1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: Radio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Minky. Eddie Sweet 3 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: had a nightmare. The race horse he had groomed and 4 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: lovingly cared for for the past couple of years was 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: running and running hard. Big Red, as Eddie affectionately called him, 6 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: had opened up a large lead over the other horses, 7 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: and then, without warning, the chestnut horse fell. The next day, 8 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: Eddie nervously watched the horses step onto the track for 9 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: the running of the Belmont Steaks. In the infield, people 10 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: stood shoulder to shoulder, holding up signs good luck Secretariat 11 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: on Red. In sports bars across the country, people stopped 12 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: to watch. Others gathered around their TV sets at home. 13 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: The red colt, whose jockey wore white and blue silks, 14 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: was America's horse. One by one, the horses were loaded 15 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: into the starting gates, and Eddie and the enormous crowd 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: in the stands around him collectively held their breath. The 17 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: starting bell broke, the silence and the gates flung open. 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: Horses surged forward, their hooves thundering on the track. By 19 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: the time they reached the first turn, Secretariat and another 20 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: front runner had set mind boggling times for the first quarter. 21 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: Head to head, they galloped, leaving the rest of the 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: field far behind. These horses had been rivals all year, 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: and now it looked like a match race. Then Secretariat 24 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: began to pull away by one, then two, and then 25 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: three lengths. The chestnut Colt increased his lead by ten 26 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: lengths than twelve, and the crowd screamed and waved their 27 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: signs like banners. Enthusiasts looked at their stopwatches and shook 28 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: their heads in disbelief. Announcer Chick Anderson spoke louder as 29 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: he called the race, Secretariat is blazing along. Spectators could 30 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: barely believe what they were seeing. More blistering speeds, and 31 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: Secretariat's lead kept growing with each ground eating stride. Anderson's 32 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: next call became one of the most amiss in sports history. 33 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: He yelled to be heard over the roaring crowd. Secretariat 34 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: is widening. Now he's moving like a tremendous machine. Eddie's 35 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: heart pounded. He had dreamed of this. Stay on your feet, Red, 36 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 1: stay up, he cried Secretariat and his jockey Ron Turcott. 37 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: We're all alone now twenty two lengths and counting no 38 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: longer racing the other horses, it was them against the stopwatch. 39 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: In a now famous photo, Turcott looks over his shoulder 40 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: to check the teleprompter for Secretariat's time as the crowd 41 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: nearly drowned out Anderson's final call of the race, Secretariat 42 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: crossed the finish line thirty one lengths ahead of the rest, 43 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: shattering the race record, track record and world record for 44 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: the mile and a half distance on dirt by an 45 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: incredible second and a half. Labeled the Horse of the Century, 46 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: Secretariat had just won the coveted triple crown, having swept 47 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the weeks before. To date, 48 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: only thirteen horses have ever accomplished that beat, beginning with 49 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: one named Sir Barton in n and Secretariat's time records 50 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: for all three races still stand almost fifty years later. 51 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: So for a few weeks back in June of nine, 52 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: everyone's attention turned from watergate to a starting gate. Time 53 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: magazine even featured a picture of the champion horse on 54 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: the front cover of their June issue. Even now, you 55 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:28,399 Speaker 1: can't mention horse racing without talking about Secretariat. No other 56 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: horse in history has ever captured the public's attention nor 57 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: racing enthusiasts hearts the way he did, So much so 58 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: that in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources actually named 59 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: Secretariat's birthplace a historical site. But as any true racing 60 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: fan can tell you, the sport of kings isn't all 61 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: winner circles and roses. It's also home to its own 62 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: fair share of darkness. I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, Welcome to American Shadows. 63 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: Horse racing is a world of its own. We associate 64 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: it with the wealthy and affluent, and for the owners 65 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: and trainers, that's often true. The race horses aren't cheap, 66 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: and the better bred ones can sell for millions of dollars, 67 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: not to mention the money that goes into training them 68 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: and keeping them fit, or at least fit enough to run. 69 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: And while there are races with million dollar purses, there 70 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: are limits to how many horses can run that race. 71 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: Often there are requirements to like age or prior winnings. 