Linda’s Chief Helped Give Birth to a Legend
In an era of great horses, not many are that familiar with Linda’s Chief, but he was a big name in his time and on the 50th anniversary of his clash with an up and coming young horse named Secretariat in the 1972 Sanford Stakes it is the perfect time to tell his story.~ Steve Haskin
Linda’s Chief Helped Give Birth to a Legend
By Steve Haskin
The giant strides one must take on the road to greatness begin with small steps, and it is those small steps that turn boys into men and allows us to begin pondering what great feats might lay ahead. In the case of Secretariat it was 50 years ago that he took the first small steps to immortality. When he went into the historic Sanford Stakes at Saratoga, the very race in which Man o’ War suffered his only defeat, he was just a promising colt who had the looks and the pedigree to be special, but with only a maiden and allowance victory to his credit, as well as a troubled fourth-place finish in his debut. In fact, the majority of those at Saratoga on August 16, 1972 might have felt it was an undefeated near-black colt named Linda’s Chief who was headed into the realm of greatness following three impressive stakes wins in New York.
So impressive was Linda’s Chief, winning his first two starts by five and eight lengths, setting a new track at Belmont for 5 ½ furlongs, and then capturing the Youthful, Juvenile, and Tremont Stakes, he was sent off as the 3-5 favorite. It would be the only time in Secretariat’s career he was not the favorite, having to settle as the 3-2 second choice. Everyone considers Sham as Secretariat’s most formidable opponent, but Linda’s Chief was not far behind, as he would go on to prove.
Secretariat’s credentials going into the Sanford were based mainly on his reputation and his striking appearance. He had looked the part breaking his maiden on July 15 at Aqueduct by six lengths at odds of 6-5, but back then young horses normally didn’t jump into stakes competition off a maiden race, so trainer Lucien Laurin ran him back 16 days later on July 31 in an allowance race at Saratoga, once again going six furlongs. This time, however, Secretariat had a tougher time, winning by only 1 ½ lengths as the 2-5 favorite. But jockey Ron Turcotte knew there were bigger races coming up quickly and he never went to the whip, just hand-riding Secretariat down the stretch.
The powerful chestnut by Bold Ruler, out of Somethingroyal had big shoes to fill, with his stablemate Riva Ridge having already won an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old in 1971 and then coming back at 3 to score impressive victories in the Blue Grass Stakes, Kentucky Derby, and Belmont Stakes. So it was imperative that Secretariat show something out of the ordinary in his stakes debut in the six-furlong Sanford, again with only 16 days between races.
Although a prep for the Hopeful Stakes, the Sanford was hardly the place for an unproven colt to show something out of the ordinary, as Secretariat was going to have his hands full just winning the race. If there was a budding star in the race it appeared to be the Florida-bred Linda’s Chief, who looked nothing like the hulking Meadow Stable colt, being a smallish light-framed individual with a near-black coat. But, boy, could he run. Unlike Secretariat, who had never been tested in stakes competition, Linda’s Chief was coming off three consecutive stakes victories and was undefeated in five starts.
Because of his brilliance, precocity, and already being battle-tested in stakes company it was no surprise the fans made him the odds-on favorite. Who knew then that his favoritism over Secretariat would one day become a trivia question?
Linda’s Chief broke from the rail in the five-horse field, with Secretariat, who had worked five furlongs in a blazing :59 five days earlier, right alongside. Braulio Baeza eased Linda’s Chief back to third, two lengths off the pace, while Turcotte took Secretariat back to last, but only four lengths behind the leaders. After a opening quarter in :22 4/5, Baeza was able to ease Linda’s Chief out in the clear, with Secretariat lurking just behind, but in a precarious spot directly behind two horses and hemmed in by Linda’s Chief. Approaching the quarter pole, Linda’s Chief had dead-aim on the leaders, entrymates Trevose and Northstar Dancer, from the barn of Johnny Campo, but was a bit late changing leads. Meanwhile, Turcotte had no choice but to remain where he was and wait for a hole to open between the two Campo colts.
Linda’s Chief finally switched leads at the three-sixteenths pole, but as soon as he pounced on the leaders, Secretariat shot through a narrow opening and stormed to the front. All Baeza could do now was chase him home, as Secretariat opened up with every stride. Not only did he cross the finish line three lengths in front of Linda’s Chief, he came home his final quarter in a sensational :23 1/5, stopping the teletimer in a sharp 1:10 flat, again under a hand ride. Linda’s Chief continued on strongly, finishing six lengths ahead of the third place finisher, but was no match for the horse who had just knocked him off his spot atop the 2-year-old division and brought his stunned connections back down to earth.
Linda’s Chief’s trainer Al Scotti was not only shocked by the turn of events he was in awe of Secretariat. “Going into this race I didn’t think there was a horse alive who could beat Linda’s Chief,” he said. “But Secretariat was just fantastic. My horse had a good clear run at the head of the stretch and Secretariat was jammed up behind horses. Ronnie finally found a little hole and he just busted through on the inside. It was unbelievable. He just ran away from me like I wasn’t there.”
It wasn’t that Linda’s Chief’s star had faded as much as it was Secretariat’s star lighting up the sky. And it would only keep getting brighter, not just for the next 14 months, but the next 50 years.
