The Very One
Encyclopedia
The Very One is a millionaire American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Owned by Helen Polinger and bred by Myrna Firestone and Peter Odell in Kentucky
, he is a son of One For All who in turn was sired by Hall of Famer
and prominent sire
Northern Dancer
. He was out of the mare
Veruschka sired by Venture.
Trained by Stephen A. DiMauro
, The Very One is best known for her grade two score over the some of the best stakes winning males in the country in the in the Dixie Handicap in 1979 at Pimlico Race Course
. After winning twelve graded stakes race
s in 1978 & 1979, The Very One returned to win the grade on Santa Barbara Handicap
at Santa Anita Park
in 1981 at age six.
native Helen Polinger. After two years of racing it was determined by her owner and trainer Stephen A. DiMauro
that The Very One was a turf specialist and did her very best work on the grass course. Mrs. Polinger was raised in Maryland as well had always wanted to run a horse in the Preakness Stakes
and this was her chance to do the next best thing, run a horse in the Dixie Handicap. The Dixie is Maryland's top race on the turf, run on Preakness day immediately prior Preakness Stakes itself.
In May of 1979 at age four, her connections entered her in the $125,000 Grade II
Dixie Handicap at Pimlico Race Course
in Baltimore, Maryland against the country best turf horses. She was the only female in the field of nine and was given an eight pound weight allowance (carrying 108 pounds) because of her gender. In that race she was ridden by Charlie Cooke
and pulled away to win by two lengths over two graded stakes winning five year olds in That's a Nice and Fluorescent Light. She ran the race in excellent time and set a new stakes record and track record for a mile and a half on the turf at 2:28 3/5. It was the fastest time run in 28 years at that distance.
In 1980 as a five year old she had already won six stakes races and came back to defend her title at "Old Hilltop" (Pimlico) in the Dixie. The racing secretary was not as lenient with the weight assignments as he had been the year before. Since she had faired so well that year and won the Dixie Handicap the year prior she was given a weight allowance of only two pounds (carrying 116 pounds compared to 118). In that race she was ridden by a different jockey (Hector Pilar) than her regular rider. She performed well but gave up the lead at the wire to place second by a half length to graded stakes winner Marquee Universal. Her time in that race was 2:29 2/5 over twelve furlongs (1-1/2 miles) but still managed to win beat the rest of the field including Match the Hatch.
in 1978 at Laurel Park Racecourse. During that span she won the grade one Santa Barbara Handicap
in 1981 at Santa Anita. She also won two stakes races in New York
in 1980, the grade two Sheepshead Bay Handicap
at Belmont Park
and the grade three Long Island Handicap
at Aqueduct Racetrack
. She also won back to back versions of the grade three Chrysanthemum Handicap in 1980 and 1981 at Pimlico Race Course
. In 1980 she won the Santa Ana Handicap
in 1980, the Black Helen Handicap, the Queen Charlotte Handicap and the Violet Handicap
. In 1979 she won the Eatontown Handicap
and the Parlo Handicap.
and in the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
at Santa Anita, both in 1979. She ran second to Hall of Famer
John Henry
in the grade two Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap
, placed second in the Orchid Handicap
(G2), the Diana Handicap (G2), the grade three Gallorette Handicap
at Pimlico Race Course
. She placed second in grade three Chrysanthemum Handicap before coming back and winning the stake race the next two years. She ran second to Just a Game in the Flower Bowl Handicap
in 1980. She ran third in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1), the San Juan Capistrano Invitational (G1), the Japan Cup
(G1), the Queen Charlotte Handicap (G3), the Barbara Fritchie Handicap
(G3), and the Beverly Hills Handicap
(G3).
She died on July 10, 1992 at Polinger Farm in Olney, Maryland
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
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
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...
. Owned by Helen Polinger and bred by Myrna Firestone and Peter Odell in Kentucky
Kentucky
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...
, he is a son of One For All who in turn was sired by Hall of Famer
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
and prominent sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
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"....
. He was out of the mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
Veruschka sired by Venture.
Trained by Stephen A. DiMauro
Stephen A. DiMauro
Stephen A. "Steve" DiMauro is a retired jockey, Champion trainer and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred horse racing....
, The Very One is best known for her grade two score over the some of the best stakes winning males in the country in the in the Dixie Handicap in 1979 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...
. After winning twelve graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
s in 1978 & 1979, The Very One returned to win the grade on Santa Barbara Handicap
Santa Barbara Handicap
The Santa Barbara Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event open to fillies and mares, age four and older, it is contested of turf over a distance of one and a quarter miles.Inaugurated in 1935, through...
at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
in 1981 at age six.
Dixie Handicaps
The Very One was stabled and trained in the state of Maryland, owned by Olney, MarylandOlney
-Places:United Kingdom*Olney, Buckinghamshire, a town near Milton Keynes, England**The Olney Hymns, a collection of hymns written thereUnited States*Olney, Alabama*Olney, Georgia*Olney, Illinois*Olney, Kentucky*Olney, Maryland...
native Helen Polinger. After two years of racing it was determined by her owner and trainer Stephen A. DiMauro
Stephen A. DiMauro
Stephen A. "Steve" DiMauro is a retired jockey, Champion trainer and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred horse racing....
that The Very One was a turf specialist and did her very best work on the grass course. Mrs. Polinger was raised in Maryland as well had always wanted to run a horse in 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...
and this was her chance to do the next best thing, run a horse in the Dixie Handicap. The Dixie is Maryland's top race on the turf, run on Preakness day immediately prior Preakness Stakes itself.
