Native Diver (USA)
April 16, 1959 – September 13, 1967
Imbros (USA) x Fleet Diver (USA), by Devil Diver (USA)
Family 2-j
April 16, 1959 – September 13, 1967
Imbros (USA) x Fleet Diver (USA), by Devil Diver (USA)
Family 2-j
Native Diver never won a national championship. He lost more races than he won, and he never won outside the state of California; in fact, he only started once outside the state. But few horses have ever appealed to California racing fans like this near-black, sickle-hocked fireball. A free-wheeling front runner with the speed of a top sprinter and the stamina to go America’s classic distance of a mile and a quarter, “The Diver” won the hearts of fans and broke the hearts of horses foolish enough to go head to head with him at one and the same time.
Race record
81 starts, 37 wins, 7 seconds, 12 thirds, US$1,026,500
1961:
1962:
1963:
1964:
1965:
1966:
1967:
Honors
Assessments
Native Diver was rated #60 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 13 pounds below divisional co-champion Crimson Satan and 12 lbs below the other co-champion, Ridan.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1962, 7 pounds below champion Jaipur.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1963, 16 pounds below Horse of the Year Kelso.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for Americal older males of 1964, 21 pounds below Horse of the Year Kelso and co-highweight Gun Bow.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1965, 11 pounds below co-highweights Kelso, Gun Bow, and Roman Brother (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year).
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966, 1 pound below co-highweights Bold Bidder (the official divisional champion) and Lucky Debonair.
Rated at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1967, 7 pounds below divisional champion Buckpasser but third best in the division.
As an individual
Native Diver stood 16 hands. He habitually raced with his head held high to accommodate a back injury suffered as a yearling. Tall and racy-looking, he had sickle hocks and was slightly over at the knee but possessed an excellent shoulder. His quarters were extremely powerful and he had tremendous leverage from hip to hock. He also had a fiery, high-strung disposition that was only slightly moderated by his being gelded, though he is said to have been a kindly animal around the barn. He was known for his trackside antics as much as for his talent. Autopsy revealed that his heart weighed 11 pounds, nearly 30 percent larger than normal.
Connections
Native Diver was bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. L. K. Shapiro. He was trained by M. E. “Buster” Millerick. Following his death from an intestinal torsion and ruptured stomach at age 8, he was buried at Hollywood Park, where a memorial designed and painted by Millard Sheets to commemorate his three Hollywood Gold Cup victories was erected in his honor. After Hollywood Park closed in 2013, Native Diver's remains and his monument were moved to Del Mar.
Pedigree notes
Native Diver is outcrossed through five generations. His dam Fleet Diver is a full sister to She Devil, dam of the sprint stakes winner Chief Tamanaco (by Jungle Savage). She is also a half sister to stakes winner Argosy (by Tulyar) and to Fleet Valor (by Citation), whose son Valam (by Ambiorix) was a good stakes winner in Canada. Native Diver's second dam, Our Fleet (by Count Fleet), won the 1948 Frizette Stakes and is a half sister to the good stakes winner Call Over (by Devil Diver).
