Dr. Fager's Historic World Record Mile - 1968 (

[@jtwisted7]

How a horse could run different distance's and on different surfaces and win like Dr. Fager did is beyond belief. He is one of the most amazing and talented runners ever. God rest his soul. Thank you cf1970 for the awesome video.

[@2121421214]

The best horse I ever seen in 65 tears. I would like to see all his races. He is the best ever. Thanks

[@evyn10014]

I've watched this over and over and it still blows my mind. For anyone who doesn't know, The "Hedevar" mentioned in the call was a record holding sprinter who was used as the "rabbit" when Damascus beat Fager in two of their duels. Fager obliterated the field here in the mile, and with no rabbit, handily defeated Hall of Famer Damascus at 1 1/4 miles. This horse was the real deal.

[@MrAmerican76]

I was at the races and watched this race at Arlington Park in Chicago I was a groom for Stanley Reiser and later Jerry Noss. What a great race I was only 17 at the time and never thought the record would last some 40 years ... It was one of the best racing seasons I can remember...

[@peterantoinette5819]

I love it on this video when after Dr. Fager crosses the wire in a cakewalk in 1:32 1/5 under 134 pounds and someone on the PA system says "WOW...that is a race horse". Enough said!!! One of the greatest horses EVER!!!

[@5inthehole]

Another amazing fact about Dr. Fager and this race; The quarter mile was run in 22.4/5 sec.(Dr. Fager wasn't in the lead). He took the lead at the half mile pole at 44 flat which means he ran the second quarter in 20. 3/5 sec, the fastest quarter mile ever seen on any racetrack. What a horse!

[@southwesttexasm]

Phil Georgeff had that voice..wow..love that "Here they come spinning out of the turn" Classic..thank you for the post!!!!!!!!!!

[@qhsperson]

I've been watching horse racing since before Carry Back won the Derby, and Dr. Fager has a special place in my heart and mind. I saw this race run live (on tv), and it just confirmed my belief that he was the greatest race horse I'd ever seen. Can't say I've changed my mind much in the ensuing decades.

[@escrowrick]

Dr. Fager's 1968 campaign may be the greatest year a race horse has ever had.

[@OHRaceFan]

Carly- You are awesome. I've been waiting 39 years to see this legendary performance. Dr. Fager has been my favorite horse of all time since I became a race fan in the 60's. I don't think that any horse that ever lived would have beaten Dr. Fager from 7 furlongs to 1 1/16. As the DRF chart for the race indicated, he "won with something left". Thanks for this and your many other postings!

[@Matty11209]

That has to be in the top five performances of all time. Maybe top 3.

[@BE109]

The fact that thousands have run a mile race since Fager did this is even more astounding. He did it easy,he was not even close to being all out.

[@tigerboy1966]

The amazing thing about this is that DF was eased slightly towards the finish. There was probably another fifth of a second in the tank. Definitely the best mile horse on dirt ever.

[@enricowilson9848]

This race is probably the best mile run race of all time. I'd be shocked if any horse(of any era) could have beat Dr. Fager on this day. Overall, he was a powerhouse of a horse,..and every race he ran,...he ran like a monster.

[@BE109]

Not only did he carry weight,but look how easy he did it. He just loped away with no urging at all. He was the best!

[@clutchcargo11]

awesom call. Phil Georgeffe Youre the greatest announcer there was.

[@secordman]

Thanks cf1970 for all these racing videos. Very enjoyable to see the real greats in action.

[@keybender]

Also Dr. Fager broke from an outside post and was wide around the turn. Incredible performance.

[@TheBigScat]

This was what I found most impressive. The fact that he wasn't healthy for a Triple Crown run unfairly counts against him in the GOAT debate. He's right there.

[@joefederico]

He sets a world record, under that weight and essentially being ridden out, almost eased as they came to the wire. Speed freak would be putting it mildly. Shame I was too young to ever see him race live. Thanks again cf for posting this. Your thoroughbred videos are total enjoyment. Keep em coming please!

[@ahsans786]

What a jem you've found. Amazing to think he could race wide the entire trip with 134 lbs and set the world record.