In May of 1979 at age four, her connections entered her in the $125,000 Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Dixie Handicap 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...
in Baltimore, Maryland against the country best turf horses. She was the only female in the field of nine and was given an eight pound weight allowance (carrying 108 pounds) because of her gender. In that race she was ridden by Charlie Cooke
Charlie Cooke
Charles 'Charlie' Cooke is a former Scottish footballer. He was a talented and skilful winger who played for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace before ending his career in the United States....
and pulled away to win by two lengths over two graded stakes winning five year olds in That's a Nice and Fluorescent Light. She ran the race in excellent time and set a new stakes record and track record for a mile and a half on the turf at 2:28 3/5. It was the fastest time run in 28 years at that distance.
In 1980 as a five year old she had already won six stakes races and came back to defend her title at "Old Hilltop" (Pimlico) in the Dixie. The racing secretary was not as lenient with the weight assignments as he had been the year before. Since she had faired so well that year and won the Dixie Handicap the year prior she was given a weight allowance of only two pounds (carrying 116 pounds compared to 118). In that race she was ridden by a different jockey (Hector Pilar) than her regular rider. She performed well but gave up the lead at the wire to place second by a half length to graded stakes winner Marquee Universal. Her time in that race was 2:29 2/5 over twelve furlongs (1-1/2 miles) but still managed to win beat the rest of the field including Match the Hatch.
Other Stakes wins
The Very One raced for five years between 1977-1981. Her first stakes win came in 1978 when she won the Anne Arundel HandicapAnne Arundel Stakes
The Anne Arundel Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The Anne Arundel Stakes, is open to fillies age three-years-old and up willing to race one mile on the dirt. It was the 35th running of the stakes race in 2010.An...
in 1978 at Laurel Park Racecourse. During that span she won the grade one Santa Barbara Handicap
Santa Barbara Handicap
The Santa Barbara Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event open to fillies and mares, age four and older, it is contested of turf over a distance of one and a quarter miles.Inaugurated in 1935, through...
in 1981 at Santa Anita. She also won two stakes races in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1980, the grade two Sheepshead Bay Handicap
Sheepshead Bay Handicap
Sheepshead Bay Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade II event contested on turf at a distance of 1 3/8 miles , it is open to fillies and mares, three-years-old and up...
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...
and the grade three Long Island Handicap
Long Island Handicap
The Long Island Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York...
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:...
. She also won back to back versions of the grade three Chrysanthemum Handicap in 1980 and 1981 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...
. In 1980 she won the Santa Ana Handicap
Santa Ana Handicap
The Santa Ana Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run at annually Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California during the third week of March. The race is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf....
in 1980, the Black Helen Handicap, the Queen Charlotte Handicap and the Violet Handicap
Violet Handicap
The Violet Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the second week of October at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey...
. In 1979 she won the Eatontown Handicap
Eatontown Handicap
The Eatontown Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Raced in mid June, it is open to fillies & mares, three years of age and older...
and the Parlo Handicap.
Stakes placings
She also ran second in two grade one races, the Washington D.C. International Handicap at Laurel Park Racecourse to Bowl GameBowl Game (horse)
Bowl Game was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred in Kentucky by Greentree Stud and raced under the same Greentree Stable banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 11-6-5 in 23 starts with career earnings of $907,083. Bowl Game Creek was best known for his wins in the...
and in the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
The Santa Margarita Invitational Handicapis an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
at Santa Anita, both in 1979. She ran second to Hall of Famer
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
John Henry
John Henry (horse)
John Henry was an American Thoroughbred race horse who had 39 wins, with $6,591,860 in earnings. He was twice voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984, with his 1981 selection is the only one whereby the victor received all votes cast for that award. John Henry was also...
in the grade two Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap
Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap
The Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race open to horses aged three and older that was run each year at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida until the track closed at the end of the 2001 racing season...
, placed second in the Orchid Handicap
Orchid Handicap
The Orchid Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Grade III turf race is open to fillies and mares, aged four and up...
(G2), the Diana Handicap (G2), the grade three Gallorette Handicap
Gallorette Handicap
The Gallorette Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run on Preakness Day at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland as a stakes feature of the undercard. It's set at a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the turf....
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...
. She placed second in grade three Chrysanthemum Handicap before coming back and winning the stake race the next two years. She ran second to Just a Game in the Flower Bowl Handicap
Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes
The Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred fillies and mares run in early October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York...
in 1980. She ran third in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1), the San Juan Capistrano Invitational (G1), 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...
(G1), the Queen Charlotte Handicap (G3), the Barbara Fritchie Handicap
Barbara Fritchie Handicap
The Barbara Fritchie Handicap is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland each year. A Grade II, this race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $300,000.The race is run in...
(G3), and the Beverly Hills Handicap
Beverly Hills Handicap
The Beverly Hills Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The Grade II run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles on turf, is open to fillies and mares three years of age and older....
(G3).
Retirement
The Very One did never produce a foal even close to herself in racing ability and neither have any of her daughters.She died on July 10, 1992 at Polinger Farm in Olney, Maryland
Olney, Maryland
Olney, a census-designated place and an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, is located in the north central part of the county, twenty miles north of Washington, D.C. It was largely agricultural until the 1960s, when growth of the Washington suburbs led to its conversion into...
.