Editing Native Dancer (section)

====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>