Nostalgic Horse

By- Don Coleman

Breaking into the equine millionaires’ club has become an easy barrier for even the most moderate stakes competitor. In this era of inflated purses and would be classics it is a common occurrence. No longer is it necessary to face the best, or second best, for a racehorse to earn $1,000,000. The number of high figure events on the current racing calendar has made it simple to pick and choose the easiest spots for an animal to compete.

Still, the potential impact of this fact doesn’t seem to have made an impression on many people in racing. If anything, it has given rise to a generation of horsemen and women who equate earnings with ability and prestige to publicity hyperbole. It is a mistaken notion that immediacy and gain harbor superiority. Such notions only serve to change the nature of the sport, and the Thoroughbred, in a less than satisfactory manner.

Since the mid-1960s the record books have become full to overflowing with the names of new $1,000,000 earners. Some of these individuals deserve to rank among the true champions of the breed. In most instances, however, the present day Thoroughbred millionaire is not much more than an average sort of performer. Their connections have learned the trick of being in the right spot at the right time, and only a small percentage of this group has any real merit in the sense of them having any claim to actual greatness. Certainly no horse, unable to perform beyond a sprint, or past its’ two year old season, deserves such recognition. And, despite the popular trends of thought, there has never been a true champion that didn’t succeed in the classic context and then go on to either race against a previous generation’s best or remain in training to compete past its’ three year old days with distinction.

One method of determining what racing had in the past, and what it has given up today, is to seriously look at what once constituted an actual champion racehorse–how it performed on the racecourse and established a claim to recognition.

For several reasons I’ve chosen to examine the career of Citation as a guide. He was the first millionaire Thoroughbred. There are few people who would question his greatness. And, last, he didn’t compete in a period when millionaires were the order of the day.

Bred and raced by Warren Wright, Jr., Citation was foaled at Wright’s famed Calumet Farm in 1945 and represented the finest bloodlines available at that time. Sired by the home stallion Bull Lea, he was out of the imported matron Hydroplane II, a daughter of Hyperion from the Epsom Oaks heroine Toboggan.

Turned over to the able hands of Ben Jones, Calumet Farm’s private trainer from the late 1930s until his retirement to stable manager in the mid-1950s, Citation began his racing career in 1947.

Jones was a busy man that season. In addition to Citation, he was also responsible for the likes of Pot O’Luck, Twosy, Faultless, Armed, Fervant, a juvenile filly named Bewitch, and a barn full of potential talent from Calumet’s seemingly never ending supply of probable stakes winners and champions that included a colt named Coaltown. It was 1947 and the stable was concluding its’ first decade of dominance on America’s Turf. Jones, nonetheless, had the time to take note of Citation’s qualities and set about training his charge toward a classic career.

Brought up to the races for the first time, on April 22nd, he went 4½ furlongs, at Havre de Grace in Maryland, to win a maiden purse by a half length in :54 2/5. He wasn’t overwhelming,but was showing ability. Some of that promise was confirmed in his next three allowance class starts and victories, though he was not required to face brilliant foes or extend himself. On May 3rd he led from start to finish in a 5 furlong trial at Pimlico, claiming the win in 1:01 1/5 by 3½ lengths. Next, he won another test at Havre de Grace, by 1¾ lengths, going 5 furlongs in 59 1/5. Shipped to Arlington Park, he was prepped for his initial stakes competition by taking part in the 5 furlong Sealeggy Purse on July 24th. His half length margin over Kentucky Comfort, in a flat :58, earned him a trip in the July 30th Elementary Stakes at Washington Park. Starting against a higher class of opposition, in that six furlong trial, he still went off at odds of 7 to 5 and won over Salmagundi and Billings; both of whom would eventually be established as sound added money contenders.

