(♪) (♪) (Peter) NORTHERN DANCER
HAD MORE HEART THAN MOST. (Noreen) BUT HE EPITOMIZED THIS
LITTLE GUY WHO NO ONE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO DO
ANYTHING, DOING IT ALL. (Bruce) HIS RUNNING STYLE
MADE YOU WANT TO ADMIRE HIM. HE WAS ALMOST INVINCIBLE
UP TO A MILE AND A QUARTER. (Peter) HE WAS CANADA'S HORSE,
AND THEY WERE PROUD OF HIM. FOR THE FIRST TIME CANADIANS
HAD A HORSE THAT COULD WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY. <i> (Narrator) THE STORY OF
NORTHERN DANCER IS INSEPARABLE</i> <i> FROM THAT OF E.P.TAYLOR,
THE PREEMINANT BUSINESSMAN,</i> <i> INVENTOR, AND BREWER.</i> (Milt Dunnell) THE REAL STORY
ON E.P. TAYLOR IS THAT HIS FIRST INTEREST IN RACING WAS TO
ADVERTISE HIS BEER, BUT WHEN HE WON THE QUEEN'S PLATE WITH EPIC,
HE WAS HOOKED. FROM NOW ON HE HAD TO HAVE RACING
BECAUSE IT WAS IN HIS BLOOD. (Bernard Mccormack) E.P. TAYLOR
WAS BUILDING CANADIAN RACING AT THE TIME HE BECAME MORE
HEAVILY INVOLVED IN BREEDING. YOU KNOW, THE LATE 1940'S HE
WAS BUYING THE BEST BRED FILLIES AT THE SALES IN KENTUCKY, HE
HAD ASKED THE BLOODSTOCK AGENT GEORGE BLACKWELL TO BUY THE BEST
MARE HE COULD IN THE NEWMARKET DECEMBER SALES IN 1952, AND
THAT MARE TURNED OUT TO BE LADY ANGELA, AND TO GIVE CREDIT
TO E.P. TAYLOR HE INSISTED ON BUYING THE MARE THAT HE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREED BACK THE MARE BEFORE SHE WAS
IMPORTED TO CANADA ONE MORE TIME TO NEARCO WHO WAS THE
GREATEST STALLION OF HIS TIME. (Noreen Taylor) YOU DON'T
USUALLY BREED A MARE BACK TO THE SAME STALLION TWICE IN A ROW,
AND THE FIRST BREEDING WASN'T TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL FROM
OUR POINT OF VIEW BUT THE SECOND ONE PRODUCED NEARCTIC,
WHO OF COURSE IN TURN PRODUCED NORTHERN DANCER. (Peter Poole) NEARCTIC WON
THE BIG RACE IN CHICAGO AND MR. TAYLOR TOOK THE MONEY THAT
HE WON THERE WENT TO THE SALE IN SARATOGA
AND HE BOUGHT NATALMA. NATALMA RACED
TWO YEARS I THINK. <i> LIKE MANY OTHER TOP
WINDFIELDS PROSPECTS,</i> <i> NATALMA WAS ENTRUSTED TO THE
BRILLIANT ARGENTINIAN TRAINER</i> <i> HORATIO LURO.</i> NOBODY IN THE BUSINESS WAS
BETTER AT GETTING A HORSE READY FOR ONE RACE
THAN HORATIO LURO. WELL HORATIO WAS REGARDED
AS ONE OF THE TOP HORSEMEN OF HIS ERA, OF THAT ERA,
AND MAYBE OF ALL TIME. HE TRAINED SOME GREAT HORSES. (Dr Alex Harthill) NATALMA
HURT HER KNEE JUST PREPARATORY TO THE KENTUCKY OAKS, WHICH
WAS THE RACE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A STRONG FAVORITE, SHE WOULD
HAVE BEEN 6-5 OR EVEN MONEY HAD SHE RAN. AND, HORATIO WANTED
TO ICE HER AND JUICE HER UP AND RUN HER AND SHE WOULD HAVE
PROBABLY WON ANYHOW, THIS WAS HORATIO'S THOUGHT, AND I THOUGHT
DIFFERENTLY, I THOUGHT THAT IF WE RAN HER SHE COULD VERY WELL
HAVE BROKEN DOWN AND WE'D BE BRINGING HER HOME IN
THE MEAT WAGON SO TO SPEAK, AND I PREVAILED UPON
HIM NOT TO DO IT, AND I SAID, "GEE HORATIO WE CAN SEND HER
HOME AND GET HER BRED RIGHT AWAY." WELL THEY DID SEND
HER HOME RIGHT AWAY AND BRED HER AND THE RESULTING
FOAL WAS NORTHERN DANCER. (Peter Poole) NORTHERN DANCER
WAS BORN FAIRLY EARLY IN THE EVENING, EVERYTHING WENT
WELL, AND HE WAS A GOOD LITTLE INDIVIDUAL, HE WAS UP
ON HIS FEET FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND HE WASN'T BIG, BUT THEN
A MARE'S FIRST FOALS USUALLY ARE A LITTLE SMALLER,
BUT HE WAS VERY ROBUST, AND HE WAS A
COCKY LITTLE GUY. <i> TO AVOID BEING ACCUSED
OF KEEPING THE BEST HORSES</i> <i> FOR HIMSELF, E.P. TAYLOR
OFFERED ALL OF HIS YEARLINGS UP</i> <i> AT AN ANNUAL SALE.</i> (Bernard Mccormack) BUT WHEN
HALF THE COLTS WERE SOLD AND HALF THE FILLIES WERE SOLD
A BELL WENT OFF OR SOMETHING OR EVERBODY HEADED TO THE BAR AND
THE HALF THAT WERE NOT SIGNED UP FOR WENT TO RACE FOR
WINDFIELDS AND THE HALF THAT WERE PURCHASED BY THE
INVITED GUESTS WENT TO RACE FOR THE INVITED
GUESTS OWN ACCOUNT. NORTHERN DANCER I GOT AFTER
THE YEARLING SALE FROM '61, SO HE WASN'T A YEARLING YET
OF COURSE, HE WAS A WEANLING. WHEN HE WAS A WEANLING YOU NEVER
SAW HIM FLY AROUND LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER ONES HE WENT MORE
LIKE A... JUST... HE GALLOPED BUT LOOKED MORE LIKE A
HACKNEY PONY THAN A THOROUGHBRED TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT. BUT YOU
REALLY COULDN'T PUSH HIM AROUND TOO MUCH OR HE,
HE WOULD START FIGHTING. (Bruce Walker) MR. TAYLOR
USED TO OFFER ALL HIS HORSES, HE HAD A SET PRICE, IT WAS
$25,000 FOR NORTHERN DANCER. HE WAS A SMALL, MUSCULAR
COLT BUT BECAUSE OF HIS LATE BIRTHDATE, I BELIEVE IT WAS MAY
27th, 1961 THAT HE WAS FOALED, HE JUST HADN'T
DEVELOPED YET. (Bruce Walker) HE WASN'T THE
TOP HORSE IN THE SALE, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN HIM
AND I RECALL HIM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE CARL CHAPMAN WHO TRAINED
HORSES FOR LARKIN MALONEY WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE
COLT AND HE KEPT TAKING ME OVER TO THE STALL DOOR AND SAYING
LOOK AT THIS HORSE, WHAT DO YOU THINK, AND I SAID "WELL HE'S
A LITTLE ON THE SMALL SIDE DON'T YOU THINK?" AND HE SAID "YEAH,
BUT I REALLY LIKE THE BREEDING." WELL, MY BROTHER AND I BOTH
LIKED HIM AND SO DID THE TRAINER BUT HE DIDN'T LIKE HIS SIZE.
