Editing Native Dancer (section)

===1953: three-year-old campaign===
In his three-year-old campaign, Native Dancer received a great deal of media attention leading up to the 1953 [[Kentucky Derby]]. He won the [[Gotham Stakes]] and the prestigious [[Wood Memorial]], but in the [[1953 Kentucky Derby]], he lost for the only time in his career. Native Dancer subsequently won the [[Preakness Stakes|Preakness]], [[Belmont Stakes|Belmont]] and [[Travers Stakes]], a feat accomplished until then only by [[Duke of Magenta (horse)|Duke of Magenta]], [[Grenada (horse)|Grenada]], [[Man o' War (horse)|Man o' War]] and [[Whirlaway]]. Native Dancer finished the season with nine wins (all of them stakes races) from ten starts and was named [[American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse|Champion Three-Year-Old Colt]].

====Preparing for the Triple Crown====
Native Dancer was given some time off at the end of his two-year-old campaign, then resumed training in California at [[Santa Anita Racetrack]]. He gave his connections a scare in late January when he threw his exercise rider after stumbling to his knees following a workout. He then bolted and was loose for five minutes, running into the paddock where he jumped some benches and ran through flower beds. When he tangled a leg in the reins, he finally slowed down enough to be recaptured. No serious damage was done.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATIVE DANCER IN MISHAP; Vanderbilt's Colt Tosses Rider and Bolts, but Escapes Injury |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/01/30/archives/native-dancer-in-mishap-vanderbilts-colt-tosses-rider-and-bolts-but.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 July 2019 |date=30 January 1953}}</ref>

He was shipped to New York in mid-March<ref>{{cite web |title=Native Dancer Arrives Fit for 3-Year-Old Bid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/03/18/archives/native-dancer-arrives-fit-for-3yearold-bid.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 July 2019 |date=18 March 1953}}</ref> and made his first start of the year in the [[Gotham Stakes]] on April 18. As the race attracted 18 entries, it was run in two divisions, with Native Dancer the odds-on favorite is his division and Laffango the favorite in the second division.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer and Laffango Favored in Divisions of Gotham Today |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/18/archives/native-dancer-and-laffango-favored-in-divisions-of-gotham-today.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 July 2019 |date=18 April 1953}}</ref> He raced in mid-pack during the early part of the race, then "did a bit of hustling" turning into the stretch to take the lead. He won under a hand ride by two lengths.<ref name=Gotham>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=38,201 AT JAMAICA SEE NATIVE DANCER WIN 10TH STRAIGHT; Undefeated Colt, Making 1953 Debut, Takes First Section of Gotham by 2 Lengths |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/19/archives/38201-at-jamaica-see-native-dancer-win-10th-straight-undefeated.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 July 2019 |date=19 April 1953}}</ref> Sportswriter George Ryall wrote, "Any question in your mind about Native Dancer is easy to answer; he's as good as you thought."<ref>{{cite web |title=On This Day... |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/176272/on-this-day |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=27 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Native Dancer extended his winning streak to eleven in the [[Wood Memorial]] on April 25. Going off as the 1-10 favorite, he was restrained until the top of the stretch, then "whizzed away" from his rivals to win by {{frac|4|1|2}} lengths over Tahitian King.<ref name=WoodMemorial>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=NO. 11 FOR 1-10 SHOT; Unbeaten Native Dancer Takes $123,750 Wood in Romp at Jamaica |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/26/archives/no-11-for-110-shot-unbeaten-native-dancer-takes-123750-wood-in-romp.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 July 2019 |date=26 April 1953}}</ref>

The Gotham and Wood Memorial were both televised by NBC. Native Dancer's gray coat helped him stand out on the black and white screens of the day, helping him to become the first TV star of the sport.<ref>{{cite web |title=BH 100: Ghost in the Machine |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/213439/bh-100-ghost-in-the-machine |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=27 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

