The Gray Ghost

[Tim Y]

I am reading, with fascination, the story of Native Dancer by John Eisenberg. I have always wondered why this one (with a race record almost EXACTLY like Man O' War's, only losing once) was not so highly regarded . His owner, from the old money Vanderbilt clan (his father was made famous by giving up his life jacket to save the life of a woman when the Lusitania went down) was a real mover and shaker in racing (revived old Hill top at Pimlico, took OUT that hill so that the crowd could see the backstrech, was made one of the youngest members of the Jockey Club after securing the Seabiscuit/War Admiral match race, and later was a director of racing at Belmont before becoming a PT boat commander in WWII).

I discovered old myths and prejudices surrounding the gray coat color of thoroughbreds as many thought they were unlucky and Frederico Tessio (breeder of the unbeaten Ribot) actually referred to them as "diseased." p. 6 "...Racing secretaries were still writing "gray only" races into their condition books as late as the 1940's believing the curios would draw women to the track." Even Joe Hirsch said "Grays are different. It was a sense of racism, I suppose." Grays would have disappeared entirely from race tracks in the late 1800's if not for a French stallion named Le Sancy. Le Sancy's son, Le Samaritain, won the French St. Leger and sired a colt named Rois Herode. He, in turn, retired to Ireland and sired a brilliant colt, The Tetarch to which all the modern grays can trace back to.

Great book if you can find it.