HE SAID HE WAS TOO SMALL, WOULD TAKE TOO
LONG TO COME AROUND. (Dr. Rolph De Gannes) THEY
WERE MOSTLY LOOKING FOR BIG, GOOD LOOKING HORSES THAT
IN THEIR OPINION WOULD BECOME STAKES WINNERS
AND GOOD RACE HORSES. (Peter Poole) YOU CAN LOOK AT
A HORSE, AND SEE WHAT'S OBVIOUS, SEE THE CONFIRMATION HE'S GOT,
WHETHER HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE WELL, WHETHER HE SHOULD
STAY SOUND WHICH THERE'S NO GUARANTEE, BUT YOU
CAN'T SEE WHAT'S INSIDE, AND I THINK IT'S THE HEART
THAT'S THE UNKNOWN THING. HERE WAS NORTHERN DANCER
THIS LITTLE RUNTISH LOOKING, IF YOU WILL, AND CHAPPY SAID,
"GEE, I REALLY LIKE THAT HORSE, I'D LIKE TO GET HIM BUT",
HE SAID, "THE BOSS WANTS TO GET THE BIG COLT." (Peter Poole) WE HAD A
COUPLE OF BIGGER HORSES THERE AND THEY WENT,
THANK GOODNESS, THEY SELECTED THE BIGGEST HORSES FIRST. <i> UNSOLD AT THE YEARLING SALE
NORTHERN DANCER TOO WAS SENT</i> <i> TO HORATIO LURO
WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS.</i> LUCKY FOR HIM 'CAUSE
ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED, LIKE SOMEBODY COULD HAVE
PUT HIM UNDER BAD TRAINERS, OR BAD MANAGEMENT, MAYBE TOOK
HIM TO THE FARM AND GELDED HIM. (Peter Poole) AFTER THE SALE
HE LEFT AND WENT TO OUR RACING STABLE WHICH WAS JUST ACROSS
THE ROAD AT THE OLD WINDFIELDS, AND THEY BROKE HIM THERE.
HE WAS QUITE A HANDFUL TO BREAK, IN FACT I THINK HE BUCKED ABOUT
EVERYBODY OFF THAT GOT ON HIM AT THE START. BREAKING IS A
VERY HARD TIME FOR A HORSE TO GO THROUGH, HE'S INTO SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, AND IT'S NOT A NATURAL
INSTINCT FOR A HORSE TO HAVE A, TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON TOP OF HIM,
SO THEY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME DEPENDING ON WHO'S RIDING
THEM, WHO'S LOOKING AFTER THEM. TO BE VERY HONEST, I NEVER
THOUGHT HE WOULD BE LIKE HE WAS, ALTHOUGH BECAUSE I WAS
OVER THERE, I WAS LIVING THERE, IT WAS PETE McCANN WHO BROKE
HIM, AND I SAW HIM GALLOP OUT THERE AND HE GALLOPED AND
HE WORKED ALL RIGHT BUT I NEVER SAW HIM REALLY, LIKE
SOME HORSES, GO AFTER A WHILE. (Bernard Mccormack) E.P. TAYLOR
WAS ALWAYS ASKING THE QUESTION "WELL HOW BIG IS HE?" AND
EVERYBODY KIND OF WANTED TO ADD AN INCH BUT IN TRUTH COULDN'T. (Bruce Walker) MR. TAYLOR HAD
PROMISED HORATIO THAT HE WOULD GET NORTHERN DANCER TO TRAIN
BECAUSE HE HAD TRAINED THE DAM, NATALMA. (Dr. Alex Harthill) HE WAS
A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO RIDE FOR BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A GOOD
HORSEMAN, HE HAD PLAYED POLO, HE HAD RIDDEN
HORSES OF ALL KINDS, AND HE HAD TRAINED
HORSES ALL OVER THE WORLD. (Jim Boylen) WE CALLED HIM
THE LATIN LOVER, HE WAS REALLY A COLOURFUL INDIVIDUAL, AND,
BUT HE WAS A VERY ACCOMPLISHED HORSEMAN. HIS TWO TRAITS
WERE HIS WOMEN AND HIS HORSES; HE WAS GOOD AT BOTH OF THEM. (Bruce Walker) HE ALWAYS USED
TO SAY "I TRAIN HORSES SIX DAYS A WEEK AND THE 7TH DAY IS FOR
MAKING LOVE'. BEFORE HE STARTED RACING NORTHERN DANCER WAS,
AS HE GOT A LITTLE MORE MATURE, HE STARTED FEELING HIS OATS, SO
TO SPEAK, HE WAS A VERY STUDISH COLT AND WAS BECOMING A LITTLE
HARD TO MANAGE AROUND THE BARN. HORATIO WENT TO MR. TAYLOR WITH
THE SUGGESTION THAT THIS HORSE WOULD BE MORE MANAGEABLE
IF THEY GELDED HIM. (Peter Poole) MR. TAYLOR HAD
NEVER LIKED GELDING ANY HORSE, HE THOUGHT THEY
SHOULD BE LEFT ENTIRE, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND MR.
