple and yellow Wheatley Stable, the cherry red and black Phipps or the red and white Stuart Janney silks.  

Among the above, however, I can say with confidence that the greatest was Buckpasser.  A magnificent physical representation of the thoroughbred horse, Buckpasser, foaled in 1963, was a bay colored son of the great Tom Fool out of the mare Busanda, she by Triple Crown winner War Admiral. Busanda was herself a distinguished and durable runner winning among other races, the Suburban Handicap against males. (Both Buckpasser’s parents were Suburban winners, and their son would continue the family tradition in 1967.) In appearance, Buckpasser was long and large with a grace and a power that would take your breath away. Throughout his illustrious career which would award him a championship every year he raced, at ages two, three and four, Buckpasser would have a tendency to do only what was necessary either in the morning in workouts or in the heat of battle in races. He also developed a habit, much to the consternation of his handlers, to slow down once he achieved the lead in a race. 

Trained as a two-year-old by Bill Winfrey, Buckpasser began his racing career in May 1965 with a rallying fourth place finish in a 5½ furlong race at Aqueduct Racetrack. Racing every two to three weeks, as was the norm those days, Buckpasser proceeded with a maiden win (at 5 furlongs), an allowance victory (5½ furlongs), a dead heat win with Hospitality in the 5½ furlong National Stallion Stakes, a neck win in the Tremont Stakes at Aqueduct and a 7 length allowance victory in a prep for the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The favorite for the 6 furlong Sapling was the speedy Our Michael who had won the Juvenile, Tyro, Christiana, and Great American Stakes, all impressively. The Sapling was billed as a race between the present (Our Michael) and the future (Buckpasser). Despite his win streak, Buckpasser seemed immature and the sprint distance of the Sapling appeared to favor Our Michael. In a race that would give the first indication of his extraordinary ability, Buckpasser under regular jockey Braulio Baeza missed the start and conceded about 4 lengths to the rest of the field. What looked like a disaster turned into an inconsequential event, as he gradually caught up with the field and in mid-stretch wrested command and drew away to a 2 length win with Our Michael second and Quinta third. 

In late August at Saratoga Racetrack, Buckpasser again came from off the pace to win the 6½ furlong Hopeful Stakes over his stablemate, Impressive, by 2½ lengths in a fast final time. The latter, a son of Court Martial from the former Two-Year-Old Champion mare High Voltage, had previously won the Saratoga Special and would develop into a top sprinter. He was co-entered on occasion with Buckpasser to ensure a decent pace and to give his stablemate a target to run at during the race.

Buckpasser traveled next to Chicago for the rich Arlington-Washington Futurity at 7 furlongs. He made his move around the turn and gained command at the top of the stretch. At one point Buckpasser had a lead of almost 4 lengths, but he started losing interest in the race and nearly lost it to Fathers Image who rallied along the rail to miss by a ½ length.

The Futurity at Aqueduct at 6½ furlongs was Buckpasser’s next start and he faced the filly Priceless Gem, owned by Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs and trained by her husband Hirsch, who four days prior had just had won an allowance race by 8 lengths in the fastest time at 6 furlongs for any two-year-old in New York that year. In the 6½ furlong Futurity, Priceless Gem using her vaunted speed made the early lead. Buckpasser was in a challenging position and when Braulio Baeza called upon him he made his move. Most onlookers expected him to go right by Priceless Gem in the stretch, but she was unwavering and held the much larger colt at bay winning by a ½ length.

Priceless Gem returned against her own sex in the 1 mile Frizette Stakes and scored a convincing win. Not showing much caution, trainer Hirsch Jacobs supplemented Priceless Gem to run once more against Buckpasser, this time in the 1 mile Champagne Stakes. Unlike the Futurity, Buckpasser would have two things in his favor, longer distance and the reliable pacemaker Impressive. Sent to the lead, Impressive fought with Priceless Gem with Our Michael close behind. When Buckpasser made his move at the top of the stretch, he uncharacteristically drew out to win by 4 lengths over Our Michael with Advocator another ½ length back in third. Priceless Gem was a tiring sixth and Impressive, having accomplished his mission, finished seventh. With the two-year-old championship secured, Buckpasser was retired for the year.

