- Native Dancer
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This article is about the famed racehorse. For the album by Wayne Shorter, see Native Dancer (album).
Native Dancer 
Sire Polynesian Grandsire Unbreakable Dam Geisha Damsire Discovery Sex Stallion Foaled 1950 Country United States Colour Grey Breeder Alfred G. Vanderbilt II Owner Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
Racing colors: Cerise, white diamonds, cerise, sleeves, white cap.Trainer William C. Winfrey Record 22: 21-1-0 Earnings $785,240 Major wins Hopeful Stakes (1952)
American Classic Race wins:
Flash Stakes (1952)
Grand Union Hotel Stakes (1952)
East View Stakes (1952)
Youthful Stakes (1952)
Futurity Stakes (1952)
Saratoga Special Stakes (1952)
Travers Stakes (1953)
Wood Memorial (1953)
Arlington Classic (1953)
American Derby (1953)
Dwyer Stakes (1953)
Withers Stakes (1953)
Gotham Stakes (1953)
Metropolitan Handicap (1954)
Preakness Stakes (1953)
Belmont Stakes (1953)
Kentucky Derby 2nd (1953)Awards U.S. Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt (1952)
United States Co-Horse of the Year
U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1953)
United States Horse of the Year (1954)Honours U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1963)
#7 - Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th CenturyHorse (Equus ferus caballus) Native Dancer (March 27, 1950 - November 16, 1967), nicknamed the Grey Ghost, was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in history, the first horse made famous through the medium of television. He was one of the best horses produced in USA after the war. As a two-year-old he was undefeated in his nine starts for earnings of $ 230,495 a record for a two-year-old. During his three years of racing he had 22 starts for 21 wins.
Contents
Background
He was foaled at Scott Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, the grey colt was raised and trained at owner Alfred G. Vanderbilt II's Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Maryland. Native Dancer was a big solid grey horse by the 1945 Preakness Stakes winner, Polynesian out of Geisha by Discovery. Geisha also produced Native Dancer's half-sister Orientation who in turn was the dam of three stakes winners Initiate ($73,311), Undulation ($ 52,714) and Citizenship.[1]
Racing record
In his first season of racing Native Dancer won all nine races he entered, thrilling crowds with his come-from-behind running style. He was voted the Eclipse Award as Champion two-year-old for 1952 with two of the three major polls naming him Horse of the Year.
In his three-year-old campaign, the undefeated racehorse received a great deal of media attention leading up to the 1953 Kentucky Derby. He won both the Gotham Mile and the prestigious Wood Memorial en route to US racing's most prestigious event but in the Kentucky Derby, Native Dancer lost for the only time in his career. Although jockey Eric Guerin was roundly criticised in the press, the horse had in fact been fouled twice during the race but recovered only to be narrowly defeated into second place by Dark Star. To date Native Dancer is still one of only two "Dual Classic Winners" ever to come from the state of Maryland (the other was Kauai King) and one of only eleven Maryland-bred colts to win a US Triple Crown race. Eight of those eleven have won the Preakness but only he and Caveat have won the Belmont Stakes from the "Old Line State."
Following his loss at Churchill Downs, Native Dancer quickly re-established himself as one of the best horses in America. He won the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, and the Travers Stakes, a feat accomplished until then only by Duke of Magenta, Man o' War, and Whirlaway, and by only two other horses since. Native Dancer never lost again that season and was named Champion Three Year Old Colt.
In 1954 Native Dancer won all three races he entered and was scheduled to be shipped to France to compete in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. However, he had to be retired as a result of a recurring foot injury with a record of 21 wins out of 22 lifetime races. Voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year for 1954, he appeared on the May 31 cover of Time magazine.
Stud record
At stud, Native Dancer sired 43 stakes winners from 306 foals and is an ancestor of countless modern champions. His tail-male descendants, particularly through his grandson Mr. Prospector, have dominated the US Triple Crown races.
Among Native Dancer's offspring are:
- Dan Cupid – won Prix du Bois and other stakes races in France; sire of Sea Bird II (won Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe). Sea Bird II earned 145, the highest Timeform rating in history.
- Dancer's Image - won 1968 Kentucky Derby (disqualified)
- Gala Performance - won Jim Dandy Stakes etc.
- Good Move - won Selima Stakes etc.
- Hula Dancer - raced in France and England where her wins included a British Classic Race, the 1,000 Guineas
- Kauai King - won the 1966 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes
- Natalma - dam of Northern Dancer
- Native Charger - won the 1965 Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby
- Native Prince – won Great American Stakes etc.
- Native Street - multiple stakes wins including the 1966 Kentucky Oaks
- Protanto - multiple stakes wins including the 1971 Whitney Stakes
- Raise a Native - important sire of Majestic Prince, Alydar, Mr. Prospector
- Secret Step – won King George Stakes and July Cup etc. in England
- Shenanigans - Dam of the champion filly Ruffian
- Street Dancer won Santa Ana Handicap etc.[2]
Native Dancer was also the grandsire of steeplechasers, including West Tip, the winner of the 1986 Aintree Grand National.