TAYLOR SAID BUT-BUT-BU-BU-BU...! (Jim Boylen) WHEN YOU GELD A
HORSE IT KIND OF COOLS THEM OUT AND RELAXES THEM A LITTLE BIT
AND MOST PEOPLE TRY AND LEAVE IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BUT
IF IT HAS NO PEDIGREE TO IT THEY AUTOMATICALLY GELD THEM. HE DIDN'T LIKE TELLING THIS
STORY BUT WHEN HE FINALLY DID ADMIT THAT HE WANTED HIM GELDED
HE LAUGHED AND SAID MR. TAYLOR ALMOST BIT HIS PIPE IN HALF
WHEN IT WAS SUGGESTED THEY WERE GONNA GELD HIM BECAUSE
MR. TAYLOR NOT ONLY LIKED THE PEDIGREE AND THOUGHT THE HORSE
HAD SOME CHANCE TO BE SOMETHING BUT HE WAS A PERSONAL FAVORITE
OF MRS. TAYLOR BECAUSE SHE HAD OFTEN GONE INTO THE FIELDS
AT BAYVIEW AND SHE HAD PICKED THIS LITTLE COLT OUT AS ONE OF
HER FAVORITES AND USED TO FEED HIM PEPPERMINTS
THROUGH THE FENCE. (Allan Kerr) I THINK SHE LOVED
NORTHERN DANCER SO MUCH BECAUSE HE WAS A SMALLER HORSE,
HE WAS PUT INTO AN AUCTION FOR A RESERVE BID OF $25,000 AND
NOBODY GAVE HIM A CHANCE BECAUSE HE WAS SO SMALL THEY DIDN'T
THINK HE'D EVER RUN VERY WELL. <i> AS NEARCTIC'S FIRST FOAL, IT
WAS DECIDED AT THE LAST MOMENT</i> <i> TO RACE NORTHERN
DANCER IN AUGUST 1963,</i> <i> JUST BEFORE THE YEARLING
SALE. HE WAS ENTERED INTO</i> <i> A FIVE AND A HALF FURLONG
MAIDEN RACE AT FORT ERIE.</i> (Bruce Walker) I REMEMBER HIS
FIRST RACE VERY VIVIDLY BECAUSE WE KEPT REFLECTING BACK TO THE
SALE, AND WE'D HEARD, AND SEEN IN THE MORNING HOW WELL
NORTHERN DANCER WAS TRAINING. BILLY REEVES WAS THE EXERCISE
BOY FOR PETE MCCANN AT THE TIME AND HE KEPT RAVING ABOUT
THIS LITTLE COLT NORTHERN DANCER AND HOW FAST HE WAS. (Dr. Alex Harthill) HORATIO WAS
A FELLOW WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO PREPARE HIS HORSES FOR LONGER
RACES AND HE DIDN'T WANT THEM USED UP EARLY BECAUSE IT WAS
HIS THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD LAST SO MUCH LONGER IF THEY
WERE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN STRIDE AND NOT BE HOOP-DE-DOO
AND SCRAMBLING OUT OF THE GATE. (Andre Blaettler) HE GOT OUT
OF THE GATE, HIS HEAD, HIS EARS STRAIGHT UP, HE JUST KEPT FLYING
AND HE WON BY EIGHT LENGTHS OR SOMETHING, HE JUST RAN. (Ron Turcotte) MR. LURO NEVER
WANTED A JOCKEY TO HIT HIS HORSE FIRST TIME OUT. WHEN
I RODE HIM I WAS MOVING UP HEAD IN HEAD WITH THE SECOND HORSE
WHICH I'D SAY WAS BROCKSTON BOY, AND HE JUST DID NOT WANT TO
LEAVE HIM, HE WAS JUST DOGGIN' IT WITH HIM, AND I SWITCHED MY
STICK, AND JUST SNEAKED MY WHIP TO THE LEFT HAND SIDE,
AND JUST BROUGHT IT DOWN SLOWLY AND TAPPED HIM AND WHEN I
TAPPED HIM WE WERE DOWN TO PAST THE EIGHT POLE
AND HE JUST TOOK OFF. (Peter Poole) THE SELECTION
OF A RACING PROGRAM AND THE JOCKEYS IS
BASICALLY UP TO THE TRAINER. (Bruce Walker) RONNIE TURCOTTE
LEFT TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE HIS NAME THAT'S
WHY HE LEFT NORTHERN DANCER. <i> IN HIS FOURTH RACE, THE CUP
AND SAUCER STAKES AT WOODBINE,</i> <i> NORTHERN DANCER
STARTED AS THE FAVORITE,</i> <i> BUT WAS BEATEN AT THE
WIRE BY A 40 TO 1 OUTSIDER.</i> <i> BUT OF HIS FIRST NINE
RACES, HE HAD SEVEN WINS,</i> <i> INCLUDING FOUR STAKES RACES,
AND TWO SECOND PLACE FINISHES.</i> <i> IT WAS DECIDED
TO SEND HIM TO NEW YORK</i> <i> WHERE HE IMMEDIATELY
WON HIS FIRST RACE.</i> WELL, WHEN HE WON THE
REMSEN STAKES IN NEW YORK AT AGE TWO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY
A HUGE BAROMETER THAT THIS WAS A BETTER THAN
AVERAGE CANADIAN BRED. Y , HE HAD A QUARTERCRACK WHICH IS
A CRACK IN THE SIDE OF HIS FOOT, AND THE HOOF SPLITS UP,
AND IT'S A VERY PAINFUL THING AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. I MET WITH HORATIO TO DECIDE
WHICH COURSE OF ACTION WE WERE GOING TO TAKE WITH THE
QUARTERCRACK. WE USED TO ANESTHETIZE THE FOOT WITH
A LOCAL ANESTHETIC, AND WITH A FARRIER'S KNIFE WE WOULD
PARALLEL THE CRACK ON EACH SIDE AND JUST TAKE A PAIR OF
NIPPERS AND PULL THAT DISEASED PORTION RIGHT DOWN TO THE
BOTTOM AND PUT A BAR SHOE ON THE HORSE TO PARTIALLY
IMMOBILIZE IT. IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THEN AND
STARTING INTO THE THREE-YEAR-OLD CAMPAIGN HE HAD A PATCH, THERE
WAS A CHAP BY THE NAME OF BANE, IN CALIFORNIA, THAT PUT ON A
PATCH ON A HORSE LIKE THAT IT WAS A VERY NEW TECHNIQUE. IN ORDER TO DO THIS PROPERLY,
WE HAD TO LOCALIZE HIS FOOT WITH THE ANESTHETIC JUST AS THE
DENTIST WOULD LOCALIZE A TOOTH BEFORE HE EXTRACTED IT,
AND I WAS CALLED ON TO DO THAT, AND ALSO HAD TO GIVE HIM SMALL
DOSES OF TRANQUILIZER SO THAT HE WOULD RESPOND, IT
WAS A LOT OF HEAT THAT BUILT UP IN THE PROCEDURE
THAT BILL BANE USED. BUT IT IS A PAINFUL THING AND
IT CAN INTERRUPT HIS RACING AND A HORSE OF THAT CALIBER YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO RACE FOR TOO LONG BECAUSE THEIR VALUE
AS A STALLION IS SO HIGH. HE WANTED TO GET HIM READY
FOR THE FALL RACES IN NEW YORK AND THE WINTER RACING IN FLORIDA
TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY. HE HAD HIGH HOPES
FROM THE MOMENT HE GOT HIM. (Bruce Walker) BILL SHOEMAKER
RODE HIM IN THE EARLY CLASSICS IN FLORIDA AND THEY THOUGHT
THEY HAD BILL WRAPPED UP FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY. (Milt Dunnell) THE FACT THAT
