There is nothing that creates the heart and emotions of a horse racing fan more than an exciting hometretch struggle between two brave thoroughbreds. Photo finishes so close that only the camera can separate two relentless rivals are among the most exciting and breathtaking elements of the sport.
Saratoga has seen that it is a good part of the photo finishes, including the Woodward Stakes 2009, when the beautiful three -year -old Merrieveeulen Rachel Alexandra Macho again held through a head to score an unforgettable victory. But it is doubtful that every photo finish can ever be compared to those of the travers Stakes from 1962, when Jaipur and Ridan are concerned with an unprecedented battle that held them apart the finish after dueling after dueling for the entire 1/4-mile race.
Both Colts were very decorated in the 1962 travers. Jaipur was one of the best 2-year-old Colts in 1961 and won the Flash Stakes, Hopeful Stakes and Cowdin Stakes during a successful campaign that finished him first or second in all seven of his races. The following year he started strongly with easy victories in the Gotham Stakes and Withers Stakes at Aqueduct before he finished a surprising 10th as a favorite in the preaksness stakes. Anxious bouncing Jaipur 11 days later to win the Jersey Derby through disqualification of a rival that hinded him, and that race served as a perfect preparation for the Belmont Stakes, which Jaipur won with a nose.
But for all Jaipur’s performance, Ridan’s record was even more impressive. As a 2-year-old he was undefeated in seven starts, with the prestigious Washington Park Futurity and Arlington Futurity among them. Although a small injury ended his season prematurely, he was still voted champion 2-year-old Colt Door Peat and Sports Digest magazine.
Just like Jaipur, Ridan achieved great success during the first half of his 3-year season. After winning the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes during the spring, he could only finish third in the Kentucky Derby when the second place of Blue Grass Stakes turned around, but Ridan was back at his best in the preakness stakes, second ending by a nose while Jaipur is far behind.
After that short meeting, the two Colts went their own way, with Jaipur who won the Choice Stakes in Saratoga (a race similar to the modern Jim Dandy Stakes) and Ridan Triumphing in the Arlington Classic before he finished second in the American Derby.
That was the stage for a confrontation in the travers stakes.
Then, as now, the travers were considered the “Mid-Summerderby” … a race where the best 3-year-olds from earlier in the year could come together to arrange the supremacy of the division. Ridan and Jaipur would break together of post-positions one and two and, although they would come across five other rivals, no one ever came close enough to pray the one-on-one duel considerably that would soon unfold before the eyes of the 26,000 fans present.
The horses left the Startpoort at 4.48 pm and Jaipur was the fastest in pass, closely followed by Ridan. Immediately the two Colts started to pull out of the field, and after the first two furlongs were run, Ridan Jaipur led with half a length, with none of the others closer than five lengths behind.
At first glance, the tempo fractions were not so striking from Kwart-Mijl in: 23 4/5, four furlongs in: 47 2/5 but when Jaipur went up to a head of Ridan’s lead, with the rest of the field back five lengths back, it was clear that numbers could not start to describe the intensity of the battle. But what the figures could reveal is that Ridan and Jaipur won speed instead of slowing down; The second quarter of miles was run in: 23 3/5, faster than the first, and the third quarter went in the same time, which led to a test of six Furlong of 1:11 flat.
It was then, with Ridan still scary, that Jaipur made his move. While they surrounded the far turn and approaching the hometretch, Jaipur won a few centimeters on his rival and pushed his head in front by a mile in 1:35 2/5. A challenger named Cyane made a daring run to try to participate, came within half a length of the dueling leaders, but could not support his momentum and started tired when the horses entered the Saratoga Homstretch.
Again, Jaipur and Ridan were alone, with virtually nothing between them. Jaipur, deeply digging, maintained his advantage and began to grow his leadership for a few short moments; Ridan, fighting back, refused to surrender and regained precious land in the last Furlong.
Under the circumstances, with both foals that run like champions and harvest each other for the entire 1/4 miles, it was a shame that they could not have ended up in a death heating. But when the thread approached, Jaipur thought something extra, and while they were flashing over the finish line, Jaipur’s neck was extended – reaching outside, fighting for the victory – and he was a nose for Ridan.
So spectacular was the race that the Daily racing form The result Chart made a special note of the epic battle of Jaipur and Ridan and said: “Jaipur even raced with Ridan from the break and they continued like a team in a scorching duel. Jaipur, on the outside of Ridan, had a slight lead on the Kwartpole and won to shake a racing.”
Lately from 2:01 3/5 was the same as the track record of Saratoga and was the fastest travers ever in time at that time. For Jaipur, the race would mark its last victory, although he finished second in the Woodward Stakes and Roamer Handicap later in the year, which was enough to secure him the title of champion 3 Colt. Ridan would also become profitless for the rest of the year, but during a short season in 1963 he won two of the three starts, including a 3 -¾ length victory over Jaipur in the Palm Beach Handicap in Hialah Park.
In the schedule of legendary horses, Jaipur and Ridan have never been arranged among the great of all time. On that summer day in Saratoga, however, they voted their estates by walking one of the greatest races of all time in the history of sport.
Note of the editors: This story was first published in 2016 and was updated.
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