There’s nothing that stirs the guts and feelings of a horse racing fan greater than an exhilarating homestretch battle between two gallant Thoroughbreds. Photograph finishes so shut that solely the digicam can separate two unwavering rivals are among the many most fun and breathtaking parts of the game.
Saratoga has seen it is justifiable share of photograph finishes, together with the 2009 Woodward Stakes, when the magnificent three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra held off Macho Once more by a head to attain an unforgettable victory. However it’s uncertain that any photograph end can ever examine to that of the 1962 Travers Stakes, when Jaipur and Ridan engaged in an unprecedented battle that noticed them cross the end line a nostril aside after dueling for all the 1 1/4-mile race.
Coming into the 1962 Travers, each colts have been extremely embellished. Jaipur had been among the many greatest 2-year-old colts in 1961, successful the Flash Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, and Cowdin Stakes throughout a profitable marketing campaign that noticed him end first or second in all seven of his races. The next 12 months, he began off sturdy with straightforward wins within the Gotham Stakes and Withers Stakes at Aqueduct earlier than ending a stunning tenth as the favourite within the Preakness Stakes. Undeterred, Jaipur bounced again 11 days later to win the Jersey Derby through disqualification of a rival that impeded him, and that race served as an ideal prep for the Belmont Stakes, which Jaipur gained by a nostril.
However for all of Jaipur’s accomplishments, Ridan’s document was much more spectacular. As a 2-year-old, he had gone unbeaten in seven begins, with the distinguished Washington Park Futurity and Arlington Futurity amongst them. Though a minor harm ended his season prematurely, he was nonetheless voted champion 2-year-old colt by Turf and Sports activities Digest journal.
Like Jaipur, Ridan achieved sturdy success through the first half of his 3-year-old season. After successful the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes through the spring, he might solely end third within the Kentucky Derby as Blue Grass Stakes runner-up Decidedly turned the tables, however Ridan was again at his greatest within the Preakness Stakes, ending second by a nostril whereas leaving Jaipur far behind.
After that temporary encounter, the 2 colts went their separate methods, with Jaipur successful the Selection Stakes at Saratoga (a race much like the modern-day Jim Dandy Stakes) and Ridan triumphing within the Arlington Basic earlier than ending second within the American Derby.
That set the stage for a showdown within the Travers Stakes.
Then, as now, the Travers was thought of the “Mid-Summer time Derby” … a race the place the very best 3-year-olds from earlier within the 12 months might come collectively to settle supremacy of the division. Ridan and Jaipur would break collectively from submit positions one and two and, though they might face 5 different rivals, none ever acquired shut sufficient to considerably problem the one-on-one duel that will quickly unfold earlier than the eyes of the 26,000 followers in attendance.
The horses left the beginning gate at 4:48 p.m., and Jaipur was the quickest into stride, adopted carefully by Ridan. Instantly, the 2 colts started to drag away from the sphere, and after the primary two furlongs had been run, Ridan was main Jaipur by a half-length, with not one of the others nearer than 5 lengths behind.
At first look, the tempo fractions weren’t all that eye-catching — opening quarter-mile in :23 4/5, 4 furlongs in :47 2/5 — however as Jaipur moved as much as inside a head of Ridan’s lead, with the remainder of the sphere nonetheless 5 lengths again, it was clear that numbers couldn’t start to explain the depth of the battle. However what the numbers might reveal is that as an alternative of slowing down, Ridan and Jaipur have been gaining pace; the second quarter-mile had been run in :23 3/5, quicker than the primary, and the third quarter went in the identical time, resulting in a testing six-furlong fraction of 1:11 flat.
It was then, with Ridan nonetheless main narrowly, that Jaipur made his transfer. As they rounded the far flip and approached the homestretch, Jaipur tenaciously gained just a few inches on his rival and thrust his head in entrance via a mile in 1:35 2/5. A challenger named Cyane made a daring run to try to become involved, coming inside a half-length of the dueling leaders, however couldn’t maintain his momentum and started to tire because the horses entered the Saratoga homestretch.
As soon as once more, Jaipur and Ridan have been alone, with nearly nothing between them. Jaipur, digging deep, maintained his benefit and started to develop his lead for just a few temporary moments; Ridan, combating again, refused to yield and regained valuable floor within the last furlong.
Below the circumstances, with each colts working like champions and eyeballing one another for all the 1 1/4 miles, it was a disgrace that they couldn’t have completed in a dead-heat. However because the wire approached, Jaipur discovered a bit one thing additional, and as they flashed throughout the end line, Jaipur’s neck was prolonged — reaching outward, combating for victory — and he was a nostril in entrance of Ridan.
So spectacular was the race that the Every day Racing Kind consequence chart made particular observe of Jaipur and Ridan’s epic battle, saying “Jaipur raced on even phrases with Ridan from the break and so they continued as a group in a torrid duel. Jaipur, on the skin of Ridan, had a slight lead on the quarter pole and gained narrowly in a race through which neither horse gave means. Ridan, exhibiting good pace, was unable to shake off Jaipur whereas saving floor all through. He raced courageously to the tip and was overwhelmed narrowly in an exhilarating duel.”
The ultimate time of two:01 3/5 equaled the Saratoga observe document and was the quickest Travers ever run to that time limit. For Jaipur, the race would mark his last victory, though he did end second within the Woodward Stakes and Roamer Handicap later within the 12 months, which was sufficient to safe him the title of champion 3-year-old colt. Ridan would additionally go winless for the rest of the 12 months, however throughout an abbreviated season in 1963, he gained two of three begins, together with a 3 ¾-length victory over Jaipur within the Palm Seashore Handicap at Hialeah Park.
Within the scheme of legendary horses, Jaipur and Ridan have by no means been ranked among the many all-time greats. Nevertheless, on that summer season day at Saratoga, they stamped their legacies by working one of many all-time best races within the historical past of the game.
Editor’s Be aware: This story was first printed in 2016 and has been up to date.