====Kentucky Derby====
The [[1953 Kentucky Derby]], held on May 2, was the sole loss of Native Dancer's career.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davidowitz |first1=Steve |title=The Best and Worse of Thoroughbred Racing |url=http://www1stage.drf.com/misc/excerpts/bestandworst_chapter1.pdf |website=Daily Racing Form (book excerpt) |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> He dominated news coverage leading up to the race and was the odds-on favorite.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Daley |first1=Arthur |title=Sports of The Times; On the Dawn Patrol |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/30/archives/sports-of-the-times-on-the-dawn-patrol.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=30 April 1953}}</ref> His main rival was supposed to have been Correspondent, who had won three straight, including the [[Blue Grass Stakes]] in which he set a track record.<ref>{{cite web |title=Native Dancer and Correspondent Loom Big in Kentucky Derby Field|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/27/archives/native-dancer-and-correspondent-loom-big-in-kentucky-derby-field.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=27 April 1953}}</ref> [[Dark Star (horse)|Dark Star]] won the [[Derby Trial]] a few days before the Derby but was largely dismissed by the bettors at odds of 25-1.<ref name="NYT-DerbyRoach">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=CHOICE JUST MISSES; Dark Star, $51.80, Pins 1st Loss in 12 Races on Native Dancer  |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/05/03/archives/choice-just-misses-dark-star-5180-pins-1st-loss-in-12-races-on.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=3 May 1953}}</ref>

Dark Star, starting from the next-to-outside post position, went to the early lead and moved over to the rail. Native Dancer was eighth as they went down the stretch for the first time and was then bumped by longshot Money Maker as they entered the first turn. He started to make up ground on the final turn while racing wide, then was moved to the inside as he entered the stretch in third place. Still nearly three lengths behind, Guerin went to the whip and Native Dancer gradually closed ground. Dark Star held his position on the rail so Native Dancer was swung to the outside. He continued to edge closer with each stride but fell just short, losing by a head.<ref name=NYT-DerbyRoach /><ref name=SI-Guerin />

In addition to Native Dancer being fouled on the first turn, Guerin commented after the race that the colt had not cared for the track.<ref name=NYT-DerbyRoach /> However, Guerin was given a large share of the blame for the loss because of his racing tactics. One reporter wrote, "he took that colt everywhere on the track except the ladies' room."<ref name="Simon">{{cite book | last1 = Simon | first1 = Mary | title =Racing Through the Century: The Story of Thoroughbred Racing in America | publisher=BowTie Press| year = 2003| isbn = 1-889540-92-7}}</ref> Native Dancer was farther back than usual in the early part of the race, which resulted in more traffic problems. Instead of mounting a single drive on the outside, Guerin changed position several times in the final quarter of a mile, costing the colt momentum. Guerin later explained, "He just didn't want to run early. And when he didn't want to run, he didn't run."<ref name="SI-Guerin">{{cite web |last1=Putnam |first1=Pat |title=When Guerin and the Dancer Were out of Step |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1973/08/06/615705/when-guerin-and-the-dancer-were-out-of-step |website=SI Vault |access-date=21 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine later reported, "When he lost the Kentucky Derby by a head, thousands turned from their TV screens in sorrow, a few in tears." As a measure of Native Dancer's growing fame, ''Time'' added, "Hundreds of people, old and young, have sent him letters and greeting cards. Little girls have organized fan clubs in his name."<ref name="Top100">{{cite book |title=Thoroughbred champions : top 100 racehorses of the 20th century |year=1999 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781581500240/page/34 |url-access=registration |publisher=The Blood-Horse, Inc |isbn=1-58150-024-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781581500240/page/34 34-37] |edition=1st }}</ref>

Native Dancer made his next start in the [[Withers Stakes]] on May 16 at Belmont Park. Facing only two other horses, he went off as the 1-20 favorite (the legal minimum) with win-only betting allowed. Native Dancer stumbled when leaving the starting gate but quickly recovered. He took a narrow lead about three furlongs from the finish and opened a significant margin around the eighth pole when Guerin flicked his whip. The final margin was four lengths.<ref name=Withers>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=1-20 CHOICE FIRST; Native Dancer Triumphs Easily in Three-Horse Race at Belmont |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/05/17/archives/120-choice-first-native-dancer-triumphs-easily-in-threehorse-race.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=17 May 1953}}</ref>