BILL SHOEMAKER WAS RIDING HIM ADDED CONSIDERABLE PRESTIGE,
IF HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR BILL SHOEMAKER HE WAS GOOD
ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. (Dr Alex Harthill) HE RODE
NORTHERN DANCER IN THE FLORIDA DERBY AND JUST THE DAY
BEFORE THE RACE IN THE TRAINING PROCEDURE HORATIO HAD TOLD
THE JOCKEY TO GO 5/16 OF A MILE, JUST A LITTLE OVER A QUARTER,
AS A BLOW OUT. THE EXERCISE BOY MISUNDERSTOOD HIM AND WENT 5/8
OF A MILE WHICH IS TWICE AS FAR AND HE WENT IN 59 SECONDS FOR
THE 5/8 AND GALLOPED OUT IN 11 WHICH IS RACEHORSE TIME SO
WHEN SHOE RODE HIM THE NEXT DAY, HE WON, BUT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE
HE WAS SUCH A GREAT HORSE. AND BEFORE WE COULD GET TO HIM
AND TELL HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HORATIO HADN'T TOLD HIM PRIOR
TO THE RACE, AND AFTER THE RACE HE HAD TAKEN A PLANE, SOMEBODY
HAD INVITED HIM TO GO TO CUBA, AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH HIM, HE WAS OUT OF TOUCH, SO HE ANNOUNCED TO THE
WORLD IN A PRESS RELEASE THAT HE WAS GONNA RIDE HILL RISE. (Bruce Walker) HE RODE A LOT FOR
MESH TEDDY WHO WAS THE TRAINER OF HILL RISE AND SO POLITICALLY,
AND FOR BUSINESS REASONS, HE HAD TO PRETTY WELL JUMP TO HILL
RISE. SO THEY WERE SCRAMBLING FOR A RIDER BUT HORATIO
HAD ALWAYS HAD A LOVE / HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH BILLY HARTACK,
THEY HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS TOGETHER, AND IT WAS DECIDED
THAT THEY WOULD GO WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF HARTACK. HE HAD
WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THAT AND THEY
FELT THAT HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE ON NORTHERN DANCER
WOULD HELP THEM. (Ron Turcotte) AS FAR AS
HAVING A DIFFERENT JOCKEY ON HIM I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS ALL
THAT MUCH BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A GOOD TWO YEAR OLD IN CANADA,
WAS SO SUPERIOR THAT ANYBODY COULD HAVE RODE HIM,
HE KEPT WINNING WITH EVERYBODY. HE'D BEATEN THE BEST HORSES IN
THE EAST, IF HE BEATS THE BEST HORSES IN THE WEST WHY SHOULDN'T
HE WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN. PEOPLE UP HERE REALLY
WERE EXCITED AND OF COURSE THE WINDFIELDS PEOPLE, THEY KNEW
THEY HAD A GREAT RACEHORSE ON THEIR HANDS. (Milt Dunnell) TWO DAYS BEFORE
THE RACE I TALKED TO HORATIO LURO AND I TOLD HIM THAT
HILL RISE WAS GOING TO BE THE FAVORITE, THE MORNING LINE
FAVORITE, AND NORTHERN DANCER WOULD BE SECOND, I SAID "WHAT
DO YOU THINK OF IT?" HE SAID "WELL,
IF THEY BEAT US," HE SAID, "IT MEANS THEY
BEAT TWO MINUTES." <i> FINALLY IT WAS
THE DAY OF THE DERBY.</i> (Milt Dunnell) IT'S A ONCE
IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE. (Jim Boylen) IT'S THE GREATEST
RACE IN THE WORLD, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED EVEN IF YOU INCLUDE
ALL THE BRITISH ONES AND ALL THE FRENCH ONES, THIS IS NORTH
AMERICA'S AND IT'S PROBABLY LOOKED UPON IN THE WORLD AS
THE MOST FAVORABLE RACE TO WIN ANYWHERE. (Milt Dunnell) THERE'S ENOUGH
TENSION, ENOUGH TO DISTURB A HORSE WITHOUT
HAVING THOSE BANDS BLARE THE MOMENT
THEY HIT THE TRACK. I'LL TELL YA, WHEN WE STEP
ON THE RACETRACK, AND THEY PLAY "MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME" AND
YOUR HORSE IS PRANCING TO IT AND ALL THAT, IT'S SOMETHING
TO BEHOLD, I'LL TELL YA. (Dr. Alex Harthill) I WAS
CONVINCED IT WAS GOING TO BE A VERY CLOSE RACE. HE HAD TRAINED
BEAUTIFULLY, HE HAD TRAINED TO THE MINUTE AS HORSEMEN SAY,
EVERY WORK WAS AN IMPROVEMENT. <i> AS THE 12 BEST HORSES IN NORTH
AMERICA BURST FROM THE GATE</i> <i> HILL RISE
WAS THE 2-1 FAVORITE.</i> (Milt Dunnell) THEY RAN
THAT FIRST QUARTER OF A MILE IN 22 AND 2/5 SECONDS.
NORTHERN DANCER AND HILL RISE, THEY WERE EASING ALONG
ABOUT FOURTH OR FIFTH, AND SHOEMAKER WAS OBVIOUSLY
WATCHING HARTACK TO SEE HE DIDN'T MAKE
A MOVE ON HIM. AND I SEE IT WORKED TO
BILL HARTACK'S ADVANTAGE WITH NORTHERN DANCER WHEN SHOEMAKER
HAD HIM RIGHT WHERE HE WANTED HIM, BUT HARTACK HAD
A HORSE THAT HE COULD MANEUVER REAL QUICK AND
GET OUT OF THAT BOX. (Dr Alex Harthill) I BELIEVE
HARTACK MIGHT HAVE OUTRODE HIM THAT DAY TOO, I BELIEVE
HE BEAT HIM TO THE PUNCH UP THE BACKSIDE, I BELIEVE
THAT'S WHERE THE RACE WAS WON. (Milt Dunnell) I WAITED
UNTIL THEY GOT TO THE MILE POLE AND I TOOK A LOOK TO SEE WHAT
THE TIME THEN WAS AND HE HAD RUN THE MILE IN 1:36 AND THEN
THAT TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TO RUN THAT LAST QUARTER IN 24
SECONDS. HE OPENED UP ABOUT TWO LENGTHS ON SHOEMAKER
BEFORE SHOEMAKER MADE A MOVE. WHEN HE CAME DOWN THE
STRETCH THE WHOLE PLACE ERUPTED, I MEAN, IT WAS
BEDLAM AT THE RACETRACK. HILL RISE HAD MADE A BIG
RUN AT HIM BUT I DON'T THINK AT THE END HE
WAS GOING TO CATCH HIM. (Lou Cauz) AND EVEN WHEN
THEY WENT PAST THE FINISH LINE THE DANCER WAS
STILL DIGGING IN. AND THEN THEY FLASHED
THE TIME, TWO MINUTES FLAT. A NEW RECORD. (Bruce Walker) JUST THE WAY
HE BATTLED THROUGH THE STRETCH WITH HILL RISE, EVERYBODY WAS
UP IN THE PRESS BOX, CHEERING ON THE HORSE, IT WAS JUST
A WONDERFUL FEELING TO HAVE A CANADIAN BRED
WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY. THE FIRST CANADIAN BRED
TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY. <i> FOR E.P. TAYLOR, LEADING
NORTHERN DANCER INTO THIS</i> <i> CIRCLE WAS A
MOMENT OF TRIUMPH,</i> <i> MADE EVEN SWEETER
BY THE BLANKET OF ROSES.</i> (Peter Poole) IT WAS A GREúA
THRILL, A VERY GREAT THRILL, AND BEING THE FIRST
RACE OF THAT TYPE THAT WE WON. HIS RUNNING STYLE MADE YOU WANT
TO ADMIRE HIM. I MEAN HE JUST, LIKE HE GRABBED THE BIT IN HIS
TEETH AND "YOU'RE NOT GOING BY ME HILL RISE, THAT'S IT,
I DON'T CARE HOW FAR WE RUN YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO GET BY ME ON THIS DAY". (Peter Poole) HE WAS CANADA'S
HORSE, AND THEY WERE PROUD OF HIM AND THEN TO GO DOWN AND
BEAT THE AMERICANS AT THEIR OWN GAME, IF I MAY SAY,
WAS A BIG THING. (Lou Cauz) IT WAS
A HUGE BOOST TO OUR PRIDE MUCH LIKE IN 1972 WHEN
CANADA DEFEATED RUSSIA FOR THE WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY. WELL IT WAS JUST PHENOMENAL
FOR EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING ACTUALLY, IT PUT CANADA ON THE
MAP AS FAR AS A HORSE BREEDING COUNTRY. K WE'RE TO VAN OUT TO BALTIMORE
ON TUESDAY" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE
GOING FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN. (Lou Cauz) THE AMERICANS
GENERALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT HE COULD DO IT TWO WEEKS IN A ROW
OR TWO RACES IN A ROW BECAUSE IT WAS TWO WEEKS TIME PERIOD
BETWEEN THE DERBY AND THE PREAKNESS, AND IT'S HAPPENED
IN THE PAST, WHERE THE PUBLIC KEEPS ON THINKING, WELL THIS
HOE E IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO FALL APART OR
IS GOING TO GET BEAT. (Milt Dunnell) YOU WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT THAT NORTHERN DANCER BEATING HILL RISE HAD
ESTABLISHED HIM AS THE FAVORITE IN THE PREAKNESS BUT
IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THAT WAY. (Lou Cauz) HE ONLY WON
BY A LONG NECK IN THE DERBY SO THEY FIGURED
HE MIGHT GET BEAT. SO NORTHERN DANCER WAS SECOND
CHOICE AGAIN IN THE PREAKNESS. (Bruce Walker) HORATIO WAS
QUITE ANGRY WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PRESS BECAUSE THEY
WERE PUTTING NORTHERN DANCER DOWN AS A ONE RACE FLUKE AND
THAT IN THE PREAKNESS HILL RISE WOULD JUST RUN RIGHT OVER
HIM SO TO SPEAK AND HORATIO SAID YOU KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW
THIS HORSE. THIS IS A SHORTER DISTANCE THAN THE KENTUCKY
DERBY, AND HE CAN USE HIS TACTICAL SPEED
A LITTLE BETTER. <i> THE BEST HORSE AGAIN, THIS
TIME BY TWO AND A HALF LENGTHS,</i> <i> THE DANCER HAD WON THE SECOND
JEWEL IN HIS TRIPLE CROWN BID.</i> <i> THIS TIME THE BLANKET WAS
MADE OF BLACK-EYED SUSANS.</i> (Bruce Walker) THEY
TRADITIONALLY SEND OVER A CASE OF CHAMPAGNE ON ICE TO
THE WINNING OWNERS AT THE BARN AND MRS. TAYLOR WAS IN
THE TACK ROOM AND SHE SPREAD HER FUR COAT OVER THE TACK
TRUNKS AND SAID, COME ON IN BOYS AND HAVE SOME CHAMPAGNE,
AND THEN HORATIO WAS STANDING AT THE DOOR LIKE A BOUNCER
AND SAID NO, HE CAN'T COME IN AND HE CAN'T COME IN
AND HE CAN'T COME IN BECAUSE HE REMEMBERED ALL THE WRITERS
WHO HAD PUT NORTHERN DANCER DOWN AND THIS
WAS PERSONAL TO HIM. <i>LURO HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE
ONE AND A HALF MILE BELMONT,</i> <i> BUT THE DANCER HAD EARNED
HIS SHOT AT THE THIRD LEG</i> <i> OF THE TRIPLE CROWN.</i> HE HAD RUN A LOT OF RACES IN
A FAIRLY SHORT DISTANCE OF TIME AND PERHAPS LURO KNEW THAT A
MILE AND A HALF MIGHT BE ASKING TOO MUCH OF THIS HORSE. (Bruce Walker) AFTER WATCHING
HIM BOUNCE BACK I THINK MR. TAYLOR AND JOE THOMAS
AND HORATIO SAT AND WATCHED THE HORSE FOR A FEW DAYS AND HE
RESPONDED HE CAME BOUNCING BACK AND IT WAS DECIDED TO GO. WHEN
THE HORSE CAME OUT OF THE GATE HARTACK JUST THROTTLED THIS
HORSE, YOU KNOW, HE WAS TRYING TO RESTRAIN HIM AND YOU
COULD SEE NORTHERN DANCER WANTED HIS HEAD,
HE WANTED TO RUN. (Peter Poole) THE
RACE WAS RUN SO VERY SLOWLY, AND THE HORSES IN THE
FRONT END HAD ALL THE ADVANTAGE AND IF NORTHERN DANCER HAD
GONE TO THE FRONT AND OPENED UP AND HAD A NICE LEAD, WHICH WOULD
HAVE BEEN VERY EASY AT THAT STAGE, HE COULD HAVE
WON THE BELMONT EASILY. (Bruce Walker) HORATIO WAS
CONVINCED THAT A MILE AND A HALF WASN'T BEYOND NORTHERN
DANCER'S ABILITY. <i> GIVEN HIS HEAD TOO LATE,</i> <i> THE LITTLE HORSE
COULD ONLY FINISH THIRD.</i> (Bruce Walker) THERE WAS A GREAT
DEAL OF DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE DIDN'T WIN THE TRIPLE
CROWN AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE HADN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO
REALLY RUN THE WAY HE COULD HAVE BECAUSE OF HARTACK'S
QUESTIONABLE RIDE. THEN WE HAD A HEADSTRONG
JOCKEY AND A HEADSTRONG HORSE, AND, NORTHERN DANCER CAME BACK
TO RUN IN THE QUEEN'S PLATE. <i> AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF LETTERS
ADDRESSED TO NORTHERN DANCER</i> <i> THERE WAS ONE
THAT WAS SPECIAL.</i> FROM A BOY AT THE BRANTFORD
SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND SAYING THAT HE HAD LISTENED TO ALL OF
THE RACES AND THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET NORTHERN DANCER AND MRS.