[@juleswins3]

Racing's first and last Grand Slam winner: 1968 Champion Sprinter, Champion Handicap Horse, Champion Grass Horse & Horse of the Year.

[@Jazzgirl8888]

Well said gf ! What an incredible display indeed ! cf and I were discussing yesterday about what a true powerhouse he was. This race is amazing to watch ! Outstanding footage and so much fun to watch !

[@peace-now]

Unbelievable! That time is truly remarkable!

[@tinkey60]

I think Damascus and Dr Fager was the most underrated horses of all time. I seen all there races, and I can honestly say nobody on this planet could beat Dr Fager in 1 mile or less. NOBODY.

[@dougscott8109]

amazing feat considering he was carrying 134lbs... that was back when horses were horses!

[@OHRaceFan]

BE109- I couldn't agree more. He seems like the perfect horse for a Match Race at ANY distance. I've not seen such a versatile horse in my lifetime. Three times < 2:00 at 1 1/4 and a track record at 7/8ths at Aqueduct that stood for a generation. I'd love to see the '68 Vosburgh.....

[@c5ster]

He was the only horse who ever held four titles in one year, 1968, when he was named the Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap horse, Champion Sprinter, and co-Champion Grass horse. Champion SPRINTER plus setting a world's record for the mile, which still stands today carrying 134 pounds !!! Damascus only beat him by sending a stablemate 'rabbit' out as well.

[@Rimfaxe96]

How did he DO that? Chase away at the end with most of the energy spent already?! Beast!

[@hswatnik]

great video clip- you deserve an oscar & a emmy for uploading this gem-

[@711ATOM]

I've watched this film many times over the years but I just noticed that the 2:03-4 mark you can hear clearly hear someone in the background say "this is a racehorse." Indeed.

[@BE109]

Look real close at the moment Baeza let Fager go at the top of the lane. His turn of foot is like RIGHT NOW,and man oh man he was opening up like a monster rocket. Thats after 6 furlongs in 1:07 & change! Crazy thing is Baeza never pushed him at all and Fager was merely galloping in the stretch. Nerud said he could have gone much faster. I believe that big time!

[@evyn10014]

Now THAT is a horse. Most underrated TB of all time?

[@pla1945]

I worked for Phil Georgeff at Arlington during my college years. He was a truly great race caller and a fine gentleman.

[@Irudiar]

Dr. Fager is still my Number 1 favorite racehorse. :D

[@jeffsohikian8764]

At the time of Dr. Fager's retirement, he was the closest thing to being an unbeatable horse as I've seen before or since. His '68 Vosburgh which trainer John Nerud always said was his best race will never be shown since NYRA somehow supposedly lost the video. It boggles the mind to imagine what he would've done as a 5yo. After a pre-lim like the Carter with 140? he would've been asked to carry 141-143 in the Met Mile. Even with those wts. no one was going to touch him at his 2 favorite and unbeatable distances. Then it would've been 140+ for the 1 1/4 mile Suburban. With no Damascus around, nobody else would've had a prayer either. With those 3 races alone in the bag, he would've gotten the heroic fanfare and acclaim he most certainly deserved leaving little doubt of his incredible raw talent and ability to go with his now monumental accomplishments.

[@BE109]

If you only watch this race and no others that Fager ran. This one race would be enough to convince anybody just how great this horse was. He could blaze at sprint distances ,he could run a route of ground in top time! He had the ability to carry HUGE weight and do it like it was nothing. Yes This was a great racehorse.

[@operjxm]

Wow! what a race. cf1970, You sure post great races.

[@nameofthepen]

chiasmafora - I was going to mention that he had run a wide mile on the outside, but you had it covered already. :) What a wowser of a race, no? Thanks cf1970 for posting. 5*s, 'cuz it makes my heart sing.

[@thebeavear1965]

@evyn10014 I so agree, without a doubt he is NO 1, The things this fabulous horse did no other horse ever did. And that includes Sec. Mind you he did it carrying a ridiculous amount of weight. Very Underrated, but simply the BEST!!!