Secretariat had taken his first step in what would be an epic journey into racing’s pantheon of immortals, and he had done it against a horse who was a star going into the Sanford, and was a star afterward, winning nine of his first 10 starts as a 3-year-old, including seven major stakes at five different tracks from California to Chicago to New York. He scored a victory in the six-furlong San Miguel Stakes, then set a new track record for a mile at Santa Anita, winning the San Jacinto Stakes in 1:33 4/5 defeating future Hall of Famer Ancient Title by five lengths. He followed that up by beating Ancient Title again, this time by three lengths in the San Felipe Handicap. Finishing a well-beaten fourth in the San Felipe was an up and coming star named Sham, who had a disastrous trip, taking up in close quarters early, then getting stuck in traffic and taking up again in the stretch after getting shut off.
The Santa Anita Derby would be the stage for Linda’s Chief to establish himself as the main threat to Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby. While he would ultimately be seeking revenge against Secretariat, who had also finished well ahead of him the previous fall in the Champagne Stakes before being disqualified, Sham was out for revenge against Linda’s Chief in the Santa Anita Derby.
Both colts had a new look, with Linda’s Chief being turned over to Bobby Frankel in California. Sham was sold to Sigmund Sommer for the hefty sum of $200,000 at the Claiborne Farm dispersal following the death of Claiborne owner Arthur B. “Bull” Hancock Jr. in September, 1972.
Prior to his nightmare trip in the San Felipe, Sham, trained by Frank “Pancho” Martin, had broken his maiden at Aqueduct by six lengths in the mud, then romped in a pair of allowance races at Santa Anita by six and 15 lengths before winning the Santa Catalina Stakes by 2 ½ lengths over a deep, muddy track.
As Linda’s Chief and Sham prepared to do battle in the March 31 Santa Anita Derby, back in New York Secretariat, who was now the reigning Horse of the Year, had made his long-awaited 3-year-old debut in the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes on March 17, winning by 4 ½ lengths in the slop, and was one week away from winning the one-mile Gotham Stakes by three lengths, equaling the track record of 1:33 2/5.
Whoever emerged victorious in the Santa Anita Derby would likely be Secretariat’s biggest obstacle at Churchill Downs. Sham, looked to be more formidable at 1 ¼ miles, and although Linda’s Chief had improved in leaps and bounds from 2 to 3 and dominated top-class horses in the San Jacinto and San Felipe, he still had been beaten soundly twice by Secretariat, while Sham was just now coming into his own as a major force in the 3-year-old division. But before any thoughts turned to Secretariat, Sham first had to turn the tables on Linda’s Chief.
Only six were entered in the Santa Anita Derby. Laffit Pincay Jr. as usual was aboard Sham, with Pancho Martin putting in entrymate Knightly Dawn with Jorge Tejeira named to ride. When Linda’s Chief drew post 5 and Knightly Dawn post 6, Bobby Frankel began to get a bit anxious having Sham’s stablemate right outside him. Both outspoken trainers had emphatically predicted victory for their colt. When Martin switched riders the morning of the race, replacing Tejeira with the veteran Milo Valenzuela, who wasn’t doing that well at the time, Frankel admitted he became suspicious regarding Martin’s strategy.
Sure enough, Knightly Dawn broke to the outside and Valenzuela quickly grabbed hold of him and sharply angled him in, sawing off Linda’s Chief, or simply said putting the squeeze on him. Instead of laying first or second Baeza was forced to take back to last. Knightly Dawn charged to the lead, with Baeza rushing Linda’s Chief up outside Sham nearing the first turn.
Sham was able the get the jump on Linda’s Chief and opened a clear lead in the stretch. Linda’s Chief tried gallantly but couldn’t catch Sham, who won by 2 ½ lengths in a near-track record 1:47 flat. Frankel was livid after the race, and despite going on to a Hall of Fame career he never got over that defeat, feeling Martin deliberately had Knightly Dawn take Linda’s Chief out of the race early.
Of course, we all know what happened after that with Sham coming east and getting the better of Secretariat in the Wood Memorial, but falling just short of catching Big Red’s stablemate Angle Light and then chasing Secretariat in all three record-breaking Triple Crown races. In his second-place finish at Churchill Downs, he still ran the second-fastest Kentucky Derby of all time, despite hitting his head on the starting gate and losing several teeth.
Frankel, sensing Linda’s Chief might have distance limitations, ran him in the 1 1/8-mile California Derby, the same day as the Wood Memorial. The colt went off at 1-5 and sprinted to an eight-length lead through torrid fractions of :45 4/5 and 1:09 3/5. He still led by four lengths at the eighth pole, but barely held a on to win by three-quarters of a length.
With Linda’s Chief no longer under consideration for the Kentucky Derby, his owner and breeder, Neil Hellman sent him back to Al Scotti in New York. Shortened up to a mile in the Withers Stakes at Belmont Park, Linda’s Chief again went right for the lead and drew off to a three-length victory over Stop the Music, who had been placed first in the Champagne on the disqualification of Secretariat. Finishing third, beaten five lengths, and coming off a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was Forego, who became the second Hall of Famer to be beaten by Linda’s Chief. The time of 1:34 4/5 missed the track record by two-fifths of a second.
Linda’s Chief continued his winning ways, gutting out a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Pontiac Grand Prix at Arlington Park in the slop, giving nine pounds to runner-up Blue Chip Dan. Back to Aqueduct, carrying topweight of 126 pounds in the Saranac Stakes on June 30, he blazed the mile in 1:34 flat defeating the classy Allen Jerkens-trained Step Nicely. His time was a fifth of a second slower than Dr. Fager’s time in the 1967 Withers Stakes when the Doc ran the fastest mile by a 3-year-old in the history of New York racing.
