He is one of my very favorite racehorses of all time. He KNEW what he was about, and I Ioved the way he just brought it to them on the track. Certainly one of the finest racers to ever put a hoof on the track.
yeah, all of us who remember this impossible beast are old by now. i was 15 when he won his first gold cup in '65. and i actually met him, once, during one of those 5 a.m. workout sessions. it was scary. he stopped, and reared, and there was nothing his rider, ernie suprian, could do about it.
i will never, ever, forget the look in his eye. it was fierce, and absolutely defiant. and it meant this: you can do whatever you want, but it's a long road, and it requires style, and unbending intent.
I was so lucky to have lived in LA during his career. I saw him run on many occasions, especially all of his Hollywood Gold Cup wins. I used to go to Hollywood Park in the mornings just to watch him work out.
He was possibly the most magnificent horse I have ever seen. And I'm old!
Am old enough to have been a member of the Hollywood Park Railbird Club, back in the day when one could stroll up and down the stall row. Actually saw the Diver once and he was hyper and ready to race anything on the track, even at 530 AM!! Anyone know why he was gelded?? What a stallion he would have made, but then...he probably wouldnt have been raced beyond age 3 or 4.
@thestiletto2010 They gelded him because he was too wild to race safely and effectively. I too was a member of the Railbird Club. I may still have my pin somewhere. I never made it to the stalls, but hung on the rail and watched the horses work. I never saw the Diver though. Lucky you.
I just loved this horse and loved watching him run. I also have caught the Swaps video. There was another powerhouse from California.
Cont- It is hard for me as a horseman to comprehend the magnitude of what Native Diver did. My experiences would tell me that this was not possible,but it happened. I can't stress that enough. Ironically he was never honored with a championship. There is no doubt he was more than worthy,he has to be the greatest horse who was never named a champion. But to me at least he was a champion for the ages. This horse deserves to be talked about. He in my mind was the other great gelding of the 60's!
Cont- in his 2nd Holly. GC,he went 45 1/5-1:09 1/5-1:34 1/5-2:00 flat!,he won by 4 3/4! chart comment "speed to spare" thats an understatement! He did it again in his last G.C.,with fractions of 45 4/5-1:09 2/5-1:34 2/5-1:58 4/5!!!!!,he won by 5! I ask you to look hard at those fractions for that distance. That was unreal,this guy should have never been able to do that. But he did it routinely. He was a record setter at 6F-9F. He set six track records he raced for 7 years and never lost a step!
Cont- "his strategy was simple: Run as fast as you can for as far as you can. No one who saw "The Diver" run doubted he loved his profession. Native Diver so enjoyed running that he rarely felt his rider's whip." This dude was a headstrong sprinter who could carry his speed to 10 F. He routinely ran fractions that were simply unearthly. And he did it with regularity. How about his Holly. G C wins at 10F. His 1st one were 44 4/5!-1:08 4/5! -1:34 1/5!,and he was extending his lead to 2:00 1/5!Cont
This is from the Blood-Horse Top 100 TB's. "More brilliant horses have competed,but Native Diver had a charisma and scarcely harnessed energy that drew people to him.The perception that he only tolerated the bridle and merely indulged his rider added to his mystique. It was "The Diver" who had control. Rivals found it impossible to catch the free-wheeling geldingwhen he was alone on the lead,but found it even more futile to attempt to run with him. His strategy was simple Cont-
Some would say,oh he ran 1:58 and change on concrete tracks. He's just a California horse,so what! If that is what a California horse looks like,then I'll buy every darn one that looks like him!!
They said he was too old to win a 3rd Gold Cup. He really showed them how it's done. As they said in one video, he ran the 3rd one faster than his first two, 1:58 4/5. That is unbelievable for an 8 year old horse. He had great heart as well as great speed. All of California mourned when he died.
i remember this like it was yesterday we all watched the 67 gold cup live on tv we all loved the diver at work they nicknamed my car the diver he paid $11.40 in that race because pretense had beaten him all year i still remember the jockeys in that race
I have to add to my earlier comment,I'm still blown away by what that horse was capable of. He looks like a wild horse running like his hair is on fire going by the stands the 1st time. And he is going 1 1/4,and he pulls away from a very good horse in Pretense. Every race on this video shows the same thing,I just can't help but to be totally amazed by him. I knew he was good,but after seeing this video,I realize he was much,much more than that,thanks for putting this on. He's right near the top.
You're welcome, and I couldn't possibly agree with you more. Not to start a debate, but I think The Diver definitely deserves a higher ranking than #60, considering his raw speed and ability to sustain much of it over a classic distance. If he would have allowed himself to be rated, I doubt very much that longer distances would have been a problem either. That said, his tenacity and fire was something that was inbred; rating likely would have hurt him up to/over 1.5 miles, headstrong as he was.