72 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: Twenty thousand race horses are typically born each year. Divide 73 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: that by the number of well paying races, and you 74 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 1: can see how not every horse comes out profitable riding 75 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: to victory Usually that's a jockey ten percent of the 76 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: winner's share, second, third and fourth place get around five percent. 77 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: That sounds pretty good in million dollars stakes races, where 78 00:04:55,720 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: the winner gets of the total purse. For perspective, though, 79 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: according to the Jockeys Guild, the average stakes race as 80 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: of seventeen was just under thirty thousand dollars. That means 81 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: for a jockey riding the winner of an average stakes race, 82 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: they get seven hundred and thirty five bucks. And for 83 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: every winner, there are losers. And while some races may 84 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: draw only five or six horses, others draw fields as 85 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,799 Speaker 1: high as twenty two if their horse finishes fifth or worse. 86 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: Jockeys average about fifty to a hundred and ten dollars 87 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: for their time that day. Basically half of America's thoroughbred 88 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: jockeys make less than thirteen thousand dollars a year. It's 89 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: not an easy way to make a living. In the 90 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: late eighteen nineties, black jockeys who dominated the tracks were 91 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: being squeezed out of the sport. Still, Isaac Burns Murphy 92 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 1: was the best jockey of his day, winning thirty four 93 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: percent of his races. Murphy rode in the Kentucky Derby 94 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 1: eleven times and entered the winner's circle on three horses, 95 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: Buchanan in eighty four, Riley in eighteen ninety in Kingman 96 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: In When the National Museum of Racing and Hall of 97 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: Fame was created in nineteen fifty five, Murphy was the 98 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: very first jockey inducted. Sadly, women weren't accepted in the 99 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: sport at all, at least not without their husband's permission. 100 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: But in nineteen o four, Laska Durnell entered her horse 101 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: Elwood in the Kentucky Derby under just her initials the 102 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: best part they won. In nineteen sixty nine, jockey Diane 103 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,239 Speaker 1: Crump faced such opposition on the track that she needed 104 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: a police escort just to get to the small office 105 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: she had to use to change into her riding silks. 106 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: Men shouted at her to go back to the kitchen 107 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: and cook dinner. Some jockeys across the United States threatened 108 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: to boycott the derby if she rode, but ride she did, 109 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: although she didn't win. Live your dream, Crump said during 110 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: an interview, don't let anyone tell you that you can't 111 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: or that you're not good enough. You are. But for 112 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: any jockey riding a one thousand, five hundred pound high 113 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: strung animal hurtling toward a finish line at forty miles 114 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: an hour, alongside up to twenty two other horses and riders. 115 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: It's a dangerous business. The position in which jockeys ride 116 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: perched over the horse and bent forward like a missile, 117 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: never rested on the saddle is a feat of course, 118 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: strength and balance. Horse racing is a wave of controlled 119 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: chaos really, and jockeys are the daredevils who risk their 120 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: lives to ride it. Typically, jockeys are sidelined with injuries 121 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: about three times a year. If a jockey loses their balance, 122 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: gets bumped, or if the horse stumbles, they can find 123 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: themselves flying at high speeds onto the rail or track. 124 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: Landing on the rail is bad enough, but landing on 125 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: the track means there's a risk of being trampled by 126 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: race horse hoofs that strike the ground with three thousand 127 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: pounds of pressure. In three, up and coming jockey Dominic 128 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: Belizies Mount feared off course during a race, throwing the 129 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: twenty one year old rider off balance. Blizie fell into 130 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: the path of the other horses and died at the 131 00:07:55,880 --> 00:08:01,119 Speaker 1: hospital five days later from excessive internal injuries. Jockey John 132 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: Red Pollard was aboard fair Knitests in the stakes race 133 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: in nineteen thirty eight. Another horse slowed down in front 134 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: of his, causing fair Knightess to trip. She somersaulted on 135 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: to the track and trapped Pollard beneath her. Although injured, 136 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: fair Knight Tess tried to stand. At the same moment 137 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: another horse attempted to jump over her, slamming into her. 138 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: She fell again, crushing Pollard a second time. The horse 139 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: miraculously recovered, but Pollard suffered a crushed chest, a broken arm, 140 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: shoulder and ribs, a shattered collar bone, a concussion, and 141 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: a few internal injuries. Between nineteen thirty and nineteen thirty nine, 142 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: nineteen jockeys died as the result of track injuries. Finally, 143 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: in the late thirties, jockeys met