He was the little known Florida
thoroughbred that in 1961 thrilled race fans in a run for the Triple
Crown. Complete Rider introduces you to Carry Back.
Born in 1958 at Ocala Stud
Farm in Florida, and named after a tax loophole; Carry Back was
the son of Saggy. Saggy's claim to fame was that he actually beat
the great Citation. This race however was on an ‘off’
day on an ‘off’ track. His dame Joppy had good conformation
but was never really considered great.
The 15.1 Carry Back, although
determined, never demonstrated any real ability until October of
1960 in the Garden Stakes. This at the time was the world’s
richest race and Carry Back earned $300,000. This stunning victory
would set the stage for the little brown colt that was considered
by many as being from the wrong side of the tracks. He would then
take on the worlds best at the 87th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Out of the gate, Carry Back would take his usual position, which
was breaking next to last in 11th. Jockey John Sellers and Carry
Back wouldn't start their move until well after the far turn. Nearly
15 lengths behind this would come to be known as one of the greatest
‘come from behind’ victories in racing history. Coming
in first would make Carry Back only the 2nd Florida Bred thoroughbred
to win the Kentucky Derby.
At the Preakness, Sellers
and Carry Back would again put on a race that fans would never forget.
In their usual dramatic come from behind position, the team of Sellers
and Carry Back would have the fans howling in anticipation. Once
again, with a seemingly impossible come from behind position, they
would take the wire to win the 2nd jewel of the Triple Crown.
At The 1961 Belmont Stakes
the atmosphere was electric. Now Carry Back was one race away from
going down in history as the first Florida bred horse to win a Triple
Crown. But during the race Carry Back would injure an ankle and
finish a disappointing 7th. Missing out on winning the Triple Crown
would unfortunately push Carry Back's sizable racing achievements
into an anecdote of racing history. He was however; the first Florida
bred millionaire. As a stud he sired 280 foals and 194 of them were
winners who earned more than 5 million dollars. Carry Back died
in Florida at the ripe old age of 25.
But in a strange twist of
fate, Carry Back's status as a winning thoroughbred and his spectacular
victory of the 1961 Kentucky Derby would again be re-lived by his
fans and his Jockey John Sellers some 21 years later.
It seems that Sellers’
prize Kentucky Derby trophy had been stolen in a home break-in.
It was feared to have been melted down for the silver and never
to be seen again. Until one day over 20 years later when a friend
of Sellers’ now 62, called to tell him he thought he’d
seen his 61’ Derby trophy on the auction block in the well
known Internet site eBay. Brother and sister team Sue Novello and
Martin Paul had bought it at a reputable auction house a few years
earlier and were reselling it. After a visit from the authorities
and a brief investigation it turned out to be legitimate. Sue and
Martin were thrilled to be giving it back to it’s rightful
owner at a special ceremony 21 years later in the winners circle
at Churchill Downs where it was originally won.
With his Kentucky derby trophy
recovered all seemed to be put right and Carry Back could now rest
easy as his standing as a legendary Florida thoroughbred had been
regained.