Honors
Native Dancer was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1963. He died on November 16, 1967 following the removal of a tumor on the wall of the small intestine and was buried at Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Maryland.[3]
In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th century, Native Dancer was ranked #7. In the Associated Press rankings of the greatest racehorses of the 20th century, Native Dancer ranked #3, tied with Citation, behind only Man o' War and Secretariat.
Tabulated pedigree
Pedigree of Native Dancer (USA), grey stallion, 1950 Sire
Polynesian (USA)
Br.,1942Unbreakable
Blk.,1935Sickle Phalaris Selene Blue Grass Prince Palatine Hour Glass Black Polly
B.,1936Polymelian Polymelus Pasquita Black Queen Pompey Black Maria Dam
Geisha (USA)
Gr.,1943Discovery
Ch.,1931Display Fair Play Cicuta Ariadne Light Brigade Adrienne Miyako
Gr.,1930John P. Grier Whisk Broom II Wonder La Chica Sweep La Grisette (Family: 5-f)[4] See also
- List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses
References
- ^ Ahnert (editor in chief), Rainer L. (1970). Thoroughbred Breeding of the World. Germany: Pozdun Publishing. pp. 426-7.
- ^ "Native Dancer (USA) - offspring". Australian Stud Book. Australian Turf Club Limited and Victoria Racing Club Limited. http://www.studbook.org.au/horse.aspx?hid=419329&pagetype=OFFSPRINGWINS. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ Montgomery, E.S, "The Thoroughbred", Arco, New York, 1973 ISBN 0-668-02824-6
- ^ Morris, Simon; Tesio Power 2000 - Stallions of the World, Syntax Software
- Boyd, Eva Jolene (2000), Native Dancer, Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, ISBN 1581500483.
- Eisenberg, John (2003), Native Dancer: The Grey Ghost, Hero of a Golden Age, New York: Warner Books, ISBN 0446530700.
1873 Survivor • 1874 Culpepper • 1875 Tom Ochiltree • 1876 Shirley • 1877 Cloverbrook • 1878 Duke of Magenta • 1879 Harold • 1880 Grenada • 1881 Saunterer • 1882 Vanguard • 1883 Jacobus • 1884 Knight of Ellerslie • 1885 Tecumseh • 1886 The Bard • 1887 Dunboyne • 1888 Refund • 1889 Buddhist • 1890 Montague • 1894 Assignee • 1895 Belmar • 1896 Margrave • 1897 Paul Kauvar • 1898 Sly Fox • 1899 Half Time • 1900 Hindus • 1901 The Parader • 1902 Old England • 1903 Flocarline • 1904 Bryn Mawr • 1905 Cairngorn • 1906 Whimsical • 1907 Don Enrique • 1908 Royal Tourist • 1909 Effendi • 1910 Layminster • 1911 Watervale • 1912 Colonel Holloway • 1913 Buskin • 1914 Holiday • 1915 Rhine Maiden • 1916 Damrosch • 1917 Kalitan • 1918 War Cloud • 1918 Jack Hare Jr. • 1919 Sir Barton • 1920 Man o' War • 1921 Broomspun • 1922 Pillory • 1923 Vigil • 1924 Nellie Morse • 1925 Coventry • 1926 Display • 1927 Bostonian • 1928 Victorian • 1929 Dr. Freeland • 1930 Gallant Fox • 1931 Mate • 1932 Burgoo King • 1933 Head Play • 1934 High Quest • 1935 Omaha • 1936 Bold Venture • 1937 War Admiral • 1938 Dauber • 1939 Challedon • 1940 Bimelech • 1941 Whirlaway • 1942 Alsab • 1943 Count Fleet • 1944 Pensive • 1945 Polynesian • 1946 Assault • 1947 Faultless • 1948 Citation • 1949 Capot • 1950 Hill Prince • 1951 Bold • 1952 Blue Man • 1953 Native Dancer • 1954 Hasty Road • 1955 Nashua • 1956 Fabius • 1957 Bold Ruler • 1958 Tim Tam • 1959 Royal Orbit • 1960 Bally Ache • 1961 Carry Back • 1962 Greek Money • 1963 Candy Spots • 1964 Northern Dancer • 1965 Tom Rolfe • 1966 Kauai King • 1967 Damascus • 1968 Forward Pass • 1969 Majestic Prince • 1970 Personality • 1971 Canonero II • 1972 Bee Bee Bee • 1973 Secretariat • 1974 Little Current • 1975 Master Derby • 1976 Elocutionist • 1977 Seattle Slew • 1978 Affirmed • 1979 Spectacular Bid • 1980 Codex • 1981 Pleasant