Drum Taps (horse)
Encyclopedia
Drum Taps was an American-bred Thoroughbred
racehorse. He was a noted stayer, showing his best form over distances in excess of two miles, but was also successful over shorter distances. He won England’s most important staying race, the Ascot Gold Cup
in 1992 and 1993. In 1992 he was named European Champion Stayer of 1992 at the Cartier Racing Awards. He raced in seven different countries in a career which lasted from 1989 to 1993.
, sired by the Northern Dancer
stallion Dixieland Band
out of the British-bred mare Lavendula Rose. Dixieland Band won the Pennsylvania Derby
in 1983 and stood at the Lane’s End Farm. Apart from Drum Taps, his most notable performer in Europe was the Prix de Diane
winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
runner-up Egyptband.
Drum Taps was acquired by William Stamps Farish III and sent into training with Dick Hern
at West Ilsley
, Berkshire
in England. After racing as a three-year-old in Britain Drum Taps was trained in the United States for almost two years. He had his greatest success after being returned to England part way through his five-year-old season.
. Twelve days later he crossed the line first in a maiden race at Sandown but was disqualified for causing interference. Drum Taps then recorded a quick hat-trick
of wins. He won a maiden race at Ripon
by five lengths followed by handicaps at Ascot
and Newcastle
.
After his win at Newcastle, Farish sent Drum Taps to be trained in the United States by Neil Howard. On his American debut he won an allowance race at Calder Race Course
in December.
in July. He also won an allowance race at Keeneland
in October.
and on his final American start, won an allowance race at Keeneland in April. He was then bought by Lord Carnarvon and sent back to England where he joined the stable of Lord Huntingdon.
He was an immediate success. In the Group Two
Geoffrey Freer Stakes
at Newbury
in August, he took the lead a furlong
out and won by two and a half lengths. In this race he was ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori
, who was to partner him in ten of his remaining fourteen races. A month later he took the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes
at Ascot, recovering to beat Rock Hopper and Young Buster after being headed in the final furlong.
In October he was moved up to Group One class for the first time and finished a half length second to Passing Sale in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club
in Milan
. On his final start of the season he ran unplaced behind Golden Pheasant
in the Japan Cup
.
At the end of the year Drum Taps was bought by Yoshio Asakawa.
(then a Group Three race) by three and a half lengths. A month later he took the Group Three Henry II Stakes
at Sandown, beating Arcadian Heights by a length and a half.
His form was good enough to see Drum Taps start 7/4 favourite for the Gold Cup
over two and a half miles at Royal Ascot. The field was not a strong one: apart from Drum Taps the only Group winners in the field were the French challengers Turgeon
and Mardonius. Dettori tracked the leaders on Drum Taps before moving him into the lead in the straight. Drum Taps ran on strongly to win by two lengths with Arcadian Heights again taking second place. An unusual feature of the finish was that Arcadian Heights lunged at Drum Taps and attempted to bite him as he went past. The horse was forced to wear a muzzle in future races
Drum Taps had won his first three races on firm ground: he proved less effective on the soft ground which prevailed for the second half of the season. After a two month break he was made favourite for the Prix Kergorlay
at Deauville but was well beaten by the filly Sought Out. In the Irish St Leger
at The Curragh
a month later he stayed on strongly in the straight but could finish only third to Mashaallah
and Snurge. On his final start of the year in the Prix du Cadran
at Longchamp he again finished second to Sought Out.
The Gold Cup attracted a much stronger field in 1993 than it had done a year earlier. Turgeon and Arcadian Heights returned, and were joined by the top class stayers Vintage Crop
, Sought Out, Further Flight
and Assessor
. Drum Taps started at 13/2 and produced his best performance. Dettori sent him into the lead four furlongs out, but he was challenged and headed by Assessor in the straight. Running on strongly under pressure, Drum Taps regained the lead a furlong out and pulled away to win by three lengths. After the race, Dettori claimed that he had never been concerened, even when losing the lead as Drum Taps was "the toughest battler I've ever ridden". Lord Huntingdon called him "an amazing horse" and outlined plans to run the horse in the Melbourne Cup
.
Drum Taps was brought back in distance for his next start in the one and a half mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July and performed creditably, finishing fifth of the ten runners behind Opera House
.
Once again, Drum Taps failed to find his best form in Autumn. In September he finished fifth in the Irish St Leger behind Vintage Crop and Assessor, horses he had decisively beaten in the Gold Cup. On his final start he was sent to Australia for the Melbourne Cup
. His challenge attracted considerable attention at a time when foreign runners were a rarity in Australia but could finish only ninth in the race behind Vintage Crop.
In his autobiography, Frankie Dettori described Drum Taps as "a hardened campaigner" and "one of my favourite horses."