TAYLOR ARRANGED TRANSPORTATION AND SHE MET THE BOY AT THE
TRACK. JUST PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF MRS. TAYLOR AND HER SPECIAL
GUEST, HORATIO HAD HAD THE HORSE CLEANED UP AND HE WENT
INTO THE STALL TO PUT THE HALTER ON NORTHERN DANCER AND
JUST AS HE REACHED FOR THE HORSE NORTHERN DANCER TURNED ON A
DIME AND WAS UP ON HIS HIND LEGS AND HE WAS FLAILING AT HORATIO.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, AND,
HORATIO HAD TO DIVE UNDER THE WEBBING, AND THE STALL DOOR OUT
INTO THE SHEDROW AND NORTHERN DANCER WAS RIGHT BEHIND,
AND HE WAS INTENT ON DOING SOME DAMAGE TO HORATIO. JUST AFTER
HORATIO ESCAPED, MRS. TAYLOR STARTED WALKING DOWN THE SHEDROW
AND SHE SAID WHERE'S MY BABY, WHERE'S NORTHERN, WHERE'S
NORTHERN DANCER, AND THE HORSE STOPPED, AND HE PRICKED HIS
EARS AND LOOKED, AND HE STARTED TO NICKER BECAUSE, HE KNEW THAT
HE KNEW THE VOICE AND HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET SOME
MINTS FROM MRS. TAYLOR BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN FEEDING HIM MINTS
FROM THE TIME HE WAS A BABY, AND THE HORSE WAS A PERFECT
GENTLEMAN, SHE WALKED RIGHT UP, GAVE HIM A MINT, PATTED HIM,
AND, ALMOST NUZZLING WITH HIM, AND THEN SHE BROUGHT THE
BOY OVER FROM THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND SHE GUIDED HIS HAND
TO HIS HEAD AND HE JUST STOOD THERE, AND SLOWLY PATTED THE
HORSE'S HEAD AND NORTHERN DANCER NEVER MOVED. NEVER MOVED
A MUSCLE, IT WAS AMAZING. (Peter Poole) WHEN HE RAN IN
THE QUEEN'S PLATE IT WAS A VERY EXCITING RACE FOR US AND
OF COURSE IT WAS A RACE THAT THE HORSE COULD
NOT GET BEATEN IN. (Bruce Walker) HARTACK KNEW
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO LOSE THE QUEEN'S
PLATE SHORT OF FALLING OFF THE HORSE SO BEING THE TYPE
OF PERSON THAT HE WAS, A VERY EGOCENTRIC INDIVIDUAL
HE DECIDED THIS WAS GOING TO BE HARTACK'S SHOW AT WOODBINE
NOT NORTHERN DANCER'S. <i> RIGHT FROM THE START,
HARTACK HELD THE DANCER BACK</i> <i> ON A TIGHT REIN. AS HE
FELL FURTHER BACK IN THE FIELD,</i> <i> THE HUGE PARTISAN
CROWD HELD ITS BREATH.</i> <i> WAS HE GOING TO REPEAT
THE MISTAKE OF THE BELMONT?</i> (Bruce Walker) HE WAS WRESTLING
WITH THE HORSE TO GET HIM BACK BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MAKE
THIS ONE BIG GRANDSTAND RUN FOR THE FANS. WHEN HARTACK TOOK HIM BACK
AND HE TOOK HIM RIGHT BEHIND THE LAST HORSE, CIRCLED HIM, AND
THEN TURNED HIM LOOSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THERE WERE
A LOT OF VERY NERVOUS PEOPLE IN THE WINDFIELDS SECTION. (Bruce Walker) HARTACK FINALLY
LET THE HORSE RUN AND THE HORSE CRUISED DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH
AND COMING INTO THE STRETCH LANGCREST WAS ON THE LEAD AND
NORTHERN DANCER WENT BY HIM LIKE HE WAS STANDING STILL AND HE
WON VERY EASILY AND IN HAND BUT I'M STILL CONVINCED THAT THAT
RIDE IN THE PLATE HURT THE HORSE AND IT WASN'T ANNOUNCED THAT
THE HORSE HAD BOWED A TENDON OR INJURED HIS TENDON UNTIL
AFTER THE HORSE HAD GONE BACK TO NEW YORK AND THEY SAID HE
INJURED HIMSELF TRAINING THERE BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT
HE LEFT HERE WITH A SLIGHT KNOT ON HIS TENDON. (Milt Dunnell) COULD HAVE BROKEN
THE RACE RECORD UNDOUBTEDLY IF THEY HAD WANTED TO, BUT AGAIN
HARTACK WAS RIGHT, HE SAID, I WASN'T ASKED FOR A TRACK RECORD
IF I HAD BEEN I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO PROVIDE IT, ALL I WAS
ASKED TO DO WAS WIN THE RACE AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID, WE WON
BY 7 LENGTHS. SO OF COURSE HE WON THE RACE, BUT AFTER THE
RACE WAS OVER I WAS TALKING TO HARTACK I SAID, BILL, EIGHT
HORSES IN THE RACE, YOU'VE GOT SEVEN IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU'VE
GOT THE KENTUCKY DERBY HORSE UNDERNEATH YOU, WEREN'T YOU
A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT YOU MIGHT RUN INTO A LITTLE TRAFFIC
HERE AND GET THE HERO BEATEN ON HIS HOMECOMING? AND HE LOOKED
AT ME AND SAID ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN MIND?
I'M SITTING ON THE DERBY WINNER AND I'M GOING TO GET BEATEN BY
A BUNCH OF DAMN CANADIAN BREDS? I SAID WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU
WERE ON BILL, AN EGYPTIAN BRED? HE SAID, WELL I WAS ON
NORTHERN DANCER, HE'S DIFFERENT. S RETIRED TO STUD, THAT
WOULD BE LATE JUNE OF 1964. <i> THE DANCER
RETURNED TO WOODBINE</i> <i> FOR ONE FINAL
TRACK APPEARANCE.</i> (Ron Turcotte) SO I WAS ON
HIM THE FIRST TIME HE WAS ON THE RACETRACK IN THE AFTERNOON
AND I WAS ON HIM THE LAST TIME HE WAS ON A RACETRACK WHEN HE
RETIRED, WHEN THEY RETIRED HIM. (Bruce Walker) BUT WHEN HE CAME
BACK TO PARADE YOU COULD JUST SEE HIM PRANCING, AS SOON AS
HE SAW THE PEOPLE IN THE WALKING RING... THEN HE REALLY STARTED
TO PUT ON A SHOW, ON THE MUSCLE, AND BOUNCING
AND KICKING A LITTLE, HE KNEW THAT HE WAS A STAR. HE WAS SPECIAL TO A BROAD
AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEVER EVEN KNEW. HE WASN'T JUST A RACEHORSE
HE WAS A CANADIAN SPORTS HERO. NORTHERN DANCER WAS THE FIRST
NON-HUMAN TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE CANADIAN
SPORTS HALL OF FAME. WAS THERE ANYONE MORE FITTING
TO BE IN THAN NORTHERN DANCER? SURE HE'S A HORSE BUT HE SHOULD
BE IN THE SPORTS HALL OF FAME. (Milt Dunnell) NORTHERN
DANCER'S STORY IS NOT REALLY AS A RACE HORSE IT'S AS A SIRE, HE
WAS AN OUTSTANDING RACE HORSE, HE WAS A WORLD
CHAMPION AS A SIRE. (Peter Poole) WHEN NORTHERN
DANCER WENT TO STUD HE WAS STANDING FOR $10,000. HAVING
WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY HE HAD A LOT OF GOOD MARES COMING UP
FROM THE STATES. IT WOULD BE THE BEST BOOK OF MARES EVER
BRED IN CANADA WITHOUT A DOUBT. SO THE FIRST MARE WE WENT,
WE PUT HIM ON, HE GOT EXCITED AND HE WAS ACTING ROUGH AND
EVERYTHING AND SHE TURNED AROUND AND JUST BELTED HIM RIGHT IN
THE RIBS. AND THAT WAS FLAMING PAGE TOO, INCIDENTALLY, WHO
PRODUCED NIJINSKY WHEN WE DID GET HER IN FOAL. (Bernard Mccormack) IN BREEDING,
IN THOROUGHBRED BREEDING, THE MARE HAS A VERY IMPORTANT
PART TO PLAY IN TERMS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE FOAL AND THE,
SOME OF THE TRAITS THAT A FOAL HAS. NORTHERN DANCER PROBABLY
REVERSED THE PERCENTAGES BECAUSE HE DOMINATED WITH HIS TYPE AND
HIS OVERALL QUALITIES IN MOST OF THE MATINGS AND SO HE WAS
SO PREPOTENT THAT SO MUCH OF HIS OFFSPRING LOOKED AND ACTED
LIKE HIM, AND NOT ONLY DID THEY LOOK AND ACT LIKE HIM BUT THEY
RAN LIKE HIM AND THEY PRODUCED ON LIKE HIM. (Peter Poole) WE HAD A TRENCH
IN THE BREEDING SHED ESPECIALLY FOR NORTHERN DANCER SO THAT WE
COULD STAND THE MARES BACK LEGS IN THE TRENCH AND NORTHERN
DANCER COULD ACCOMMODATE HIMSELF MORE EASILY. NORTHERN DANCER,
HE COULDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT ANYBODY ELSE COULD HAVE
MARES AND HE WANTED ALL THOSE MARES SO HE GOT PRETTY
RAMBUNCTIOUS IN HIS STALL. (Bruce Walker) THE STUD MANAGER
AT WINDFIELDS HAD A HORSESHOE SHAPED SCAR ON HIS FOREHEAD
COURTESY OF NORTHERN DANCER FROM REACHING OUT AND PAWING
AT HIM... I THINK IT WAS MORE HIS EXCITEMENT TO GET TO THE
MARES THAN ANYTHING ELSE BUT HE STILL WAS A LITTLE FEISTY,
OR AS FEISTY, AS A STALLION, AND HE PASSED ON THAT FEISTINESS
TO A LOT OF HIS OFFSPRING. (Bernard Mccormack) EVERYBODY
CONSIDERED AT THAT TIME BEFORE HE CAME ALONG THAT A SMALL HORSE
WAS LIMITED, LIM IED IN WHAT THEY COULD DO, WHAT THEY COULD
ACHIEVE, WHAT THEY COULD PASS ON TO THEIR OFFSPRING.