At the beginning of 1966 the stage was set in Florida for a meeting between Darby Dan Farm’s undefeated Graustark and Ogden Phipps’ Buckpasser. There was a jockey conflict in that Braulio Baeza was the regular rider for both these colts and was used regularly by both stables. He subtly gave the impression he favored Graustark, so Buckpasser’s new trainer Eddie Neloy sought and obtained the services of Bill Shoemaker. Graustark was first to race, winning a 6 furlong allowance the opening week of the Hialeah Park meet. He next competed in the 7 furlong Bahamas Stakes where he defeated Impressive by 4 lengths who had just come off a win in the 7 furlong Hibiscus Stakes. Buckpasser made his three-year-old debut on St. Valentine’s Day at Hialeah in an exhibition race. In this 7 furlong sprint, Impressive, surprisingly, defeated Buckpasser by 4½ lengths equaling the track record with another stablemate, Wheatley Stable’s Stupendous further back in third.

The initial encounter of Graustark and Buckpasser was scheduled to be the 9 furlong Everglades Stakes, but Graustark did not make the race due to a bruised left hind hoof. (He was subsequently retired after finishing second in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course) In the Everglades, Stupendous, ridden by Braulio Baeza set a torrid pace, Buckpasser ranged up alongside and swerved into Stupendous. They battled to the wire with Buckpasser winning by a head in fast time. (Because they were part of an entry there was no Inquiry into the stretch bumping.)  Longshot Abe’s Hope was only 3/4 of a length back in third.

The 1966 edition of the Flamingo Stakes has been forever designated as “The Chicken Flamingo.”  That label is due to the Hialeah Park management decision to have it run as a betless exhibition, despite a field of nine (8 betting entries). It was presumed that the entry of Buckpasser and Stupendous would be so overwhelmingly wagered that if either of them would win it would result in a “minus pool”, namely the track would have to delve into its pari-mutuel takeout to repay all the wagers. The press derided the decision and there was loud booing by the fans as the horses paraded on the track.  As for the running of the race, it was anything but a sure thing. Buckpasser, racing just off the leaders, cruised to the lead in the upper stretch. But instead of drawing out, he seemed to lose interest in the race and found himself surrounded by the field. Abe’s Hope launched a rally on the outside and drew clear. However, as he was driving for the finish, he leaned inside enough that he crossed Buckpasser’s line of vision. With this target in front of him, Buckpasser, re-rallied and in a thrilling finish got to the wire a nose in front. The final time was slow, but that seemed inconsequential compared to the dramatic surge people had just witnessed.

Classic hopes for Buckpasser were derailed when he developed quarter cracks in a hoof, a condition that would plague him the rest of his racing career. The first response was to apply a patch to enable the colt to continue training while the hoof regrew itself. When the blacksmith discovered that the hoof was infected, that short-term measure was not taken, instead the hoof was cleaned and given a few months to heal on its own.

On Belmont Stakes Day (run in 1966 at Aqueduct), in which Kauai King was attempting to win the Triple Crown (he didn’t), Buckpasser cast a long shadow before the big race. Returning in a three-years-and older allowance race earlier on the card and reunited with Braulio Baeza, the big bay won impressively in the fastest 6 furlong time of the spring New York racing season.

Buckpasser returned to stakes competition two weeks after his allowance win. In the 9 furlong Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park he carried 126 lb. and gave 12 lb. to Buffle in defeating him by ¾ of a length in the nine furlong race. The following week Buckpasser along with his stablemate, Impressive, shipped to the Chicago area to run in the Arlington Classic and faced Kauai King, an unexpected starter. Despite the presence of a double classic winner, the Phipps entry was the prohibitive favorite. On an extremely fast racetrack, Impressive, showing brilliant speed, shot to the lead and set world record fractions for the ¼ mile, ½ mile, and ¾ mile marks. Charging up on the outside, Buckpasser passed everyone to win going away by almost 2 lengths in world record time for the mile. Finishing second was Crème dela Crème and He Jr. was third. Impressive for his efforts finished fourth and Kauai King, finishing fifth, came out of the race injured and was retired.

