Damascus
From AlexBrownRacing
Horse of The Year 1967, Hall of Fame 1974, 16th of top 100 horses of the Century. pedigree
Owner: Mrs. Edith W. Bancroft
Breeder: Mrs. Thomas Bancroft
State Bred: KY
Winnings: 32 Starts: 21 - 7 - 3, $1,176,781
Won: Remsen S., Preakness S., Belmont S., Jockey Club Gold Cup S., American Derby, Aqueduct S., Wood Memorial S., Woodward S., Dwyer H., Travers S., Leonard Richards S., Bay Shore S., Brooklyn H., Aqueduct S., William Dupont Jr. H., San Fernando S., Malibu S.
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.
Videos of Damascus' races
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
Damascus - 1967 Belmont Stakes (at Aqueduct) On YouTube
More stuff...
Damascus Is Most Underrated Horse of All-Time Bloodhorse article 2/10/04 by Steve Haskin
[4] More wiki-info on Damascus
Here is one of his grandsons, Allege Proof (aka. Mango). I am his lucky owner :) swedishkat
Channeling Damascus Article in The Rail (NY Times' TC blog) by Michele MacDonald 6/6/08. Damascus being compared to Big Brown!!!
Comments from people who met Damascus
"I'll have to tell you some of the Damascus stories I heard from Frank Whiteley about the horse. He clearly regards him as one of the best he ever trained. One thing-- don't believe anyone who tries to tell you that Damascus couldn't beat Dr. Fager without a "rabbit." Damascus ran a HUGE race in the '67 Woodward-- the speed figures, if you go back and reconstruct them, are astronomical. He would have beaten Dr. Fager no matter what that day."
"Ogygian really resembles his sire, though perhaps a bit more powerfully built through the hindquarters. The gold color in his eyes, was always the most striking thing about Damascus for me, and Ogygian has the same beautiful eyes (or, rather, eye)."
"Damascus was a kind, sleepy old guy when I saw him--rather sway-backed and obviously old. One of the times I visited him, there was no one at the barn; he and Sir Ivor were the only ones there. I spent quite a while talking to them. Damascus just soberly munched on his hay; Sir Ivor stuck his tongue out and wanted me to flop it around, which I did! Lovely old gentlemen." ...Anonymus friend/Damascus-fan
"Damascus was a fabulous horse...I think since he didn't become a Mr. Prospector or Northern Dancer-type sire that a lot of people forgot how incredible he was at the track. I saw him at Claiborne many times, and I've never seen a horse with a more beautiful eye than he had. He's an influence I'm always glad to see in a pedigree" ...Vicky VanCamp, Stonerside Farm