in secret to discuss 144 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: the formation of a group to help protect them in 145 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: the event of injuries or if they were disabled due 146 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: to an accident on the track. Unsympathetic track operators and 147 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: trainers often blacklisted them for participating in such meetings despite 148 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: the objections, though the Jockey Guild was formed in nine 149 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: teen forty after famous rider Eddie ar Caro visited another 150 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: injured jockey in the hospital. Our Caro, along with Red 151 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: Pollard and thirteen others, set in motion new safety measures, 152 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: including having an ambulance on the track, shorter post parades 153 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: and cold weather, plus the use of goggles and helmets 154 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: to name a few. The horses, though sadly they didn't 155 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: have a guild in his day, he was what trainers 156 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: called a flat out flyer, and it's no wonder. In 157 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: nineteen twelve, Old Rosebud won twelve of fourteen starts and 158 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: repeatedly clocked the fastest five furlongs of any two year old. 159 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: The following year, he won the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths, 160 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 1: making it one of the most dominant wins in the 161 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: race's history. His owner didn't retire the champion after his 162 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: three year old season, though, or any season for that matter. 163 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: You see. Being a guilding Old rose Bud's value was 164 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: only based on what he could win, But to his trainer, 165 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: who worked with him every day, Old Rosebud was something more. 166 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: But racing was and is a business. So on May 167 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: sevent Old Rosebud stepped onto the track for his eightieth 168 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: start of Low end race with a miniscule purse. With 169 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: each breath, his ribs showed against his now dull, mud 170 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: colored coat. His ears flicked, and he shuffled uneasily. He 171 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: had once been a gentleman on the track, not now, 172 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: though to the trained I it appeared that Old Rosebud 173 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: no longer enjoyed racing. Maybe the track was the last 174 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: place he wanted to be. He was eleven, after all. 175 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: He ran fourth that day, probably much to the aggravation 176 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: of anyone who had bet on him. Just days later, 177 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: Old Rosebud was out on the track for a morning workout. 178 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: He stumbled, bobbing his head low. Then he staggered to 179 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: a halt, favoring his right front leg. Later that evening, 180 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: a bullet ended Old Rosebud's life. He didn't receive a 181 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: burial in a green pasture or in a race tracks 182 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: in field, though, no that would have prevented Old Rosebud 183 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: from learning one more paycheck for his owner, the money 184 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: offered by the local rendering plant along the back stretch. 185 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: His trainer, Wept bred by her late husband, Black Gold, 186 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: was a promising three year old horse that Rosa Hoots 187 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: refused to sell, not even for fifty dollars. Owning a 188 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: Derby horse had been her husband's dream, but he had 189 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: died before the Derby. It marked the fiftieth running of 190 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: the race and was also the first year a gold 191 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: trophy cup was offered, and for fans of the Derby, 192 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: it was notably the first time My Old Kentucky Home 193 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: was played. As the horses entered the track. In the stretch, 194 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: the jet black colt was bumped hard but recovered he 195 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: was a tough horse. To get a clear path, his 196 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: jockey swung Black Gold wide around the other horses while 197 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: the crowd cheered. They poured on the speed and overtook 198 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: the leader in the last seventy yards to win. An 199 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: exciting day. Indeed, Mrs Hoots retired the champion to stud 200 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: later that year. It turned out Black Gold wasn't fertile, though, 201 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 1: and returned to racing at the age of six. However, 202 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: he broke down in the stretch and while he still 203 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: managed to finish the race, Black Gold was euthanized before 204 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: he ever left the track. Mrs Hoots had her beloved 205 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: horse buried at the sixteenth pole. In eighty five, a 206 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 1: Kentucky Derby winner, Joe cotton horse that had been named 207 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: after a bookie met the same fate after tripping over 208 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: two horses that had fallen in front of him. Then 209 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: tragedy struck again. In nineteen sixty nine. Dark Mirrage was 210 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: the darling of America. She had swept everything before her 211 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: in her three year old season. In her second race 212 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: as a four year old, she injured a leg and 213 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: never recovered. Historically, the ratio of accidents per starts has 214 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: been about two out of every one thousand races. Oddly enough, 215 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: about one third of injuries that lead to fatalities happened 216 