The Century Dream

Among the 14 Classic invitees are five Triple Crown winners, multiple track, North American and world record holders, as well as recipients of Horse Of The Year honors no less than 23 times. Here's the creme de la creme, in post position order:

PP	HORSE	YEAR	AGE	WT	JOCKEY	TRAINER

1	MAN O'WAR	1920	3	122	C. KUMMER	L. FEUSTEL
2	COUNT FLEET	1943	3	122	J. LONGDEN	G. D. CAMERON
3	NATIVE DANCER	1953	3	122	E. GUERIN	W. C. WINFREY
4	CITATION	1948	3	122	E. ARCARO	H. A. JONES
5	SEATTLE SLEW	1977	3	122	A. CORDERO JR.	W. TURNER
6	SWAPS	1956	4	126	W. HARTACK	M. TENNEY
7	SECRETARIAT	1973	3	122	R. TURCOTTE	L. LAURIN
8	DR. FAGER	1968	4	126	B. BAEZA	J. NERUD
9	KELSO	1963	6	126	I. VALENZUELA	C. HANFORD
10	FOREGO	1976	6	126	H. GUSTINES	F. WHITELEY JR.
11	BUCKPASSER	1966	3	122	A. GOMEZ	E. NELOY
12	SPECTACULAR BID	1980	4	126	W. SHOEMAKER	G. DELP
13	DAMASCUS	1967	3	122	M. YCAZA	F. WHITELEY JR.
14	AFFIRMED	1979	4	126	L. PINCAY	L. S. BARRERA

Following are race records (year chosen and lifetime) for each horse, as well as notable accomplishments and other tidbits of information:

-	Horse Of The Year in 1920
-	Won 1920 Belmont S. by 20 lengths, setting a new American record of 2:14 1/5 for 1 3/8 miles
-	Won 1920 Potomac H. (1 1/16 miles) at Havre de Grace, carrying 138 pounds
-	Set a new American record of 1:35 4/5 for the mile in the 1920 Withers S. at Belmont Park
-	Set a new American record of 1:49 1/5 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1920 Dwyer S. at Aqueduct
-	Set a new American record of 2:28 4/5 for 1 1/2 miles in the 1920 Jockey Club S. at Belmont Park
-	Set a new American record of 2:40 4/5 for 1 5/8 miles in the 1920 Lawrence Realization S. at Belmont Park
-	Won 1920 Kenilworth Park Gold Cup (1 1/4 miles) by seven lengths, defeating 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Horse Of The Year in 1952
-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in 1953
-	Champion Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1954
-	Equaled the world record of 1:14 2/5 for 6 1/2 furlongs in the Futurity S. at Belmont Park in 1952
-	Won the Preakness S. and Belmont S. in 1953
-	Finished second by a head to Dark Star in the 1953 Kentucky Derby, for his only career defeat

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1947
-	Champion Three-Year-Colt, Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1948
-	Champion Handicap Horse in 1951
-	Triple Crown winner in 1948, with victory margins of 3 1/2, 5 1/2 and 8 lengths
-	Won 1948 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (3&up at 2 miles) at Belmont Park by 7 lengths
-	Set a new world record of 1:33 3/5 for the mile in the 1950 Golden Gate Mile H.

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1976
-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and Horse Of The Year in 1977
-	Champion Older Horse in 1978
-	Triple Crown winner in 1977
-	Won 1978 Marlboro Cup H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/8 miles) at Belmont Park, defeating champion Affirmed by 3 lengths in a time of 1:45 4/5
-	Won 1978 Woodward S. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Belmont Park, defeating Exceller by 4 lengths in a new track record time of 2:00
-	Set a new track record of 1:20 3/5 for seven furlongs at Hialeah Park (1977)
-	Finished second by a nose to Exceller in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) (3&up at 1 1/2 miles) at Belmont Park, after blazing the first six furlongs in 1:09 2/5

-	Champion Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1956
-	Won 1955 Kentucky Derby, defeating Nashua and Summer Tan
-	Set a new world record of 1:40 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles in the 1955 Californian S. at Hollywood Park
-	Equaled the American record of 1:54 3/5 for 1 3/16 miles on turf in the 1955 American Derby at Washington Park
-	Equaled the world record of 1:46 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1956 American H. at Hollywood Park
-	Set a new track record of 1:58 3/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1956 Hollywood Gold Cup H.
-	Set a new track record of 1:33 2/5 for the mile in the 1956 Washington Park H.
-	Set a new world record of 1:39 3/5 for 1 mile and 70 yards in the 1956 Broward H. at Gulfstream Park
-	Set a new world record of 2:38 1/5 for 1 5/8 miles in the 1956 Sunset H. at Hollywood Park
-	Set a new world record of 1:33 1/5 for the mile in the 1956 Argonaut H. at Hollywood Park
-	Set a new world record of 1:39 for 1 1/16 miles in the 1956 Inglewood H. at Hollywood Park
-	Bill Hartack, 1956 leader in wins and earnings, subs for Shoemaker (who opts for Spectacular Bid)