That same day at Arlington Park, Secretariat made his first start since his historic romp in the Belmont Stakes and crushed his opponents by nine lengths in the Arlington Invitational, a new race carded just for Big Red. With Secretariat pointing to the Whitney against older horses and then the Travers, Linda’s Chief headed to Monmouth Park for a 1 1/16-mile prep for the Monmouth Invitational Handicap. Run as an exhibition race with only three entered, Linda’s Chief opened a 10-length lead and then coasted home under wraps to win by six lengths.
Now owned by Oregon lumberman Aaron U. Jones, who paid around $2 million (some reports say $1.8 million) for the son of Chieftain, Linda’s Chief looked like a lock to win the Monmouth Invitational. That is when the Philip Morris tobacco company proposed a one-mile match race between Secretariat and Linda’s Chief, in which they would put up $150,000 winner-take-all to be run September 15 at Belmont Park.
Just when people thought Linda’s Chief, riding a five-race winning streak, might get another shot at Secretariat, he ran an inexplicably poor race in the Monmouth Invitational, tiring in the stretch to finish fifth, beaten over seven lengths. That same day Secretariat was upset by Onion in the Whitney and the match race quickly went up in smoke. But that idea gave birth to the inaugural Marlboro Cup on September 15, which Secretariat, who had recovered from a virus, won over stablemate Riva Ridge in world record time.
Given another chance in the one-mile Jerome Handicap on October 20, Linda’s Chief could only finish third behind Step Nicely and Forego, two horses he had already handled with ease. He was put away for a couple of months and sent back to California to be trained by Charlie Whittingham.
Eight days after the Jerome Secretariat ran his last race, romping in the Canadian International Championship and putting the final stamp on a legacy that has lasted half a century. Sham was long gone, having been retired with an injury following the Belmont Stakes. Linda’s Chief had outlasted both his main antagonists as he headed into his four-year-old campaign.
He ran well in his first two starts at Santa Anita, the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes and 1 1/8-mile San Fernando, but had to settle for second each time behind Ancient Title, who had improved a great deal since his two defeats the previous spring at the hands of Linda’s Chief, who continued to find it difficult getting back to the winner’s circle. Stretching out beyond his best distance he finished fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap and third in the Premiere Handicap dropping back to six furlongs. Clearly, he was not the same horse he was at 2 and 3.
The reason might have surfaced in his next start, the Caballero Handicap, when he ran poorly, with jockey Bill Shoemaker saying after the race, “I don’t know what was the matter with the horse. He was lugging out all the way.”
Was Linda’s Chief trying to tell his connections something? He apparently seemed well enough to run back two weeks later in the seven-furlong Los Angeles Handicap. Soon after the start, Linda’s Chief for some inexplicable reason propped and made a sharp left-hand turn, unseating jockey Steve Valdez. He slammed hard into the rail attempting to jump it and landed heavily on the hard ground behind it. Two veterinarians rushed to the stricken horse and reported to a third vet on the scene that he had broken his back and was paralyzed in both hind legs. There was no choice but to euthanize the colt. It was later discovered he had severed his spinal column and fractured his pelvis.
Aaron Jones had been assembling a fashionably bred band of fillies to breed to Linda’s Chief the following spring. But in a heartbeat his $2 million horse who had finished first or second against three future Hall of Famers and at one time had been on the threshold of an epic match race with Secretariat was gone, forever lost in the pages of history.
To those who remember this brilliant and tough little colt, they can’t help but look back to the 1972 Sanford Stakes when he was the only horse to ever face Secretariat as the top dog. Whether he was up against Big Red, Forego, Sham or Ancient Title he always ran his heart out and made them know they were in a horse race. He may be a forgotten star from racing’s golden era, but not by those who saw him run.
Steve, I love how you recognize and honor the horse for the greatness he showed. Not all can be Forego or Secretariat but they can still inspire us with their heart and grit (and speed) in a way that makes us fall in love with them. I always have horses that I hate to see them lose because I just like them so much. I hated to see Uncle Mo lose or Caracortado or Quality Road…
Why? I don’t know. I just liked them for various reasons. There are so many and now, for me, Linda’s Chief.
Thank you so much!
Flightline penultimate work 1:24…..Sadler: “He’s ready”..
…and now for the bad news, Charge It will miss the Travers Stakes with a foot abscess that won’t heal in time. That’s racing, highs and lows. Pennsylvania Derby is the next stop for Charge It now but it’s not the Travers Stakes.
Flightline just looked awesome. Too exciting.
The good news is that he will recover and very likely run next year…
I fear the snowball effect when horses start having multiple ailments. Let’s hope so.
Sets up a Charge It v Taiba Penn Derby!
Don’t even whisper that possibility.
It will be interesting to see how the Australian Racehorse of the Year, Verry Elleegant, performs in the Prix Jean Romanet Group 1 on Sunday at Deauville. The mare has been out for 6 months and the Arc is the main target so perhaps we shouldn’t hope for too much this time.
Fortunately, we didn’t expect much as we didn’t get even a hint from the Australian Champion.
David’s, I saw that two of No Nay Never progeny won for Aiden yesterday. Both he and Mendelsson are just gorgeous in my opinion. NNN looks almost exactly like Scat Daddy. Carrivaggio not so much. Being seeing some photos of Mendy’s foals from this year. They are just perfect. Beautifully balanced, nice straight legs, big flat knees, gorgeous heads and three almost perfect circles. I do appreciate a beautiful Thoroughbred.
If he keeps going NNN may prove to be the best sire from Scat Daddy.