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: off the track, and some horses have recovered. When the 217 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: outstanding horse Neurea, fractured a leg running in a pasture, 218 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: veterinarians were able to save him and he lived many 219 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: years after that, passing away at the ripe age of 220 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: twenty four. But it's not just the injuries that make 221 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: the sport dangerous. Drugging has plagued horse racing since at 222 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: least the nineteen thirties, and according to one New York 223 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: Times article from n three, it existed even back then. 224 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,319 Speaker 1: Most famously, perhaps was the nineteen sixty eight winner of 225 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: the Churchill Downs, a horse named Dancer's Image. Known for 226 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: their zero tolerance for any drug found in a horse's system, 227 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: Churchill Downs found trace amounts of a drug in the 228 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: blood of a winner named Butte. The drug they found 229 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: was a pain reliever similar to aspirin with antihistamine properties 230 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: in it and one that's allowed today, But owner Peter 231 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: Fuller claimed that it wasn't really the drug the disqualified 232 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: Dance Image. It was his own involvement in the civil 233 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: rights movement. You see. Fuller was very outspoken about social 234 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 1: issues and had donated over sixty two dollars of the 235 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: champions winnings to KURTA. Scott King just days after her husband, 236 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: Martin Luther King Jr. Was murdered. After Dancer's Image retired, 237 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: he was sold as a stud horse, living the good 238 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: life until he passed away at the very old age 239 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: of twenty seven. While it's always been part of the 240 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: business to sell a horse's breeding rights, horses that no 241 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: longer produce foals or quality horses have often ended up 242 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: in slaughter houses, including at least one Kentucky Derby winner 243 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: named Ferdinand. In two thousand and six, the House of 244 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: Representatives passed a bill making the selling or raising of 245 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: horses for food illegal. The bill failed at the Senate, though, 246 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: and the bill wasn't the first to fail either. Similar 247 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: laws have been proposed several times since nineteen fifteen, and 248 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: while there are currently no slaughter houses for horses in 249 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: the United States, they're often sold to brokers who take 250 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: the horses of cross the northern and southern borders. In 251 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: just one decade, it's estimated that more than seven thousand, 252 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: five hundred American race horses were shipped to Mexico for slaughter. Fortunately, 253 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: that hasn't been the fate of every horse that disappointed 254 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: their owners on the track. With the right amount of 255 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: luck and guided by just the right hands, some have 256 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: even become legendary. Tom Smith first laid eyes on him 257 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: after a race it suffled downs in East Boston. The 258 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: three year old colt had won an allowance race, a 259 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: race that generally signifies the horses one at least one 260 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: previous race, but isn't good enough for higher paying stakes 261 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: race company. The horse had won in the stifling heat, 262 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: and something about him caught trainer Tom Smith's attention. It 263 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: certainly wasn't the brown horses looks he had Knobby knees 264 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: and was quite small for a thoroughbread. It might have 265 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: been his bloodline and the horse was the grandson of 266 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: the great racehorse man O War, or it could have 267 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: been how well respected the stable had been born out was. 268 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: But it was neither of those things, not really. It 269 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: was pure intuition that told Smith this horse could be 270 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: a champion. Smith convinced automobile magnate Charles S. Howard to 271 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: buy Sea Biscuit for just eight thousand dollars. He paired 272 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: the horse with a red haired jockey named John Pollard, 273 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: known as Red on the tracks. Pollard was an underdog 274 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: jockey who had suffered a brain injury and been left 275 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: partially blind after a horse had kicked a rock into 276 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: his head during a race. When Smith offered him the job, 277 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: Pollard was a lot like Sea Biscuit. Down and out. 278 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: Jockey and horse developed a quick bond. Sea Biscuit wasn't 279 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: just a racehorse to Pollard either. The man loved him, 280 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: often bringing the horse sugarcubes. It helped that the trainer 281 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: Smith had what others thought of as unusual training methods 282 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: the first starters. He didn't treat Sea Biscuit like the 283 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: typical racehorse. He allowed the colt to be in the 284 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: company of other animals, fed him the best food, and 285 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: allowed him to sleep frequently. Basically, he cared for Sea 286 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: Biscuit as though he were part of his family, and 287 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: Sea Biscuit thrived on it. The unassuming Brown Colts started 288 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: winning and winning a lot. Big steak races brought in 289 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 1: the best horses and gamblers. With the limitations on gambling, 290 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 1: betting at the tracks had become popular during the Great Depression. 