Which of the three among Dr Fager, Buckpasser and Damascus needed a rabbit?
It is Buckpasser who needed a “rabbit” the most often by far! In 12 of his 31 starts Buck passer was entered with a pace setter to help him win, which is in sharp contrast with only 3 starts where Damascus used a rabbit. Damascus won 18 major stakes races without a rabbit. Damascus wins without a rabbit include The Travers by 22, JCGC at 2 miles, Dwyer Hcp, Aqueduct Hcp and many others.
Buckpasser in one race broke so poorly that he was 15 ½ out of it by the first quarter and his “rabbit” Impressive won the race over him. It happened at Hialeah Feb 14, 1966 in a purse only race.
Eddie Neloy used rabbits all the time. In the 1966 Champagne Neloy used a horse named Great White Way as a pace setter for Successor against Dr. Fager and that “got Dr Fager so rank he lost handily to Successor who was named 2 yr old of the year in 1966.
They had a showdown race in 1967. Buckpasser could not keep up with Damascus that day and barely beat Dr. Fager for second. Each camp had something to say after that race. Buckpassers`people said he had sore feet and Dr Fager`s people said they used rabbits. Damascus people said we won. Tom Ainslie, a leading handicapper of the day wrote “Is this fair to use a horse like Hedevar just to tire Dr. Fager and beat him? Yes it is absolutely fair if Dr Fager can not contest a fast pace and win he is no champion.”