[@PMontgomery0001]

Absolutely Amazing, just wonder what time he would have done had he been pushed that little bit harder by another horse. Love the milers !!!

[@thebeavear1965]

If you watch this race carefully, he was eased the last sixteenth of a mile. OMG!!! Unbelievable.

[@chrisp.9172]

Absolutely magnificent! The speed at which he pulls away from them in the stretch!!

[@Jazzgirl8888]

I was thinking that exactly as I was listening to it myself ! This footage is a real gem. :) I hope you will have a great weekend gf !

[@BE109]

Dr. Fager was not just a sprinter/miler,Dr. Fager ran 10 Furlongs in 1:59 and change multiple times. He would have been a real tough proposition for any horse one on one. I believe he was greatest pure racehorse in history. I believe the facts bear that out. This performance is just a taste.

[@eduardrosar]

For me, this is the second greatest performance in horse racing history (only after Secretariat's Belmont Stakes). What if The Doctor was challenged?

[@BE109]

People need to absorb the fact that this horse a pure freak,his only weakness was his disdain for rating. That was his fierce will to win manifesting itself. He was wide all the way around in this race,he went 1:07 & change,and when he hit the stretch he just galloped off with VERY LITTLE urging. Baeza said he had no idea he was going that fast. The final 1/4 in 24 & change,being basically geared down. He could have done this in 1:30 & change, Folks that is a very sobering thought. Wow!

[@jeffgarmon1]

Yes. Racing wide the entire distance and carrying 134 lbs. Hard to fathom.

[@evyn10014]

@BE109 I enjoy your posts. How in the world could anyone doubt the Doctor? He proved himself clearly better than Damascus -- and Damascus was one of the best ever. Without the rabbit Fager would have gone 4 for 4 or at least 3 for 4 with Damascus. People go on and on about Secretariat's record at 1 1/2 holding up, but TB's are bred more for sprinting now, and yet Fager's mile has only been equaled on dirt by a horse carrying far less weight. To me that's equally if not more impressive.

[@BE109]

I have seen some pretty uninformed comments on some other videos. Saying Fager just beat a bunch of "cooked" horses. Insinuating Fager was tired as well. All one has to do is to watch how little urging Fager got from Baeza,and most importantly look how Fager's stride was still lengthening in the stretch. The eyes do not lie,Fager was well within himself,and yet after 42 years,after thousands upon thousands of 8F races being run since,he still has his name in the record books. A great TB for sure

[@npspec34]

13 of his 22 races were in NY with 3 more in NJ. He won the Gotham (beating Preakness + Belmont winner, Damascus)and Withers, but skipped the Triple Crown races. Man was he fast, tho. Dr. Fager appears in Rachel Alexandra's pedigree so some of her speed can be traced to him! He was Horse of the Year in 1968.

[@Phanatic24601]

In my opinion, Dr. Fager was the fastest horse of all time after Man o' War. Secretariat could have beaten him (Doc) over a distance, but at the mile I'd give it to the Doc.

[@nin12dog]

Sec will always be my Fav, but I LOVE Dr Fager & Mr. Nerud! Dr Fager was exceptional - some say he'd take Secretariat at a mile. Maybe true?

[@BE109]

WOW! is the perfect one word description for Dr. Fager. And yes he was a racehorse,no doubt about that!!!!

[@fagerflies]

I saw this in person. Still have the marked up program and form. He could have won this by 20. He galloped out the 1 1/8 mile in 144 4/5..carried 134 lbs.Offical chart read " commenced lugging in while drawing off through the stretch and won with something left".. "Start good,won easily".they like to call him a miler.That's baloney.. He ran 4 sub- 2 minute- 1 1/4 miles.. even his loss as a four year old against the rabbit and Damascus.. he equaled the track record in that himself under 135

[@BE109]

The fractions were vicious, Fager actually ran a 1/4 in 204/5 seconds. That is believed to be the fastest quarter ever run in a body of a race. Baeza was just letting him run on his own in the stretch. Nerud claimed he could have done it in 30 and change, You had better believe it!!!