Mendelssohn colt beat Bob B $3.5 million colt easily today …
I saw that. By Bernardini out of MDO mare. Long and lean. He has some growing to do I think. Not the typical Baffert style. Bernardino was more of a broodmare sire and not a colt maker as I recall. His fillies did really well in Australia. I think the colt ran a very fast time in exhibition before the auction. Maybe that is why they went to 3.5 million.
Lynda, Bernardini’s top progeny is basically split 50/50 between fillies and colts. There hasn’t been a successful sire son yet but as a broodmare sire Bernardini is outstanding. Bernardini is the leading broodmare sire at present with an AEI of 1.64 which is higher than A.P. Indy, Storm Cat, Distorted Humor, Sunday Silence to name just a few.
Hopefully, Art Collector might make the grade as a sire.
Lynda that’s a good assessment of the three sons of Scat Daddy. Caravaggio is shorter, sprinter/miler type and not particularly an image of his sire; No Nay Never has Scat Daddy’s good shoulder, body, powerful hindquarters and handsome/intelligent expression although slightly shorter in stature and perhaps slightly bulkier. Sires milers like himself; Mendelssohn may be a smidgen taller than Scat Daddy but similar all over although you can definitely see Leslie’s Lady in the make-up. Too early but what we’ve seen thus far the progeny look more two-turn than miler/sprinters. Although a guess really.
Davids, I have a new love…Blackboard! Did you by chance watch the race and see his antics before the race? Reminded me of my Appy mare I had. She d8d the same, but when it was time to get down to business she always got rhe job done.
Correction…Blackbeard. Stupid tablet.
Yes Lynda, I saw all the antics prior to Blackbeard’s win in the Prix de Morny. Very talented colt but unless he settles/matures they may have to cut him. I can understand why you have fallen for him, beautiful type. Let’s hope for the best.
That was mentioned on the post I read. He evidently does this before every race.
Lynda, you can watch it on YouTube – search “Blackbeard wins the Morny despite some CRAZY pre-race antics! from At the Races.
Hey Davids, must say Ryan Moore handles him perfectly. He rode out his antics and he then got in line and walked into the gate calmly. Do not know that gelding the colt would solve the situation. May just be his personality and nothing to do with his hormones. My App mare was like that. She had to get out a few crow hops and one rearing up and then she was good to go. It did appear from other videos that if the ground handlers tried to force him he got worse. That is why I think Ryan responded correctly. He might grow out of this since he is only two. Just a bundle of wired energy that will make for an awesome race horse if Aiden can harness it. Always interesting to read people’s comments on such matters. His antics have endeared him to a lot of people like Lani the Japanese horse did.
Me personally I just like a spirited horse that is controllable. Hopefully he will settle down as he matures and put all that pressure race energy into the race.
Yes Lynda, wasn’t Ryan Moore a joy to watch. He handled everything perfectly, calmly and in total control. I’m sure Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore will sort him out. They don’t accept horses delaying races for too long so they’ll be on to it for sure. The colt is obviously immensely talented.
Distinguished contributor and stellar witness of great racing moments, Matthew W, cited the 1973 Derby flaunting a great superfecta comprising two Hall of Fame legends: Secretariat and Forego.
His comment left me thinking about other exceptional Derby superfectas. As I scanned through the last 54 Derby charts I realized (as we had voiced ad nauseum) that the issue of short careers is impacting judging greatness.
The best collective quality goes to the 1988 Kentucky Derby. The first seven horses were Winning Colors, Forty Niner, Risen Star, Proper Reality, Regal Classic, Brian’s Time, Seeking the Gold. Does not take much research to appreciate the sterling credentials of these horses…
The best trifecta was the one with Affirmed, Alydar and Believe It; and the best exacta ever was Sunday Silence/Easy Goer… Four Hall of Famers in that list…!
Happy weekend of racing… It is filly’s time with a rematch between Nest and Secret Oath in the Alabama, Spendarella favored to win the Santa Anita Oaks after a scintillating second in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot. Also, Moria is attempting to be the 38th filly winning the Queen’s Plate Stakes in its 163th edition.
Actually, I’d put Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, and Awe Inspiring above Affirmed, Alydar, and Believe It while having Affirmed and Alydar above Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. Ah, in racing opinion can vary greatly, which makes it so interesting as well.
Spectacular Bid, General Assembly, Golden Act was not too shabby!
That’s a fact and shows how ‘spectacular’ Spectacular Bid was that you forget that General Assembly and Golden Act were his contemporaries. Good match.
Correction: Spendarella favored to win the DEL MAR Oaks
Was 6/5 ran like 2/5..
Courageous win by Alpinista in the Yorkshire Oaks, it looked as though she may have gone too early as Tuesday surged but Alpinista would not be denied. Baaeed won’t have an easy time beating her in the Arc.
At this stage, Al Hakeem could be interesting while Alpinista gets the nod for the Arc. Excitement building+
LINDA’S CHIEF was a fabulous racehorse who was ultra-competitive in the middle distance range against the best horses of his generation. When he was turned over the Charlie Whittingham I think his career line was something like 15 wins from 22 starts! After that he lost all 8 of his remaining races, so he ended up with 15 wins from 30 starts. He simply wasn’t quite the same horse at 4, as he was at 2 and 3. Still, he had an excellent career.
I was at Hollywood Park the day he died, and it was one of the saddest days I have spent at the track.
That must have been terrible to witness.
Steve, I almost think he may have suffered a heart attack. It would explain his behavior. I say this because one of my horses suffered a heart attack right in front of me and died. She ran through a fence about 25 yards before she fell over dead. It was as if she was in extreme pain and was trying to run away from it. She had never run into or through a fence before.