Buckpasser returned to Arlington Park and won the 9 furlong Chicagoan in his characteristic way, gaining the lead in deep stretch and defeating Whisper Jet and Abe’s Hope narrowly. Buckpasser represented the stable in the Brooklyn Handicap and faced Buffle, giving him 7 lbs. There were only three older horses entered to face the formidable three-year-old pair over the 1¼ mile distance. In a virtual match race, Buffle went to the lead with Buckpasser tracking him. In the stretch, Buckpasser stuck his head in front, and then lost the lead, only to regain it right at the wire winning by a head in a thrilling finish. Pluck was the closest pursuer, 7 lengths behind Buffle.

Two weeks later, Buckpasser was back in Chicago completing “The Mid-American Triple” with Stupendous now serving as his “rabbit.” Under 128 lb. once again he gained the lead in the shadow of the wire, winning the 9 furlong American Derby by a neck, over Jolly Jet and Advocator, setting a new track record. Stupendous finished fourth, Belmont Stakes winner Amberoid fifth and Abe’s Hope seventh.

For the traditional Travers Stakes at Saratoga, Buckpasser faced familiar rivals in Buffle, Amberoid, Abe’s Hope and his stable companion, Stupendous. After overtaking Stupendous at the ½ mile pole, Amberoid spurted to a 2 length lead at the top of the stretch. With Buckpasser still near the rear of the field, an upset seemed in the making. But no, Baeza, who knew his mount well, had timed Buckpasser’s move perfectly, and he surged to the front (not too soon this time) to win by ¾ of a length equaling Jaipur’s 1¼ mile track record. Buffle could do no better than third 3½ lengths behind Amberoid with Abe’s Hope fourth and Stupendous sixth and last. 

The Woodward Stakes at 1¼ miles at Aqueduct, as it often did, brought the best three-year-olds (at least those still in training) against the leading older horses. This year’s edition featured Buckpasser, whose winning streak was at nine, with fellow three-year-olds Amberoid and Buffle against 1965’s three-year-old champion Tom Rolfe and other “elders” Royal Gunner, Malicious and O’Hara. Buckpasser had a new “rabbit” in Poker, a three-year-old, who would have his greatest success on grass. The race was run on a very sloppy track but unfolded in a familiar way with Poker racing the speed threat Malicious into defeat.  Buckpasser bided his time under Baeza and resolutely and confidently took over in deep stretch to defeat a rallying Royal Gunner by ¾ of a length with Buffle another ¾ lengths back in third. Tom Rolfe finished fourth and Amberoid sixth. This win, in effect, clinched the three-year-old championship and Horse of the Year honors for the Phipps superstar.

Not stopping with his Woodward success, Buckpasser added in succession the 13 furlong Lawrence Realization by 2½ lengths over Ring Twice and stablemate Poker and the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup by 1¾ lengths over Niarkos with O’Hara third. In the Gold Cup, Amberoid was fifth and pacesetting Poker was eased. This ran Buckpasser’s winning streak to 12 with his only loss to his stablemate Impressive in that exhibition race in February. In the course of his campaign, he won races from 6 furlongs to 2 miles in a remarkable display of superiority, albeit by narrow margins. Truly remarkable by today’s standards

Buckpasser with Ogden Phipps and Braulio Baeza
(BloodHorse.com)

Buckpasser actually raced once more as a three-year-old at the end of 1966. Sent to California for the Stub Series, a set of lucrative races for four-year-olds of 1967, the bay son of Tom Fool was entered in the 7 furlong Malibu Stakes on Boxing Day (December 26, 1966). The fact that he was dropping down in distance from his previous race at 2 miles to this sprint made no difference as the Ogden Phipps super horse ran his typical come from behind race to win by ¾ of a length over Drin. Two weeks later Buckpasser won the San Fernando Stakes relatively easy by 1½ lengths over Fleet Host with Pretense ¾ lengths back in third. This was Buckpasser’s 14 straight win dating from last year’s Everglades Stakes at Hialeah. He was the prohibitive favorite for the Charles H. Strub Stakes but had to be withdrawn due to a recurrence of quarter cracks in his hoof. Buckpasser would be unable to race again until Memorial Day.

