Editing Native Dancer (section)

===1954: four-year-old campaign===
In 1954, Native Dancer won all three races he entered, including the [[Metropolitan Handicap]]. His connections hoped to complete the [[New York Handicap Triple]], or perhaps race in Europe on the turf. However, Native Dancer was retired as a result of a recurring foot injury with a record of 21 wins out of 22 lifetime races.

At the beginning of the 1954, Native Dancer was in Maryland where he spent the winter at Sagamore Farm. By February, he was galloping three miles a day. He was then shipped to New York in late March to resume training with Winfrey. He now faced a new challenge: as an older horse, he would be expected to carry high weight imposts in the handicap format pervasive at the time. His connections considered sending him to England to compete in the [[King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] if the weights got too high.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Dancer May Race at Ascot -- If Weights Here Get Too Heavy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/03/20/archives/the-dancer-may-race-at-ascot-if-weights-here-get-too-heavy.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=20 March 1954}}</ref> Vanderbilt also discussed entering the colt in the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] in France.<ref>{{cite web |title=Native Dancer May Run In France Next Autumn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/06/27/archives/native-dancer-may-run-in-france-next-autumn.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=27 June 1954}}</ref>

Native Dancer made his first start of the year in a six-furlong allowance race at Belmont Park on May 7. He went off at odds of 3-20 in a seven-horse field, with Laffango the second choice at 7-1. He raced in mid-pack for the first half-mile, then "took the lead in about three huge strides." After hitting the front near the top of the stretch, Native Dancer relaxed but still won by {{frac|1|1|4}} lengths.<ref name="Allowance">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer Takes Belmont Sprint in His First Race Since Last August |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/05/08/archives/native-dancer-takes-belmont-sprint-in-his-first-race-since-last.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=8 May 1954}}</ref>

On May 15, Native Dancer entered the [[Metropolitan Handicap]], in which he was assigned 130 pounds – from 13 to 24 pounds more than his eight rivals. He raced further back than usual, trailing by ten lengths with a half mile remaining and still seven lengths back at the quarter pole. Down the stretch, Guerin hit him four times with the whip. Native Dancer "answered the question" and lengthened his stride. He closed steadily, getting his nose in front with just 30 yards remaining. He completed the mile in 1:35{{frac|1|5}}, then the second-fastest running of the race in its history.<ref name="Met">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer, 1 to 4, Takes Metropolitan at Belmont Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/05/16/archives/straight-face-2d-native-dancer-1-to-4-takes-metropolitan-at-belmont.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=16 May 1954}}</ref>

Native Dancer was supposed to make his next start in the [[Suburban Handicap]], then part of the [[New York Handicap Triple]] (consisting of the Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn Handicaps). However, after a workout in late May, he showed signs of lameness. Heating was found in the [[Horse hoof|coronet band on his right fore]], though X-rays showed nothing. Winfrey originally gave the colt a 50% chance of being fit for the Suburban.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Joseph C. |title=Native Dancer Becomes a Doubtful Starter in Suburban |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/05/26/archives/native-dancer-becomes-a-doubtful-starter-in-suburban-decision.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=26 May 1954}}</ref> Native Dancer worked three furlongs on May 27 but pulled up lame. His connections ruled him out of the Suburban.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Joseph C. |title=Ailing Native Dancer Is Withdrawn From the Suburban |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/05/28/archives/ailing-native-dancer-is-withdrawn-from-the-suburban-star-colt-put.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=28 May 1954}}</ref>

Native Dancer finally returned to racing at Saratoga on August 16 in the Oneonta Handicap, run at a distance of seven furlongs over a [[Track condition|sloppy track]]. He was assigned 137 pounds, conceding his rivals from 18 to 30 pounds. Even with the handicap, only two horses faced him so betting was not allowed. He won easily by nine lengths in 1:24{{frac|4|5}}, just {{frac|1|4|5}} seconds off the track record despite the track conditions.<ref name="Oneonta">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer Outruns First Glance and Gigantic at Saratoga |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/08/17/archives/native-dancer-outruns-first-glance-and-gigantic-at-saratoga.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=17 August 1954}}</ref>

His next target was the [[Saratoga Cup]] but he showed signs of lameness after a 10-furlong workout on August 22, again in the right forefoot. Veterinarian William Wright diagnosed the problem as a "bruised digital cushion, with a secondary inflammation of the bursae between the navicular and [[coffin bone]]." He was retired with a record of 21 wins from 22 starts, and earnings of $785,420, then fourth all-time behind [[Citation (horse)|Citation]], [[Stymie (horse)|Stymie]] and [[Armed]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer, Winner of 21 of 22 Races, Is Retired From Competition; VANDERBILT COLT WILL GO TO FARM Dancer Shows Signs of Old Foot Injury Following Fast Ten-Furlong Workout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/08/23/archives/native-dancer-winner-of-21-of-22-races-is-retired-from-competition.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 July 2019 |date=23 August 1954}}</ref>

Native Dancer was voted the [[Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year|United States Horse of the Year]] for 1954, beating [[High Gun]] by 19 votes to 11 in the Daily Racing Form poll<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xU1UAAAAIBAJ&pg=4723,6241249&dq=native-dancer+horse-of-the-year&hl=en |title=Native Dancer Horse of Year |publisher=St. Joseph News-Press |date=1954-11-27 |access-date=2012-02-27}}</ref> and winning the TRA award for the second time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roach |first=James |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/03/archives/native-dancer-named-horse-of-year-haskell-elected-t-r-a-president.html |title=Native Dancer Named Horse of Year |work=New York Times |date=1954-12-03 |access-date=2012-02-27}}</ref> He appeared on the May 31 cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine. Many consider the "Gray Ghost of Sagamore" to have been the first Thoroughbred television star and [[TV Guide]] ranked him as a top icon of the era".<ref name="Simon"/><ref name=DNAWinner>{{cite web |title=Native Dancer's DNA the winner |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/05/02/native-dancers-dna-the-winner/ |website=The Denver Post |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=2 May 2008}}</ref>