Could be. Or injury related,. but heart attacks make sense We’ll never know.
Yikes. Got up this morning to read about Chad Brown’s arrest regarding ‘obstruction of breathing’…innocent until proven guilty of course…however this charge is a Class A misdemeanor in New York with a 1 year jail time or 3 years probation
Let the process play out.
However, his owners will remain. Will ignore problem.
Mike, like I stated Chad Brown is innocent until proven guilty. But if after the process plays out and Mr. Brown is found guilty on these serious charges will the owners still stay with him and continue to ignore the problem..would you-if you owned a horse that was trained by Brown still stick with him?
No, for sure. I’m no fan of men harming women.
Whats perplexing is WHY DRF and BH needed to quote one of his bazillionaire owners, who HEARD what REALLY happened ….police and alleged victim NO COMMENT, let it play out! Horse Racing NEEDS to stay out of it, and not publish HERESAY!
Agreed! However, he behaved poor regarding his workers.
That comment about Brant’s comments being Heresay is total BS.
And you’ve decided you know what hapoened that night. I’m against someone walking into someone else’s private room. You don’t need any input to figure out that that’s what happened, since she didn’t live there, has her own residence.
I didn’t say I know what happened, I know heresay when I see it….and YOU don’t know what happened, either! Anyone can SEE what happened? OK so case closed? Get outta here!
When a witness says “somebody told me…”—–that’s heresay, not allowed in court—in reporting such….as DRF and BH did….that’s akin to taking sides,and Tmy beef! beef!
THATS my beef—-(no thanks to my phone!…)…
You are wrong and only interested in knocking Brown any way you can. The press interviewed Brant and quoted him and printed it. They aren’t taking sides but if they wanted to they could, this isn’t court, it’s journalism. You’re in favor of censorship. So YOU get lost.
To Goggin: What a loaded question. What is your motive in asking?
Baaeed …the latest wonder horse, is going to have an 11th race— trainer says he’s going to have a “fruitful career”…..THAT’S Horse Racing today, the “career” is AFTER they stop racing. ..
In fairness Matthew, Baaeed has had a 3 & 4 year old racing career which, in this day and age, is rare. Six Group 1 wins is fairly impressive and he’s unbeaten. There is nothing else to prove but the breeding shed.
I know, Davids its just how he words it! His career comes after the 11 races!
Yes Matthew, I thought it was a bit cheeky as well when he said it but that’s just it now, the real ’fortune/career’ is with stud fees.
It’s up to the geldings! Shared Belief had much promise, but he didn’t survive… I guess we’ll never see another Cougar, over 50 starts and he sired a Derby winner!
I’m looking forward to Flightline putting on a tour de force in the Pacific Classic. It’s performances for me these days, the body of work idiom is too slim to even call them that these days.
Davids I hope to be there! I suffered a heart attack in 2017, and a day at the track can be pretty taxing—- but I recently came down by train and LOVED my day! It’s $46 for round trip passage, $23 for a seat and they throw in a program, not bad! To see Flightline! I agree, a horse that can beat Speaker’s Corner off 6 months, like he did! Now being asked to beat Country Grammar—-but it’s Flightline! MG friend who is the track clocker told me he has been working out of this world!
Train passage… .and that train ride home is worth every penny! Chock full of lively youth, mostly ladies in racetrack glamor, last time treated me like a king!
Good knowing u recovered.
Thank you Mike!
Have a great time, Matthew. Don’t get too emotional if Flightline explodes but it’s too hard I know. Sometimes my eyes start weeping from emotion so I miss things. Sounds like a great day. I am so envious.
Speaking of Del Mar, this Saturday, Race 5. Hejazi (3) debuts for Zedan/Baffert – the Bernardini colt sold for $3.55m at the F-T sales (Midlantic).
Beaten by the Mendelssohn colt, but ran ok…..did you see Kangaroo Court? Ran .62 faster, and after the race was a sixteenth in front!
Hope u have fun seeing FL run. I’m jealous! lol
Thanks, Steve, for letting people know that there are outstanding horses who were relegated to be footnotes of history just because they lived under the shadows of the great ones.
After seeing Linda’s Chief pictures here, I can’t help but remember a Venezuelan champion by Chieftain who looked alike named Kemal.
Linda’s Chief came to my attention back in 1978 when Kemal became the champion 2-year-old in Venezuela. I realized that Linda’s Chief, Cascapedia and Silver Series were Chieftain’s best progeny before that year.
Kemal, after 8 placings, broke his maiden in his 10th start under 136 pounds which was a record weight carried by a 2-year-old (perhaps in the whole Americas). The son of Chieftain out of Evernia by Needles went on to win the two most important Stakes for 2-year-olds to earn the championship. After winning two major Stakes in January, he was on his way to be the champion 3-year-old before criminals poisoned him. The vets were able to save him but he was never the same … not as tragic as Linda’s Chief’s end but also a sad story nonetheless.
I didn’t know much about Linda’s Chief then apart from his excellent campaign of 15 wins in 30 starts and his respectable earnings of about half a million Dollars (equivalent to 3 million of 2022 Dollars).
After this article I learned that Linda’s Chief really showed his mettle against three future Hall of Fame horses and found out about his tragic demise.
I also realized that Ancient Title and Linda’s Chief had a rarely publicized rivalry going on. If my search is right, and discounting Los Angeles Handicap (when Chief was fatally injured), they faced each other eight times. The Floridian had finished four times in front of Ancient Title and the Californian had also defeated Linda’s Chief four times… it was a deserved historic tie between the Hall of Famer and a superb miler.
