Called "the best horse I ever rode" by jockey Jean Cruguet, this champion never finished anywhere in a race but in front. He was known for his personality quirks (including a marked distaste for lead ponies) as well as his undeniable talent. Who was he?
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Shawklit Won
4/29/2016 07:14:41 pm
Hoist the Flag
TJ
4/29/2016 07:23:48 pm
That would have to be Hoist The Flag...trained by one of the greats, Sid Watters.
TJ
4/29/2016 07:24:56 pm
Sorry Shawklit...didn't see your response.
Shawl;itWon
4/29/2016 09:11:24 pm
Not a problem.
Avalyn Hunter
4/30/2016 10:07:24 am
Yep, you guys have it. Hoist the Flag's only loss was through disqualification, and Jean Cruguet (who also rode Seattle Slew) felt that Flag would have been a 1-9 shot to take the Triple Crown. The leg fractures that cost him his racing career at 3 and his life at 12 were a tragic loss to Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
TJ
5/1/2016 02:35:18 pm
I knew the connections of Hoist The Flag and just had to pass on some of this story. His exercise rider was Colum O'Brien, Leo's brother. Another exercise rider, Norman Lawlor would occasionally get on his back when Colum was unavailable. Watters' was one heck of a trainer, an ex-jump jockey who also trained steeplechase champions Shadow Brook and Amber Diver as well flat champs Hoist The Flag, Slew O' Gold and Slewpy. His barn was right next to Woody Stephens, and Sid often stayed right on track at Belmont Park, in a little cottage next to his barn. After Hoist The Flag's injury, the insurance company decided to put him down after shattering his right hind pastern and fracturing his right hind cannon bone. Hoist The Flags's owners told the insurance company to keep their money and they ordered the operation at their own expense. Dr.(W.O.) Bill Reed's equine hospital facility, across the street from Belmont Park, was used and Doc Reed assisted Dr. Jacques Jenny of the University of PA (Penn Vet, New Bolton Center). Dr Jenny was known as the father of equine orthopedic surgery. This was the very same equine clinic where Ruffian was operated on, unfortunately the operation was a success, but when Ruffian came out of anesthesia, she flipped out and destroyed the repaired leg necessitating her to be humanely put down. One of Dr. Jenny's final operations was performed on Hoist The Flag and it was an amazing success. The good Dr. himself had cancer at the time he operated on HTF in late March or very early April of 1971. In November of 1971, Dr. Jenny passed away, he was only 54 years of age. Quite a number of factors came together to assure Hoist The Flag's opportunity at stud, wonderful owners, a couple great Dr's and a great trainer. Can you imagine if he didn't make it, considering what his great progeny would accomplish? Returning to Sid Watters...who held a job in WWII that only a hand full lived to tell about, he was an aerial gunner (nose, tail and door gunner). Not a long lifespan on that job, especially tail gunner...but Sid finished his job there and made it home to make a bit of racing history as well.
Erins Isle
5/2/2016 03:44:02 am
Thank you for this wonderful story. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm Avalyn Hunter, an author, pedigree researcher and longtime racing fan with a particular interest in Thoroughbred mares and their contributions to the history of the breed. Categories
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