Few American based stallions have ever been able to establish their position in this country’s Thoroughbred industry as well as Bull Lea managed the task during the 1940s, and 50s, and early 60s. Although his male line isn’t likely to survive, as a sire of racing stock he was in the class of Nasrullah, Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, Fair Play, and a handful of others represented in this century. Prior to the appearance of his 1945 offspring, he had already gotten Armed, Twilight Tear, Faultless, Twosy, and Good Blood. In succeeding seasons he would add Hill Gail, Two Lea, Mark-Ye-Well, Iron Liege, Real Delight, Gen. Duke, Next Move, Beau Prince, Yorky, Miz Clementine, Level Lea, and a whole stable full of others. 1945, however, was his finest year. Besides Citation, he got Coaltown ”the second best colt produced in that crop” and the remarkable filly Bewitch.

Out of the Wildair matron Potheen, Bewitch was the only competitor equal to the task of challenging her paternal half brother at two. In a pair of encounters, as juveniles, they would go one for one and leave the season on similar footing as the year’s two year old leaders.

The first matching of Calumet’s powerful duo came in the 6 furlong Washington Park Futurity on August 16th. Bewitch came up to this race off an unbeaten record that included victories in the Debutante, Hyde Park, Pollyanna, Arlington Lassie, and Princess Pat Stakes. Just the same, Jones considered his colt to be the top prospect of the pair, but felt the filly insured the stable a victory. She, indeed, insured the win taking Citation’s measure by one length in a solid 1:10 2/5.

Given a two week rest, Citation next came out for the Futurity Trial Stakes at Belmont Park. A minor sort of race, in and of itself, it was a serious test in the mind of Ben Jones. Although his opinion of the colt’s potential hadn’t changed following the Washington Park Futurity, the youngster’s loss to Bewitch had produced a few questions about his condition. Jones’ doubts were erased after the Trial, though, as the big bay went under the wire with a one length advantage. His time for the 6 furlongs was a moderate 1:11.

During Citation’s era, the Belmont Futurity was the most sought after juvenile race in this country. It carried a large purse and the sort of prestige that is only built on history. Facing a field highlighted by Bewitch, Better Self, Whirling Fox and most of the year’s more respected two year olds, Citation gave no indication that he was troubled by their challenge. He won the Futurity by 3 lengths, going 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15 2/5. Whirling Fox finished second, with a tiring Bewitch bringing up the third place slot.

Left in training through October and early November, Citation’s final appearance, of 1947, came in the 81/2 furlong Pimlico Futurity on November 8th. Covering the distance in 1:48 4/5, over a track listed as muddy, he defeated Better Self by a half length and was shipped to Florida to await the beginning of his sophomore campaign. He took with him a history or 9 starts, 8 wins, 1 second, and earnings of $155,680.

At the conclusion of his two year old season it was evident that Citation was the dominant male of his age group. He had raced well enough to be considered an above average individual, but had yet to provide evidence of his full worth. There were still doubts concerning his performance against Bewitch and a general feeling that the 1945 crop was somewhat limited. On both of the occasions that they met, Bewitch had given weight concessions to her stablemate and actually beaten him in one encounter. As far as his other contemporaries were concerned, Citation had so far outclassed the majority of his rivals that they seemed a bit less than up to standard. Both issues would be long forgotten by the end of 1948.

Citation became a 3 year old on January 1, 1948, along with the rest of the crop of 1945. In actual fact, though, his date of birth was April 11th. When he made his first start of the new season he was still some months away from being three. His first appearance came in the 6 furlong Ground Hog Purse at Hialeah Park on February 2nd. It was an open allowance class contest, and his rivals included Armed, Rampart, Say Blue and Kitchen Police, all older established handicap horses. He won by a length, from Kitchen Police, in 1:10 2/5.

His debut had only been a minor feature race, but in his next start he was given the task of trying his elders in the 7 furlong Seminole Handicap—a major season opener for the older horse division. He won again by a length, in 1:23. Among those in the beaten field were Delegate, Armed, Tavistock, Faultless, Round View, Buzfuz, Wide Wing and Gestapo. Many of the questions that had been asked about his quality, at the end of 1947, were quickly being answered.

Returning to his own age group, for the February 18th Everglades Handicap, he was met by only two challengers in Hypnos and Silvering. Going 9 furlongs for the first time, he was eased through the stretch and still won by a length in 1:49. It hadn’t really been a contest, serving mainly as a workout for the Flamingo Stakes on February 28th.

