Welcome to the first in a series of occasional blog posts titled "On This Day in Racing History," which -- as the name implies! -- will celebrate historical events in racing history that occurred on a given day many years ago. Enjoy!
On this day in 1965 -- exactly fifty years ago! -- the remarkable gelding Native Diver won the seven-furlong San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita Park in dominating fashion, easily defeating 1963 Preakness Stakes winner Candy Spots by 3 1/2 lengths.
Native Diver, renowned as the first California-bred horse to win more than $1 million in purse money, was a remarkable tough-as-nails front-runner with the speed of a sprinter and the ability to carry that speed over classic distances. During a seven-year career that saw him win stakes races every year from 1961 to 1967, Native Diver made an incredible eighty-one starts and won thirty-seven, including three consecutive renewals of the Hollywood Gold Cup.
As things turned out, seeing Native Diver make his seasonal debut in the San Carlos became a bit of a yearly tradition, as the brown gelding started in that race five consecutive times from 1963 to 1967. He failed to win the race on his first two attempts, finishing third each time, but used a runaway victory in the 1964 Palos Verdes Handicap on December 26th as a springboard to the San Carlos winner's circle in 1965. On that occasion, Native Diver opened up a four-length early lead while setting blazing fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 flat, then easily maintained his advantage down the homestretch to stop the clock in a brilliant 1:21 2/5.
Native Diver ran twice more in the San Carlos, finishing an uncharacteristic tenth in 1966 before winning the 1967 edition by four lengths under 128 pounds, conceding thirteen pounds to the runner-up while posting a time of 1:22 flat.
Owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. L.K. Shapiro and trained by M.E. Millerick, Native Diver's career would be cut short in September 1967 when he died unexpectedly of colic. A little more than a week earlier, in what would prove to be his last race, Native Diver had won the nine-furlong Del Mar Handicap in the brilliant time of 1:46 3/5, toting 130 pounds to victory while conceding twenty-one to the runner-up. From six furlongs to a mile and a quarter, on fast tracks and muddy ones, while successfully carrying as many as 133 pounds, Native Diver was as brilliant as they come. He will never be forgotten!
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