291 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: Some looked at winning at the track as a way 292 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: out of poverty. To them, plain looking Sea Biscuit stood 293 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: out among the bigger, flash ear horses. His jockey and 294 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: trainer were underdogs in their own right. In a way, 295 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: they were the team of the working class and the poor. 296 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: Before Smith and Pollard had taken charge of him, Sea 297 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: Biscuit had been raced and whipped far too often, Mistreated 298 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: and discouraged, the horse didn't even bother to try anymore. 299 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: But Pollard, Smith and Howard had given him a new chance. 300 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: In treating him well in tough times, the bay colt 301 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: gave people hope. His victories became their victories. New owner 302 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: Charles Howard saw this and gave the people more of 303 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 1: what they wanted. Reporters who wrote about Sea Biscuit were 304 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: sent champagne. Before long, sea Biscuit was getting more pressed 305 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: than President Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler. Shops began to sell 306 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: Sea Biscuit themed hats and toys. His image adorned cleaning services, hotels, 307 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: and pinball machines. Movie theaters played real footage of Sea 308 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: Biscuits races. He even appeared on crates of oranges. Sea 309 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: Biscuit earned it too. The horse that had once been 310 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 1: regulated to allowance races had gone on to win a 311 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: string of handicapped steak races. In seven He beat the 312 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: best of the best, well except for one horse, seven 313 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: triple crown winner War Admiral. That horse was owned by 314 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: the famous racing tycoon Samuel Riddle, and Riddle coincidentally had 315 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: also owned the legendary man O War Sea Biscuits grandsire. 316 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: But despite Sea biscuits recent victories and his prestigious grandsire, 317 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: Riddle scoffed at the horse. As far as he was concerned, 318 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 1: Sea Biscuit was beneath his horse and a match race 319 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: between them would be a waste of his time. And 320 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,640 Speaker 1: more Admiral's talent, but Howard persisted and the public kept 321 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 1: clamoring for the match. Finally, Riddle agreed, but only under 322 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: certain conditions. He got to pick the track, and since 323 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: war Admiral didn't like starting gates, they'd use a starting 324 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: line instead. Team Sea Biscuit agreed. The match race was 325 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: finally set. It would be November first, nineteen thirty eight, 326 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 1: at Pimlico Racetrack in Maryland. Smith and Pollard trained Sea 327 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: Biscuit to start without a gate, and everything was going 328 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 1: well until Pollard had that near fatal accident aboard fair 329 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 1: Knight Tess that we touched on earlier. With the race 330 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: weeks away, Smith tried three jockeys on Sea Biscuit, but 331 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: the horse didn't take to any of them. Finally, George Wolf, 332 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: a friend of Pollard's, was given the ride, and he 333 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: and Sea Biscuit seemed to hit things off. But as 334 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: the saying go, when it rains, it pours, and it 335 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: did exactly that the day before the match race, war 336 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: Admiral liked sloppy tracks and Sea Biscuit didn't. For the 337 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: working classes horse, the odds just kept stacking up, so 338 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: Wolf walked the course the night before, seeking out the 339 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: driest part of the track. On the day of the race, 340 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: even President Roosevelt stopped and listened to the radio broadcast. 341 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: The Nazis were ramping up forces for World War two. 342 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: Just a couple of days earlier, the world had been 343 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: in a panic over orson Wells broadcast of War of 344 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: the Worlds, and on top of everything, people were still 345 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 1: struggling to come out of the Great Depression. With all 346 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: that going on, the race became a sort of symbol 347 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: and reflection of the times in America. Pour against rich, 348 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: elite against average, Sea Biscuit gave them something tangible, something 349 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 1: to count on, and he took the early lead. War 350 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: Admiral rallied though and matched him stride for stride, Wolf 351 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: fees up on Sea Biscuit. Pollard had told him that 352 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: the horse liked to see his rivals and what he 353 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: was up against. War Admiral edged slightly ahead and the 354 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: two entered the stretch. Sea Biscuit caught up nose two knows, 355 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: they ran, and then Sea Biscuit poured on the speed. 356 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: Despite so many disadvantages, he won the race by an 357 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: impressive four lengths. Working America saw in him a hero, 358 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: a fighter who represented them and could overcome great obstacles. 