A $50,000 added money trial for the classics, the 9 furlong Flamingo guaranteed Citation a trip to Louisville in May. Never actually pushed, the Calumet colt finished the distance in 1:48 4/5. His winning margin of 6 lengths was gained at the expense of Big Deal and Saggy,the latter a son of Swing and Sway who would gain the distinction of being the only horse to defeat Citation during his three year old campaign, and later go on to sire the Kentucky Derby hero Carry Back.

Shipped to Maryland, at the close of Hialeah’s meeting, Citation was given a five week rest before being asked to resume his racing chores. His next start came a Havre de Grace on April 12th, in the 6 furlong Chesapeake Trial Stakes. Recognized as the favorite, he went off at 1 to 3 odds against a field that numbered his Flamingo shadow Saggy. Racing over a soggy track, he was carried wide at the far turn and could do no better than finish a willing second,beaten a length by his foe in 1:12 2/5.

Much was made of this last failure, but in reality it was a fluke. In the 8 ½ furlong Chesapeake Stakes, on April 17th, Citation completely outclassed the opposition with a 4 ½ length margin of victory. Bringing up the rear was Saggy, who finished lame and was destined to race on only one other occasion.

Having set his credentials in concrete, Citation was sent from Maryland to Kentucky for a final pre-classic prep in the Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs. Undaunted by a field of pretenders that included only minor league talent, his race in the Trial was little more than another workout. Going the race’s 8 furlongs in an easy 1:37 2/5, he defeated Escadru by 1¼ lengths.

Considering the display of superiority he had put on for the public throughout the Spring, it would have seemed natural that Citation’s appearance in the May 1st Kentucky Derby should have been met with the fans’ complete confidence in his chances for victory. Sharing the Calumet stable, however, was another son of Bull Lea that had distracted some of the crowd’s attention. Coaltown, though unraced at two, had gone undefeated in his first four starts as a 3 year old. Prior to the Derby, he had taken a 6 furlong event at Hialeah in 1:09 2/5 (breaking the track record for the distance), claimed the Phoenix Handicap from older horses, and set another track record while taking the 9 furlong Blue Grass Stakes in 1:49 1/5,enough to make some foolish handicappers select him as their Derby choice over his stable companion.

Despite his obvious abilities, Ben Jones gave his second stringer little hope against Citation. On more than one occasion Jones had stated that Citation could beat any horse he could look in the eye,and that it held true for Coaltown as well. He thought that Coaltown would lead early, but fail to carry on a full 10 furlongs.

As Jones had predicted, Coaltown’s speed served him only to a point in the Derby. Bursting from the gate, he led by 6 lengths at the first call, but found the 10 furlong grind to be too much for his particular agenda. After 8 furlongs he gave up the race to Citation, but held on to finish 3 lengths ahead of the third place runner. Citation’s margin over Coaltown was 3½ lengths. His time was a modest 2:05 2/5 over an extremely sloppy wet course. Behind the Calumet pair were the Wood Memorial Stakes winner My Request, Walmac Stables fine colt Billings, Grandpere and the completely outclassed Escadru.

Some comment was made, following Citation’s Kentucky Derby, that Coaltown’s race had been hampered by the track’s muddy conditions. The press wanted a rematch in the Preakness Stakes, but Jones would have none of it. Coaltown was confined to racing at distances of 9 furlongs or less,going on to claim the season’s sprint title,and Citation was sent to Maryland for an assault on the Triple Crown.

Starting against a field that numbered only Vulcan’s Forge, Bovard and Better Self, Citation took little notice of their efforts and won the 9 ½ furlong Preakness in 2:02 2/5. Again, he had little competition and was not asked to do more than was necessary to win.

A firm believer in the philosophy of racing a fit horse and sending an unfit one to the farm, Jones didn’t hesitate to enter Citation in the Jersey Stakes, at Garden State Park, during the interval between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The colt’s training was, of course, now centered upon achieving a Triple Crown. Still, Jones was of the old school. He had learned his trade when horses made consecutive starts during the same week, and sometimes during the same day. In his thinking there was only one thing to do with a fit horse,race it. Thus Citation went to the post for the 10 furlong Jersey Stakes only two weeks after the Preakness and two weeks before the Belmont. He won by 11 lengths, beating MacBeth and Brovard in the track record time of 2:03.