[@dunsta69]

Everyone rates Secretariat's 1.5 mile the 2:24 (126 pounds) the benchmark standard, but Dr. Fager's effort here for 1 mile in 1:32.5 carrying 134 pounds to me is better. There is a genuine case for Dr. Fager to be the greatest horse of all time. He missed the TC due to injury and in some way that has taken a bit away from his status amongst the greats. To me thought he is probably the best ever

[@css910]

"and aROUND the far turn Dr. FAger!" :-) Love it!

[@711ATOM]

"And they're all in. Flag is up, and they're off!" - Phil Georgeff race caller.

[@LaramieTrail]

Too many of today's top horses cannot make ten starts in their career. The breed is in decline. the really great, tough horses ran in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The breed has beome too big, too fragile and too drugged.

[@GlennCraven]

Holy cow. Did you hear Phil Georgeff at 1:59? He's set the microphone down but you can hear him say "Wow" and then someone, maybe not Georgeff, says as quite the understatement, "This is a racehorse." ... One wonders if he couldn't have been one or two fifths faster if he'd needed to be. Of course, at 1:32 1/5, nobody was gonna be close, even if they had been carrying 110 pounds to his 134.

[@ebbets1965]

It is a tragedy that the focus on producing fast developing quick horses has damaged the thoroughbred. Horses back could run every seven days, run 2 miles and as this video shows, set a time that has never been broken in 45 years, all while carrying an impost that is probably illegal today. No more horses like Exterminator, Kelso, Forego, Dr Fager, Secretariat. I completely share your sentiment.

[@PaulDePace]

Wow....Dr. Fager won eased up! Crazy. That is like that 100 yard dash by Usain Bolt !! I bet Dr. Fager could have shaved another couple of fiths off that record if he had been pressed to the wire.

[@BE109]

If Fager would have more interested in rating,he would have probably never lost to Damascus,but Damascus was great himself,and Fager's fierce will to be in front hurt him when Damascus had his "rabbit" Hedevar,who by the way had held the world record for a mile before that! Of course Damascus was the only horse who had to ability to take advantage of the Doc's only weakness! Perhaps Buckpasser as well,but if they met Fager on even terms,Fager would have rolled them! Fager proved that VS Damas.!

[@Murphdogg1]

Sunline was a Kiwi horse - but your right - amazing mare was Sunline. What a race by Dr. Fager!

[@peace-now]

Not by racing enthusiasts. Dr Fager is probably amongst the best for purists. He was consistant and broke the world record. I have seen a lot of horses, and Dr Fager was the best one I have seen. I liked Il Tempo's win in the Wellington Cup also. I was at all three Cox Plates that Kingston Town won, but that didn't measure Dr Fager or Il Tempo either.

[@williamlawlor5969]

the G.O.A.T.

[@joefederico]

I never saw him run live but that was an astonishing victory. All that weight, racing 3 wide the entire time and never really asked down the stretch and still setting a world record. I could only imagine if they pushed him just a little that time would be 1:31 and change. As many have said no one would have beaten Secretariat going a 1-1/2 on Belmont Day, no one who have touched Doc at a mile on this day.

[@dunsta69]

Dr Fager, Kelso, John Henry etc are underrated because they did not win any of the Triple Crown races. Not saying that is justification, it's just a fact. Those that win TC events are put on a pedestal, but horses that carry weight and run for numerous years - beating younger horses - don't receive the accolades they deserve. Running world records carrying top weight is as good as it gets.

[@rscarbro100]

1973 Marlboro Cup. The track was wet fast & can prove it. Onion hit the 3/4 in 1:09 1/5. Sec was slowed before the 1 mile marker from keeping hitting Riva Ridge in the rear. Watch the video. Shortly after was took to the outside & went through the mile marker with Riva in 1:33 flat. Won in record time 1 1/8 mile 1:45 2/5. Clocked pulling up at the 1 1/4 post in 1:57 4/5. A record mile is well within his capablities. The Dr. was one hell of a horse anyway you look at it.!

