The Wild and
Wonderful Classics of 1962
Joseph Di Rienzi
Before I chronicle in this piece the horses and races
leading up and through the Triple Crown series of 1962, I would like to point
out that three of the leading contenders had temperament issues that vexed
their connections and may have contributed to their respective performances.
Ridan’s behavior was perhaps the easiest to explain.
He was a grandson of the hot-tempered Nasrullah whose progeny where known for
their brilliance and unwillingness to be restrained in workout and races. From
the speedy influences in his pedigree, there were questions from his
two-year-old campaign as to how far in distance Ridan would be able to compete
in top races. However, he did have a great deal of class and determination to
offset these liabilities, but his rankness in certain races (notably, the
Kentucky Derby) perhaps cost him victory. Another son of Nasrullah, Jaipur,
while not showing unbridled energy displayed a sulkiness that made him
difficult to train and an unwillingness to extend himself even in his winning
efforts. Now Crimson Satan, had no Nasrullah blood in
him, but he also had temperament issues. In races he was something of a rogue, at
times bearing in on his competition, and once (in the Belmont Stakes)
attempting to bite the horse nearest him.
With this cast of equine characters, the stage was set for a
very interesting classic run in 1962. In the beginning, the national
thoroughbred spotlight was on Florida where three of the leading two-year-olds
of the previous year – Ridan, Crimson Satan and Sir Gaylord were preparing to begin their
sophomore season. There was still lingering debate
as to whether Ridan or Crimson Satan was the best two-year-old of the previous
year (each having been voted champion in separate polls), but horseracing has
the advantage of settling arguments on the racetrack. Sir Gaylord was still
held in high regard despite four consecutive third place finishes in his final
races as a juvenile, and reports from trackside observers indicated how
impressively he was training.
Ridan was the first of the trio to emerge in 1962. Owned
by a partnership of Mrs. Moody Jolley, John Greer and Ernest Woods and trained
by young Leroy Jolley (Mrs. Jolley’s son), Ridan was a magnificent specimen of
the breed, a robust handsome bay with a stripe down his face. He started in
January winning the 6 furlong Hibiscus Stakes at Hialeah Park beating a good
horse in Rainy Lake by 1½ lengths. The victory kept Ridan’s unbeaten record
intact (now at eight). Ten days later, Crimson Satan and Sir Gaylord ran in a 6 furlong allowance race at Hialeah.
The former was a flashy chestnut son of Spy Song owned by his breeder Crimson
King Farm and trained by G. H. Potter while the latter a
sleek bay homebred from Meadow Stable conditioned by veteran Casey Hayes. In
the allowance race, they finished one-two with Sir Gaylord prevailing by ¾ of a
length in a fast final time. In the 7 furlong Bahamas Stakes, Ridan, Crimson
Satan and Sir Gaylord all met with the first named the prohibitive favorite.
Ridan had the lead heading into the stretch, but he had no response when Sir
Gaylord came up to challenge and was beaten nearly 2 lengths with Crimson Satan
finishing a non-threatening third. When the trio met again in the 9 furlong
Everglades Stakes, Sir Gaylord was now the solid choice, and he did not
disappoint. Running perhaps the most impressive race by any three-year-old in
1962, he won the Everglades by a widening 4¾ lengths in very fast time showing
clear domination with a longshot, El Peco
Ranch’s Decidedly, placing second. Ridan tiring, finished third
beaten over 7 lengths and subsequently was disqualified and placed fourth.
Crimson Satan, who did not appear to thrive
under the humid Florida weather, finished fifth beaten over 16 lengths.
Decidedly, a gray son of 1954 Kentucky Derby winner, Determine, was bred in
California by his owner George A. Pope and trained by the transplanted
Argentinian, Horatio Luro. He had an indifferent
two-year-old year mostly running in allowance races, but he was starting to
blossom as a three-year-old under Luro’s careful tutelage.
