Famous Horses

Affirmed

"And Affirmed puts his nose in front... It's Affirmed!" With those words track announcer Chick Anderson hailed the 11th American Triple Crown Winner as the gallant colt reached down for all his reserves, to outfinish his rival, Calumet Farm's Alydar. Finally, this hearty competitor would receive the accolades and rewards of greatness that he so richly deserved.

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Cigar

It took us awhile to warm to Cigar. Holy Bull had been racing's poster boy, and the one time he met up with Cigar, he broke down on the backstretch and had to be retired. As irrational as it is, we sometimes hold these tough losses against the horse who beat our champion.

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Northern Dancer

A small bay with three white stockings and a crooked blaze, he was the first foal of the Native Dancer mare, Natalma. From the first crop of the farm's new stallion, Nearctic, no one could've been expected to see the magic in this mating.

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Seattle Slew

Other colts have gone into the Triple Crown series having not yet lost a race, but only Seattle Slew has emerged undefeated with the Triple Crown title. Seattle Slew was purchased for the bargain price of $17,500 by Mickey Taylor for his wife Karen. Veterinarian Dr. James Hill had recommended the purchase and he shared in the ownership along with his wife Sally.

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Ruffian

Her sire, Reviewer, won 9 of his 13 starts in a career plagued with injuries. Ruffian was a product of his first crop. Her dam, Shenanigans had won 3 of her 22 starts, and prior to foaling Ruffian, had already produced the good stakes winner Icecapade.

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Seabiscuit

The lives of three vastly different men had come to an intersection, and their crowded hour had begun. The improbable partnership they would form would cultivate each man's greatest, untapped talents, define a pivotal American era and turn a battered little horse into one of the century's most celebrated popular heroes.

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Native Dancer

Mr. Vanderbilt already had a great deal of success in racing when, in 1949 at age 37, he bred Native Dancer. Native Dancer came about due to Vanderbilt's very simple breeding theory: "breed a Discovery mare to SOMETHING", in this case Geisha to Polynesian, and the result was one of America's greatest Thoroughbreds.

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Man o' War

There is very little one can say about Man o'War which has not already been said, but it would be unconscionable to remain silent in regards to the most beloved figure in American racing history.

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Secretariat

Secretariat was conceived in Kentucky and born in Virginia. When turned out to graze with the other foals and dams, Secretariat was seen to be more independant and masterful than the others. He didn't cling to his mother like newborns usually do.