AND NORTHERN DANCER CAME ALONG AND RE-WROTE ALL THE RULES. (Lou Cauz) NORTHERN DANCER'S
IMPACT ON THE BREEDING INDUSTRY WAS WOW RIGHT OFF THE BAT. <i> FROM THE DANCER'S EVENTUAL
MATING WITH FLAMING PAGE THERE</i> <i> CAME A STUNNING COLT
THEY CALLED NIJINSKY.</i> <i> THIS MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL
BECAME ENGLAND'S FIRST</i> <i> TRIPLE CROWN
WINNER IN 35 YEARS.</i> AFTER NIJINSKY TOOK OFF THEN I
THINK THE REALITY THAT NORTHERN DANCER SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO
MORE NORTH AMERICAN BREEDERS SET IN, AND SOON THEREAFTER HE WAS
MOVED TO A FARM THAT WINDFIELDS BOUGHT AND DEVELOPED
IN CHESAPEAKE CITY MARYLAND. (Peter Poole) HE HAD HIS FIFTH
CROP OF MARES IN MARYLAND AND AT THAT TIME THEY RAISED HIS
STUD FEE, I THINK TO $25,000. (Dr Rolph De Gannes) WHEN HE
WENT TO MARYLAND THEY DIDN'T DIG A PIT FOR HIM THEY PUT HIM
ON AN ELEVATED PLATFORM AND THEY REFERRED TO IT AS HIS PITCHING
MOUND, AND IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HIS EVENTUAL
LONGEVITY AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
HE WAS BREEDING MARES WHEN HE WAS 26, 27 YEARS OLD. (Peter Poole) IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE HIS STUD FEE, OF COURSE, GOT A LOT HIGHER, THE ADVENT
OF NIJINSKY RACING SO WELL IN EUROPE BROUGHT ALL THE IRISH
AND THE ENGLISH PEOPLE OVER TO LOOK AT THE NORTHERN DANCERS
AND WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD THING GOING THEN. (Ric Waldman) AS HIS PROGENY
PERFORMANCE CONTINUED TO IMPRESS PEOPLE AND HE CONTINUED
TO PRODUCE HORSES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, THE YEARLING MARKET
KEPT GROWING AND THE STUD FEE MARKET KEPT GROWING AND THERE
WERE A FEW SERVICES THAT SOLD FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS,
U.S., NO GUARANTEE. WE SOLD 174 YEARLINGS BY
NORTHERN DANCER FOR $160 MILLION DOLLARS, AVERAGING 920
THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEAD. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NO
OTHER STALLION HAS EVER EQUATED. AND OF THE RECORDS THAT
NORTHERN DANCER ESTABLISHED HERE AT KEENELAND, THE WORLD'S
RECORD STILL STANDS, IN 1985 BY NIJINSKY/MY CHARMER, WHICH
IS A SON OF NORTHERN DANCER, SOLD FOR 13 MILLION. PREPOTENT SIRE, SIRE
OF SIRES, AND A SIRE OF MARES. HE'S A GREAT BROODMARE
SIRE ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. (James E. "Ted" Bassett III)
FIVE OF THE LEADING YEARLINGS SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION ARE
EITHER BY NORTHERN DANCER OR BY NIJINSKY, SO YOU CAN SEE
THE IMPACT THAT HE'S HAD ON THE THOROUGHBRED RACING
AND BREEDING WORLD. (Peter Poole) HE'S HAD MORE
IMPACT ON THOROUGHBRED RACING THAN ANY OTHER HORSE THAT
EVER LIVED I THINK AND I THINK HE'S PROBABLY THE
BEST SIRE THAT EVER LIVED. (James E. "Ted" Bassett III)
THERE ARE OVER 125 STALLIONS THAT ARE STANDING WITH
A NORTHERN DANCER BLOODLINE SO THAT IS A TREMENDOUS STANDARD
THAT FEW STALLIONS IN THE HISTORY OF THE THOROUGHBRED
RACING INDUSTRY AND BREEDING INDUSTRY HAS EVER PARALLELED. (Bernard Mccormack) IN TERMS
OF RACING HE WAS A VERY SPECIAL HORSE, SET A TRACK RECORD,
THERE'S ONLY ONE HORSE THAT HAS EVER RUN FASTER THAN HIM IN
THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND THAT WAS SECRETARIAT, HE WAS THE
MOST DOMINANT STALLION OF THE THOROUGHBRED BREED IN THE
LAST HUNDRED YEARS, AND HE WILL FULFILL, GOING INTO THE 4TH
AND 5TH GENERATION OF SOME VERY, VERY GOOD RACE HORSES,
A ROLE WHERE AT SOME POINT, IF WE HAVEN'T REACHED IT
ALREADY, THAT 50, 60, 70% OF ALL THOROUGHBREDS WILL
TRACE TO HIM, THAT'S A LEGACY THAT PERHAPS NO
OTHER STALLION HAS LEFT. WT 75% OF THEM WILL HAVE NORTHERN
DANCER IN THEIR PEDIGREE. I MEAN, WHAT CAN YOU SAY
PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST SIRES OF ALL TIME, NOT PROBABLY,
HE IS. AND TO THIS DAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAJOR WINNERS
OF RACES AROUND THE WORLD, MAJOR RACES, INVARIABLY YOU
TRACE BACK TO NORTHERN DANCER. IN 1999 AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY
OF THE 14 STARTERS NINE OF THEM, THE BLOODLINES COULD BE
TRACED BACK TO NORTHERN DANCER. AND WE'RE TALKING 34 YEARS,
35 YEARS AFTER HIS VICTORY IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY. (Andre Blaettler)
NORTHERN DANCER SURPRISED ME BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS,
IT WAS JUST NORTHERN DANCER. THERE AREN'T TOO MANY LIKE HIM. (Noreen Taylor) THERE'S A THRILL
THAT COMES OFF A GOOD STALLION OH, IT'S LIKE BEING A GIRLS AT
THE DANCE AND THAT BOY SURE IS GOOD LOOKING, AND THEY
HAD THAT KIND OF PRESENCE AND THEY WOULD JUST