Coming up to the Belmont’s 12 furlongs, despite the win in New Jersey, again the pundits were skeptical. The word was out that Citation had left his race at Garden State Park, and that he was bound to perform poorly in the Triple Crown’s final jewel. Jones shrugged the criticism off. Seven other gentlemen believed that notion, however, and sent their charges out to test Calumet’s talented youngster. Better Self, Escadru, Vulcan’s Forge, Gasparilla, Salmagundi, Golden Light and Faraway made up the field behind Citation,as he won the event by 8 lengths in 2:28 1/5 and matched Count Fleet’s Belmont record. It would take another 25 years for Secretariat to come along and win the next Triple Crown laurels.

Sent west, after his effort in New York, he was allowed three weeks to let down and then started in the July 5th Stars and Stripes Handicap at Arlington. It was his twelfth race of the season. Ridden by Eddie Arcaro, who had guided him since the April 12th Chesapeake Stakes, he again was facing older horses. Navigating the race’s 9 furlongs in 1:49 2/5, he defeated Eternal Reward and Pellicle by 2 lengths and added $38,000 to his growing bank account.

Citation’s next race was supposed to be the Arlington Classic, but following the Stars and Stripes it was discovered that he had developed muscle problems in his hip. Although the injury was of no long term seriousness, Jones felt it would be difficult for his pupil to perform up to form in the Classic. It was decided to keep him in the barn until August. As a consequence, Citation made his next appearance in the 6 furlong Buckingham Purse, on August 21st, at Washington Park. An easy trial, he won by 2 ½ lengths in 1:10 4/5, and was judged ready to go after the August 28th American Derby.

A major sophomore contest, with a tradition and history reaching back even further than the Kentucky Derby, the American Derby again turned out to be just another demonstration of the colt’s superiority over his contemporaries. Taking the lead at the second call, he was never again headed and galloped out the 10 furlongs in 2:01 3/5,the 1948 season’s fastest 10 furlong clocking at Washington Park. Among the defeated were his stablemate Free America, Volcanic and the Arlington Classic winner Papa Redbird.

Citation’s splendid abilities had finally made it difficult to fill a race with other three year olds, and the American Derby was the last event in which he would be restricted to racing among his peers. His final six starts, of 1948, would be made in all-aged company.

Shipped back to New York, after the Illinois venture, he was next seen in the September 29th Sysonby Mile at Belmont Park. Apparently his injured hip had given Jones more cause to restrain the colt’s training, but only for four weeks. Meeting Coaltown, the sensational handicapper First Flight, the fine sprinter Spy Song, Natchez and Star Reward, he once more proved his worth,going the 8 furlongs in 1:36 and winning by 3 lengths. His time matched the seasonal best for 8 furlongs at Belmont set by Coaltown in the Jerome Handicap two weeks earlier.

Three days after his Sysonby gallop, he was again brought out to race at Belmont,in the 16 furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup. Facing perhaps one of the toughest fields he would ever meet, he won by 7 lengths in 3:21 3/5. Bringing up his rear were the 1947 Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup victor Phalanx, Beauchef, the great South American import Miss Grillo, and the exceptional handicap matron Conniver.

Exactly fourteen days following the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Citation again was asked to display his capabilities in the Empire City Gold Cup over 13 furlongs at Belmont. Once more he won by daylight,completing the course with a 2 length advantage in 2:42 4/5. Chasing him to the wire were Phalanx, Carolyn A., Miss Grillo, Better Self, Ace Admiral, the Irish St. Leger hero Nathoo and the Belgian router Bayeuex.

Moved to Maryland, the October 29th Pimlico Special was his next go around. Although the 8 ½ furlong event was a prominent fixture of the racing year, no other starter could be found that was willing to face Calumet’s steam roller. Citation walked-over, collected the $10,000 purse and was put on a train headed for California. He had shattered the competition in the East, and he was going to be given an opportunity to prove himself against all comers in the far West.