Buckpasser, absent since January returned to races auspiciously in the Metropolitan Handicap. Using a tag team of workout mates, he trained brilliantly leading up to the race. Employing one of his most reliable pacemakers in Impressive, Buckpasser was closer to the pace in the mile contest. Making light of his 130 lb. impost, Buckpasser coasted to the lead in deep stretch to win by 1¼ lengths over the late closing Yonder with Impressive 4½ lengths back in third.

In a departure from the usual campaign for an older horse on the East Coast, Buckpasser’s owner Ogden Phipps entertained the idea of racing his champion next in the Prix de Saint Cloud in France. Before embarking on this transatlantic journey, Phipps wanted to make sure Buckpasser could reproduce his form on grass. Buckpasser was entered in the 13 furlong Bowling Green Handicap at Aqueduct. This was hardly an exhibition race because also entered was Assagai, Champion Grass Horse of 1966, whose connections had similar French aspirations. Buckpasser was assigned a career high of 135 lb. with Assagai weighted at 127 lb. As usual, Buckpasser had a pacemaker, in this case, Poker (112 lb.). The race was won in Ogden Phipps’ words by “the wrong horse.” Poker led all the way and finished 1½ lengths ahead of Assagai who was 3 lengths in front of Buckpasser. With this loss, Buckpasser’s 15 race winning streak came to an end, as well as his proposed French excursion. (Assagai did run in the Prix de Saint Cloud and finished fourth.)

Excuses for Buckpasser’s defeat included the weight assignment, the smooth French shoes that were used, and the grass surface. Whatever the reason, he was re-routed to run in the traditional July 4 Suburban Handicap which has been noted his parents had previously won. Carrying 133 lb., without the use of a pacemaker, Buckpasser seemed hopelessly beaten on the rail in mid-stretch when Ring Twice (111 lb.) forged to a clear lead.  But as we have seen before, Buckpasser often saved his best for last; he was wheeled to the outside, found his best stride and surged past Ring Twice to win by ½ length. In the beaten field were Yonder, Amberoid and Handsome Boy.

In trying to complete the Handicap Triple Crown Buckpasser was assigned 136 lb. for the Brooklyn Handicap. In the field was Handsome Boy, who was trained by “The Giant Killer” Allen Jerkens. He had raced indifferently the last two years until he won the Nassau County Stakes in June at Aqueduct. After the Suburban in which he finished fourth, Handsome Boy won the Amory L. Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park defeating Amberoid. Carrying 116 lb. in the Brooklyn, Handsome Boy went straight to the lead, set very fast fractions and kept going to win by an astounding 8 lengths over Buckpasser in nearly track record time. Buckpasser came out of the Brooklyn with some heat in his troublesome right front foot and would not race again to the fall.

As mentioned earlier, the weight-for-age Woodward Stakes often became the stage for a championship deciding contest. In 1967 it was the battle of giants with three horses who were among the best in the 20^th century. In addition to Buckpasser who had, according to his connections, recovered from his foot problems, there were the brilliant three-year-olds Damascus and Dr. Fager among the entries. For this reason, the 1967 edition was called, “The Race of the Century”. 