359 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 1: Howard said that what made Sea Biscuit a great race 360 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: horse was his heart. He loved to run and put 361 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: everything he had into his races. The people said he 362 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: was scrappy, and what he lacked in stature he made 363 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 1: up with pure grit. The Nation named ten top newsmakers 364 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: that year, including Roosevelt and Hitler. The tenth spot went 365 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: to Sea Biscuit, who retired after that match race, at 366 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: least for a while. Pollard reunited with his beloved horse 367 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: for one final race, winning the nineteen forties Santa Anita 368 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: Handicap at the ripe age of seven. Sea Biscuit retire 369 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: for good this time and lived out his days comfortably 370 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: and well cared for and Howard's California ranch. As for 371 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: Red Pollard, Howard treated his higher jockey like a son, 372 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,640 Speaker 1: paying for his hospital bills after that fall on fair Knightess, 373 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: taking him in when he recovered, and even paying for 374 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: a nurse, a nurse who Pollard eventually married. The two 375 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: went on to live a happy life together. While the 376 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: stories of Pollard and Sea Biscuit had fairy tale endings, 377 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:31,679 Speaker 1: temporary jockey, George Wolf wasn't so lucky. Wolf struggled with 378 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: his weight, constantly trying to keep it down low enough 379 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: to ride. He resorted to disorder exercise and eating, often 380 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: running in sweaters before race day and depriving himself of 381 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: food and water. Complicating his struggle was the fact that 382 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: he was diabetic. Collecting a paycheck was a balance between 383 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: staying at the right weight and managing his blood sugar, 384 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: and it was a balancing act that would one day 385 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: prove fatal. On a winter day in Wolf passed out 386 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: while racing. His had hit the rail, and he was 387 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: pronounced dead at the scene. For him, the race was over. 388 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: Behind every winning horse has been people, each with their 389 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: own powerful story, and among the heartache and shadows along 390 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 1: the back stretch, there are beacons of light. Although she 391 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: had been born Helen Chennery, everyone just called her Penny. 392 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: Her father went from poverty a millionaire status and owned 393 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 1: a farm called Meadow Stables in Virginia. Her mother died 394 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: in nine and her father became ill, unable to manage 395 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: the farm. Racing was still a male dominated sport, but 396 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: Chennery managed to run Meadow Stables. She convinced trainer Lucian 397 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: Lauren to come out of retirement to train and manage 398 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: the farm's horses, and when her father died, leaving behind 399 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: an enormous tax bill, she negotiated the largest indication for 400 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: a horse ever, selling breeding rights to Secretariat for seven 401 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: million dollars that's about seventy million today. She became one 402 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 1: of the first women to be admitted to the elite 403 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: and male dominated Jockey Club. She served for a few 404 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: years as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, 405 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: and she also founded the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which rescued 406 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 1: retired race horses from abuse, neglect, and slaughter. For her contributions, 407 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: a year after her death in seventeen, she was awarded 408 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: the highest honor given that thoroughbred owners and breeders by 409 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: the National Museum of Racing in Hall of Fame, the 410 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: Pillar of the Turf. Then there's Ron Turcott, who, for 411 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: his wins on several of America's best race horses in 412 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: the nineteen sixties and seventies, was given the prestigious George 413 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 1: Wolf Memorial Jockey Award. It's the honor given to jockeys 414 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: who are shining examples of personal and professional conduct in 415 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: thoroughbred racing. Turcott took a fall from a horse at 416 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: the start of a race in Belmont Park in nineteen 417 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,199 Speaker 1: seventy eight, and the accident left him a paraplegic, but 418 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,360 Speaker 1: he still makes appearances at tracts today, helping to raise 419 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and even this year, 420 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: there's more history to be made. For the first time 421 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,400 Speaker 1: in the running of the Kentucky Derby, the race did 422 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: not take place on the first Saturday of May due 423 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,679 Speaker 1: to COVID nineteen. America's most famous race was held on 424 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: September four, but that's to be expected because of the 425 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: history of horse racing has taught us anything over the years, 426 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: it's that the records and traditions from long ago aren't 427 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: just there to be revered and respected. Sometimes they're meant 428 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 1: to be broken. There's more to this story. Stick around 429 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,640 Speaker 1: after the brief sponsor break to hear all about it. 430 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: He needed to lose ten pounds before the race, so 431 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: thirty five year old Irish American writer Frank Hayes ran 432 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: and sweat. He was determined to make it as a 433 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: first eight jockey, but that dream had eluded him. He 434 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: spent most of his time exercising the horses instead of 435 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,920 Speaker 1: riding them across the finish line. Time and time again. 