The 1969 Triple Crown Series

The 1969 Triple Crown Series

Joseph Di Rienzi

In my next three blogs, I will examine Triple Crown series of races that are commemorating significant anniversaries in 2019. In each series, there was a horse who won the first two classics (the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes) only to lose the finale – the Belmont Stakes. In two of these stories, we will see how a stout rival, who had finished second in both previous classics, finally was able to prevail against the Triple Crown aspirant. In the third case, a rapidly improving horse, who did not compete in either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness, was able to vanquish the heavy favorite whose defeat was attributed to, among other reasons, a proverbial needle in a haystack.

Fifty years ago in 1969, the previous year’s two year-old champion, Top Knight, was in Florida preparing for the classics. However, the U. S. racing industry’s national focus was on a newly turned three year-old who had only run twice as a juvenile without ever competing in stakes races. Majestic Prince as a yearling had catapulted into the racing consciousness when he was sold at the Keeneland Select Yearling Sales for what was then a world record $250,000 for a one year-old horse. He was bred by Leslie Combs II’s Spendthrift Farm and sold to Canadian industrialist Frank McMahon. A strapping chestnut son of Raise a Native out of the mare Gay Hostess, she by Royal Charger, Majestic Prince descended from a strong female family. Trained by retired Hall of Fame jockey John Longden who rode 1943 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet and ridden by four time leading jockey William Hartack, everything about Majestic Prince said this horse was special.

Majestic Prince made his career debut on November 28, 1968 at Bay Meadows Racetrack in Northern California when he won a maiden race by 2¾ lengths as the 1-2 favorite. He followed that on Boxing Day, the opening day at Santa Anita Park, by winning an allowance race by a nose on a very sloppy racetrack. Shortly after, he took the Loz Feliz Stakes at 6½ furlongs by 4 easy lengths. Majestic Prince’s reputation was growing when he won the 7 furlong San Vicente Stakes in early February by 5 lengths eased up over a muddy surface. With Majestic Prince’s victory in the 1 mile San Jacinto Stakes by 4 lengths, he basically ran out of opposition on the West Coast.

In Florida, there was considerably more competition among the three year-olds. Top Knight made his debut in the second division of the 7 furlong Bahamas Stakes at Hialeah Park and rallied strongly to take the lead in deep stretch, but he bore out doing so. He was subsequently disqualified from first and placed third.

In January, Rokeby Stables’ Arts and Letters, making his three year-old debut, finished third in a 7 furlong allowance race at Hialeah. Trained by Elliot Burch, the dark hued chestnut son of Ribot out of the Battlefield mare All Beautiful improved gradually with each start as a two year-old. He broke his maiden at Belmont Park in his fourth outing and then winning impressively at 1 mile prior to running a close fourth in the Pimlico-Laurel Futurity. Although Arts and Letters was beaten 6 lengths in that allowance race, it was apparently just the prep he needed to make him fit because he then proceeded to produce an upset in the Everglades Stakes at 9 furlongs. Getting 10 lb. from Top Knight, Arts and Letters came from off the pace to defeat the champion by 3 lengths. At equal weights in the Flamingo Stakes, Top Knight, sat just off the pace, surged to the front in the stretch and ran down Arts and Letters who had assumed the lead around the turn to win by 2 lengths in almost track record time.

The Santa Anita and the Florida Derbies were both run on March 29. The results seemed to show there were two dominant three year-olds and harkened back to the West Coast – East Coast rivalries of Swaps vs. Nashua, Candy Spots vs. Never Bend and Hill Rise vs. Northern Dancer. In the Florida Derby, Top Knight was facing Arts and Letters, who after the Flamingo, had finished second beaten 2 lengths by Al Hattab in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Florida Derby was all Top Knight, who after pressing a leisurely pace, drew out with a flourish to defeat, once again, Arts and Letters, this time by 5 lengths. Al Hattab was 2½ lengths back in third. In California, Majestic Prince had the easiest kind of win (by 8 lengths) in the Santa Anita Derby.