====Preakness Stakes====
On May 23, Native Dancer entered the Preakness Stakes as the 1-5 favorite. He again faced Dark Star, who set a fast early pace with Tahitian King to his outside. Native Dancer rated in fourth position on the rail, then started his move on the final turn, splitting between the two front runners. Tahitian King dropped back and eventually finished sixth. At the head of the stretch, Dark Star also gave way, leaving Native Dancer alone on the lead. However, longshot Jamie K then started to close ground rapidly. Guerin went to the whip and Native Dancer responded to win by a neck. Guerin admitted that he had been worried. "When Dark Star stopped, I found myself in the lead a little sooner than I wanted," he said.<ref name="NYT-Preakness">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer Takes Preakness |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/05/24/archives/jamie-k-is-second-arcaros-mount-extends-native-dancer-15-royal-bay.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=24 May 1953}}</ref> It was later determined that Dark Star had bowed a tendon during the race: he never raced again.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dark Star, Lame After the Preakness, Is Retired From Competition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/05/26/archives/dark-star-lame-after-the-preakness-is-retired-from-competition-turf.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=26 May 1953}}</ref>

Besides being the odds-on favorite to win, Native Dancer was so heavily bet to show that it created a minus pool. A show bet pays if the horse finishes in the top three positions, and the legal minimum payout in Maryland at the time was $2.20 for a $2 bet. In order to cover the bets plus the associated taxes, the Maryland Jockey Club had to pay $46,012 ({{Inflation|US|46012|1953|r=-3|fmt=eq}}) into the pool.<ref name=NYT-Preakness />

The trophy for the Preakness is the [[Woodlawn Vase]], considered the most valuable trophy in sports with a value of roughly $4 million. Before 1954, the vase itself was given to the winning owner, who kept it for the following year. In 1954 though, Vanderbilt declined to take the original trophy home and instead was given a replica. This set a new tradition where the original Woodlawn Vase is displayed at Pimlico on Preakness day but otherwise resides at the [[Baltimore Museum of Art]]. Vanderbilt's replica trophy was sold at auction in 2018 for $100,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Klingaman |first1=Mike |title=Owner's trophy for Native Dancer's 1953 Preakness win bought at auction by local developer |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-sp-racing-preakness-trophy-20180608-story.html |website=baltimoresun.com |date=8 June 2018 |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>

====Belmont Stakes====
Native Dancer was shipped to Belmont Park on May 24. He was walked the next two days to recover from the Preakness, then resumed galloping in the morning. He had several timed workouts in the interval leading up to the Belmont: {{frac|5|8}} mile in 1:04 on May 30, a mile in 1:44{{frac|1|5}} on June 1, {{frac|3|8}} mile in 0:35{{frac|3|5}} on June 4, {{frac|1|1|4}} miles in 2:07 on June 5, {{frac|1|1|2}} miles in 2:38{{frac|2|5}} on June 9, and {{frac|3|4}} mile in 1:13{{frac|2|5}} on June 12.<ref name="NYT-Belmont" /> Training practices have since changed dramatically. For example, [[California Chrome]] had only one timed workout in the three weeks between the 2014 Preakness and Belmont.<ref>{{cite web |title=Training for the Triple Crown: How Times Have Changed |url=https://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/training-for-the-triple-crown-how-times-have-changed/ |website=Paulick Report |access-date=22 July 2019 |language=en |date=24 May 2014}}</ref>

The [[Belmont Stakes]], run on June 13, was a similar race to the Preakness. Native Dancer was again the heavy favorite, and the [[New York Racing Association]] did not allow show betting. Ram o' War set the early pace with Native Dancer biding his time in fourth place around the first turn. He was tracked closely by Jamie K and the two horses started their move together on the final turn. Jamie K briefly took the lead as they entered the stretch, but Native Dancer fought back. The two colts dueled for the final furlong, with Native Dancer again prevailing by a neck. He completed the {{frac|1|1|2}} miles in 2:28{{frac|3|5}}, then the third-fastest running of the race behind [[Count Fleet]] and [[Citation (horse)|Citation]].<ref name=NYT-Belmont>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Native Dancer Wins Belmont |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/06/14/archives/jamie-k-neck-back-native-dancers-strong-finish-takes-118600.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=14 June 1953}}</ref>

