If all thoroughbred racing were raced at a 9 furlong or less then the Dr. would have to be ranked close to the top if not the best of all time IMO. You just got to be a long distance runner being a strong stayer at distances of 1 1/4 miles & more. Don't believe he quite filled that mode. Easy Goer at 3 yrs. of age ran that mile in 1:32 2/5. He was an all round horse like Big Red, Swaps, Kelso & Affirmed etc. I agree Secretariat was the best. The Dr. was better than Citation & Count Fleet.
@rscarbro100 Fager should be ranked at the top regardless. He had endurance, he just refused to be rated. In a match race with any great you'd care to throw in there, Fager's breaking straight to the front and the only question is can the other horse catch him. Up to 1 1/4... doubtful. Up to 1 1/2 it'd take a horse like Secretariat to overtake him.
Finishing second was the great race mare Gamely. Gamely won the Vanity under 131 pounds. Unfortunately, I can't find any of Gamely's winning races on YouTube.
@keybender Gamely was part of an incredible filly field that included Gallant Bloom, Shuvee, and Ta Wee. Good luck finding any of their videos; I haven't found much, and it's very disappointing.
Ohh... The Good Doctor...what an amazing animal... He was carrying 130 pounds and he wins with such ease. In my opinion the best miler to ever run, and definitely one of the top 3 horses ever
@lengua92 and he never changed leads the entire stretch. That wasn't the greatest Santa Anita Cap field but The Doctor did it the hard way and still got it done.
Going into the backside,Fager was pulling so hard on Baeza,that he said he just had to let him go. He proceeded to crush the best in California with ease.
You can see Fager leaping in the air going into the backside. Baeza said he just had to let him go. He proceeded to run the best horses in california into the ground under 130 Lbs. EASY, EASY,EASY!
I love Dr. Fager!!!! I have the book, Top 100 Tb champions, and he's #6. I remember reading about him. I love how much spirit he has! Isn't he the horse who bit another horse in the stretch of a race?
Eclipse Award-winning photo of Great Prospector biting Golden Derby during the Tremont Stakes on July 21, 1980.
Golden Derby, under Darrell McHargue, led wire-to-wire for a neck victory over Great Prospector, who was ridden by Jorge Velasquez. Eventual Champion Two Year Old Lord Avie, under Jerry Bailey, was a length back in third. (Source: exclusivelyequine)
I had read that Dr. Fager tried to bite In Reality when he won the Jersey Derby by 6 1/2 but was DQ's to 4th. In Reality, a very good horse born in the same year as the Doc and Damascus, was declared the winner. Ironically,
both retired to stud at Tartan Farms. Baeza uses the stick at 2:10, notice how his tail flies up. He didn't like that. He probably bit Baeza in the winner's circle! He paid $4.40 to win the Californian. What an overlay!
cf1970...what was the distance and time in this race??? Thank you!!!
bbmtge 1 year ago
@bbmtge The distance was 1 1/8th miles, and The Doctor's time was an excellent 1:40 4/5. You're welcome.
cf1970 1 year ago
@cf1970 Was it 1 1/6th miles or was his time 1:45 and 4/5ths???
bbmtge 1 year ago
@bbmtge Whoops, my mistake; it was in fact 1 1/16th miles. The time was 1:40 4/5. Thank you for the heads-up.
cf1970 1 year ago
@bbmtge Thank you. Great video. What a beast the good Dr. was!!!
bbmtge 1 year ago
If all thoroughbred racing were raced at a 9 furlong or less then the Dr. would have to be ranked close to the top if not the best of all time IMO. You just got to be a long distance runner being a strong stayer at distances of 1 1/4 miles & more. Don't believe he quite filled that mode. Easy Goer at 3 yrs. of age ran that mile in 1:32 2/5. He was an all round horse like Big Red, Swaps, Kelso & Affirmed etc. I agree Secretariat was the best. The Dr. was better than Citation & Count Fleet.
rscarbro100 2 years ago
@rscarbro100 Fager should be ranked at the top regardless. He had endurance, he just refused to be rated. In a match race with any great you'd care to throw in there, Fager's breaking straight to the front and the only question is can the other horse catch him. Up to 1 1/4... doubtful. Up to 1 1/2 it'd take a horse like Secretariat to overtake him.