, Japan
. He does not appear to have been a success and did not sire any winners of importance.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. He was a noted stayer, showing his best form over distances in excess of two miles, but was also successful over shorter distances. He won England’s most important staying race, the Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
in 1992 and 1993. In 1992 he was named European Champion Stayer of 1992 at the Cartier Racing Awards. He raced in seven different countries in a career which lasted from 1989 to 1993.
Background
Drum Taps was bred in KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, sired by the Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
stallion Dixieland Band
Dixieland Band
Dixieland Band is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Bayard Sharp, a prominent and highly respected Delaware horseman and president of The Blood-Horse Inc. Out of the Sharp-owned multiple stakes winning mare, Mississippi Mud, he was a son of the 20th century's most influential...
out of the British-bred mare Lavendula Rose. Dixieland Band won the Pennsylvania Derby
Pennsylvania Derby
The Pennsylvania Derby is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Parx Racing and Casino each year. The track's premiere event is open to horses, age three, willing to race on the dirt and as of 2007, offers a purse of $1 million...
in 1983 and stood at the Lane’s End Farm. Apart from Drum Taps, his most notable performer in Europe was the Prix de Diane
Prix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
runner-up Egyptband.
Drum Taps was acquired by William Stamps Farish III and sent into training with Dick Hern
Dick Hern
William Richard "Dick" Hern, CVO, was an English Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and winner of sixteen British Classic Races between 1962 and 1995, and was Champion Trainer on four occasions....
at West Ilsley
West Ilsley
West Ilsley is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England.-Location and amenities:It is situated in the West Berkshire district north of the town of Newbury on the Berkshire Downs. There is also an East Ilsley approximately a mile southeast of the village.West Ilsley has a public house, The...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
in England. After racing as a three-year-old in Britain Drum Taps was trained in the United States for almost two years. He had his greatest success after being returned to England part way through his five-year-old season.
1989: three-year-old season
Unraced at two, Drum Taps did not appear on the racecourse until August 1989, when he finished second in a minor race at WindsorWindsor Racecourse
Windsor Racecourse, also known as Royal Windsor Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is one of only two figure-of-eight courses in the United Kingdom, the other being at Fontwell Park. It abandoned National Hunt jump racing in December 1998,...
. Twelve days later he crossed the line first in a maiden race at Sandown but was disqualified for causing interference. Drum Taps then recorded a quick hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of wins. He won a maiden race at Ripon
Ripon Racecourse
Ripon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. It has been used for horse racing for more than 300 years and is nicknamed the Garden Racecourse. The course is a right-handed oval of approximately 1m5f with a 5f finishing straight and a 6f chute...
by five lengths followed by handicaps at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
and Newcastle
Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.-History:...
.
After his win at Newcastle, Farish sent Drum Taps to be trained in the United States by Neil Howard. On his American debut he won an allowance race at Calder Race Course
Calder Race Course
Calder Casino & Race Course is a casino and horse racetrack in Miami Gardens, Florida in the United States.-History:In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill...
in December.
1990: four-year-old season
Drum Taps was trained in the United States throughout 1990. He ran seven times and recorded two Graded stakes wins, taking the W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder in January and the Laurance Armour Handicap at Arlington ParkArlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in July. He also won an allowance race at Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
in October.
1991: five-year-old season
Drum Taps ran four times in the United States in early 1991. He finished second in the Noble Dancer Handicap at Gulfstream ParkGulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
and on his final American start, won an allowance race at Keeneland in April. He was then bought by Lord Carnarvon and sent back to England where he joined the stable of Lord Huntingdon.
He was an immediate success. In the Group Two
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
Geoffrey Freer Stakes
Geoffrey Freer Stakes
The Geoffrey Freer Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 61 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:The event was established in 1949, and it...
at Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
in August, he took the lead a furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
out and won by two and a half lengths. In this race he was ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...
, who was to partner him in ten of his remaining fourteen races. A month later he took the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes
Cumberland Lodge Stakes
The Cumberland Lodge Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September.The event is named after Cumberland Lodge,...
at Ascot, recovering to beat Rock Hopper and Young Buster after being headed in the final furlong.
In October he was moved up to Group One class for the first time and finished a half length second to Passing Sale in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club
Gran Premio del Jockey Club
The Gran Premio del Jockey Club is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.Past winners of the event include Tenerani and...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. On his final start of the season he ran unplaced behind Golden Pheasant
Golden Pheasant (horse)
Golden Pheasant is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won races in France, England, the United States, and Japan. He was owned by the then owner of the Los Angeles Kings NHL ice hockey team, Bruce McNall, and superstar Hall of Fame player, Wayne Gretzky.Trained by Jonathan Pease, Golden...
in the Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
.