Colony • 1982 Aloma's Ruler • 1983 Deputed Testimony • 1984 Gate Dancer • 1985 Tank's Prospect • 1986 Snow Chief • 1987 Alysheba • 1988 Risen Star • 1989 Sunday Silence • 1990 Summer Squall • 1991 Hansel • 1992 Pine Bluff • 1993 Prairie Bayou • 1994 Tabasco Cat • 1995 Timber Country • 1996 Louis Quatorze • 1997 Silver Charm • 1998 Real Quiet • 1999 Charismatic • 2000 Red Bullet • 2001 Point Given • 2002 War Emblem • 2003 Funny Cide • 2004 Smarty Jones • 2005 Afleet Alex • 2006 Bernardini • 2007 Curlin • 2008 Big Brown • 2009 Rachel Alexandra • 2010 Lookin At Lucky • 2011 Shackleford
1867 Ruthless ♥ • 1868 General Duke • 1869 Fenian • 1870 Kingfisher • 1871 Harry Bassett • 1872 Joe Daniels • 1873 Springbok • 1874 Saxon • 1875 Calvin • 1876 Algerine • 1877 Cloverbrook • 1878 Duke Of Magenta • 1879 Spendthrift • 1880 Grenada • 1881 Saunterer • 1882 Forester • 1883 George Kinney • 1884 Panique • 1885 Tyrant • 1886 Inspector B • 1887 Hanover • 1888 Sir Dixon • 1889 Eric • 1890 Burlington • 1891 Foxford • 1892 Patron • 1893 Commanche • 1894 Henry of Navarre • 1895 Belmar • 1896 Hastings • 1897 Scottish Chieftain • 1898 Bowling Brook • 1899 Jean Bereaud • 1900 Ildrim • 1901 Commando • 1902 Masterman • 1903 Africander • 1904 Delhi • 1905 Tanya ♥ • 1906 Burgomaster • 1907 Peter Pan • 1908 Colin • 1909 Joe Madden • 1910 Sweep • 1913 Prince Eugene • 1914 Luke McLuke • 1915 The Finn • 1916 Friar Rock • 1917 Hourless • 1918 Johren • 1919 Sir Barton ₩ • 1920 Man o' War • 1921 Grey Lag • 1922 Pillory • 1923 Zev • 1924 Mad Play • 1925 American Flag • 1926 Crusader • 1927 Chance Shot • 1928 Vito • 1929 Blue Larkspur • 1930 Gallant Fox ₩ • 1931 Twenty Grand • 1932 Faireno • 1933 Hurryoff • 1934 Peace Chance • 1935 Omaha ₩ • 1936 Granville • 1937 War Admiral ₩ • 1938 Pasteurized • 1939 Johnstown • 1940 Bimelech • 1941 Whirlaway ₩ • 1942 Shut Out • 1943 Count Fleet ₩ • 1944 Bounding Home • 1945 Pavot • 1946 Assault ₩ • 1947 Phalanx • 1948 Citation ₩ • 1949 Capot • 1950 Middleground • 1951 Counterpoint • 1952 One Count • 1953 Native Dancer • 1954 High Gun • 1955 Nashua • 1956 Needles • 1957 Gallant Man • 1958 Cavan • 1959 Sword Dancer • 1960 Celtic Ash • 1961 Sherluck • 1962 Jaipur • 1963 Chateaugay • 1964 Quadrangle • 1965 Hail To All • 1966 Amberoid • 1967 Damascus • 1968 Stage Door Johnny • 1969 Arts and Letters • 1970 High Echelon • 1971 Pass Catcher • 1972 Riva Ridge • 1973 Secretariat ₩ • 1974 Little Current • 1975 Avatar • 1976 Bold Forbes • 1977 Seattle Slew ₩ • 1978 Affirmed ₩ • 1979 Coastal • 1980 Temperence Hill • 1981 Summing • 1982 Conquistador Cielo • 1983 Caveat • 1984 Swale • 1985 Creme Fraiche • 1986 Danzig Connection • 1987 Bet Twice • 1988 Risen Star • 1989 Easy Goer • 1990 Go And Go • 1991 Hansel • 1992 A.P. Indy • 1993 Colonial Affair • 1994 Tabasco Cat • 1995 Thunder Gulch • 1996 Editor's Note • 1997 Touch Gold • 1998 Victory Gallop • 1999 Lemon Drop Kid • 2000 Commendable • 2001 Point Given • 2002 Sarava • 2003 Empire Maker • 2004 Birdstone • 2005 Afleet Alex • 2006 Jazil • 2007 Rags to Riches ♥ • 2008 Da' Tara • 2009 Summer Bird • 2010 Drosselmeyer • 2011 Ruler on Ice
Legend - ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = FillyCategories:- 1950 racehorse births
- 1967 racehorse deaths
- American racehorses
- American Thoroughbred Horse of the Year
- Belmont Stakes winners
- American Champion racehorses
- Preakness Stakes winners
- Racehorses bred in Maryland
- Racehorses trained in the United States
- Thoroughbred racehorses
- United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires
- United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees
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