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Horse Of The Year in 1972
-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Grass Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1973
-	Triple Crown winner in 1973
-	Equaled the track record of 1:33 2/5 for the mile in the 1973 Gotham S. at Aqueduct
-	Set a new track record of 1:59 2/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1973 Kentucky Derby
-	Set a new American record of 2:24 for 1 1/2 miles in the 1973 Belmont S.
-	Set a new world record of 1:45 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1973 Marlboro Cup H. at Belmont Park, in which he defeated stablemate Riva Ridge, Cougar II, Onion and Key to the Mint
-	Set a new course record of 2:24 4/5 for 1 1/2 miles on turf in the 1973 Man o' War S. at Belmont Park

-	Champion Sprinter in 1967
-	Champion Sprinter, Handicap Horse, Grass Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1968
-	Set a new world record of 1:32 1/5 for the mile in the 1968 Washington Park H. at Arlington Park carrying 134 pounds
-	Set a new track record of 1:20 1/5 for seven furlongs in the 1968 Vosburgh H. at Aqueduct carrying 139 pounds
-	Equaled the track record of 1:59 3/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1968 Suburban H. at Aqueduct, defeating champion Damascus while carrying 132 pounds
-	Set a new track record of 1:59 4/5 for 1 1/4 miles at Rockingham Park in 1967

-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and Horse Of The Year in 1960
-	Champion Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964
-	Won Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (3&up at 2 miles) at Aqueduct in 1960 and 1961, at Belmont Park in 1962, and at Aqueduct in 1963 and 1964
-	Equaled the track record of 2:00 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1961 Woodward S. at Belmont Park
-	Won the Woodward S. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct in 1962 and 1963
-	Won Whitney S. (3&up at 1 1/8 miles) at Saratoga in 1961, 1963 and 1965
-	Won Suburban H. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct in 1961 and 1963
-	Won Brooklyn H. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct in 1961
-	Won Metropolitan H. (3&up at 1 mile) at Aqueduct in 1961
-	Set a new American record of 3:19 1/5 for 2 miles in the 1964 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. at Aqueduct, breaking his record of 3:19 2/5, set four years earlier in the same race
-	Equaled the American record of 1:46 3/5 for 1 1/8 miles on turf at Saratoga in 1964
-	Set or equaled four other track records at distances from 1 1/8 miles to 2 miles

-	Champion Sprinter, Older Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1974
-	Champion Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1975 and 1976
-	Champion Handicap Horse in 1977
-	Won Woodward S. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/2 miles) at Belmont Park in 1974 and 1975, defeating champion Wajima in the 1975 running
-	Won Woodward H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/8 miles) at Belmont Park in 1976, in a time of 1:45 4/5, carrying 135 pounds, and again in 1977, under a 133 pound impost
-	Won 1976 Marlboro Cup H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Belmont Park, defeating champion Honest Pleasure by a head, in a time of 2:00, while spotting that rival 18 pounds (137 to 119)
-	Won Brooklyn H. (G1) (3&up at 1 3/16 miles) at Aqueduct in 1974
-	Won Brooklyn H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Belmont Park in 1975, setting a new track record of 1:59 4/5, while carrying 132 pounds
-	Won Brooklyn H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct in 1976, while carrying 134 pounds
-	Won 1974 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) (3&up at 2 miles) at Aqueduct
-	Won 1975 Suburban H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/2 miles) at Belmont Park, while carrying 134 pounds
-	Won Metropolitan H. (G1) (3&up at 1 mile) at Belmont Park in 1976, and again in 1977, while carrying 133 pounds
-	Won Carter H. (G2) (3&up at seven furlongs) at Belmont Park in 1974, defeating Mr. Prospector by 2 1/4 lengths
-	Won Carter H. (G2) (3&up at seven furlongs) at Aqueduct in 1975, while carrying 134 pounds
-	Won Vosburgh H. (G2) (3&up at seven furlongs) at Aqueduct in 1974, defeating Stop the Music by 3 1/2 lengths, while spotting that rival 13 pounds (131 to 118)
-	Won Widener H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Hialeah Park in 1974 and 1975
-	Equaled the track record of 1:33 3/5 for the mile at Belmont Park in 1973
-	Equaled the track record of 1:40 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park in 1973
-	Finished 4th in the 1973 Kentucky Derby (won by Secretariat), despite hitting the rail