[@bbmtge]

You must remember that Dr. Fager was 4YO in this race. Sec & MOW ran at 3YO. Dr. Fager was great at 3YO and legendary at 4YO but that does not mean he would beat Sec or MOW had they raced at 4YO.

[@TwoSlew]

This was one FAST horse!

[@fredym515]

The Good Doctor--they don't make them like that anymore.

[@peace-now]

@LowerGwladys You should. I have seen both Dr Fager and Frankel running. Frankel has not had much competition, but is unbeaten. As far as the crowd is concerned, Frankel has nothing like that electric atmosphere surrounding Dr Fager. For me, Dr Fager is the best I have seen. Kingston Town was a good one also. As far as English horses aree concerned, my favorite was Troy. He had a turn of speed also.

[@BE109]

@rscarbro100 He was coasting because he was WELL within himself. Baeza didn't ask him for everything he had. He knew Nerud wouldn't approve of pushing a horse who was winning easily. Baeza also said that he had no idea he was going to break the record,and he said all he would have had to do to make him go faster was to chirp to him. Thats why I said he was coasting.

[@BE109]

Cont- Another furlong at 12 seconds would have put Fager squarely in the 1:44's at 9F. It is not totally out of the question that if Baeza poured on the coal that Fager might have even broke into the 1:43's,now that to me is a very sobering thought! Thats a reasonable time for 8 1/2 furlongs! Fager was a model of prodigous physical ability! As much as I love secretariat,"the good docter" is my favorite!

[@rscarbro100]

@BE109 I don't know what you mean coasting here. I did not see him slowing up a bit. I could say Big Red was coasting. I did not see him slowing up either. I seen were Big Red in his last workout just before the Marlboro & ran 5 furlongs in 57 flat. Thats exactly 11.4 for each fulrong. The Dr. ran the mile a tab over 11.5 average each furlong. Also had a workout in mud a week before the Whitney & ran 57 2/5 for 5 furlongs.

[@machismo64]

Generally in the U.S. track records on the turf tend to be faster than on the dirt. For example, both Dr. Fager's mile and Secretariat's Belmont time have been bettered on turf, but their records on dirt still stand. European tracks often have hills that make straight comparisons difficult. The style of racing in Europe puts much less emphasis on early speed than American racing does as well.

[@BE109]

@evyn10014 I believe Hedevar at one time was a co-world record holder at a mile! So he was no run of the mill rabbit! The Doctor's races were usually run in blistering fractions,so Hedevar by himself was no threat,but with a great closer like Damascus being allowed to drop back and cruise until the later stages,Hedevar was a problem. With no Hedevar,Damascus was forced to look into the eye of the tiger himself. Something NO horse ever survived!

[@grandcosmo]

I'd put a lot of money on Dr. Fager over Frankel because Frankel never really had to run turns in his races. They were either straight or had very slight turns. Frankel also never had to give weight to his rivals like Dr. Fager. Dr. Fager dominated on dirt and turf while Frankel only raced on turf.

[@dunsta69]

love the reations after it passes then post "wow".."this is a racehorse!"

[@PaulaBill1]

The more races by The Doc I see, the more I agree that he s #1 -3 on the list of the all time greats. I would place him ahead of Citation for sure. On any given day, he could beat any horse at 1 mile, including Secretariat or MOW. He was in another class altogether at a mile. He ran on grass and dirt, with very high weights. A mind boggling horse. The greatest single year by any horse in the last 120 years.

[@BE109]

@sl7293 No sir it was not too shabby at all. Fager was something special!!!

[@1948BigCy]

@sl7293 To set the record straight, Cy sat out his entire 4 yo season because of injuries. When he came back at 5, he did run the mile at GG Fields in world record time (but not carrying 134!). With the same race, he broke Stymie's all time earnings record...

[@BE109]

@rscarbro100 Secretariat was capable of setting a record anytime he ran. But Fager was as well. Both were great horses,with totally different temperaments and running styles. But in the end they were both great ones.

[@OHRaceFan]

Is there any horse in history, other than Dr Fager, who ran 2- 6 furlong splits in 1:07 and change and 3-sub 2 minute 1 1/4 miles? I don't think so.