At the end of the year Drum Taps was bought by Yoshio Asakawa.
1992: six-year-old season
In 1992 Drum Taps, by then a six-year-old was campaigned for the first time over extended distances. On his debut in April he was sent to Milan for a second time and won the 3100m Coppa d'Oro di MilanoCoppa d'Oro di Milano
The Coppa d'Oro di Milano is a Listed flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 3,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.The event formerly held Group 3 status, but...
(then a Group Three race) by three and a half lengths. A month later he took the Group Three Henry II Stakes
Henry II Stakes
The Henry II Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 2 miles and 78 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May....
at Sandown, beating Arcadian Heights by a length and a half.
His form was good enough to see Drum Taps start 7/4 favourite for the Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
over two and a half miles at Royal Ascot. The field was not a strong one: apart from Drum Taps the only Group winners in the field were the French challengers Turgeon
Turgeon
Turgeon is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned and bred by American George W. Strawbridge, Jr., an avid ice hockey fan and a shareholder and Director of the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres. Strawbridge named the foal for the Canadian player Pierre Turgeon who was the team's 1st...
and Mardonius. Dettori tracked the leaders on Drum Taps before moving him into the lead in the straight. Drum Taps ran on strongly to win by two lengths with Arcadian Heights again taking second place. An unusual feature of the finish was that Arcadian Heights lunged at Drum Taps and attempted to bite him as he went past. The horse was forced to wear a muzzle in future races
Drum Taps had won his first three races on firm ground: he proved less effective on the soft ground which prevailed for the second half of the season. After a two month break he was made favourite for the Prix Kergorlay
Prix Kergorlay
The Prix Kergorlay is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 3,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
at Deauville but was well beaten by the filly Sought Out. In the Irish St Leger
Irish St Leger
The Irish St. Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
at The Curragh
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
a month later he stayed on strongly in the straight but could finish only third to Mashaallah
Mashaallah (horse)
Mashaallah was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred race horse. He is notable for his performances in 1992 when he won three Group One races in three different countries.-Background:...
and Snurge. On his final start of the year in the Prix du Cadran
Prix du Cadran
The Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
at Longchamp he again finished second to Sought Out.
1993: seven-year-old season
Drum Taps began his final season by recording a repeat win in the Coppa d'Oro di Milano. The ground was heavy, but Drum Taps did not need to be at his best to win by seven lengths from three moderate opponents.The Gold Cup attracted a much stronger field in 1993 than it had done a year earlier. Turgeon and Arcadian Heights returned, and were joined by the top class stayers Vintage Crop
Vintage Crop
Vintage Crop was a popular Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in flat racing in Ireland, England, and Australia from 1992 to 1995. He won 16 races in Ireland and England, and one of his greatest achievements was winning over two miles and two furlongs in the 1992 Cesarewitch Handicap at...
, Sought Out, Further Flight
Further Flight
Further Flight was an Irish-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Jockey Club Cup for five successive years...
and Assessor
Assessor
An assessor may be:* Assessor , the assistant to a judge or magistrate* Assessor , a senior officer of the University of Oxford* Assessor , an expert who calculates the value of property...
. Drum Taps started at 13/2 and produced his best performance. Dettori sent him into the lead four furlongs out, but he was challenged and headed by Assessor in the straight. Running on strongly under pressure, Drum Taps regained the lead a furlong out and pulled away to win by three lengths. After the race, Dettori claimed that he had never been concerened, even when losing the lead as Drum Taps was "the toughest battler I've ever ridden". Lord Huntingdon called him "an amazing horse" and outlined plans to run the horse in the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
.
Drum Taps was brought back in distance for his next start in the one and a half mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July and performed creditably, finishing fifth of the ten runners behind Opera House
Opera House (horse)
Opera House is a retired British thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. As a racehorse, he is best known for his performances as a five-year-old in 1993, when he won three Group One races and was named European Champion Older Horse...
.
Once again, Drum Taps failed to find his best form in Autumn. In September he finished fifth in the Irish St Leger behind Vintage Crop and Assessor, horses he had decisively beaten in the Gold Cup. On his final start he was sent to Australia for the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
. His challenge attracted considerable attention at a time when foreign runners were a rarity in Australia but could finish only ninth in the race behind Vintage Crop.
Assessment
At the 1992 Cartier Racing Awards, Drum Taps was named European Champion Stayer.In his autobiography, Frankie Dettori described Drum Taps as "a hardened campaigner" and "one of my favourite horses."
Stud career
Drum Taps retired to stand as a stallion at the Yushun Stallion Station in HokkaidoHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He does not appear to have been a success and did not sire any winners of importance.