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1965
-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1966
-	Champion Handicap Horse in 1967
-	Set a new world record of 1:32 3/5 for the mile in the 1966 Arlington Classic S.
-	Set a new track record of 1:47 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1966 American Derby at Arlington Park
-	Equaled the track record of 2:01 3/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1966 Travers S. at Saratoga
-	Won 1966 Jockey Club Gold Cup (3&up at 2 miles) at Aqueduct
-	Won 1966 Brooklyn H. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct
-	Won 1966 Woodward S. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct
-	Won 1967 Metropolitan H. (3&up at 1 mile) at Aqueduct
-	Won 1967 Suburban H. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct
-	Finished 2nd in 1967 Woodward S. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct behind champion Damascus, and ahead of 3rd-place finisher, champion Dr. Fager
-	Avelino Gomez, 1966 leader in races won, subs for Bill Shoemaker (who opts for Spectacular Bid), and Braulio Baeza (who rides Dr. Fager)

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1978
-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in 1979
-	Champion Older Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1980
-	Won 1978 World's Playground S. (G3) (2yo at seven furlongs) at Atlantic City by 15 lengths, in a time of 1:20 4/5, on a track labeled "good"
-	Set a new track record of 1:41 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles in the Laurel Futurity (G1)
-	Won 1979 Kentucky Derby (G1), defeating General Assembly by 2 3/4 lengths
-	Won 1979 Preakness S. (G1) by 5 1/2 lengths
-	Set a new track record of 1:41 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park in 1979
-	Won 1979 Marlboro Cup H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/8 miles) at Belmont Park, defeating General Assembly by 5 lengths
-	Set a new track record of 2:01 1/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1979 Meadowlands Cup H. (G2) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles)
-	Set a new track record of 1:20 for seven furlongs in the 1980 Malibu S. (G2) at Santa Anita
-	Set a new American record of 1:57 4/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1980 Charles H. Strub S. (G1) at Santa Anita, defeating Flying Paster by 3 1/4 lengths
-	Won 1980 Santa Anita H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles), defeating Flying Paster by 5 lengths
-	Set a new track record of 1:45 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1980 Californian S. (G1) at Hollywood Park, carrying 130 pounds
-	Set a new track record of 1:46 1/5 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1980 Washington Park S. (G3) at Arlington Park, carrying 130 pounds
-	Finished 2nd by three-quarters of a length to champion Affirmed in the 1979 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) (3&up at 1 1/2 miles) at Belmont Park
-	Won 13 Grade 1 races
-	Undefeated at 1 1/4 miles
-	Shoemaker chooses Spectacular Bid over Swaps, Buckpasser and Damascus

-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Handicap Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1967
-	Set a new track record of 1:59 1/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1968 Brooklyn H. at Aqueduct, defeating champion Dr. Fager by 2 1/2 lengths, while in receipt of five pounds (130 to 135)
-	Equaled the track record of 2:01 3/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1967 Travers S. at Saratoga, defeating Reason to Hail by 22 lengths
-	Won 1967 Woodward S. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) at Aqueduct, defeating champions Buckpasser (by 10 lengths) and Dr. Fager (by 11 lengths)
-	Set a new track record of 1:46 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles in the 1967 American Derby at Arlington Park
-	Won 1967 Preakness S., defeating In Reality by 2 1/4 lengths
-	Won 1967 Belmont S.
-	Won 1967 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (3&up at 2 miles) at Aqueduct
-	Finished 3rd in the 1967 Kentucky Derby
-	Finished 3rd in the 1968 Suburban H. (3&up at 1 1/4 miles), five lengths behind champion Dr. Fager
-	Manny Ycaza subs for Bill Shoemaker (who opts for Spectacular Bid)

-	Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1977
-	Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and Horse Of The Year in 1978
-	Champion Older Horse and Horse Of The Year in 1979
-	Triple Crown winner in 1978
-	Set a new track record of 1:58 3/5 for 1 1/4 miles in the 1979 Santa Anita H. (G1)
-	Won 1979 Hollywood Gold Cup H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/4 miles) in a time of 1:58 2/5, carrying 132 pounds
-	Won 1979 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/2 miles), defeating champion Spectacular Bid by three-quarters of a length
-	Won 14 Grade 1 races
-	Finished 2nd by three lengths to champion Seattle Slew in the 1978 Marlboro Cup H. (G1) (3&up at 1 1/8 miles) at Belmont Park

