On This Day in Racing History: One Count Wins his 3yo Debut

It was on this day in 1952 that One Count -- who would be voted the champion three-year-old colt of that year -- began made his three-year-old debut in a seven-furlong allowance race at Hialeah Park. The son of Count Fleet had run three times as a juvenile, finishing unplaced in a pair of six-furlong maiden races over the Widener course at Belmont before breaking his maiden going a mile and seventy yards at Garden State Park.

For his seasonal debut, One Count flashed more speed than he had as a juvenile in tracking the early pace before taking command and drawing off to win by 1 1/4 lengths in the time of 1:24 4/5. With this race under his belt, One Count embarked on an extremely busy schedule of races, finishing third in a six-furlong allowance race on January 30th, first in a seven-furlong allowance race on February 13th, fifth in the nine-furlong Everglades Handicap on February 20th, ninth in the nine-furlong Flamingo Stakes on March 1st, seventh in the six-furlong Cherry Blossom Stakes on March 29th, second in a one-mile allowance race on April 15th, first in an 8.5-furlong allowance race on May 7th, and second in the one-mile Withers Stakes three days later on May 10th. Wow!

Remarkably, One Count thrived on this busy schedule, and proceeded to finish third in the Preakness Stakes on May 17th and first in the Belmont Stakes on June 7th. In the latter race, One Count helped set the early pace, then took command to win by 2 1/2 lengths under Eddie Arcaro, stopping the clock in 2:30 1/5 for a mile and a half. After this decisive victory, One Count was given a two-month break, but returned on August 16th to win the Travers Stakes by three lengths over Armageddon and Tom Fool. A runner-up effort in the September 24th Lawrence Realization at a mile and five-eighths set him up for a run in the October 4th Jockey Club Gold Cup, which he won by two lengths over Mark-Ye-Well, with 1952 champion handicap horse Crafty Admiral another fifteen lengths back in third. One Count would run once more to conclude his season, scoring an easy nine-length victory in the October 25th Gold Cup at Jamaica going a mile and five-eighths. Can you imagine a horse undertaking a similar campaign today? Nine starts as a three-year-old prior to running in the Preakness? What a horse!