Books and media
Native Diver is profiled in Chapter 27 of Mary Fleming's A History of the Thoroughbred in California (1983, California Thoroughbred Breeders Association).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 12, 2023
Race record
81 starts, 37 wins, 7 seconds, 12 thirds, US$1,026,500
1961:
- Won El Camino Handicap (USA, 6FD, Tanforan)
- 3rd San Bruno Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Tanforan)
1962:
- Won Debonair Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
- Won Malibu Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Salinas Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows)
- Won Hillsdale Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows; new track record 1:08-2/5)
- Won San Jose Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bay Meadows)
- 3rd Lakes and Flowers Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
1963:
- Won Westlake Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Tanforan; new track record 1:41-3/5)
- Won San Diego Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won Inglewood Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won San Francisco Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Golden Gate)
- Won Golden Gate Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Golden Gate)
- 2nd San Fernando Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Coronado Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
1964:
- Won Inglewood Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Redwood City Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows)
- Won Palos Verdes Handicap (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Oakland Handicap (USA, 9FD, Golden Gate)
- Won San Diego Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won William G. Gilmore Handicap (USA,8.5FD, Golden Gate)
- 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Francisco Mile Handicap (second division) (USA, 8FD, Golden Gate)
- 3rd San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Sacramento Handicap (USA, 6FD, Golden Gate)
1965:
- Won San Diego Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Albany Handicap (USA, 6FD, Golden Gate)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won American Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Los Angeles Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hollywood; equaled world record 1:20)
- Won Palos Verdes Handicap (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Francisco Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Golden Gate)
- 3rd Premiere Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
1966:
- Won San Bernardino Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita; equaled track record 1:40-3/5)
- Won San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Inglewood Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd American Handicap (USA, 9D, Hollywood)
- 3rd Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
1967:
- Won San Francisco Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Golden Gate)
- Won Albany Handicap (USA, 6FD, Golden Gate)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Del Mar Handicap (USA, 9FD, Del Mar; equaled track record 1:46-3/5)
- Won Los Angeles Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
- Won San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd American Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Premiere Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Antonio Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1978)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Racing Hall of Fame (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 1987)
Assessments
Native Diver was rated #60 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 13 pounds below divisional co-champion Crimson Satan and 12 lbs below the other co-champion, Ridan.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1962, 7 pounds below champion Jaipur.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1963, 16 pounds below Horse of the Year Kelso.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for Americal older males of 1964, 21 pounds below Horse of the Year Kelso and co-highweight Gun Bow.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1965, 11 pounds below co-highweights Kelso, Gun Bow, and Roman Brother (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year).
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966, 1 pound below co-highweights Bold Bidder (the official divisional champion) and Lucky Debonair.
Rated at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1967, 7 pounds below divisional champion Buckpasser but third best in the division.
As an individual
Native Diver stood 16 hands. He habitually raced with his head held high to accommodate a back injury suffered as a yearling. Tall and racy-looking, he had sickle hocks and was slightly over at the knee but possessed an excellent shoulder. His quarters were extremely powerful and he had tremendous leverage from hip to hock. He also had a fiery, high-strung disposition that was only slightly moderated by his being gelded, though he is said to have been a kindly animal around the barn. He was known for his trackside antics as much as for his talent. Autopsy revealed that his heart weighed 11 pounds, nearly 30 percent larger than normal.
Connections
Native Diver was bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. L. K. Shapiro. He was trained by M. E. “Buster” Millerick. Following his death from an intestinal torsion and ruptured stomach at age 8, he was buried at Hollywood Park, where a memorial designed and painted by Millard Sheets to commemorate his three Hollywood Gold Cup victories was erected in his honor. After Hollywood Park closed in 2013, Native Diver's remains and his monument were moved to Del Mar.
Pedigree notes
Native Diver is outcrossed through five generations. His dam Fleet Diver is a full sister to She Devil, dam of the sprint stakes winner Chief Tamanaco (by Jungle Savage). She is also a half sister to stakes winner Argosy (by Tulyar) and to Fleet Valor (by Citation), whose son Valam (by Ambiorix) was a good stakes winner in Canada. Native Diver's second dam, Our Fleet (by Count Fleet), won the 1948 Frizette Stakes and is a half sister to the good stakes winner Call Over (by Devil Diver).
Books and media
Native Diver is profiled in Chapter 27 of Mary Fleming's A History of the Thoroughbred in California (1983, California Thoroughbred Breeders Association).
Fun facts
- Native Diver was the first horse to win three consecutive runnings of the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap. His feat was duplicated by another popular Cal-bred gelding, Lava Man, in 2005-2007.
- The Native Diver Handicap was inaugurated in 1978. It is currently run at the Del Mar fall meeting as a Grade 3 event for ages 3 and up over 9 furlongs on the main track.
- Native Diver was the first California-bred to top $1 million in earnings.
Last updated: August 12, 2023