No arguement from me at all,I won't try to pin down where his rating is on the top 100,but 60 is way to low. He was not a horse who you could rate,from riding horses I know you can't force a horse with his temperament to rate. What happens is the horse fights you and uses up his energy,they also will resent your holding them back and sometimes just say forget it. A good rider will comprimise with him and the results showed. He would have been a monster match race horse,speed kills in match races
I've always liked Native Diver,seeing this video made me like him even more. I love this horse even more now. I love horses who run the way he did. Kinda like Dr. Fager,the lead is his to have and he will not give way without one helluva fight. Remember this dude won the Gold Cup (10 furlongs) 3 years in a row(this is in itself incredible) He was a horse who could scorch sprint distances,and was capable of winning (not just getting) at 10 furlongs in the best of company,wow what a horse.
Thank you! Brought back great mem's for me.Does any one remember a big red that lagged way behind,only to sprint back to win? I can't remember his name
What an amazing horse! Loved that race with the rideless horse, it takes a lot of skill for a horse to win a race without a rider though I doubt Native Diver's Jockey urged him to pass the riderless horse.
He is one of my very favorite racehorses of all time. He KNEW what he was about, and I Ioved the way he just brought it to them on the track. Certainly one of the finest racers to ever put a hoof on the track.
ronnogold 6 months ago
yeah, all of us who remember this impossible beast are old by now. i was 15 when he won his first gold cup in '65. and i actually met him, once, during one of those 5 a.m. workout sessions. it was scary. he stopped, and reared, and there was nothing his rider, ernie suprian, could do about it.
i will never, ever, forget the look in his eye. it was fierce, and absolutely defiant. and it meant this: you can do whatever you want, but it's a long road, and it requires style, and unbending intent.
flavanoiddupree 6 months ago
I was so lucky to have lived in LA during his career. I saw him run on many occasions, especially all of his Hollywood Gold Cup wins. I used to go to Hollywood Park in the mornings just to watch him work out.
He was possibly the most magnificent horse I have ever seen. And I'm old!
tucsonagent 7 months ago
Am old enough to have been a member of the Hollywood Park Railbird Club, back in the day when one could stroll up and down the stall row. Actually saw the Diver once and he was hyper and ready to race anything on the track, even at 530 AM!! Anyone know why he was gelded?? What a stallion he would have made, but then...he probably wouldnt have been raced beyond age 3 or 4.
thestiletto2010 1 year ago
@thestiletto2010 They gelded him because he was too wild to race safely and effectively. I too was a member of the Railbird Club. I may still have my pin somewhere. I never made it to the stalls, but hung on the rail and watched the horses work. I never saw the Diver though. Lucky you.
I just loved this horse and loved watching him run. I also have caught the Swaps video. There was another powerhouse from California.
Railbird67 1 year ago
Native Diver was wonderful! Thanks for sharing - it has been years since I have seen this horse on tv - terrific!!!
MemphisTennGolf 1 year ago
Oh, how sad that he couldn't give us foals with that kind of fire!
Elisabetta611 2 years ago
Cont- It is hard for me as a horseman to comprehend the magnitude of what Native Diver did. My experiences would tell me that this was not possible,but it happened. I can't stress that enough. Ironically he was never honored with a championship. There is no doubt he was more than worthy,he has to be the greatest horse who was never named a champion. But to me at least he was a champion for the ages. This horse deserves to be talked about. He in my mind was the other great gelding of the 60's!
BE109 3 years ago
Cont- in his 2nd Holly. GC,he went 45 1/5-1:09 1/5-1:34 1/5-2:00 flat!,he won by 4 3/4! chart comment "speed to spare" thats an understatement! He did it again in his last G.C.,with fractions of 45 4/5-1:09 2/5-1:34 2/5-1:58 4/5!!!!!,he won by 5! I ask you to look hard at those fractions for that distance. That was unreal,this guy should have never been able to do that. But he did it routinely. He was a record setter at 6F-9F. He set six track records he raced for 7 years and never lost a step!
BE109 3 years ago
Cont- "his strategy was simple: Run as fast as you can for as far as you can. No one who saw "The Diver" run doubted he loved his profession. Native Diver so enjoyed running that he rarely felt his rider's whip." This dude was a headstrong sprinter who could carry his speed to 10 F. He routinely ran fractions that were simply unearthly. And he did it with regularity. How about his Holly. G C wins at 10F. His 1st one were 44 4/5!-1:08 4/5! -1:34 1/5!,and he was extending his lead to 2:00 1/5!Cont
BE109 3 years ago
This is from the Blood-Horse Top 100 TB's. "More brilliant horses have competed,but Native Diver had a charisma and scarcely harnessed energy that drew people to him.The perception that he only tolerated the bridle and merely indulged his rider added to his mystique. It was "The Diver" who had control. Rivals found it impossible to catch the free-wheeling geldingwhen he was alone on the lead,but found it even more futile to attempt to run with him. His strategy was simple Cont-
BE109 3 years ago
Some would say,oh he ran 1:58 and change on concrete tracks. He's just a California horse,so what! If that is what a California horse looks like,then I'll buy every darn one that looks like him!!