On December 3rd he won a 6 furlong conditioner, at San Francisco’s Tanforan Racecourse, and was then entered in the December 11th $50,000 added Tanforan Handicap. When it was announced that Citation would be involved in that race both Shannon II and On Trust,California’s top older horses at that time,were withdrawn. Once more the three year old could not find a worthy rival to challenge him. He claimed the prize from the likes of Stepfather and See-Tee-Tee.

Nothing had been proven by Citation’s California visit, and toward the end of his stay he had developed a serious problem in his osselets,one that would keep him out of training during 1949 and affect the rest of his career in 1950 and 1951.

Although every possible solution was attempted to bring Citation to the races in 1949, in the end it was decided he wasn’t fit enough to compete. Under similar circumstances, most horses would have been retired to stud. He certainly had achieved all that was necessary to prove his quality. He had won twenty seven of twenty nine starts; earned the Triple Crown title; been named the champion of his division at two and three; and captured the Horse of the Year honors for 1948. Only one nagging obstacle remained for Citation to cross for his connections. With $865,150 credited to his earnings tally, he was only a race or two short of becoming the world’s leading money winner, and perhaps even the first $1,000,000 earner.

The following year rolled along without Citation. Coaltown claimed the Horse of the Year and Champion Handicap Horse titles as a four year old. Ponder added one more Kentucky Derby victory to the stable’s trophies. Bewitch was named the Champion Older Filly or Mare. Two Lea and Wistful shared the Champion Three Year Old Filly award. Calumet’s best, however, remained in his stall at the farm. Late in the year the stable was transported to California, and the big bay again joined the team.

Exactly one year and one month from the date of his last race, Citation went 6 furlongs in 1:11 2/5, at Santa Anita, to win a minor purse from Bold Gallant. It was an auspicious opener for his second career. It was his sixteenth consecutive victory. He would not see the winner’s circle again for six months. In his next five starts he would run second in each. He placed behind the fine South American handicapper Miche in the La Sorpresa Handicap; Calumet’s Ponder in the San Antonio Handicap; Noor in both the Santa Anita and San Juan Capistrano Handicaps; and the unlikely speedster Roman In during a 6 furlong overnight handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Both the press and public were stunned. Calumet, Ben Jones, his groom and anyone associated with the horse became the target of some extraordinary accusations.

On June 3, 1950 the clouds rolled away, however, and the sun came out. Citation was his old self again,or so it seemed. He won the Golden Gate Mile Handicap, going 8 furlongs in a then world record time of 1:33 3/5. Behind him was the sensational sprinter Bolero. The rains quickly returned, though, and were to last another twelve months. From June 4, 1950 until June 14, 1951 Citation failed to capture a single race in six starts. He lost both the Forty-Niner and Golden Gate Handicaps to Noor, before the end of June in 1950, and was retired for the season after a journey to Arlington proved pointless. The stress of heavy training had caused his osselet problem to appear once more. He was again sent home to Calumet, where it was thought he would finally enter the stud. In a normal situation that might have been the case.

Warren Wright, Jr. had wanted Citation to become the first Thoroughbred to top the $1,000,000 earnings mark. Not so much as a financial accomplishment, but instead as a marker of his horse’s place in racing history. When that gentleman died, during 1950, Citation’s future was in a flux. He could be retired and begin a promising stud career or remain in training and face an uncertain destiny on the track. Mrs. Wright decided to subscribe to her husband’s wishes, and had the son of Bull Lea returned to Ben Jones’ care.

Nearly a year passed before Citation was again seen on the racecourse. Once more in California, he began his 1951 campaign at Bay Meadows. It was a miserable performance, as he finished third behind a pair of nondescript animals in the Uncle Tom’s Cabin Purse. Not only was it a poor showing, but it was also the first time in his career that he had run worse than second. His next three starts would be repeats of that form. He came in third behind Pancho Supreme and A Lark in another 6 furlong purse, ran fifth in the Hollywood Premiere Handicap on May 11th, and only slightly managed to get up for a placing in Be Fleet’s May 30th Argonaut Handicap.