With the two top contenders dominating their respective races on either coast, the potential for one of the smallest Kentucky Derbies in recent times seemed likely. That prospect became inevitable after the Blue Grass Stakes when Arts and Letters, shook off his recent “seconditis” with a resounding win. Facing token opposition, he raced into the lead after a slow ½ mile and then drew away to a 15 length victory in a time 2/5 seconds off Round Table’s track record. This performance sent strong signals that this was a different animal than was seen in Florida over the winter. On opening day at Churchill Downs, Majestic Prince took his form to the Midwest and won the Stepping Stone Purse by 6 lengths in near track record time for the 7 furlong race to fortify his Derby favoritism.

The buildup to the 1969 Kentucky Derby was incredible. President Richard Nixon would be present, making him the first sitting U.S. President to watch in person the Derby. (President Nixon was actually at the 1968 Derby as a private citizen before his election.) Among the twenty six Republican governors viewing this year’s Kentucky Derby was also a future President in Ronald Reagan. (On a personal note, my future wife, Joyce, was also in attendance, albeit among the infield revelers.)

A late jockey change was made in that Arts and Letters’ rider, Bill Shoemaker, had seriously injured his pelvis and could not ride Arts and Letters, so trainer Elliot Burch substituted Braulio Baeza. The use of a jockey, even one as talented as Baeza, who had no familiarity with his mount in the biggest race of the year may have put Arts and Letters at a disadvantage. In all, there were only eight entries with the “Big Four”, Majestic Prince, Top Knight, Arts and Letters, and Claiborne Farm’s Wood Memorial winner Dike. Majestic Prince seemed the charismatic horse of destiny. Everything about him said he was extraordinary; the only question was he was untested against top horses, especially at 1¼ miles. Top Knight was the returning two year-old champion who dominated Florida racing. However, he had not raced since his Florida Derby triumph, and rumors surfaced about his soundness. Arts and Letters was the “talking horse”. Since coming to Kentucky, he seemed to be blossoming, and from his pedigree, there was no question about his ability to “get” the distance. Dike also had his supporters who reasoned that any type of speed duel among the other contenders would set up his potent closing rally.

As a horse race, this Kentucky Derby was terrific, one of the best run I can recall. Longshot Ocean Roar was sent to a daylight lead down the stretch the first time with Top Knight, Majestic Prince, and Arts and Letters grouped together in pursuit and Dike further back in seventh place. With a ½ mile to go, Top Knight slipped along the inside to grab the lead, but as he did, both Majestic Prince on the outside and Arts and Letters on the inside made their moves. Arts and Letters accelerated quickly to take the lead, followed soon after by Majestic Prince’s challenge around the final turn. Top Knight faltered and dropped suddenly out of contention. Dike meanwhile was making progress, and at the top of the stretch, he was within striking distance of the embattled pair. Majestic Prince rested the lead from his smaller rival, and though he was unable to draw away, he kept a short lead to the wire winning by a neck. Dike closed ground slowly and was getting to the leaders, eventually finishing third ½ length behind Arts and Letters. Ten lengths back was Traffic Mark in fourth with Top Knight fifth, beaten about 13 lengths. The final time was a little better than average, but the two leaders ran the last ¼ mile in 24 1/5 seconds which was outstanding. There was great jubilation and satisfaction in the winner’s circle as this picture horse accomplished what he was purchased for - win the Kentucky Derby. John Longden made history in that he is the only man to ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner. Bill Hartack also entered the record books in riding his fifth Derby winner tying him for most victories with Eddie Arcaro.

1969 Kentucky Derby
(bloodhorse.com)

With this result, thoroughbred racing had an undefeated Kentucky Derby winner on his way to the Preakness. However, the Derby also identified a formidable adversary in Arts and Letters who would make Majestic Prince’s Triple Crown quest much more difficult to accomplish.

The Preakness Stakes, two weeks later, featured a rematch of the Kentucky Derby with Majestic Prince and Arts and Letters. Dike, was reserved to await the Belmont Stakes, but Top Knight was entered to erase his subpar Derby performances. Just as in the Derby, there were eight entries, with only Al Hattab and Jay Ray, the California Derby winner, given any consideration. Majestic Prince was the prohibitive favorite with Top Knight, surprisingly, the second choice.