Linda’s Chief was named champion Florida-bred 3-year-old colt and was the second-rated with 129 pounds in the DRF’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1973. He was one pound below champion sprinter Shecky Greene… so, his brilliant speed has been rightfully acknowledged in racing records.
Secretariat’s generation also included Forego, Sham, Mr. Prospector, Ancient Title, Stop the Music, Royal and Regal, Angle Light, My Gallant, Our Native, London Company and Annihilate ’em.
Only Forego could reach stardom but those other contemporaries should be recognized as important supporting actors in the golden chapters of the mid-seventies.
The second dam of Chieftain (How) and the dam of Sham (Sequoia) are full sisters.
Great stuff Nelson. Thank you
I think Royal Glint was in that crop…..
You are right Matthew…Royal Glint was a distinguished member of the 1970 crop. A brilliant gelding, the richest son of Round Table and another superior descendant of La Troienne.
Perhaps his best race was winning the 1976 Santa Anita Handicap defeating Ancient Title. In that field was the great Dahlia who finished 9th of 15 in her second attempt on dirt…Royal Glint sadly got the same fate as Linda’s Chief’s; had to be euthanized after suffering a serious injury in the running of the 1976 Michigan Mile.
Other less known Stakes horses of that 1970 crop were Arbees Boy, Buffalo Lark, Golden Don, Group Plan (gelding), Bemo (gelding), Piamem, Lonetree (gelding), Royal Knight, Proud and Bold, Cheriepe, Crimson Falcon and Okavango… The beauty of letting horses develop and have extended campaigns … a delight for Racing Historians!
… Of course Step Nicely as mentioned by Steve … and I forgot another good one in Timeless Moment conqueror of Forego in the 1974 Nassau County Handicap…
Group Plan was in that great rendition of the Whitney, fought Ancient Title sll the way ..he also beat Wajima later that year. ..1970 was one heckuva crop, one of the best ever….I thought the 2015 Derby Super of America Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund, Frosted was terrific….but the 1973 Derby Super was better: Secretariat, Sham, Our Native, Forego!
Back then a millionaire was something! 1970 crop had four, Secretariat, Ancient Title, Royal Glint and Forego, who was the first to reach TWO million……three of those greats were geldings, Forego ran in the east…Royal Glint in the Midwest and Ancient Title in SoCal….I was at the finish line, when Title beat Royal Glint, in the 1976 Californian, but Royal Glint got him in that years Big Cap….a sad ending, indeed for the son of Round Table—Ancient Title was still good, in 1978 as an 8yo, but when they retired him he did not last long, he was high strung, and I believe he passed at around age eleven…..
Those must be great memories…! Was Royal Glint fifth (5th) in that 1976 Californian Stakes?
Now I don’t know, maybe he wasn’t even in that race….Stuki tried to change Title’s running style, he worked him long, and I mean LONG…took away his speed, made him a closer…..my spell check turned Stuki to “stupid”, which it was! But Kieth Stuki was good to me, he let me hang out, at his barn, when I was 15…..told stories as long as you could listen!
After 1976 Stuki let Ancient Title be his old self, a front runner….set a track record at 7….and 8….
Nelson, fascinating but tragic story about Kemal. Did Kemal succeed as a sire? There is a hyperlink at Pedigree Query but it’s all in Spanish. I used to be able to read basic Spanish once as we lived in Colombia for a couple of years but alas I’ve lost that ability now.
I remember as a young lad, when living in Australia, tracing pedigrees of the local horses back to US and European champions and trying to follow the pattern. I guess you would have done the same in Venezuela. Small world.
I believe there is always a built-in automatic translator to English in many webpages…
Kemal needed two years to win again, was retired for one breeding season, and returned to racing to win only two more times before retiring for good. Despite having a reduced number of foals, he sired four Stakes horses and a dozen of winners. The local sires are in great disadvantage because commercially successful breeders prefer imported stallions and foals brought in utero (when the national currency was strong). The homebred (local) sires rely on few mares mainly owned by their breeders and the best mares were anyway destined to imported sires.
Yes Davids… analyzing pedigrees was key for not only handicapping and reporting purposes but also when one aspired to advice buyers or even to breed his or her own thoroughbreds.
In terms of trends and patterns, as expected, the influence of Norther Dancer, Mr. Prospector and Seattle Slew has been perennial. Gallant Man and Roberto’s sire lines have been particularly successful in Venezuela.
Alas, Eclipse is dominant in the frontier states like everywhere else. Venezuela is not a heartland for Matchem or Herod.
Steve: Here I go on a short vacation and when I come back there are TWO new blog posts from you! Really loved the one on what defines greatness in a racehorse. It took more than an hour just to get through all the comments. (Lynda and Davids — please keep it up; I am learning so much from the two of you!) A real hit, and like you, Steve, it’s hard for me to think of any horses in the last 30 years who were truly great. (Now CIGAR thought he was great — went to the winner’s circle after the Mass Cap and that was a horse who knew he was special.)
Had he been running today, Linda’s Chief would be considered a world beater, on par with some of the best in the last 10 years or so. I hadn’t realized he died on the track. So sad.
Thanks for the wonderful columns, Steve. Can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks Ms. B I’m glad I was able to make your return from vacation more bearable 🙂
The columns are a pure pleasure, like my entire trip — which included a stop at my editor’s house. Not only are we great friends, she lives a block from the beach in Cape Ann, Mass.