There began an outcry for the horse’s permanent retirement. It became louder and louder after each of his defeats. Calumet’s reputation was becoming tied to the disillusionment over what many saw as the unfounded ill use of a champion who had given his all. Nonetheless, there was still Mrs. Wright’s hope that she could see her late husband’s desires fulfilled. It would take only three more races to accomplish that goal, and leave the skeptics with little to say.

In mid-June Citation began a reversal of form that has left more than one historian scratching for an answer as to why. On June 14th he took the 8 furlong Century Handicap, defeating Be Fleet and Sturdy One by a half length in 1:35 4/5. On July 4th he added the 9 furlong American Handicap, shutting down Bewitch and Sturdy One in 1:48 2/5. And, finally, on July 14th he claimed the Hollywood Gold Cup from Bewitch and Be Fleet in 2:01 for the 10 furlongs. He had attained his owner’s goal of passing the $1,000,000 figure by some $85,760 and was duly retired to stud,much to the relief of all concerned about the six year old’s welfare.

Citation’s career as a stallion isn’t really the subject, here, but his success was only what could be described as limited. Standing at Calumet, with its’ concentration of Bull Lea’s daughters serving as the foundation of its’ broodmare band, Citation was pretty much restricted to an outside booking that was sometimes less than might have been expected. The fact that he was a son of the Teddy clan, and that in the 1950s and 1960s that line was in the process of being replaced by Nearco’s scions explained much of why his career can now be examined with a critical eye. Still, he had enough success to repel any claims that he was a failure. He succeeded in siring a classic winner in Fabius and also got the fine champion mare Silver Spoon. All told, he was a worthwhile progenitor,if not a great one.

Of more importance, to this review, was his race record and what it took for him to be considered a champion. As a history it speaks of a good two year old, who developed into a superior three year old and an outstanding older horse,a horse who survived five seasons of racing in top company and lasted to finish on a winning note. He was brilliant at all distances from 4 ½ furlongs to 16 furlongs; set major speed records over several different distances; raced at his peak on a number of different courses in a variety of geographical locations; gave weight concessions to many of his rivals and defeated them; faced the likes of Noor, Nathoo, Bewitch, Ponder, Coaltown and Bolero and defeated them; managed to race with class even while not in the best of condition physically; and, without question, was a champion worthy of being the first to earn $1,000,000.

It seems that, today, we’ve forgotten what it actually takes to be considered a champion. We’ve allowed the breed to be judged on what it can earn, and not by what it needs to do to earn. The ever increasing number of juvenile $1,000,000 sprints, unnecessary high dollar trials, and the rest have provided only a monetary outlook for the sport and the Thoroughbred.

The accomplishments of Citation and many other real champions have been put aside in favor of giving that title to a group of less substantial animals,winners of juvenile sprints and credentialess big money claimants. In America there are no more events, of consequence, run at 16 furlongs. The classic winners are annually being superseded, in the year end polling for championships, if they haven’t been raced in any of the season ending high dollar/high attention events. Much the same can be said for the rest of the world’s fascination with two year old trials, speed contests and upstart large purse events. It has become, pretty much, the same story in every racing nation. Less concentration on class and heavy emphasis on cash.

The Thoroughbred is a breed of distinction, developed out of a standard for excellence formed around a certain type of racing performance. The English set that standard around the Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and the Ascot Gold Cup. In American racing it was produced through competition for the Triple Crown and Jockey Club Gold Cup. The Australian measurement was determined by the various states’ Derbys and concluded at Flemington in the Melbourne Cup. Put this type of racing, and the type of runner it produces, to rest in favor of fat purses and immediacy and you have spelt the loss of the Thoroughbred as a functioning breed. You have lost the opportunity to produce a CHAMPION and the ability to breed a Citation.

Don Coleman was a columnist for Australian Turf Montly for ten years. He has also written for British Racehorse, Spur Magazine and Faster Horses.

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