Martin J. “Matt” Winn hardly ever took no for a solution.
In 1902, the Churchill Downs racing facility was in critical monetary bother and at risk of closing. Winn assembled a gaggle of native buyers, purchased the monitor, and the best to the identify the Kentucky Derby.
Later, he modified the wagering from bookmakers to a parimutuel betting system. In 1911, he modified racing without end by introducing the $2 minimal guess: Previously, the minimal pari-mutuel guess had been $5, past the attain of most working folks.
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 dwelling a 2-length winner. Remorse grew to become 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 reputation nationwide, and since then the Kentucky Derby has loved a status equal to any sporting occasion on this planet.
Years later, Winn mirrored on that day: “The race wanted solely a victory by Remorse to create some extra coast-to-coast publicity to actually 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 Purple 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 reasonably filly with a large, white blaze. Nonetheless, Payne was a bit upset 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 recognized, married Gertrude Vanderbilt, the eldest daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, uniting two households of nice wealth and status. He obtained 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 secure 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 develop into an archrival, successful by a size with “pace in reserve” based on the Every day Racing Kind.
The racing secretary assigned Remorse an impost of 127 kilos when she returned to historic Saratoga Race Course every week later for the Sanford Memorial. No downside. Underneath jockey Joe Notter’s tight maintain, Remorse outran a discipline of 11 colts to say victory by 1 1/2 lengths. Seven days later she was again at it, churning by way of heavy mud at Saratoga to win the Hopeful Stakes whereas recognizing 13 kilos to the runner-up.
Remorse grew to become the primary horse — colt or filly — to brush 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 fully bought on the concept. The filly had not raced in 259 days.
“Coach Rowe and I slept within the monitor secure all week, I received’t ever neglect that have,” stated Notter years later. “The roof leaked and when it rained throughout the six days we spent there, I obtained soaked. Remorse went off her feed down in Louisville. She labored properly sufficient in New Jersey, however the prepare trip 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 space in 2:08⅗. Mr. Rowe puzzled if he ought to run her.”
Col. Winn finally satisfied Rowe to start out the regal, unbeaten chestnut filly. She attracted overflow crowds in a pair of public breezes similar 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 discipline 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 attractive filly shaved two seconds off Outdated Rosebud’s monitor and stakes file, successful 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 and not using a win.
“Isn’t she the prettiest filly you ever noticed? You recognize, 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 successful this occasion is large enough. 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, successful in a hand trip 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, Outdated 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 file 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 cosy maintain by Notter, Remorse set a 7-furlong monitor file of 1:24 1/5 whereas successful 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 had been huge for Remorse as a broodmare. Sadly, she didn’t match her prowess on the monitor. 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, right now referred to as Gainesway Farm, close to Lexington, Ky.
Remorse’s legacy shines brilliantly by way 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.
