The Legend from Down Under
"In the early thirties, the Australian racing authorities were very class conscious. How could they accept that this worthless, ill-bred horse, owned by an American Jew, was winning so many races, including the 1930 Melbourne Cup? There was even an attempt on his life. Bookmakers refused wagers on him, and handicappers tried to slow him down by assigning him incredibly high weights. His jockeys refused to push him, afraid that he might break down under them.<
In 1932, with his future now in doubt, he was shipped to America to run in the $100,000 Agua Caliente Handicap, on Mexico’s west coast, to run against many of America’s best horses. Running on dirt for the first time and carrying one hundred twenty nine pounds, he won easily."
Watercolor on Board