There were three other horses loaded into the Woodward starting gate: Handsome Boy, Great Power and Hedevar. The last two were entered by the respective owners of Buckpasser and Damascus to insure Dr. Fager would not get an easy lead. Dr. Fager’s trainer John Nerud complained about “ganging up on his horse”, but he was reminded he used the same tactic on Bold Ruler in the 1957 Belmont Stakes to insure victory for his Gallant Man. There was a significant jockey re-assignment. Braulio Baeza chose Buckpasser over Dr. Fager, so veteran Bill Boland hopped aboard the Tartan Stable super-speedster. Bill Shoemaker, who expressed great confidence in his mount, remained on Damascus. With all the anticipation, leading up to the race, the running was somewhat anticlimactic. It preceded mostly as expected with Dr. Fager, not wanting to be restrained, shooting right to the lead. Great Power was unable to keep up, but Hedavar, who at his best was a very good horse up to a mile, pressed Dr. Fager for the lead. Damascus and Buckpasser settled in fourth and fifth respectively, many lengths behind the embattled leaders. They made their move as the field approached the far turn with Damascus a few lengths ahead of Buckpasser. As they approached the stretch, Damascus ran right past Dr. Fager who was visibly tiring. Buckpasser did not have his customary surge and could not keep up with Damascus’ rush. Damascus in a bravura performance drew away to a 10 length victory, a margin no one expected. Buckpasser kept pressing on and out finished Dr. Fager for second by ½ length. Handsome Boy finished a distant fourth 13 lengths back of Dr. Fager.

With the Woodward result, the three-year-old championship and Horse of the Year was settled in Damascus’ favor. Buckpasser, Champion Handicap Male Horse, never really recovered from his hoof infection and was retired to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. His race record was outstanding; in 31 starts his only out of money performance was in his first start at two in which he was fourth, beaten about a length. Having won 25 races and was champion at ages two, three and four, Buckpasser was a natural selection by the Horse Racing Museum for their Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1970.  

As a stallion Buckpasser was particularly strong in producing females with European classic winner Quick as Lightning as well as North American champions - Numbered Account, La Prevoyante, and Relaxing. He also produced male Canadian champions, L’Enjoleur and Norcliffe, in addition to U. S. major stakes winners Silver Buck and State Dinner. A terrific broodmare sire, he is also the grandsire of Kentucky Derby winners Spend the Buck and Silver Charm and great grandsire of Lil E Tee, as well the damsire of such major winners as Slew o’ Gold, With Approval, Easy Goer, El Gran Senor, Plugged Nickle, Coastal, Touch Gold, Seeking the Gold, Private Account, Fast Play, Believe It, Woodman and Miswaki.

Buckpasser died unexpectedly from a ruptured aorta in 1978 at the age of 15. He lies buried at Claiborne Farm. His memory though lives on among those who cherish thoroughbreds of outstanding looks and confirmation who race long and consistently excel at the highest level.

 

Sword Dancer - A Name Replaced But Not Forgotten

 

Sword Dancer – A Name Replaced But Not Forgotten

Joseph Di Rienzi

Sword Dancer at Belmont Park in 1959
(Keeneland Library Morgan Collection)

On August 15, 2026 the New York Racing Association will run the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack named in honor of the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame trainer who passed away in 2025. Previously the Sword Dancer Stakes, it will be run over the turf at its customary 1½ mile distance. (Christophe Clement, himself had trainees win the Sword Dancer a record five times.) Before the name Sword Dancer is shelved in the attic of thoroughbred racing history, I would like to present a history of this splendid horse’s career.

Born in 1956 in Virginia at Isabel Doge Sloane’s Brookmeade Stable, Sword Dancer was a small bright chestnut colt with a white blaze running down his face and three white stockinged feet. He was trained his entire racing career by J. Elliott Burch who had succeeded his father, Preston Burch, as Brookmeade’s trainer. The colt was sired by home stallion Sunglow out of the mare Highland Fling.

Elliot Burch wasted no time in launching Sword Dancer’s racing career, as the sprightly chestnut had his first race on February 28, 1958 in a 3 furlong maiden raced at Hialeah Racetrack. Finishing a distant fourth in that dash, it would take seven more races before the colt broke his maiden. That was a 6 furlong contest at Saratoga in late August. Showing improvement with experience and competing in races of increasing distance, Sword Dancer won his first stakes race, the Mayflower, at Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts. Coming from 11^th place in the mile and 70 yard contest, the Brookmeade colt displayed a devastating closing rally to win going away by 4½ lengths.