436 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,640 Speaker 1: Had watched from the sidelines as the horses he trained 437 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 1: entered the winner's circle with a smiling jockey posing for 438 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: the crowd, and while each of those jockeys was cheered, 439 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: he was quietly guiding the horses off the track. His 440 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 1: big break came when a horse suddenly didn't have a 441 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: jockey for an upcoming race. He asked to ride the horse, 442 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: but the owner declined. Hayes weighed too much, and every 443 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: pound counts in games of speed. After a lot of 444 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: convincing and promising that he had losed the weight before 445 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: race day, he was given the ride. He had just 446 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: days to drop ten pounds. It's impossible to do healthily, 447 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 1: but he denied himself food and water. The morning of 448 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: the race, he jogged some more in the jockey room 449 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 1: and excited Hayes told his fellow riders that today was 450 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 1: a great day to make history. He had no idea 451 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: how right he was. The day was rather warm on 452 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: June four, and when Hayes finally climbed into the saddle, 453 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: he wasn't just ten pounds lighter. He was dehydrated and exhausted. Thankfully, 454 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 1: he had little pressure to win. He had never won 455 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: a race before, and his horse, a Philly named Sweet Kiss, 456 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: was a twenty one long shot against the favorite, the 457 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 1: highly regarded horse Gimme. From the start, sweet Kiss and 458 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: Gimme were the front runners, and after clearing fence after fence, 459 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 1: the two alternated trading first position back and forth like 460 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: some sort of relay. Then it became a match race, 461 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 1: just these two horses barreling for the finish line. At 462 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: the top of the stretch. The crowd jumped to their feet, 463 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: cheering on Haze and Sweet Kiss tries he might Gimme 464 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 1: couldn't shake off the newcomer, and the two were never 465 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: more than a couple of lengths apart. Sweet Kiss, under 466 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: encouragement from Hayes, surged in front and then opened up 467 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: her lead over Gimme. A hundred yards before the finished 468 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: line of the rueling two mile steeple chase, Hayes dropped 469 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: one hand casually to his side, as though he and 470 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: Sweet Kiss were out for a Sunday stroll, or maybe 471 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: he was fixing his stirrup. Seconds After cruising across the 472 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: finish line as the winner, Sweet Kiss cantered a hundred 473 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: yards and then stopped, and that's when Hayes swayed to 474 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 1: one side and tumbled to the ground. Onlookers rushed to 475 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: see if he was okay and to congratulate him on 476 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: a stunning victory, but he hadn't collapsed from shock or dehydration. 477 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:35,360 Speaker 1: Frank Hayes was dead. Naturally, the usual after race activities 478 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: were canceled, no jockey way in and certainly no posing 479 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: in the winner's circle. After a brief investigation, the racing 480 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: board determined that Hayes had probably had a heart attack 481 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: just before the finish line. The Jockey club decided that 482 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: since no foul play had occurred, Sweet Kiss his wind 483 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: shouldn't be disqualified, and in doing so, Frank Hayes became 484 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: the only jockey in history to win a race while dead. 485 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: In fact, Hayes is still the only dead athlete to 486 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: win in any competitive sport. A week later, he was 487 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: buried in the same silks he wore on the day 488 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: he died. The race had been his first and last win. 489 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 1: Sweet Kiss never raced again after that day and retired unbeaten, 490 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: and like Hayes, that race had also been her first. 491 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 1: It's not that she didn't want to keep competing, just 492 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: that no one would ride her. You see, she had 493 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: picked up a new nickname, one that frightened off all 494 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: the other jockeys. The Sweet Kiss of Death American Shadows 495 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: is hosted by Lauren Vogelbaum. This episode was written by 496 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: Michelle Muto with researcher Robin Miniter, and produced by Miranda 497 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: Hawkins and Trevor Young, with executive producers Aaron Minky, Alex Williams, 498 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: and Matt Frederick. To learn more about the show, visit 499 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: Grim and Mild dot com. For more podcasts from My 500 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 501 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts. M