Damascus

From AlexBrownRacing

Horse of The Year 1967, Hall of Fame 1974, 16th of top 100 horses of the Century. pedigree

Famous rivalry between Damascus, Dr Fager and the one year older Buckpasser. The 3 met in what has been called "The Race Of The Century" in the 1967 Woodward Stakes. Damascus won with 10 lenghts.

Damascus at stud Winner's Circle

Damascus at age 28

Damascus ranked as one of the superstars of the memorable era of horse racing in the late 1960s. He thrilled fans with his trademark sweeping move on the far turn and relentless stretch run that left his opponents floundering.

Damascus was much like the steel blades he was named for —tough and resilient. He could combine devastating power and acceleration to cut down his opponents as he forged his way to victory

His jockey Bill Shoemaker: "He showed me guts in the Remsen. We were slammed against the rail -and that would be enough to take the starch out of some horses- but he recovered and came on to win. I made a couple of runs with him, and he didn't fail me. Most horses don't want to make more than one run."

Perhaps more impressive than any of the titles was the glowing praise Damascus received from the great turf writer Charles Hatton in that year's American Racing Manuel:

"He danced all the dances and ran all the distances from a mile to two miles. Never did we see him spit out the bit...and he was confronted with such defiant tasks as carrying topweight of 128 pounds in the Dwyer, giving Ring Twice and Straight Deal actual weight in the Aqueduct, and running smooth-shod in unaccustomed going in the grassy Laurel International. Fort Marcy won the money that day, but Damascus won the crowd's heart."

Owner: Mrs. Edith W. Bancroft (daughter of William Woodward, Belair Stud), Trainer: Frank Whiteley Jr (who also trained the great Ruffian). Pensioned at Claiborne Farm[1]in 1989, Damascus lived to the age of thirty one. Damascus sired 70 stakes winners including Old Friend's Equine's OGYGIAN[2]and is the paternal grandfather of the unbeaten filly PERSONAL ENSIGN[3]. Damascus' daughters have produced over one hundred stakes winners.

Comments from people who met Damascus

Wikipedia page

Damascus winning the Travers in 1967 He won with 22 lenghts

Several Damascus races including "The Race of the century", 1967 Woodward Stakes, the only time 3 horses of the year ran for the horse of the year title

[4] More wiki-info on Damascus

Here is one of his grandsons, Allege Proof (aka. Mango). I am his lucky owner :) swedishkat

BREAKING NEWS June 9, 2007: TEUFLESBERG [5](related to DAMASCUS through Johannesburg-Ogygian) just WON the Woody Stephen Stakes at Belmont!!!

Steve Haskin about Teuflesberg: "Talk about tough horses, how about Woody Stephens Breeders’ Cup (gr. II) winner Teuflesberg, and the great training job by Jamie Sanders to keep the son of Johannesburg running so well and looking so good after a 17-race career, which has seen him race at least once in 13 of the 14 months since his career debut in April of last year. He not only still is in great physical condition, he rebounded off a 17th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to win the seven-furlong Woody Stephens in 1:21 2/5."