Sword Dancer’s penultimate two-year-old race was in the Garden State Stakes, at the time the world’s richest race. He put in a solid effort to finish third, 2 lengths behind the embattled pair of First Landing and Tomy Lee, the leading juveniles of 1958. Excused for his fourth place finish in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, Elliott Burch took his young horse into winter quarters in Florida, hopeful he had a legitimate contender for the 1959 classic races.

A fever delayed Sword Dancer’s initial sophomore start until March 1959, when he finished fifth in the 7 furlong Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Running back in less than two weeks, the Sunglow colt showed good early speed in winning a 1 mile and 70 yard allowance race by 2 easy lengths. The Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park was Sword Dancer’s first major test, and he faced the surprising Flamingo Stakes winner Troilus. Racing the latter into defeat, Sword Dancer battled through the stretch with Troilus’ stablemate Easy Spur going down in defeat by ¾ of a length.

Convinced his colt was a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender, Burch arranged for top jockey William Shoemaker to ride Sword Dancer in the 7 furlong Stepping Stone race at Churchill Downs. Defeating rival Easy Spur and the previously undefeated filly Silver Spoon in fast time, the Brookemeade colt emerged as one of the top choices for the Run for the Roses.

The main problem going into the big race was the rider. Shoemaker had already committed to Tomy Lee who after a series of defeats and illness had found his best form, recently winning the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse. Although Shoemaker’s agent had preferred his client ride Sword Dancer, he was not able to break the agreement. Burch, after much deliberation, went to Bill Boland, a veteran jockey who had ridden Sword Dancer once before when he broke his maiden at Saratoga.

Derby Day in 1959 was May 2 and a field of seventeen was loaded into the gate. It was considered a very competitive running with the best two-year-olds of last year, First Landing and Tomy Lee, almost co-favorites. Easy Spur and Sword Dancer were accorded good chances and, sentimentally there was a lot of support for the filly Silver Spoon.  Troilus led the field the first time around the track with Tomy Lee the closest pursuer. Sword Dancer raced prominently with First Landing and Silver Spoon stalking just behind the leaders.  At the top of the stretch, Tomy Lee was in front with Sword Dancer looming on his outside. Both First Landing and Silver Spoon had opportunities to make runs but failed to sustain their respective rallies. The stretch run was intense with Tomy Lee drifting out and making contact with Sword Dancer. Bumps were exchanged and the finish was decided by a nose - Tomy Lee’s. First Landing was third 2¼ lengths back, with Royal Orbit fourth and Silver Spoon fifth. An inquiry was lodged by Sword Dancer’s jockey William Boland, and after a lengthy time interval the Kentucky stewards were unwilling (at that time) to disqualify a horse that finished first in the Kentucky Derby. Thus, as a stroke of fate, William Shoemaker who tried to get off Tomy Lee to ride Sword Dancer was credited with providing the crucial difference.

After such a dramatic Derby, the Preakness Stakes two weeks later was a decided let down.  First of all, the connections of Tomy Lee shipped him back to California after a frenzied Kentucky campaign. Silver Spoon also returned to California and for most of her career was restricted to races against her own sex.
The Preakness was billed as a race between the second and third finishers in the Kentucky Derby, Sword Dancer (with Shoemaker back aboard) and First Landing, respectively. However, it was the Derby fourth, Royal Orbit who made a dramatic run from the rear to sweep by the field defeating Sword Dancer by 4 widening lengths with Dunce third.  First Landing showed little in finishing ninth and was discovered suffering from a liver illness which prevented his return to the races until late fall. 

There was a four week interval between the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, and Elliott Burch used that time to enter his three-year-old in the Metropolitan Handicap at one mile against older horses.  Burch’s reason was two-fold. He wanted a race for his hardy battler, and at the scale of weights he thought the classic tested Sword Dancer had a great chance to win. Carrying 114 lb. Sword Dancer scored an authoritative victory over some of the best Eastern older horses and started a pattern that Elliot Burch would use successfully with two other Belmont Stakes winners. 