"He doesn't win in a flashy sort of a way," said Winfrey, "but he keeps on winning. The Belmont is supposed to be 'the test of the champion' and if it is, he certainly answered the question."<ref name="Lazy">{{cite web |title=Native Dancer, 'Lazy So-and So,' Will Be Kept Too Busy to Loaf; Dwyer at Aqueduct and Arlington Classic Are Next Fields to Conquer on Heavy Schedule for the Gray Galloper |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/06/15/archives/native-dancer-lazy-soand-so-will-be-kept-too-busy-to-loaf-dwyer-at.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 July 2019 |date=15 June 1953}}</ref>

To date, Native Dancer is one of only two "dual Classic winners" to come from the state of Maryland (the other being his son [[Kauai King]], who won the 1966 Kentucky Derby and Preakness).

====Summer campaign====
Winfrey planned a busy summer campaign to keep his "lazy so-and-so" active.<ref name=Lazy /> Native Dancer responded to the challenge, winning the Dwyer, Arlington Classic, Travers and American Derby in quick succession. On July 4, he went off as the 1-20 favorite in the [[Dwyer Stakes]]. He took the lead near the head of the stretch, "loafed for a while, exerted himself just a bit in the final yards," and won by {{frac|1|3|4}} lengths. Carrying 126 pounds, he conceded 10 pounds to each of his four rivals. Even though win-only betting was allowed, Native Dancer still created a small minus pool with a mandatory minimum payout of $2.10 for a $2 bet.<ref name="Dwyer">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=DWYER TO CHOICE; Native Dancer, 1 to 20, Wins Another |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/07/05/archives/dwyer-to-choice-native-dancer-1-to-20-wins-another-dictar-runnerup.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=5 July 1953}}</ref>

Native Dancer then traveled to Chicago for the [[Arlington Classic]], run over a distance of a mile on a heavy track on July 18. His main rivals were expected to be Jamie K and Van Crosby, who had equaled the track record for seven furlongs in his previous start. Native Dancer carried 128 pounds, conceding six pounds to each of his seven rivals. As expected, Van Crosby set the pace, but was run down by Native Dancer turning into the stretch. Native Dancer continued to draw away and won by nine lengths, the biggest margin of victory of his career. Longshot Sir Mango closed late for second; Jamie K was never a factor.<ref name="ArlingtonClassic">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=A 9-LENGTH ROMP; Native Dancer Beats Sir Mango |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/07/19/archives/a-9length-romp-native-dancer-beats-sir-mango-jamie-k-fifth-in.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=19 July 1953}}</ref>

On August 15, Native Dancer made his next start in the prestigious [[Travers Stakes]] at Saratoga. He conceded six pounds to Dictar and twelve to the other three entrants. In the walking ring, he was surrounded by a throng of fans looking for photographs. "It's the way people act when the president goes by in a parade," commented one man. Native Dancer maintained his calm. At the break, Fly Wheel took the early lead but soon dropped back. Guardian II then took over the lead for a few lengths before Dictar took command on the backstretch. Native Dancer bided his time until the {{frac|3|16}} pole, then powered away to win by {{frac|5|1|2}} lengths ahead of Dictar. Native Dancer again created minus pools in the win and place betting – show betting was not allowed.<ref name="Travers">{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=COLT TAKES NO. 17; Native Dancer Scores by 5 1/2 Lengths|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/16/archives/colt-takes-no-17-native-dancer-scores-by-5-12-lengths-dictar-next.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=16 August 1953}}</ref>

