Word: longden
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Sensitive to the demands of what he calls the "Cripple Crown," Trainer Johnny Longden wanted to pull Majestic...
...Majestic Prince become the ninth winner of the Triple Crown Trophy, joining Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), and Citation (1948)? It seems unlikely, for Majestic Prince has been scratched from the race by his trainer John Longden. Longden said that he did this out of consideration for the horse. One tends to believe that it is Mr. Longden's reputation that is at stake...
Clearly Johnny Longden feels that Majestic Prince might not win the Belmont. Perhaps the horse is sore or cannot go the distance or both. We can discount Johnny's earlier statements about this horse being as good as Count Fleet. The Immortal Count won the Derby by 3 lengths, the Preakness by 8 lengths, and the Belmont by an incredible 25 lengths...
...Longden asserted that the Count's short career as a race horse can be directly attributed to his single effort at a mile-and-a-half, thus justifying scratching Majestic Prince from the Belmont. Perhaps Count Fleet's fifteen races as a two-year-old contributed more to his unsoundness than his six races at three. Longden and Majestic Prince seem to be quitting a Channel swim in full stroke a mile from shore, but they are quitting winners. Anyway everybody knows that Mom, Apple Pie, and Undefeated Triple Crown Winners are just a mirage...
Majestic Prince was recommended to McMahon by no less a judge of horseflesh than Johnny Longden, 62, the winningest jockey in history (6,026 victories in 32,406 starts) and now the horse's trainer. Says Johnny: "Hartack is so high on this colt he comes out to work him in the mornings, and you know how many name jocks do that." Even his blacksmith finds the Prince charming. "His hoofs," says Bill Bane, "are as perfect a set as I've been privileged to work with for many a year...