evyn10014 8 months ago
The most underrated horse in racing. It's been Secretariat, Dr. Fager and Spectacular Bid in my lifetime. And Ack Ack's Gold Cup ranks up there.
ratso444 2 years ago
Finishing second was the great race mare Gamely. Gamely won the Vanity under 131 pounds. Unfortunately, I can't find any of Gamely's winning races on YouTube.
keybender 2 years ago
@keybender Gamely was part of an incredible filly field that included Gallant Bloom, Shuvee, and Ta Wee. Good luck finding any of their videos; I haven't found much, and it's very disappointing.
qhsperson 4 months ago
Ohh... The Good Doctor...what an amazing animal... He was carrying 130 pounds and he wins with such ease. In my opinion the best miler to ever run, and definitely one of the top 3 horses ever
lengua92 2 years ago
@lengua92 and he never changed leads the entire stretch. That wasn't the greatest Santa Anita Cap field but The Doctor did it the hard way and still got it done.
71sunset 1 year ago
Sounded a lot like Gil Stratton doing the narration?
Nscalemike 2 years ago
what a champion! is gamely the same filly they named the stakes race after at hollywood park?
ahsans786 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing. Dr. Fager is one of my all time favorites and it's tough to find a lot of info on him. I enjoyed this very much. Thanks again.
jazilgirl 3 years ago
Happy you enjoyed it. You are very welcome.
cf1970 3 years ago
I love the fact that you can see the doc's tail go up when Baeza hits him in the stretch!
Pippin76 3 years ago
I have a friend named Kelso....
Weird..
doggcat88 4 years ago
Going into the backside,Fager was pulling so hard on Baeza,that he said he just had to let him go. He proceeded to crush the best in California with ease.
BE109 4 years ago
You can see Fager leaping in the air going into the backside. Baeza said he just had to let him go. He proceeded to run the best horses in california into the ground under 130 Lbs. EASY, EASY,EASY!
BE109 4 years ago
I love Dr. Fager!!!! I have the book, Top 100 Tb champions, and he's #6. I remember reading about him. I love how much spirit he has! Isn't he the horse who bit another horse in the stretch of a race?
cloudtailforever 4 years ago 2
Me too! Doc Fager was awesome!
The horse doing the savage is actually:
Eclipse Award-winning photo of Great Prospector biting Golden Derby during the Tremont Stakes on July 21, 1980.
Golden Derby, under Darrell McHargue, led wire-to-wire for a neck victory over Great Prospector, who was ridden by Jorge Velasquez. Eventual Champion Two Year Old Lord Avie, under Jerry Bailey, was a length back in third. (Source: exclusivelyequine)
Take care, and thanks for the comments!
cf1970 4 years ago
Oh, thanks! you sure know a lot!!
cloudtailforever 4 years ago
Nah, I just looked it up on google a while back and remembered that the exclusivelyequine site had info on that pic.
Thank you for the kind comment though, I appreciate it.
cf1970 4 years ago
Oh. I love to buy stuff from exclusivly equine!
cloudtailforever 4 years ago
Great post. Thanks!
I had read that Dr. Fager tried to bite In Reality when he won the Jersey Derby by 6 1/2 but was DQ's to 4th. In Reality, a very good horse born in the same year as the Doc and Damascus, was declared the winner. Ironically,
both retired to stud at Tartan Farms. Baeza uses the stick at 2:10, notice how his tail flies up. He didn't like that. He probably bit Baeza in the winner's circle! He paid $4.40 to win the Californian. What an overlay!
What a horse!
OHRaceFan 4 years ago
You're welcome. Interesting info about the Jersey Derby, I hadn't read that story. It stands to reason considering Dr. Fager's legendary tenacity!
Thanks for the comments.
cf1970 4 years ago
Actually he tried to bite In Reality in the New Hampshire S.,when they were 3 yr. olds.
BE109 4 years ago
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.
cf1970 4 years ago
Such a feisty horse; I love it!
gfn02 4 years ago 2
Wow ! This upgrade is just stunning !
It is truly a pleasure to watch this race with such clarity !
A magnificent win by Dr Fager.
Jazzgirl8888 4 years ago 6
I agree. The footage is better and follows through at the line as well.
Thanks for the comments.
cf1970 4 years ago