Dapper Dan (horse)
Encyclopedia
Dapper Dan was an American racehorse
. Bred by Dorothy Dorsett Brown, owned and raced by Ogden Phipps
. He had an outstanding sophomore season finishing second or fourth in five different stakes races. The son of Ribot
and grandson of Nasrullah will be remember most for his two thrilling closing finishes in the 1965 Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes
in which placed second in both classics.
at Aqueduct Racetrack
. Then Dapper Dan finished fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes
.
The colt ran well on the first Saturday of May in the 1965 Kentucky Derby
at Churchill Downs
. In that race he faded to near the back of the pack early and closed with a mad rush and finished second to Lucky Debonair
. In that race he ran the last quarter mile in track record time of 23-1/5 seconds. That record stood until Secretariat
's :23 flat in 1973.
In the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
series, the Preakness Stakes
. Dapper Dan went off as fifth choice at 7:1 in a strong field of ten three year-old colts. He broke from gate eight and settled far back in the field laying in seventh place going into the clubhouse turn at Pimlico Race Course
. Dapper Dan continued to make up ground after three furlongs and moved up to fourth at the top of the stretch. Dapper Dan was making a huge rush closing with every stride and took inside position next to the rail. The leader Tom Rolfe
veered into Dapper Dan's path after heavy right handed whips by jockey Ron Turcotte
. At about the sixteenth pole the leaders brushed slightly. That contact allowed Tom Rolfe the ability to hold off Dapper Dan by a decreasing neck. Dapper Dan's jockey I. Valenzuela lodged an objection against Turcotte and Tom Rolfe for intimidation. The stewards did not agree and upheld the natural finish with Tom Rolfe in first, Dapper Dan in second and four lengths back Hail to All finished third.
Three weeks later Dapper Dan finished fourth to Hail To All
in the Belmont Stakes
at Belmont Park
in New York.
at Aqueduct Racetrack
. Then on Memorial Day Dapper Dan finished fourth in the Metropolitan Handicap
at Belmont Park
to Bold Lad
.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Bred by Dorothy Dorsett Brown, owned and raced by Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...
. He had an outstanding sophomore season finishing second or fourth in five different stakes races. The son of Ribot
Ribot
Ribot may refer to:* Alexandre Ribot , four times Prime Minister of France* Hugo Ribot , pioneer surgeon and gynecologist* John Ribot Australian sports administrator and former rugby league international...
and grandson of Nasrullah will be remember most for his two thrilling closing finishes in the 1965 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
in which placed second in both classics.
Racing career
As a three-year-old, Dapper Dan became the ultimate bridesmaid placing second in three of his first four stakes races that spring. In March Dapper Dan finished second in the Gotham StakesGotham Stakes
The Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a purse of $250,000, it is set at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. Then Dapper Dan finished fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
.
The colt ran well on the first Saturday of May in the 1965 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
. In that race he faded to near the back of the pack early and closed with a mad rush and finished second to Lucky Debonair
Lucky Debonair
Lucky Debonair was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1965 Kentucky Derby. He was bred by owners Dan and Ada Rice of Wheaton, Illinois at their Danada Farm satellite operation on Old Frankfort Pike near Lexington, Kentucky, a property that once was part of the legendary...
. In that race he ran the last quarter mile in track record time of 23-1/5 seconds. That record stood until Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
's :23 flat in 1973.
In the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series, the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
. Dapper Dan went off as fifth choice at 7:1 in a strong field of ten three year-old colts. He broke from gate eight and settled far back in the field laying in seventh place going into the clubhouse turn at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. Dapper Dan continued to make up ground after three furlongs and moved up to fourth at the top of the stretch. Dapper Dan was making a huge rush closing with every stride and took inside position next to the rail. The leader Tom Rolfe
Tom Rolfe
The racehorse Tom Rolfe was one of the best American sons of the great racehorse and sire Ribot. His dam was Pocahontas, from whom he takes his name...
veered into Dapper Dan's path after heavy right handed whips by jockey Ron Turcotte
Ron Turcotte
Ron Joseph Morel Turcotte, CM is a Hall of Fame thoroughbred race horse jockey best known as the rider of Secretariat, winner of the U.S. Triple Crown in 1973....
. At about the sixteenth pole the leaders brushed slightly. That contact allowed Tom Rolfe the ability to hold off Dapper Dan by a decreasing neck. Dapper Dan's jockey I. Valenzuela lodged an objection against Turcotte and Tom Rolfe for intimidation. The stewards did not agree and upheld the natural finish with Tom Rolfe in first, Dapper Dan in second and four lengths back Hail to All finished third.
Three weeks later Dapper Dan finished fourth to Hail To All
Hail To All
Hail To All was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by Hail To Reason, out of the mare, Ellen's Best, who was in turn sired by War Relic, son of the great Man o' War....
in the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in New York.
Four year-old season
Continuing his string of strong finishes as a four year-old Dapper Dan finished third to Davis 2nd in April 1966 in the Carter HandicapCarter Handicap
The Carter Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Open to horses three-years-old and up, it is raced over a distance of seven furlongs....
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. Then on Memorial Day Dapper Dan finished fourth in the Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
to Bold Lad
Bold Lad
Bold Lad was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps and her brother Ogden L. Mills under their Wheatley Stable banner. His sire was eight time Leading sire in North America, Bold Ruler and his dam was the racing mare Misty Morn,Trained by Bill Winfrey,...
.