The Flamingo Stakes was intended to be a coronation for Sir
Gaylord, but that was not to be as he
suffered an ankle injury and was withdrawn from consideration. It was hoped he
could still be ready for the Kentucky Derby. With Sir Gaylord, Decidedly and Crimson Satan not running, Ridan was the warm favorite for the Flamingo Stakes
with the only doubt concerning whether he could win at the race’s 9 furlong
distance. There was also a jockey change in replacing William Hartack with Ismael Valenzuela, Sir Gaylord’s jockey. Ridan’s connections thought Mr. Valenzuela
would be better able to conserve (rate) the headstrong Ridan in the early
going. However, the race was filled with controversy in that Sunrise
County, previously inconsequential
in stakes races, led from start to finish but in deep stretch carried the
challenging Ridan wide across the track. While this was happening, rank
longshot Prego crept up the rail to finish second a neck
ahead of Ridan who finished nearly on the stand side. After an objection, the
track stewards disqualified Sunrise County from first and placed him third
behind Ridan, which gave the victory to Prego who most likely would have
finished third if there had been no infraction.
Compared to all the excitement in Florida, the California
racing scene was rather tepid. The leading contender was initially considered
Royal Attack, a decent two-year-old who
gradually made his way up the ranks of the West coast three-year-olds culminating
in a hard fought win in the Santa Anita Derby. By Kentucky Derby Day, Royal
Attack’s prospects had dimmed considerably as he finished out of the money in
three races leading up to the Derby. As it transpired, the second and third
finishers in the Santa Anita Derby, Admiral’s Voyage and Sir Ribot respectively, would make more of an impact on
the Triple Crown races. Admiral’s
Voyage, a son of Crafty Admiral from an Olympia mare, was another product of
Fred W. Hooper’s iconoclastic breeding
program. Fresh from his placing in the Santa Anita Derby, Admiral’s Voyage
shipped into New Orleans and was a narrow winner over Roman Line in the Louisiana Derby. Sir Ribot, a son of
the immortal European champion Ribot was owned and trained by the same people
who were responsible for the 1959 Kentucky Derby hero Tomy Lee.
The Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park promised, just as the
Flamingo did, to be a romp for Ridan. His Flamingo adversaries,
Sunrise County and Prego went north to contest races in New York. Once
again, there was a rider change for Ridan. This time Manuel Ycaza, thought to be the strongest
active rider, was recruited to handle Ridan. However, there was a formidable
threat from none other than Meadow Stable in their two-year-old champion filly, Cicada. She had prepped for the
Florida Derby with sprint allowance wins and sandwiched between was a strong
second to the good older filly Smashing Gail in the Columbia Stakes at 7
furlongs. The Florida Derby was another thriller with a controversial result.
Cicada taking a clear early lead met the challenge of Ridan in the stretch and
battled back courageously. The image of the diminutive filly fighting nose and
nose with the hulking colt is indelible. They bumped repeatedly with Cicada
bearing out into her male rival, and Ridan consequently coming in and bumping
with her. The photo showed Ridan winning by a nose, but soon after the Inquiry
sign flashed, and the result had to be decided in the steward’s room. The
officials ruled that Cicada was the instigator of the bumping and let the
result stand. Admiral’s Voyage was third beaten six lengths, underlying the
superiority of the Eastern form.
In New York, most of the three-year-old talk centered around
George D. Widener’s Jaipur who, although not aiming for the Kentucky
Derby, was using the traditional prep races in New York for the other Triple
Crown races. A lot of attention was given to him from his two-year-old form,
his impeccable breeding, gorgeous looks and the fact that Eddie Arcaro, who retired at the end of 1961, recommended
that William Shoemaker be given the ride on the colt. Trained by W.
