Picture from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
They called him the “Gray Ghost” of the track. With his silver coat and white face, Native Dancer certainly did appear phantasmal as he floated around with his otherworldly speed. His career spanned from age two to age four. He had a near perfect record throughout his twenty-two races, with only one blemish to his name. The Gray Ghost reached elevated heights that most can only dream of, winning countless championships and being ranked #7 out of 100 by Blood-Horse Magazine when it came to the top U.S. thoroughbreds of the 20th century. As if that weren’t enough, Native Dancer also graced the cover of Time Magazine and was ranked as one of the top television celebrities in the country. He was a horse that captivated the public in such a way that his name remains immortal even though he has long since passed.
Native Dancer was born near Lexington, Kentucky at Scott Farm on March 27, 1950. He was by 1945 Preakness winner, Polynesian, and out of the Discovery mare, Geisha. Not long after the leggy, gray foal was born, his owner, Alfred G. Vanderbilt, sent him to his Maryland home at Sagamore Farm where he would be trained by William C. Winfrey.
At the age of two, Native Dancer found himself at Jamaica Racetrack where he was set to make his debut. With jockey Eric Guerin in the irons, Native Dancer cruised to what would be the first of many victories, breaking his maiden by nearly five lengths. A mere four days later, Native Dancer stepped things up, taking on tougher competition in the Youthful Stakes. The nimble gray made short work of his competition, swiftly putting them away to win by six mighty lengths. After only two starts, it was already becoming clear that this strapping colt was a force to be reckoned with. It was off to Saratoga with the talented youngster to take on the best colts of his class.
Native Dancer continued his tour de force at Saratoga, taking down the Flash Stakes, the Saratoga Special, the Grand Union Hotel Stakes, and the Hopeful Stakes. From there he went to Belmont Park where his victory march continued without relent. Native Dancer demolished his rivals in the Futurity Stakes, stopping the clock in a scintillating time of 1:14 2/5 and equaling the world record time for 6 ½ furlongs.
Native Dancer was named Horse of the Year and Champion Two Year Old Colt at the end of the 1952 racing season. He then spent the winter in California where he grew into an even stronger three year old. As imposing as ever, the Gray Ghost returned to the races in April with his aim on the Kentucky Derby. The Gotham Stakes and Wood Memorial served as preps for the bigger prize that awaited at Churchill Downs, and Native Dancer breezed through them as if they were nothing but casual workouts. The colt feared no horse and showed no mercy. Why should he when he had yet to meet a foe that could match strides with him in the stretch? However, as he would soon learn, triumph doesn’t await everyone who ventures to the Twin Spires. For many it only leads to heartbreak.
Eleven horses exploded out of the gate for the 1953 Kentucky Derby with long shot, Dark Star, going right to the front. Native Dancer was in pursuit of his twelfth consecutive victory, but found trouble going into the first turn of the race. Money Broker slammed into him, temporarily cutting his momentum in the early stages of the race. Ever the champion, Native Dancer regrouped and continued his charge around the legendary oval of Churchill Downs, driven by the endless cheers and applause that surrounded him.
At odds of 25-1, Dark Star led the battle into the stretch. Despite setting the pace, the determined colt was not done yet. Digging in, he kicked for home. After closing up ground and making it into the clear, Native Dancer set his sights on the leader and stormed after him. There was a lot of ground to make up and not a lot of time to do it. The coveted roses were at risk of being stolen by a front-running long shot, and for the first time in his life, Native Dancer felt the desperate imploration of the whip on his skin.
With all his might Native Dancer charged after Dark Star, furiously eating up the ground as he commanded his legs to carry him faster and faster. He was steadily closing in on his gritty foe, but it would be too little too late. Native Dancer reached Dark Star right as the wire came. As desperately as he fought, Native Dancer found himself a head short of maintaining his unbeaten record.
Native Dancer was as valiant as ever in defeat, but the loss left fans around the world in anguish. However, if the loss to Dark Star left Native Dancer in dismay, he didn’t show it. If anything, it made him more determined than ever to return to the battlegrounds to reclaim his glory. And that is exactly what he did.
Native Dancer ran his way right back to the winner’s circle after his loss in the Derby, claiming victory in the Withers Stakes by four powerful lengths. From there he traveled to Maryland to confront the only horse that was ever able to best him.
If Dark Star had any dreams of adding his name to the exalted list of Triple Crown winners after his win in Kentucky, they ended the second the gates opened in the Preakness Stakes. After attempting to wire his way to victory again, Dark Star slowly began to fade in the stretch. He could do no better than fifth as Native Dancer surged to the front to steal the show. After reminding everyone that he was indeed the best, Native Dancer set off to the Belmont Stakes to wrap up the Triple Crown races.
Once again, Native Dancer rose to victory, taking the Belmont Stakes as his own. Defeat was something that the Gray Ghost would never again know. After his Belmont win he continued to take apart his competition, romping in the Dwyer Stakes, the Arlington Classic, the Travers Stakes, and the American Derby. Shortly after his score in the American Derby, it was found that Native Dancer had a foot bruise, and thus his sublime season of racing came to an end.
After taking the title of Champion Three Year Old Colt, Native Dancer resumed training for a four year old campaign. He returned with a strong win in an allowance race. After that he rejoined stakes-company in the Metropolitan Handicap where he ran down his competition late to score by a neck. Native Dancer then ran away from his rivals in the Oneonta Handicap at Saratoga, romping over the wire by nine sensational lengths.
As indomitable as the iron horse was in his Oneonta Stakes victory, it would turn out to be his last. Shortly after the race it was discovered that Native Dancer was unsound in his right foreleg. After twenty-two brilliant races, the Gray Ghost was ready to retire.
Native Dancer stood at Sagamore Farm upon his retirement. He sired countless champions, including Kauai King, who avenged Native Dancer’s loss in the Kentucky Derby by winning it himself. The bloodlines of the Gray Ghost proved to be very influential as his lineage can be traced through champions such as Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Dancer’s Image, Shenanigans, Raise a Native, Alydar, Majestic Prince, and even recent champions like California Chrome and American Pharoah. If you look deep enough in their pedigrees, you can find the legendary name of Native Dancer there.
Native Dancer took his final breath on November 16, 1967. He was laid to rest at his home of Sagamore Farm. The world mourned the loss of this once in a lifetime thoroughbred, leaving tears in the eyes of men, women, and children alike. Not only was Native Dancer one of the most accomplished and iconic horses to ever call Maryland home, but he was also one of the most beloved and celebrated horses in the history of the sport. People flocked from all over to bid their goodbyes, knowing that there would never be another one like him.
Native Dancer was a horse that could do the impossible. In every race he ever ran in with the exception of one, he somehow always found a way to cross the finish line in front. Every move he made was made with excellence. He possessed a stride so flawless and a will to win that was so undeniable that his record will never be duplicated. With an incredible career of twenty-one wins in twenty-two starts, Horse of the Year Honors in 1952 and 1954, and honors of being the champion of his age division at ages two, three, and four, Native Dancer left a legacy that cannot be rivaled. This Hall of Fame champion may be gone, but he has left behind an eternal mark on the sport. When you look at all the horses running today and think about how many of them in some way are in relation to Native Dancer, it is fair to say that it’s like the legend is still around. It’s as if the Gray Ghost himself is haunting the racetracks through his many descendants as they power home to victory.
Thank you to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for supplying the picture of Native Dancer!
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