As for the 1959 Belmont Stakes, despite Royal Orbit’s presence, the public settled on the twice classic placed Sword Dancer fresh off his Metropolitan Mile win as the favorite. The race was not without drama and tragedy. King Ranch’s Black Hills making a menacing move on the stretch turn broke down and crashed into fellow Belmont contender, Lake Erie. The most memorable image from the race was the unconscious Eddie Arcaro (rider of Black Hills) lying face down in the mud on the turn. Fortunately, his injuries were not fatal, and he returned to riding later in the year. However, Black Hills injuries were severe enough that he had to be euthanized, casting a pall on the race.  Somewhat anticlimactically, Sword Dancer wore down West Coast invader Bagdad in the stretch to win the Belmont Stakes by ¾ of a length with Royal Orbit a distant third.  So, the American classics ended with a separate winner for each race, but with a horse, Sword Dancer, a diminutive bright chestnut with three white stockings, assuming the leadership of the division with his hardiness, stamina, and determination.  The rest of 1959 would see “Little Red” expand and extend this dominance.

Sword Dancer was given a little over a month’s rest and when he returned it was in the Monmouth Handicap at 1¼ miles against established older horses. Rallying from off the pace, the Brookemeade color bearer defeated Amerigo and Talent Show. Continuing to face his elders, the sturdy chestnut suffered a narrow lost to Chilean import Babu in the Brooklyn Handicap at Jamaica Racetrack while conceding 12 lb. in actual weight. Back in his own division, Sword Dancer cemented the three-year-old championship with a narrow ½ length victory while conceding weight to Middle Brother in the Travers Stakes – the Midsummer’s Derby at Saratoga Racetrack.

By the end of the summer it was surmised that the three best racehorses in the United States were the defending champ five-year-old Round Table, the California raced four-year-old Hillsdale, and the upstart three-year-old, Sword Dancer. The venue for a “Clash of the Titans” was the new racetrack in New York City, Aqueduct.  Hillsdale had shipped east and won a prep race at Belmont Park, then was victorious in the Aqueduct Handicap at one mile in the inaugural stakes run at the racetrack. The Woodward Stakes on Saturday, September 26, at 1¼ miles under weight-for-age conditions was the stage set to determine Horse of the Year honors. Only longshot Inside Tract was entered other than the “Big Three”. There was a significant and eventful jockey switch. William Shoemaker who had assumed the mount on Sword Dancer after the Kentucky Derby, was also the regular rider on Round Table. He chose the older horse over the three-year-old. Elliot Burch contracted the veteran big race rider Eddie Arcaro to highlight the importance he attached to winning this race. Hillsdale’s connections showed remarkable restraint in retaining his regular rider, Tommy Barrow, who was hardly a household name in the racing world.

As a race, the Woodward Stakes was a thriller. As usual in a small field there was race riding that may have determined the outcome. Hillsdale went to the front and set a leisurely pace with Round Table a close second. Inside Track and Sword Dancer traded places for third and fourth with the three-year-old saving ground on the inside. As the field entered the stretch, Sword Dancer seemed trapped on the rail as Hillsdale was fighting off Round Table’s bid. It appeared that Barrow aboard Hillsdale was so intent on defeating Round Table that he allowed his mount to drift off the rail just sufficient to allow Arcaro to slip Sword Dancer through and in a desperate finish win by a head. Round Table was a clearly beaten third.

This was the only meeting among these three equine stars. Hillsdale was retired after the Woodward.  Sword Dancer and Round Table would face each other one more time in the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup. The race was anticlimactic, but nevertheless, definitive in that Sword Dancer won by 7 lengths over a sloppy racetrack surface not conducive to Round Table. In the year end awards Sword Dancer was voted Three-Year-Old Champion, Co-champion Male Handicap Horse and Horse of the Year whereas Round Table was Co-champion Male Handicap Horse and Turf Champion. 

Kept in training in 1960 as a four-year-old, Sword Dancer began the year regarded as a superstar. That appellation would be tarnished in that the consistency the son of Sunglow showed as a three-year-old was not evident. However, Sword Dancer did show flashes of his championship brilliance.