F. “Bert” Mullholland, Jaipur made his first three-year-old start in the Gotham
Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and on a sloppy track he came from just off the
pace to defeat Sunrise County by a measured 1½ lengths. Prego, the declared Flamingo
winner, and Donut King, Jaipur’s conqueror in the
previous year’s Champagne Stakes, were beaten well back in seventh and eighth
respectively. Jaipur’s win took him to the top of the sophomore ranks in the
temporary absence of Sir Gaylord. However, he suffered a minor
injury that forced him to miss the Wood Memorial Stakes. Without him, the Wood
resulted in still another wild race and controversial finish as Sunrise County
and Admiral’s Voyage dead-heated with Donut King ¾ of a length back
in third and Prego fourth. However, as soon as the dead-heat was posted there
was an Inquiry that resulted in Sunrise County, clearly a star crossed horse,
once again being disqualified from a major three-year-old race and placed
second behind Admiral’s Voyage.
In Kentucky at Keeneland Racetrack, Roman Line recorded a
facile win in the Forerunner Purse over Decidedly. The two met in the Blue
Grass Stakes, but were regulated to second (Decidedly) and third (Roman Line)
to Ridan who ran
one of his best races to win by 4 lengths in nearly track record time. Roman
Line followed with a very impressive win in the Derby Trial indicating his
sharpness for the impending Run for the Roses.
However, the most significant development in the weeks
leading up to the Derby was the return of Sir Gaylord in the 7 furlong Stepping Stone Purse at
Churchill Downs one week before the big race. Racing against Sir Ribot, Sir Gaylord rallied just off
the pace to win as the chart of the race indicates, “with complete authority”.
What is even more impressive was that he was allowed to continue running after
the race, and his gallop out time for 10 furlongs was faster than the final
time of several previous Kentucky Derbies. This performance cemented his
leadership in the three-year-old standings and solid favoritism for the
Kentucky Derby. However, in a bitter twist of fate, he suffered a sesamoid
fracture of his right front ankle in a workout the Friday before the Derby and
was retired to stud. A further intrigue was that
Meadow Stable had co-entered Cicada in both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby
and decided even after Sir Gaylord’s injury that Cicada would run in the Oaks
which she won easily.
So once again, Ridan in a big race would be the strong favorite due to the
absence of others. In some respects the Kentucky Derby of 1962 was a repeat of
the Blue Grass with the same principals finishing in the top three. However,
the race unfolded differently with outsider Lee Town setting a torrid pace, and
Ridan difficult to restrain in pursuit. Decidedly made a strong run from 10th place
to rest the lead from Ridan and pulled away to win by 2½ lengths with Roman
Line besting Ridan by a neck in track record time
previously set by Whirlaway in 1941. Sir Ribot was a strong finishing fourth. This was a
great triumph for Decidedly’s conditioner Horatio Luro who with this win would cultivate a reputation
for bringing out the potential in a young horse. The victory was also sweet
revenge for winning jockey Bill Hartack who had been taken off Ridan prior to the
Flamingo Stakes but gained the mount on Decidedly for his Kentucky races.
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| Decidedly winning the 1962 Kentucky Derby (Los Angeles Daily News) |
The week after the Kentucky Derby, Aqueduct carded the mile
Withers Stakes, and it was the stage for Jaipur’s return after a brief
setback. He won, defeating Green Ticket by a length, again not dominating but
doing just enough to secure the victory. The win was satisfactory enough to
enter him in the Preakness Stakes which his connections stated would be used as
part of his Belmont Stakes preparation. Derby runners Decidedly, Roman Line, Ridan, Sunrise County (fifth) and Crimson Satan (sixth) were also in Baltimore for the middle jewel of
the Triple Crown.
Not to belabor the expression, but the Preakness provided
another thrilling contest with a controversial outcome. Jaipur under substitute rider Robert Ussery (Shoemaker had a commitment elsewhere) took
the lead early, but he would have no response when challengers came and faded
to 10th. Ridan surged to the lead on the far turn, but he was
soon joined by Brandywine Stable’s, Greek Money, a chestnut colt from the
Mid-Atlantic region trained by V. W. “Buddy” Raines. Greek Money had an
ordinary two-year-old season, but racing at Laurel and Pimlico Racetrack, he
had won two of three starts with easy wins in the Chesapeake Stakes and the
Preakness Prep allowance race. Ridden by
John Rotz, Greek Money slipped to the
lead inside of Ridan, and the two waged a fierce battle down the stretch with
the Brandywine color bearer prevailing by a nose in very close quarters after
it appeared Ridan would triumph. After the race, a foul claim was lodged by
Ridan’s rider, Manual Ycaza who claimed interference during the stretch run.