SAY LOOK AT ME, AND YOU DID. HE HAD A WARM, SENSITIVE
EYE AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD SAY "THE LOOK OF EAGLES" BUT HE
HAD IT, A WONDERFUL WARM EYE BUT THERE'D BE GLINTS OF FIRE
IN IT, JUST, FIRE AND MAGIC AND CHARISMA AND HE DEMANDED ATTEN-
TION, AND HE USUALLY GOT IT. (Peter Poole) I CAN REMEMBER
SEEING HIM, HE WAS QUITE AN OLD HORSE AT THE MARYLAND FARM, AND
HE CAME CHARGING AT THE FENCE AND HIS EYES QUITE STARTLING
LIKE HE WAS LOOKING RIGHT THROUGH YOU. THE GOOD HORSES
HAVE THAT LOOK OF EAGLES AND THEY LOOK AT YOU AND THEY
DON'T LOOK AT YOU LIKE THEY'RE SEEING YOU, THEY'RE SEEING
WHATEVER'S GOING ON THROUGH YOU. (Noreen Taylor) IT
HAPPENED ALMOST INSTANTLY, HE WAS BREEDING FINE, AND
THEN HE WASN'T, HIS SPERM WAS MALFORMED, AND AT THAT POINT
RATHER THAN TRY TO SEE IF THIS WAS A GLITCH, GIVEN HIS AGE,
HE WAS RETIRED FROM STUD DUTY. (Peter Poole) WHEN NORTHERN
DANCER'S STALLION CAREER WAS OVER, HE WAS STILL IN MARYLAND
OF COURSE, SHORTLY AFTER THAT WE SOLD THE FARM IN MARYLAND BUT
THE IDEA WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO STAY THERE BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE HIM AT THAT AGE. (Noreen Taylor) PART OF THE
CONDITION OF ANY POTENTIAL SALE OF THE PROPERTY WAS THAT
NORTHERN DANCER REMAIN EXACTLY AS HE HAD ALWAYS REMAINED. AND HE WAS MAINTAINED AT THE
MARYLAND FARM BY A STUD GROOM AND BY PEOPLE WHO WOULD JUST
LOOK AFTER THE HORSE UNTIL HIS ULTIMATE DEMISE, THEY WOULDN'T
SHIP THE HORSE BECAUSE HE WASN'T A GOOD SHIPPER
EVEN WHEN HE WAS RACING. (Ric Waldman) WHEN THE FARM WAS
SOLD IN MARYLAND WE SPENT MORE TIME WORKING OUT THE
PROVISIONS OF HIS CARE, AND HOW HE WOULD BE
MANAGED BY ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP, THAN WE DID ON THE ACTUAL
FINANCIAL DETAILS OF THE LAND. (Noreen Taylor) WITH NORTHERN
DANCER, WE WERE VERY AWARE THAT WE WERE MANAGING A CANADIAN
LEGEND, AND THE SAME PRESSURE WHEN HE RETIRED FROM LITTLE
GIRLS AND OTHER PEOPLE SAYING TAKE OUR HERO BACK TO CANADA,
WHICH WE PATIENTLY ANSWERED, TERRIBLY SORRY HE IS AN OLD MAN
FOR A HORSE AND HE CAN'T MAKE THAT TRIP IT WOULD
BE DAMAGING TO HIS HEALTH. WELL I THINK THE PROMISE THAT
THE FAMILY MADE TO THEMSELVES IF NOT OTHERS WAS THAT HE
WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK HERE, TO THE FARM HERE IN OSHAWA
TO BE BURIED. HE WAS BORN IN THE BARN BEHIND ME AND HE STOOD
AS A STALLION IN THIS BARN TO MY RIGHT SO HE'S SORT OF IN THE
MIDDLE BETWEEN WHERE HE STARTED AND WHERE HIS
FINAL RESTING PLACE IS. KNOWING THAT HE WAS AN OLD MAN
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO WHAT WAS AND WAS
NOT POSSIBLE AND IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY POSSIBLE TO
TRANS... TO TAKE DEAD ANIMALS ACROSS THE BORDER SO CHARLES
HAD TO GET SPECIAL PERMISSION. EVENTUALLY HE GOT QUITE SICK
AND HE WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN. HE HAD A SEVERE COLIC, IT WAS
MILD TO BEGIN WITH BUT IT WAS PROGRESSING TOWARD SURGERY. BECAUSE OF NORTHERN DANCER'S
AGE, I BELIEVE HE WAS 27 OR 28 AT THE TIME, AND THE
DISTANCE TO THE VET HOSPITAL, IT WAS DECIDED THAT
IF HE DIDN'T COME OUT OF THIS, AND HE WAS WALKED AS MUCH
HE COULD ALLOW HIMSELF TO WALK, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HUMANELY
DESTROY HIM, AND THE DECISION WAS MADE WITHIN TWO OR
THREE HOURS DURING THE COURSE OF THAT LATE NIGHT
THAT WE DO THE HUMANE THING FOR NORTHERN DANCER
AND PUT HIM DOWN. (Noreen Taylor) IT WAS A 24
HOUR PERIOD WHERE YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE LIFE GETTING MORE
INTENSE. NEWSPAPERS WOULD CALL, TELEVISION PEOPLE WANTED
INTERVIEWS, THAT HAD TO BE ATTENDED TO BUT THE MAIN FOCUS
OF THE DAY HAD TO BE TO GET NORTHERN DANCER HOME. CHARLES HIMSELF GOES DOWN
TO THE BORDER AND MEETS THE VAN CARRYING THE BODY BACK OVER. HE CROSSED AND PICKED HIM
UP AT THE BORDER WITH ALL THE PAPERWORK THAT WAS IN HAND,
AND BASICALLY IT WAS A KIND OF CORTEGE TAKING
HIM BACK TO OSHAWA. WE HAD A LOCAL EXCAVATING
COMPANY DIG A HOLE AT WINDFIELDS AND NORTHERN DANCER HAD A
PROPER BURIAL WHERE HE BELONGS. I THINK HE ARRIVED
ABOUT MIDNIGHT, AND EVERYBODY
AT THE FARM WAS THERE... SORRY, I'M ABOUT
TO BURST INTO TEARS, AND THERE WAS 30 PEOPLE AT
TWO IN THE MORNING PUTTING THE HORSE IN THE GROUND...
IT'S NOT JUST THE FAMILY, THERE WERE EMPLOYEES. THEY ALL WANTED TO BE THERE. (Bernard Mccormack) IT WAS
LIKE THE COMMUNITY OF WINDFIELDS FARM JUST GATHERING
TO SAY A QUIET GOOD-BUY. YOU DON'T STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT
TO THROW ROSES IN THE GRAVE OF A HORSE YOU HAVEN'T
PARTICULARLY SEEN FOR WHAT, 20 YEARS, BUT THEY DID.