Elliot Burch started his colt’s four-year-old campaign in Florida over the winter, but he was slow to reach his best form. After a fourth-place finish in a 7 furlong allowance race at Hialeah Racetrack, Sword Dancer was entered in the Widener Handicap, the signature race for older horses at Hialeah, assigned top weight of 129 lb. In it he faced an emerging champion in Cain Hoy Stable’s Bald Eagle. The leggy dark bay five-year-old son of Nasrullah, trained by Woody Stephens, was a re-patriate from England initially thought by his connections to have classic potential on grass. He was slow to catch on to American racing, but had a very productive four-year-old campaign in 1959 finishing second to both Round Table and Hillsdale in stakes races, winning the venerable Suburban Handicap and capping the year with a victory in the Washington, D. C. International at Laurel Racetrack.

What was most impressive was Bald Eagle’s ability to handle both grass and dirt racing with equal facility and race at top form from 8 to 12 furlongs. In the Widener Handicap, the Cain Hoy horse, carrying 123 lb. defeated Calumet Farm’s On-and-On setting a new track record for the 1¼ mile race. Sword Dancer showed no spark in finishing seventh of eighth. Winning an allowance race at Gulfstream Park, Sword Dancer faced Bald Eagle again in the 1¼ mile Gulfstream Park Handicap with the weight difference now only 1 lb. However, the latter won again with Sword Dancer finishing a well beaten fourth.

Just when it looked like the year was lost, Sword Dancer regained his top form defeating his old rival First Landing by a neck in the 9 furlong Grey Lag Handicap at Aqueduct. Buoyed by that, Elliott Burch entered Sword Dancer in the Metropolitan Handicap facing Bald Eagle for a third meeting, this time having a 1 lb. advantage the weights. Any hopes for a repeat triumph in the Met Mile were dashed as the little chestnut’s rally only managed to garner fourth place. Bald Eagle, at his absolute best, won the Metropolitan Handicap defeating First Landing by 3½ lengths, setting a new track record for the 1 mile distance.

Bald Eagle, First Landing and Sword Dancer all returned in the 1¼ mile Suburban Handicap, the second leg of the Handicap Triple Crown. Bald Eagle, who appeared at this point unbeatable, was assigned 133 lb. to Sword Dancer’s 125 lb. and First Landing’s 122 lb. Whether it was the impost, the weight differential, or the difficulty in maintaining his brilliance, Bald Eagle finished a well beaten fourth with Sword Dancer wearing down First Landing in deep stretch for a ½ length victory.  

In the last leg of The Handicap Triple – Bald Eagle, Sword Dancer and First Landing all finished out of the money as On-and-On, regaining his Florida form, triumphed in a very sloppy running of the Brooklyn Handicap.

After this series of races in New York, Burch shipped Sword Dancer out of state and tried him on grass. In the Arlington Handicap, he finished sixth to Cain Hoy Stable’s One-Eyed King but was beaten only 3 lengths. In the United Nations Handicap at Atlantic City Racetrack, Sword Dancer out finished all but sophomore T. V. Lark, losing by 1½ lengths while conceding 7 lb. On September 24, one week after the U. N. race, Sword Dancer ran in the Woodward Stakes facing both Bald Eagle and T. V. Lark. Under Eddie Arcaro, the hardy chestnut triumphed again in this important weight-for-age race, rallying strongly to defeat Dotted Swiss by 1½ lengths with Bald Eagle another 2½ lengths back in third. The final time was a new track record for the distance.

Back on the grass one month later in the 1½ mile Man o’War Stakes, Sword Dancer finished in third behind upsetter Harmonizing with Bald Eagle second. An ankle injury prevented Sword Dancer from making his final start in the Washington, D. C. International. He was retired to stand stud at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, KY. Overall, the son of Sunglow raced 39 times over the course of three years, achieving 15 victories and 11 placings, racing often at the highest level.

In stud, he was modestly successful siring champions Lady Pitt and Damascus, the latter considered one of the greatest horses of the 20^th century. In the latter part of his life Sword Dancer stood stud in France, dying in 1984.  In 1977, Sword Dancer was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame – a fitting honor for a horse who combined speed, stamina and determination, all attributes we honor in the thoroughbred.