The pan shot of the embattled pair failed to disclose any wrongdoing, but the
head-on (see photo below) showed Ycaza leaning in towards Greek Money seemingly
attempting to push his adversary into the rail. The result was let stand, and
Ycaza was suspended for a frivolous claim of foul. As for the others, Roman
Line was well back in third, Sunrise County fifth, Crimson Satan seventh and the Derby winner, Decidedly, a complete absentee in
eighth.
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| Greek Money (right) winning the 1962 Preakness (nytimes.com) |
In these years, the Jersey Derby at Garden State Park could
serve as a prep race for the Belmont Stakes. And in 1962, run on Memorial Day,
it would feature the first three finishers in the final classic. Jaipur, back from his Preakness
debacle, was entered and so was Roman Line, Crimson Satan and Admiral’s Voyage who skipped the Preakness. Again the race
resulted in nail biting finish with an inquiry, and this time a resultant
disqualification. In a finish with three noses on the line, Crimson Satan,
finding his two year old form, just edged Jaipur who had a similar nose margin
on Admiral’s Voyage. But this was 1962, and if you have been paying attention,
you know the race is not over until the Official sign is posted. The riders of
Jaipur (Larry Adams) and Admiral’s Voyage (Braulio Baeza) lodged foul claims against
Crimson Satan for bearing in down the stretch on Admiral’s Voyage who in turn
bumped Jaipur. The foul claims were upheld, and Crimson Satan was placed third
with Jaipur getting the win and Admiral’s Voyage placed second.
In the Belmont Stakes, all major contenders, save Ridan were present. This was the race Jaipur’s owner, George D. Widener, wanted to win above all. He had tried 10
previous times to no avail. Jaipur’s cause was helped in that he was reunited
with William Shoemaker. The race unfolded with
Admiral’s Voyage under Braulio Baeza setting an even pace with Jaipur stalking.
Greek Money who was prominent early would not stay the
distance and faded. Crimson Satan would slowly improve his position, and at the
top of the Belmont stretch as Jaipur joined Admiral’s Voyage in the lead, “The
Red Devil” loomed large. However, just as he appeared to roll on by the
embattled pair, he bore in again, and it looked like he was attempting to bite
(“savage”) Admiral’s Voyage. Manuel Ycaza, now Crimson Satan’s rider,
probably had visions of another disqualification and subsequent riding
suspension so he yanked Crimson Satan away thereby preventing a foul but losing
the horse’s momentum. The race wound up another tooth and nail battle between
Jaipur and Admiral’s Voyage with the Widener colt prevailing again by a nose.
Crimson Satan who proverbially snatched defeat from victory was a 1¼ length
back in third with Decidedly finishing a weak fourth. The celebration in
the winner’s circle was genuine as George D. Widener, a pillar of American
thoroughbred horse racing, had finally fulfilled his quest.
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| Jaipur (center) (nytimes.com) |
The three-year-old championship would be largely settled in
the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack when Jaipur edged Ridan by a nose in a
race where the two combatants raced head-and-head for the entire 1¼ mile distance.
Neither horse would ever achieve as much again and were both retired early in
their four-year-old season. On the other hand, Decidedly, Greek Money, Admiral
Voyage’s and Crimson Satan continued racing through age five, all winning
stakes races, with “The Red Devil” the most successful of the trio. Of the 1962
sophomore crop, it was Sir Gaylord, although retired just before the Derby, who
would make the most impact. As a stallion, he sired top level European stakes
winners, Sir Ivor and Habitat. Although his name recognition primarily comes
from his half-brother Secretariat who would win the Triple Crown in 1973 and is
largely regarded as the greatest racehorse in modern times.
