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Martin J. “Matt” Winn not often took no for a solution.
In 1902, the Churchill Downs racing facility was in critical monetary hassle and at risk of closing. Winn assembled a bunch of native traders, purchased the observe, and the fitting to the identify the Kentucky Derby.
Later, he modified the wagering from bookmakers to a parimutuel betting system. In 1911, he modified racing perpetually by introducing the $2 minimal guess: Up to now, the minimal pari-mutuel guess had been $5, past the attain of most working individuals.
Churchill Downs’ impresario’s biggest coup might have been when he persuaded Manhattan mogul proprietor Harry Payne Whitney to enter his filly Remorse within the 1915 run for the roses. The muscular chestnut led from begin to end and got here house a 2-length winner. Remorse turned the primary filly to triumph within the Derby.
As Winn had envisioned, Remorse’s victory introduced an avalanche of newspaper protection to Churchill Downs’ signature race. Her victory in opposition to males was a turning level in elevating the race’s recognition nationwide, and since then the Kentucky Derby has loved a status equal to any sporting occasion on the earth.
Years later, Winn mirrored on that day: “The race wanted solely a victory by Remorse to create some extra coast-to-coast publicity to essentially put it over. She didn’t fail us. Remorse made the Kentucky Derby an American establishment.”
Within the spring of 1912, close to the small city of Crimson Financial institution, N.J., a foal was born at Harry Payne Whitney’s Brookdale Farm. By the mighty stallion Broomstick out of the good mare Jersey Lightning, she was a fairly filly with a large, white blaze. Nonetheless, Payne was a bit disillusioned since he had hoped for a colt. He named her Remorse, an impulsive misnomer if ever there was one.
He was the son of New York Metropolis financier and political chief William C. Whitney. In 1896, “Payne,” as he was identified, married Gertrude Vanderbilt, the eldest daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, uniting two households of nice wealth and status. He acquired a considerable inheritance from his father in addition to his uncle, Col. Oliver Hazard Payne. Whitney had main holdings in banking, tobacco, railroads, mining, oil and a strong steady of Thoroughbreds amongst his array of investments.
Whitney had been named main American proprietor on eight events, and all through his life was the breeder of practically 200 stakes winners. His coach, the legendary Jim Rowe, conditioned 1908 Horse of the Yr Colin.
Remorse broke her maiden at first asking within the 1914 Saratoga Particular. She defeated the highest colt Pebbles, who would change into an archrival, profitable by a size with “velocity in reserve” in accordance with the Day by day Racing Kind.
The racing secretary assigned Remorse an impost of 127 kilos when she returned to historic Saratoga Race Course per week later for the Sanford Memorial. No drawback. Beneath jockey Joe Notter’s tight maintain, Remorse outran a area of 11 colts to say victory by 1 1/2 lengths. Seven days later she was again at it, churning by means of heavy mud at Saratoga to win the Hopeful Stakes whereas recognizing 13 kilos to the runner-up.
Remorse turned the primary horse — colt or filly — to comb the trio of signature Saratoga races for juveniles. Solely three others — Campfire (1916), Dehere (1993) and Metropolis Zip (2000) — have since completed that feat.
Having earned $17,390 in a span of 14 days, Whitney despatched the prized filly again to his North Jersey farm. For her dominant season, Remorse was rewarded with the title of champion 2-year-old filly. Her 3-year-old marketing campaign kicked off within the forty first Kentucky Derby, although Rowe was not utterly offered on the thought. The filly had not raced in 259 days.
“Coach Rowe and I slept within the observe steady all week, I received’t ever neglect that have,” stated Notter years later. “The roof leaked and when it rained in the course of the six days we spent there, I acquired soaked. Remorse went off her feed down in Louisville. She labored effectively sufficient in New Jersey, however the practice experience upset her. At Churchill Downs, she labored the Derby distance first in 2:14⅗, after which three days earlier than the race repeated her work going the gap in 2:08⅗. Mr. Rowe questioned if he ought to run her.”
Col. Winn ultimately satisfied Rowe to begin the regal, unbeaten chestnut filly. She attracted overflow crowds in a pair of public breezes corresponding to the complete size of the 1 1/4-mile Derby.
With a reported crowd of 49,000, Remorse went off because the 5-2 favourite within the area of 16 because the lone filly. When the flag dropped she shot like a bullet to grab the lead. Pebbles, her chief juvenile rival, sat simply off the tempo and tracked Remorse all through. With Notter within the irons, Remorse simply turned again Pebbles’ late cost and drew clear by two lengths within the historic victory.
The beautiful filly shaved two seconds off Previous Rosebud’s observe and stakes report, profitable in 2:05 2/5. Rowe celebrated his second rating within the Derby 34 years after his victory with Hindoo in 1881. Previous to Remorse, a reported 29 fillies had competed within the Derby with no win.
“Isn’t she the prettiest filly you ever noticed? You understand, that is the best race in America at the moment, and I don’t care if she ever begins once more,” Whitney stated after the race. “The glory of profitable this occasion is sufficiently big. Remorse can retire to the New Jersey farm any time now.”
Remorse did race on, returning to Saratoga in August for the Saranac Stakes, the place she battled Finn, the winner of the Belmont, Withers and Manhattan Handicap. She was by no means challenged, profitable in a hand experience by 1 1/2 lengths. Remorse was named Horse of the Yr.
The filly skilled defeat for the primary time at age 4, after which once more at 5, although the latter marked considered one of her most superlative efforts. The 1917 Brooklyn Handicap produced, arguably, one of many biggest fields ever assembled on an American racetrack at one time. The lineup included three Kentucky Derby winners – Remorse, Previous Rosebud, and Omar Khayyam, future Corridor of Fame inductee Roamer, future main sire Chicle, and handicap stars Borrow, Stromboli, and Boots.
Remorse claimed the lead instantly, holding off problem after problem all through the primary 1 1/16 miles. Then Borrow got here roaring down within the remaining strides to edge the filly by a determined nostril, setting a brand new American report of 1:49 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles. Remorse had noticed the victor 5 kilos.
Remorse’s remaining competitors was a handicap race on Sept. 25, 1917, at Aqueduct, which drew only one rival. She toted 127 kilos whereas her solely challenger carried a mere 109. Regardless of a comfortable maintain by Notter, Remorse set a 7-furlong observe report of 1:24 1/5 whereas profitable by three lengths.
Remorse was retired in 1917 with a slate of 9 victories and one second in 11 begins and earnings of $35,093. Expectations have been monumental for Remorse as a broodmare. Sadly, she didn’t match her prowess on the observe. Solely considered one of her 10 foals, Revenge, was a stakes winner, whereas Penitent was stakes-placed. Remorse died at age 22, on April 14, 1934. Her grave sits on a tranquil hillside of the Whitney farm, at this time often called Gainesway Farm, close to Lexington, Ky.
Remorse’s legacy shines brilliantly by means of the annals of American racing. It was 65 years earlier than one other filly, Real Danger, received the roses in 1980, and solely 1988 Derby victress Successful Colours has entered that unique membership since.
Remorse was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 1957.
Be aware: This story was first revealed in 2014 and has been up to date.
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