Ms Blacktype, it’s debatable but Bernardini could have been ‘great’ had he raced as a 4 year old. Bernardini didn’t handle the track in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and moreover, Invasor benefited from having to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup which Bernardini won. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is the worst prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic going by results over the past 15 or so.
Sounds like you had a nice vacation.
I too have learned so much about horse racing from Steve and others who comment.
Davids has been very patient bringing me up to speed on racing in Europe.
I check this site most every date for comments and the discussions that come up on other topics as well.
There has always been a lot of comraderie on Steve’s sites both here and on Blood Horse.
Hey Lynda — It’s become something of an obsession for me too! I think partly because Covid interrupted the development of friendships in our new town. We moved into our current house in December 2019. Venturing out more now, but I don’t know anyone who is having get togethers except an occasional dinner out. Good to find good fellowship — and superb writing and commentary — at Askin’ Haskin.
Lynda and Ms Blacktype, make sure you watch the Nunthorpre Stakes on YouTube. It’s always a thrilling race and you’ll adore the names of the two main protagonists.
The competition for mounts at Saratoga is so tight that Flavien Prat, one of the best riders in the country, is only named on 5 horses on Saturday’s 11-race card. Short fields and lots of good riders for trainers to choose from. The 11th race on Saturday is the only one with 10 or more horses that will actually run after the MTOs scratch. Hopefully, they are saving the horses for the big Travers Day card the following Saturday.
The Saratoga dirt races aren’t filling….turf races filling fine…..
Take a look at the tainers in the 2yo colt maiden dirt race. How would you like to go against that bunch?
Excellent read Steve, this brought back many memories. Linda’s Chief was 15 for 21 in his racing career I believe. That accident occurred at Hollywood Park in the Los Angeles Handicap that Ancient Title won.
I was at Santa Anita for the Derby in which Sham won.
I always love the special attention you put into each blog. I am so grateful that you write about west coast horses. You don’t just write about the east coast greats. I have great respect for that.
My memory may be a little hazy but didn’t Charlie Whittingham train Linda’s Chief. Maye he & Bobby both did, I can’t remember.
Thank you posting this, very enjoyable read.
Thanks Deacon. They both did. Both are mentioned in the column. When he was sent back to California at 4 I mentioned he went to Whittingham.
Steve, Saratoga, Wednesday, race 5. Padma (6) trained by Bill Mott. Interesting Tapit 2 year old filly out the Medaglia d’Oro mare Kareena is debuting tracing directly back to Golden Trail. Probably just going out for a stroll but it’s early for this pedigree and trainer, could be one to watch.
Maybe named after one of the hosts of Top Chef
Bill Mott should be happy with the results running 1, 2. Would have be a good ROI as well. The winner looked very precarious which is surprising the odds were so high.
That’s ‘precocious’ not ‘precarious’ – autocorrect is a wonder.
How I loved Secretariat, the greatest horse ever to race! After reading this it is plain that Linda’s Chief certainly had nothing to be ashamed of! I will remember that name now, my heart belonged to Secretariat in those days so with guilt I can say I overlooked this horse who was a star also!
How I loved Secretariat, the greatest horse ever to race! After reading this it is plain that Linda’s Chief certainly had nothing to be ashamed of! I will remember that name now, my heart belonged to Secretariat in those days so with guilt I can say I overlooked this horse who was a star also!
I think the 1974 Strub Series….Malibu, San Fernando, Charles H Strub Stakes….was won by Ancient Title, each race besting Linda’s Chief, who was trained by an upstart named Frankel…
Oops, I see you said he was sent to Cali to be trained by The Bald Eagle…I though he it was Frankel but my memory ain’t what it used to be—or ever was!
Don’t forget the York Racing Ebor Festival starts this Wednesday with some cracking good races.
Here are the highlights:
17 August Juddmonte International Stakes
18 August Darley Yorkshire Oaks/Ladies Day
19 August Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes
20 August Sky Bet City of York Stakes
Steve, thanks for not letting us forget about this horse. A warrior to his tragic end. Superb article. Thanks!
Thank you Tom.
Steve, what a horrible ending to a good racehorse. Modern veterinary practice, along with advances in veterinary science, may have picked up something that was affecting Linda’s Chief before the tragic injury. Who knows? Just so awful to read.
I watched the 1972 Sanford Stakes on YouTube, Secretariat looks like a Fall three year old compared to Linda’s Chief who looks quite diminutive in comparison
Steve, if you have any more articles on horses that were ‘nearly’ champions please publish them. I always felt for In Reality being in the shadow of two giants but he was a very good racehorse just born in the wrong year.
I met Earlie Fires at Saratoga last Saturday and we talked for a long time about In Reality and facing Damascus and Dr. Fager. It was awesome.
Makes you think of Simon @ Garfunkel’s – “Bookends.” Racing was so prominent then, newspaper headlines. Well, at least we experienced it then. Must have been a wonderful chat for you both.
How about General Assembly, Lot O’Gold and Flying Paster always kneeling in the presence of Spectacular Bid…
Alysheba nudging Bet Twice, Java Gold, Lost Code, Cryptoclearance, Gulch.
On the same theme, it is worth re-reading Steve’s article on Broad Brush…”The Amazing Broad Brush Leaves Mark on the Derby Trail” [20 March, 2013]
The son of Ack Ack and maternal grandson of Hoist the Flag is another example of the hard yardsticks the big horses have to meet in order to claim a degree of greatness…!
When mentioning Broad Brush you bring in Ferdinand to the picture and then the horrific end to a champion racehorse in Japan. Disgraceful.
