1953 Kentucky Derby (Dark Star upsets Native Dancer)

[JaimeMarrufo123]

One more yard and Native Dancer would have won.

[edgeacebeaglebrady]

Very underrated horse, IMO. When the GOAT (greatest of all time) is discussed, people always bring up Man O' War, Secretariat, Kelso, even Zenyatta, but rarely is this horse's name brought up. I really don't get it, honestly. 21 out of 22? IMO, he is in the conversation for greatest of all time.

[Race62hud]

@edgeacebeaglebrady ND is known to all whether they know it or not, After all he is the father of over 70% of race horses today and over 95% of the greys you see running. Zenyatta is his great great grand daughter as well as Racheal Alex, And people wonder where Z gets her running style from? He did this almost every race last to win. He and Z have been measured to have the same stride as Man O war as I understand it 29'

[denabluechicken]

@edgeacebeaglebrady ABSOLUTELY!!! he's remembered more for his stud quality than his racing ability but he was something else! The Fair Play blood lived strong in his decendents :) (Sec, MOW and ND)

[d4961]

I was eleven when I saw this race with my father on a low definition, black and white TV in a bar in a bowling alley in Staten Island, NY. I never forgot Dark Star’s name or the excitement of watching his long-shot, wire-to-wire upset victory. What a thrill!

[ztimeisnow]

If comparing records, I think Native Dancer was probably the greatest Thorobred to ever race in North America. He won all of the major races of his era except this Kentucky Derby, a race in which he over came clipping heels and almost falling down and later being bumped off stride, and then missing by only a head at the finish line. This video does not show any of the trouble he overcame to almost win the Derby. An absolutely dominant horse on the track.

[tipppy1000]

WOW!!!!...This is a great find!!!..."Hank Moreno" was my uncle and i cant wait to show this to my grandmother he was her bother...Thank you cf1970!!!

[horse12301]

so would of won if native dancer had a little more time

[letsgo1015]

IMO the greatest horse of all time. Would have caught any horse in the stretch if he was run right. In the 2008 kentucky derby every entrant was from his blood line.

[ALYSHEBANDTHEBID]

very nice vid, you guys r right, by far the dancer has very deep character, and is the best stretch runner and closer, as sire, the strength of his pedigree comes from Discovery's daughter, Bold Ruler and Native Dancer were both special horses from Discovery's daughters,. i just wish there was a chance to breed Man O War to Discovery(the iron horse) daughters, then we wouldn't have fragile Phalaris line at all,

[shadowmere54]

Native Dancer was the best and he will always be remembered. it was sad that he lost tho :'(

[ojososo]

Native Dancer will always be remembered. He is probably found in more pedigrees than any horse since Eclipse. He sired Raise A Native, sire of Mr. Prospector and Natalma, dam of Northern Dancer. He was, plain and simple, a stud.

[DANCERS1FAN]

Very true about the pedigrees. I read the pedigrees of the stakes winners in my Blood Horse magazine every week and nearly every one traces back to the Dancer in at least one line-sometimes 2,3 or 4!

[flatonia]

Native Dancer was 21 of 22 in his career.  This lone fluke is the only blemish on his career.

He won all nine as a 2 year old, redeemed himself after the Derby with wins in the Preakness, Belmont and Travers at 3.

[wcrimi]

I believe Native Dancer have a few lengths of trouble in the race.

[silvermoon2003]

What a shame Native Dancer didn't win. Thanks for posting this. I'm finding it difficult to find pictures of him, much less video footage. It seems like everyone has forgotten him!

[cf1970]

Yeah, it was a shame. Dark Star ran the race of his life that day. He has been overlooked by many, I agree. Glad you enjoyed it, silvermoon. God bless.

[ruffian01278]

No one has forgotten The Dancer, the problem is that this was the beginning of TV, so there aren't records left.

[gfn02]

WoW! Exciting finish!

[cf1970]

It was. Native Dancer was the better horse on the whole, but Dark Star ran huge that day. ND had a stride of 29 feet I've read. Incredible really. Take care.