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)
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'
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
denabluechicken Says:
22/01/2012 8:50:13 AM
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)
Race62hud Says:
30/11/2011 9:14:33 AM
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'
edgeacebeaglebrady Says:
29/06/2011 7:18:07 AM
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.
d4961 Says:
8/05/2011 9:20:05 AM
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 Says:
7/01/2011 6:05:35 AM
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 Says:
14/10/2010 6:16:10 AM
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 Says:
25/12/2009 11:43:45 AM
so would of won if native dancer had a little more time
letsgo1015 Says:
19/04/2009 8:03:42 AM
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.
shadowmere54 Says:
26/12/2007 2:49:27 PM
Native Dancer was the best and he will always be remembered. it was sad that he lost tho :'(
DANCERS1FAN Says:
12/06/2007 1:34:46 PM
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!
ojososo Says:
13/04/2007 11:15:12 PM
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.
ruffian01278 Says:
14/03/2007 8:50:49 PM
No one has forgotten The Dancer, the problem is that this was the beginning of TV, so there aren't records left.
flatonia Says:
5/03/2007 11:27:53 AM
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.
cf1970 Says:
6/12/2006 3:06:10 AM
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.
cf1970 Says:
6/12/2006 3:04:42 AM
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.
silvermoon2003 Says:
6/12/2006 2:23:16 AM
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!