The race had controversy right from the beginning with Majestic Prince bumping Arts and Letters shortly after the break. Then going to the first turn, Majestic Prince bore out slightly into Al Hattab, squeezing Arts and Letters, who was racing in between them, sufficient enough that Baeza on Arts and Letters had to steady and drop his mount several lengths back of the leaders. Longshots Glad’s Flame and Greengrass Green contested the pace several lengths ahead of Majestic Prince and Top Knight. Arts and Letters, back in sixth place, began to make up the lost ground down the 

backstretch. As they approached the far turn, Majestic Prince made his move with Top Knight. Just as in the Derby, last year’s two year-old champion was unable to sustain his rally and dropped back before the stretch run. However, Arts and Letters, although forced the go wide on the final turn, was launching a powerful rally. In the stretch Majestic Prince had a clear lead, but Arts and Letters was closing relentlessly on the far outside. He seemed to be getting to the leader, but Majestic Prince had enough left to hold him off, albeit by a diminishing head. Jay Ray was 4 lengths back in third with Top Knight another 4 lengths back in fourth place and Al Hattab fifth. Soon afterward there was a jockey’s claim of foul by Baeza for interference on the part of Majestic Prince early in the race, but after a lengthy deliberation, the Pimlico stewards let the result stand in a very controversial decision.

   

1969 Preakness Stakes
(Winants Brothers photo)

In the immediate afterward, trainer John Longden announced that Majestic Prince would not contest the Belmont Stakes, thereby foregoing the opportunity to complete the Triple Crown. Longden indicated that Majestic Prince (and he) were tired from their joint efforts in the Derby and Preakness. The racing press and public thought this was heretical. Was Majestic Prince really just tired of Arts and Letters, especially the prospect of facing him at the 1½ mile Belmont distance, which seemed to favor the Rokeby colt?  Added was the feeling among some that Arts and Letters was really best in the Preakness and denied by the stewards’ failure to disqualify Majestic Prince. In any case, by midweek owner Frank McMahon made an executive decision that, indeed, Majestic Prince, would contest the Belmont Stakes and have his date with racing history.

In the intervening three weeks between the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, Elliot Burch used the 1 mile Metropolitan Handicap for Arts and Letters, just as he employed it for his two previous Belmont Stakes winners, Sword Dancer and Quadrangle, as a prep for the Belmont Stakes. In the Metropolitan field, there was the leading older horse at the time, Nodouble. The four year-old was assigned 129 lb. to three year-old Arts and Letters’ feathery 111 lb. This differential was too much for the older horse to concede. Arts and Letters, very sharp, won with authority by 2½ lengths over Nodouble.  So once again, Elliot Burch had found the perfect prep for his Belmont Stakes candidate.

The Belmont Stakes drew six entries, but only three were considered to have legitimate chances -Majestic Prince, Arts and Letters and Dike. They each had their supporters, but the general public was rooting for Majestic Prince to complete the Triple Crown. The betting public, however, made Arts and Letters the close second choice. The running of the race was completely unexpected. Dike, who was known for his closing rallies, went out to set the pace, if you could call it that. The fractions were glacial, with horses barely getting out of a gallop. Arts and Letter tracked Dike about 3 lengths back and Majestic Prince, who in his previous races was always eager to run, was well back in fifth. At the ½ mile pole, Arts and Letters made his challenge inside Dike and easily pulled away. Around the turn, Baeza on Arts and Letters was cruising on the lead waiting for the challenge from Majestic Prince that effectively never came. Running the last ½ mile in a swift 48 3/5 seconds, Arts and Letters powered to the finish 5½ lengths in front. Majestic Prince passed Dike in the stretch for second by 2 lengths.

1969 Belmont Stakes
(bloodhorse.com)

So a Triple Crown bid was foiled, and Majestic Prince’s unbeaten streak broken. Was Majestic Prince as tired as the trainer intimated, or was he unsound as Longden admitted afterward? Did the race shape undo him, or was Arts and Letters just the superior horse, especially at the Belmont distance? 

These questions were never answered. Majestic Prince was returned to California where efforts to return him to racing were unsuccessful. In 1970 his retirement was announced, and he returned to his birthplace at Spendthrift Farm to stand stud. In the Belmont winner’s circle, the master of Rokeby Stables, Paul Mellon, celebrated his second Belmont Stakes victory with Elliot Burch and Braulio Baeza each gaining, respectively their third Belmont trophies. Arts and Letters raced the rest of the year unbeaten, marching toward the three year-old championship and Horse of the Year honors.