[@BE109]

@rscarbro100 I wasn't saying Fager was slowing up when I said he coasting. What I meant was he was doing it very easily. He was in no way fully extending,in fact he was barely being pushed. And I stick to my opinion that Fager could have easily went another furlong in 12 & change.

[@shinnpick]

@Baskerville22 I agree with cf1970! It just happens to be Phil Georgeff calling this race, just like he did some 96,131 other races! By the way, just to educate you a little, that's an all time record! He must have been doing a great job in most peoples eyes. Sorry you decided to take a dig at him and America!

[@mrlove1961]

Crazy Sick performance. He ran very regally with the high action and long strides. I think Sec was the greatest but this horse was an amazing runner. The only knock I have is that he proved to be vulnerable when trying to be rated in the defeats against Damascus where as Sec could run any kind of race, going 1:09 1/5 for 6 furlongs in the Belmont and finishing at 2:24 but this was truly a great horse no doubt...

[@MrHowie18]

Dr. Fager only lacked the triple crown races at three,this plays into the rankings for sure. however, im an old timer, saw every great since Bold Ruler 1957. i can say for sure that the horses listed above him could not beat him in match race. only sec and bid would have a chance. there by the way has not been a better horse than the Bid in 1980; he the last legend. (Zenyatta, o.k too for the ladies.

[@johnhoie1]

I don’t think he was underrated at all. Bloodhorse Magazine put out a list of the 100 greatest American thoroughbreds of the 20th century. The Doc was #6, just ahead of my favorite, Native Dancer. BTW, Dr. Fager is the only great horse I saw in the flesh when he won the Hawthorne Gold Cup in 1967. Coming down the stretch the first time, he looked like Pegasus. Baeza was holding him so hard, his nose seemed to be stuck in the air. The Doc was a big horse (16-3 I think), but not heavy. Despite his blazing speed, he appeared to be built like a router.

[@nin12dog]

Interesting - Dr. Fager is indeed an extraordinaryly talented & determined racehorse. I love this video! Secretariat, of course, was astonishing. - you make a good point: Secretariat's Trip Crwn was watched on TV by the entire Nation! It would be fascinating to see these Traditional Greats race together!

[@rscarbro100]

@OHRaceFan Secretariat ran 2 sub 2 minutes 1 1/4 mile races & 1 unoffically in the M.C. that tied Spectacular Bid world record in 1:57 4/5, He was not a 4 year old when he did these.

[@Jazzgirl8888]

Hi Bluster ! Nice to see you ! I hope all is well with you :)

[@BE109]

rsarbro100 I agree with your take. But just think Fager came coasting home here,and I do mean coasting. Baeza said he had no idea he going as fast as he was,and he said if I had chirped to him he would have gone faster. As it was he came home in 24 and change,with the fact that he could have gone faster,given his time for 8 furlongs in 1:32 1/5,just think if he was running 9 F. he could have easily broke into the 1:44's or maybe just maybe the 1;43's! Another 12 sec furlong here ,CONT-

[@evyn10014]

@schardy80 Ranking him at #6 was crazy.

[@BE109]

I'm all for the safety of the horses. I still believe a dirt surface can be maintained for safety. The problem is many times at many tracks,on a day of a big race the track is tinkered with to make it faster(meaning it is usually a bit hard),I do not agree with that. As far as synthetic surfaces go,it appears that they will be in our future for awhile. The breed may benefit because that surface tends to suit horses that excell on turf. That will bring some stamina based lines back in our horses

[@neorules]

I just watched Hull in the 2009 derby trial run the mile in 1:30.21. Is that the current WR?

[@RavenRuled]

1:32 under a hand ride carrying 134. I bet Zenyatta and Blame wouldn't be in the top 3 in this race.

[@carlykaiser]

Sorry OHRaceFan, this isn't one of my videos

[@gotch09]

Can I ask what year this is? I just happened to stumble across this video.

[@medomoreno]

@schardy80 fyi In Blood-Horse magazine's List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Dr. Fager is rated #6.