Guerin was suspended for an incident in another race<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Guerin Is Out of American Derby as Spa Stewards Suspend Him Ten Days; JOCKEY JOB OPEN ON NATIVE DANCER |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/18/archives/guerin-is-out-of-american-derby-as-spa-stewards-suspend-him-ten.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=18 August 1953}}</ref> and so missed Native Dancer's next start, the [[American Derby]] on August 22. [[Eddie Arcaro]] got the mount after the horse he had been scheduled to ride, Jamie K, was withdrawn from the race.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arcaro to Ride Native Dancer in Rich American Derby at Chicago Saturday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/19/archives/arcaro-to-ride-native-dancer-in-rich-american-derby-at-chicago.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=19 August 1953}}</ref> Arcaro had previously questioned Native Dancer's credentials, saying, "All the Dancer has done is go around beating the same horses, and most of the time carrying equal weight." He had also questioned the horse's soundness. After galloping him for the first time though, he said, "He's a big, powerful animal. He handled well and had a good disposition."<ref>{{cite web |title=ARCARO TAKES RIDE ON NATIVE DANCER |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/21/archives/arcaro-takes-ride-on-native-dancer-jockey-after-first-workout-on.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=21 August 1953}}</ref>

Travelling back to Chicago, Native Dancer went off as the 1-10 favorite in a field of eight in the American Derby on August 22. He settled near the back of the pack behind a fast early pace set by Sir Mango. Entering the far turn, Native Dancer moved to the outside and into fourth place. Without any urging, he surged forward rounding the far turn and won by two lengths. He completed the {{frac|1|1|8}}-mile race in 1:48{{frac|1|5}}, just one-fifth of a second off the track record.<ref name="AmericanDerby">{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Joseph C. |title=FIRST BY 2 LENGTHS; Native Dancer Captures Rich Race Under Arcaro in Near-Record Time AMERICAN DERBY TO NATIVE DANCER |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/23/archives/first-by-2-lengths-native-dancer-captures-rich-race-under-arcaro-in.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=23 August 1953}}</ref> Arcaro believed that the colt could have broken the record if urged. "But he was winning, so I didn't see any point in pressing him," he said. "I let him run his own race." Despite the easy win, Arcaro still believed that Native Dancer had something to prove. He rated [[Citation (horse)|Citation]] as the best horse he had ever ridden.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 August 1953 |title=Citation still no. 1, Eddie Arcaro says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/24/archives/citation-still-no-1-eddie-arcaro-says-native-dancer-has-to-prove.html |access-date=22 July 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

While Native Dancer was having a noteworthy campaign in the three-year-old division, [[Tom Fool]] was enjoying an equally brilliant one as a four-year-old. Racetracks began to alter stakes schedules and purses in hopes of having the two champions face off. For example, Pimlico increased the purse for the [[Pimlico Special]] to $50,000. Belmont Park followed suit by increasing the purse and changing the date of the Sysonby Stakes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dancer, Tom Fool Race Goal of Pimlico Track |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/04/archives/dancer-tom-fool-race-goal-of-pimlico-track.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=4 August 1953}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Roach |first1=James |title=Tom Fool-Native Dancer Race in Prospect as Belmont Changes Sysonby Date; MILE TEST SEPT. 26 RAISED TO $50,000 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/08/archives/tom-foolnative-dancer-race-in-prospect-as-belmont-changes-sysonby.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=8 August 1953}}</ref> The hopes for a race between the two died when several bruises were found on Native Dancer's left forefoot after the American Derby. He missed the rest of the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATIVE DANCER OUT OF RACING FOR 1953 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/09/20/archives/native-dancer-out-of-racing-for-1953-additional-bruises-on-injured.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=20 September 1953}}</ref>

Native Dancer was named [[American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse|champion three-year-old]] by all three major industry polls. However, in the Horse of the Year voting, he came second behind Tom Fool, who had won all ten of his starts.<ref>{{cite web |title=TOM FOOL HORSE OF YEAR; Native Dancer Named Leading 3-Year-Old by Turf Experts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/11/14/archives/tom-fool-horse-of-year-native-dancer-named-leading-3yearold-by-turf.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=14 November 1953}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Writers Pick Tom Fool As 'Horse of the Year' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/12/17/archives/writers-pick-tom-fool-as-horse-of-the-year.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2019 |date=17 December 1953}}</ref>