SEATTLE SLEW and DR. FAGER outbreak the field and quickly establish a 1 1/2-length lead over COUNT FLEET, as they race past the stands for the first time. MAN O'WAR, CITATION, SWAPS and AFFIRMED take up the chase four abreast from the rail out. SPECTACULAR BID and NATIVE DANCER settle comfortably into eighth and ninth respectively, while DAMASCUS cruises along in the middle of the track. KELSO is to his inside in 11^th while SECRETARIAT, BUCKPASSER and FOREGO bring up the rear as the field heads into the clubhouse turn.

SEATTLE SLEW and DR. FAGER continue to race as a team after an opening quarter in :22 3/5 and a half in :45 4/5. COUNT FLEET saves ground in third, a length-and-a-half back, while SWAPS ranges up to his outside in fourth. MAN O'WAR hugs the rail in fifth, with CITATION to his outside and AFFIRMED three wide in seventh. The rest of the field remains tightly bunched, with NATIVE DANCER and FOREGO saving ground, and DAMASCUS is racing widest of all.

In the run down the backstretch, SEATTLE SLEW and DR. FAGER continue to eyeball one another, and as they pass six furlongs in 1:09 3/5, both appear relaxed and well within themselves. COUNT FLEET drafts behind the lead pair, and it's a length-and-a-half back to MAN O'WAR and SWAPS. NATIVE DANCER, CITATION and AFFIRMED form a wall from the rail out, behind which sits SECRETARIAT, who is boxed in by SPECTACULAR BID to his outside. BUCKPASSER trails, but by less than ten lengths.

Cordero and Baeza have yet to ask their mounts as they round the far turn, but after a mile in 1:34 1/5, the drive for home begins in earnest. Longden guides COUNT FLEET to the outside for his run, and MAN O'WAR follows closely in fourth. Coming off the turn, SWAPS drifts out slightly, leaving room for CITATION to launch his bid between horses. SPECTACULAR BID tracks CITATION around the turn and into the stretch, then Shoemaker steers the big gray to the inside of that rival, and takes dead aim on the leaders. Turcotte waits patiently on the turn until SPECTACULAR BID moves forward and SECRETARIAT angles the extreme outside for his rally.

Nearing the eighth pole, COUNT FLEET wrests a short lead from DR. FAGER, with SEATTLE SLEW a neck back in third and the legendary MAN O'WAR ranging up on the outside in fourth. CITATION looms boldly in fifth, and SPECTACULAR BID follows closely on the heels of MAN O'WAR in sixth. Meanwhile, SECRETARIAT has clear sailing in the middle of the track, and is closing the gap on the leaders with each prodigious stride. With a sixteenth of a mile to go, MAN O'WAR surges to the lead past COUNT FLEET but SECRETARIAT is now just a length back in third and moving fastest of all. As they near the wire, SECRETARIAT draws even with MAN O'WAR, and in the final jump, puts a head in front to stop the timer in 1:59, bettering his own track record by two-fifths of a second. It's a length back to the great COUNT FLEET in third, with a fast-closing SPECTACULAR BID nosing out CITATION for the fourth spot.

FINISH	HORSE	MARGINS	COMMENT
1	SECRETARIAT	hd	Closed with a furious rush
2	MAN O'WAR	1	Stalked, led late, nipped at wire
3	COUNT FLEET	3/4	Saved ground, led mid-stretch, held gamely
4	SPECTACULAR BID	no	Finished with good energy
5	CITATION	nk	Loomed boldly, battled to wire
6	DR. FAGER	nk	Dueled outside, flattened out stretch
7	FOREGO	nk	Lacked running room, closed belatedly
8	SEATTLE SLEW	1	Dueled on rail, hung stretch
9	AFFIRMED	1/2	Wide trip, lacked closing bid
10	KELSO	hd	Passed tired horses
11	SWAPS	3/4	Stalked to far turn, weakened
12	NATIVE DANCER	1/2	Rail trip, no factor
13	DAMASCUS	1/2	Wide, tired
14	BUCKPASSER	-----	Trailed

That wraps up the Century Dream Series, but certainly doesn't end the debate over who's the best. Hope you had as much fun with the series as I did. If you would like to review earlier races, the entire Century Dream Series will be kept on file in our Web Site Library.

That's all for now. Keep checking back in the Brisnet.com Library for the next event - the Century Dream Distaff!