Throughbred Racing

No single horse dominated thoroughbred racing in 1960.

Warfare was retired on April 1 with a chipped ankle bone and Hail to Reason was retired in September because of fractured sesamoid bones in the leg. Sword Dancer, the 1959 "Horse of the Year," had a good year until having to be withdrawn from the Laurel International in November because of a leg injury.

Johnny Longden, horse racing's most successful jockey, announced his retirement on July 15. The rider of 5,413 winners was 53 years old at the time of his announcement.

In the 25th annual Morning Telegraph- Daily Racing Form poll, Kelso, the 3-year-old gelded son of Your Host and Maid of Flight, was named 1960 "Horse of the Year." Bred for the Bohemia Stable and owned by Mrs. Richard C. duPont, Kelso received 22 of the 32 votes cast, the other 9 favoring Cain Hoy Stable's Bald Eagle. Kelso was also named as the best 3-year-old, thanks to a record of eight victories in nine starts and winnings of $293,310. Hail to Reason, the victim of fractured sesamoid bones in September, was voted the Outstanding 2-Year-Old Colt, and Bowl of Flowers the Best 2-Year-Old Filly. Berlo was voted the Best 3-Year-Old Filly, Bald Eagle the Best Handicap Horse, Royal Native the Best Handicap Mare, and Benguala the Best Steeplechaser.

Major Races

Steeplechasing

In the Grand National at Belmont Park in October, Sun Dog came in 15 lengths ahead of Cartagena to win in the record time of 5 minutes 54.2 seconds for the 3-1/8-mile course. Tommy Walsh was riding.

In the Temple Gwathney, the favored Sun Dog took third, behind Chufquen and Benguala. Benguala was ridden by Albert Foot and finished the 2-1/2-mile course 3 lengths ahead of Chufquen.

Harness Racing

Adios Butler was named "Horse of the Year" by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Del Miller, driver, trainer, and breeder from Meadowlands Farm, Pennsylvania, was given the Proximity Award for his contribution to the sport.

Adios Butler was sold early in the year for $600,000, the highest price ever paid for a harness horse. He set a world pacing record of 1 minute 54.6 seconds over the "red mile" at Lexington, Kentucky, on October 4, and ended the season by winning the Hollywood Park Pacing Classic.

Bye Bye Byrd, harness racing's leading money-maker, reached $492,346 in winnings on November 10, and was expected to continue racing in 1961.

A "Triple Crown" for harness racing became official in 1960 with establishment of a trophy by the Harness Tracks of America. The three events are the Messenger Stakes, the Cane Futurity, and the Little Brown Jug. The winner of the Messenger, run at Westbury, Long Island, New York, on May 14, was Countess Adios, driven by Del Miller. Major Goose was 1-1/4 lengths behind. Countess Adios, again driven by Del Miller, also took the Cane Futurity at the Yonkers Raceway on June 16, finishing 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Betting Time in the record time (for 3-year-olds) of 2 minutes 8 seconds for 1-1/16 mile. In the Little Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio, on September 22, the favored Bullet Hanover won the second and third heats. The 3-year-old colt was driven by Johnny Simpson and finished only 1 length ahead of Betting Time in the third and deciding heat.

A 40-1 shot, Duke of Decatur, owned by W.T. Candler of Decatur, Georgia, won the Yonkers Futurity on July 14. Del Miller was the driver. Volo Man came in second, half a league behind, and Merrie Duke was a close third.

The 35th running of the Hambletonian Stakes at Du Quoin, Illinois, on August 31 took four heats to decide the winner, the first time since 1934 that this was necessary. The winner was Blaze Hanover, trained and driven by Joe O'Brien. The winner's share of the $144,590.14 purse was $85,019.04. Second place went to Quick Song of Castleton Farm, Kentucky, and third place to Hoot Frost, owned by the Armstrong Brothers of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Left: Blaze Hanover, driven by Joe O'Brien, winning the first heat of the Hambletonian Stake race at Du Quoin, Illinois, on August 31, 1960. The horse set a world record of 8 minutes 9-3/5 seconds for the total of four 1-mile heats.

In the Kentucky Futurity at Lexington on October 6, Elaine Rodney, driven by Clint Hodgins, won two straight heats over Quick Song. the second heat set a record for 3-year-old trotters, 1 minute 58.6 seconds.

For just the second time in 150 years of harness racing, an authentic world trotting champion was crowned at the International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway on August 20. There were five entries from Europe and one each from Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. The 1960 winner was from the Netherlands, Hairos II, driven by Willem Geersen. Second was Italy's Crevalcore and third was the U.S. entry, Silver Song.

European Events

More than 350,000 watched an English horse, St. Paddy, win the 181st Derby at Epsom Downs on June 1. The jockey was Lester Piggott. Alcaeus and Kythnos were second and third, respectively. Owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, St. Paddy also won the St. Leger, Dante Stakes, and Great Voltigeur Stakes.

In France, the 39th running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp was won by a 3-year-old colt, Puissant Chef, who collected about $114,000 for his owner in te event on October 9.

In the Year 1960
Kentucky Derby

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