And don’t forget the aardvark Snow Chief…..
Yes Matthew, Snow Chief bounced back in the Preakness Stakes after the Kentucky Derby loss.
He also beat those guys in the 10 furlong Strub Stakes, and set the blistering pace in that unforgettable Big Cap!
Nelson, will Baaeed remain undefeated after Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes? Very intriguing race with a handful believing their representatives have an excellent chance bring Baaeed down. Exciting +
I see Baeed won today.
Yes Lynda, brilliant win by Baaeed. York is the best track for milers to attempt 10f; Ascot and Newmarket by design test the stamina more comprehensively. The comparison with Frankel is obvious and now they are screaming for Baaeed to attempt the Arc which Frankel never did and for good reason.
High 5 to the Europeans for actually racing their horses and not letting them languish in their stalls other than a jog or a gallop a few days a week.
I truly believe that the training methods they use over there are superior to the methods used here the US.
Also think that a of months of R&R away from the track is highly beneficial.
Winx is due anytime. Hope she has a safe delivery and a healthy foal. She looks absolutely gorgeous, dapples and all.
That. unfortunately, is so true Lynda. The US racehorse would thrive so much better at the European Training Centres. Space, tranquillity, time to unwind and recuperate.
I was 11 in 1973 and was a huge Linda’s Chief fan. It was hard then because I only had the newspaper which in AL was not rife with racing news and Sports Illustrated to follow the horses. I remember being saddened when I saw the blurb in the back of Sports Illustrated the next year that he had tried to jump the rail and died in a race. Such a tragic end for a fine horse.
That’s an interesting version of the 73 Santa Anita Derby…. now here’s what actually went down.. Linda’s Chief was never last ….going into the first turn he was right alongside Sham with Groshawk and Out of The East both behind them…. Martin sent Knightly Dawn out quickly to go to the lead and wear out the front running Ancient Title… when Milo went to the right-handed stick KD did head inwards but Milo immediately righted his colt and went straight ahead to the lead… once again Sham and Linda’s Chief were running alongside each other going into the first turn two horses behind them… you don’t have to take my word folks…. it’s on YouTube… and you can actually look up the steward report Ancient Title was cited as going out the width of his box and bumping Linda’s Chief out of the gate… Sham didn’t near the record he equaled it… and still shares it today… I would love to post pictures of it if the page would allow.
Its not a version. I watched the race then and I watched it now. Right after he got squeezed he was last for a few seconds. I never said he stayed last. But it was enough to take hm out of his game plan, which was to be right up there on or just off the pace. Yes, they were alongside, but how they got alongside is another matter. One did it a lot easier than the other. I offered no opinion on the race or who was better that day, I just quoted what Frankel said and what I saw at the start. I think I might be slightly more objectiive than you. I feel Sham was a far more talented horse than Linda’s Chief, especially going 1 1/8 miles, and most likely would have beaten him anyway.
Fair enough
One thing we can always count on from Steve Haskin is a terrific well-written story enhanced by his pictures. I love the picture of the program page from the Sanford Stakes. A collector’s item for sure. That picture of Secretariat’s 3 length win over Linda’s Chief is a beauty. How in the heck did Mr. Haskin come up with that post-parade photo of entrymates Sham and Knightly Dawn at the Santa Anita Derby?
Frankly, I had forgotten about Linda’s Chief even though I’m pretty sure that I was on site for Ancient Title’s San Fernando win.
It’s heartbreaking that Linda’s Chief’s valiant career came to such a horrific & disastrous end. That accident came in the
Los Angeles Handicap which, if my memory is correct, would have been at Hollywood Park. Sad.
Steve Valdez. Now, there’s a name from my past. I’ll be thinking of jockeys from my early days of following thoroughbred racing in California. Steve Valdez triggers memories of Rudy Campos, Rudy Rosales, Frank Oliveras, and Francisco Mena.
Check out our Facebook page by this same name
Thoroughly enjoyed this piece written, in my opinion, by the best teller of horse “TAILS”!!! lol
Thanks very much, Linda.
Thank you, Steve, for bringing to life an era of racing i regrettably missed. My real racing awareness only dates to about 1979, and as current horses and human personalities seem to shrink, your stories of the “old days” allow us a view of those days in all their glory.
Thank you Todd. Not many around to tell these stories, Glad you enjoy getting tranported back. I do enjoy writing them even though people dont have interest in some of them, like this one. Its obviously not for everyone.
Oh, I remember it well, since I”M still around!
Youre the exception having been around theese horses. Not much interest in these forgotten horses as you can see. But this was a key Ssecretariat anniversary so we gave it a shot. You cant force people to be interested in what theyre not not interested in. You jusst give it a try,
Such a sad ending to his life.
I had read about him before but not in such detail that you told Steve.
These are the hard stories about racing that bring me to tears everytime. Guess they are difficult for you to write Steve.
But they need to be remembered I think.
It was very hard because I didnt learn of his fate until I started writing it. I only found out he had died on the track until right before. I didnt know any of the details
Oh my. I remember this colt, but I didn’t know the whole story either. Though sad, I am glad you found out and shared with us.
Lynda, did you see Lot. 154 at Arqana in Sunday’s session – €2.1-million Siyouni colt ‘rocked the casbah.’ Full brother to Sottsass is off to Japan. They are dreaming of a future Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner. He looked the part.
Steve are you going to be at Saratoga, this Friday, august 19th, it will be your opportunity to see the great Galerio, third race Saratoga!!Will run BIG
Sorry Daniel we were there last weekend. I look forward to watching it on TV.