Horse Racing Fantasy Community

A horse that is run when unsound should not be run, and therefore his fans have a gripe when that happens, but Curlin was as sound as a dollar. Truth is that he just isn't as great as everybody thought he was. No shame in that, but the all-time greats can run on anything. Check out the amazing Dr. Fager in his only race on grass! 1968, Dr. Fager's 4 year old season, is without a doubt one of the finest ever seen. Never competing with an impost of less than 130 pounds and running exclusively in major stakes or handicap races, his record that year was a robust 7 wins and 1 place in 8 starts, and the one time he finished 2nd was to another great champion, Damascus. But don't think Damascus got the better of the good doctor; they raced 4 times, and split right down the middle. The thing that strikes me about Dr. Fager is his absolutely savage way of going for the lead out of the gate. He never needed to be asked. In fact, he seemed to take umbrage when he was pulled back, as if he were insulted! The race we're profiling today is the 1968 United Nations Handicap, Doc's first and only race on the turf. It was his second-to-last race, and even though he had never run on grass before in his life, the bettors at Atlantic City made him the solid favorite, although he was assigned the high impost of 134 pounds, 16 pounds more than his next competitor. To watch Dr. Fager in action is to see one of the most naturally tenacious thoroughbreds that has ever lived. Enjoy!!!

This performance was in the midst of a phenomenal run Dr. Fager put together over the last 4 races of his career: On Aug 3rd, an 8 length victory in the mile and an 8th Whitney, a still-standing World Record mile time of 1:32&1 by 10 lengths at Arlington on Aug 24th, followed by the performance you've just seen against the top turf horses on Sept 11th, and finally a stunning 6 length, 1:20&1 performance in the Vosburgh while carrying 139 lbs. on Nov 2 before retiring to stud. Yep, he was a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, if there is such a thing in horse racing.