Passing of the Ghost

He was one of U.S. sport's first great television heroes, the Saturday idol of millions, long before anyone heard of Arnie Palmer or Wilt the Stilt or Johnny U. Thousands of people sent him letters and greeting cards, little children organized fan clubs in his name, his portrait appeared on the cover of TIME (May 31, 1954). When he lost the 1953 Kentucky Derby by a head to a 25-1 shot named Dark Star, fans turned from their TV sets in tears.

That was the only race Native Dancer ever lost. In a three-year career marred by bad luck (he was knocked off stride by a swerving horse in the Derby) and a succession of physical ailments (bucked shins, stone bruises, a bad ankle, a sore hoof), Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's "Grey Ghost" won 21 out of 22 races and $785,240--surpassing the record of the legendary Man o War. He was such a favorite with the bettors that only in his very first race were Native Dancer's odds higher than 9 to 10. Retired in 1954 to Vanderbilt's Sagamore Farm in Maryland, the steel-grey horse gradually turned snow-white. He commanded a stud fee of $20,000, highest of any individually owned stallion, and sired 231 offspring who so far have earned more than $4,000,000. One of his grandsons, Northern Dancer, won the Kentucky Derby in 1964; one of his sons, Kauai King, won the Derby and the Preakness in 1966. This summer, at the Saratoga yearling sale, nine of his offspring brought an average $61,000 each.

Last week at 17 (equivalent human age: 50), Native Dancer fell ill, and was rushed to the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary hospital, where surgeons removed an intestinal tumor. The operation was not a success; Native Dancer died of shock.

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