BE109 3 years ago
They said he was too old to win a 3rd Gold Cup. He really showed them how it's done. As they said in one video, he ran the 3rd one faster than his first two, 1:58 4/5. That is unbelievable for an 8 year old horse. He had great heart as well as great speed. All of California mourned when he died.
Railbird67 3 years ago
i remember this like it was yesterday we all watched the 67 gold cup live on tv we all loved the diver at work they nicknamed my car the diver he paid $11.40 in that race because pretense had beaten him all year i still remember the jockeys in that race
jerry lambert on the diver
johnny sellers on pretense
bill harmatz on biggs
fernando toro(the turf specialist)on quicken tree
mrapril86 3 years ago
I have to add to my earlier comment,I'm still blown away by what that horse was capable of. He looks like a wild horse running like his hair is on fire going by the stands the 1st time. And he is going 1 1/4,and he pulls away from a very good horse in Pretense. Every race on this video shows the same thing,I just can't help but to be totally amazed by him. I knew he was good,but after seeing this video,I realize he was much,much more than that,thanks for putting this on. He's right near the top.
BE109 3 years ago
You're welcome, and I couldn't possibly agree with you more. Not to start a debate, but I think The Diver definitely deserves a higher ranking than #60, considering his raw speed and ability to sustain much of it over a classic distance. If he would have allowed himself to be rated, I doubt very much that longer distances would have been a problem either. That said, his tenacity and fire was something that was inbred; rating likely would have hurt him up to/over 1.5 miles, headstrong as he was.
cf1970 3 years ago
No arguement from me at all,I won't try to pin down where his rating is on the top 100,but 60 is way to low. He was not a horse who you could rate,from riding horses I know you can't force a horse with his temperament to rate. What happens is the horse fights you and uses up his energy,they also will resent your holding them back and sometimes just say forget it. A good rider will comprimise with him and the results showed. He would have been a monster match race horse,speed kills in match races
BE109 3 years ago
Precisely. Fiery precociousness is almost always not to be trifled with; it would certainly hamper the horses running style.
Native Diver has become one of my all-time favorites; beauty, speed, fire, and the class to go long if he had to.
Take care.
cf1970 3 years ago
I've always liked Native Diver,seeing this video made me like him even more. I love this horse even more now. I love horses who run the way he did. Kinda like Dr. Fager,the lead is his to have and he will not give way without one helluva fight. Remember this dude won the Gold Cup (10 furlongs) 3 years in a row(this is in itself incredible) He was a horse who could scorch sprint distances,and was capable of winning (not just getting) at 10 furlongs in the best of company,wow what a horse.
BE109 3 years ago
It is amazing that the loose horse still ran the whole race without a rider.
Sight19 3 years ago
didn't the loose horse win?
hersheygurl2257 3 years ago
It "won" but was disqualified since he didn't have a rider on. You have to have a jockey on the horse in order to win the race.
Sight19 3 years ago
haha. his owners better have treated him well after this because he thought he had won! did he ever race/win after this?
hersheygurl2257 3 years ago
That loose horse only managed to win because he didnt have any weight on his back the whole trip. :>
dahoss65 3 years ago
I love this horse :)
ruffian72 3 years ago
Me too! Spectacular to look at, and I love his rambunctiousness. Glad you liked the video!
God bless.
cf1970 3 years ago
Any have the 2002 Native Diver to post? Distinctly remember Vic Staufer really putting in a great call!- Piensa Sonando was the winner
rfiorito5 3 years ago
Thank you! Brought back great mem's for me.Does any one remember a big red that lagged way behind,only to sprint back to win? I can't remember his name
PROUDFRASER 3 years ago
You're welcome. Glad it brought back memories for you.
The big, red, VERY late-running horse was the enigmatic Silky Sullivan.
Take care.
cf1970 3 years ago
bingo !! ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES.Now I know these were true. thanks again
PROUDFRASER 3 years ago
Thank you everyone for the comments. I appreciate your viewership very much and am glad you enjoyed the video.
Take care.
cf1970 3 years ago
Thanks for the great video.
jelafleur 3 years ago
what a horse nice
shoelover25 3 years ago
If O´Hara had a jockey on him, everyone would say what a great race he rode. Thanks for posting these
losarman 3 years ago
Gotta love that riderless horse. Obviously knew where the finish line was, and wanted to win. Priceless.
melc1949 3 years ago
I was cheering him on watching this. That was just awesome! Very intelligent horse.
desolatefox 3 years ago
Fantastic!
gfn02 3 years ago 2
What an amazing horse! Loved that race with the rideless horse, it takes a lot of skill for a horse to win a race without a rider though I doubt Native Diver's Jockey urged him to pass the riderless horse.
sugarpuppy137 3 years ago 3