Salvator's Mile
 

I found this an interesting read this morning. It's a recap of Salvator's world record shattering mile mark in 1890 at Monmouth Park that stood for 28 years until Roamer went 1:34.80 at Saratoga in 1918 - it's from Henry Buck in Vanity Fair in the late 1910's.

The Cal Bred Salvator was beaten in his first two starts - but won 16 of his final 17 races. The lone defeat came failing to stay 12 furlongs as a highweight against tough competition at age 3.

He was undefeated at age 4 - and broke the world record for both 8f and 10f.

The best part is that bookmakers took action! Closing odds were: Salvator: 1-to-3 Time: 2-to-1 - and Even money against 1:37 for a mile

I'm going to attempt making a figure for a race from 1890 on a straightaway track.

Race #1 that day: Open handicap going 6fs. 4-year-old Lady Reel (a six-time winner, stakes winner, and the eventual dam of Hall of Famer Hamburg) won by a length in 1:13 flat going 6fs. The modern day equivlent for this type of race would be commonly won with a figure in the 85-to-90 range.

Race #2: A stakes race for 2-year-olds going 6f. Incredibly tough looking race.

Winner Montana would run 2nd in the Withers and Belmont Stakes the following year. He also later won the Suburban.

2nd place finisher Russell won 5 stakes races as a 2yo. Also was a multiple stakes winner at age 3 - taking the Dwyer.

3rd place finisher Sorcerer won the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth last out.

Many of the beaten horses had great careers. 9th place finisher Correction was the best female sprinter of her day. The Correction Handicap - a race still run today at AQU is named in her honor. 12th place finisher Bermuda won the US Hotel Stakes going 6f at Saratoga and also won the Manhatten Handicap at age 3.

This race went in 1:12.50 - that type of race would commonly be won today with a figure in the 90-to-95 range.


Race #3: Run on the Inner track

Race #4: Salvator runs 1:35.50 in his race against time.

Race #5: The closing day feature New Jersey Handicap for 3yo's going 10fs. This race would translate to the modern day version of the Haskell Handicap.

Our old friend Banquet - who would become the richest gelding till Exterminator about 30 years later - would finish 3rd beaten 8 lengths in a field of 8.



The race went in 2:04 for 10fs. It's the type of race that would translate to about a 106-to-112 Beyer today.

Race #6: Run on Inner Track


Salvator went 44 points faster than Race #1, 37 points faster than Race #2, and 17 points faster than Race #5.

This would mean Hamburg's dam won race #1 with a projected figure of 86
The loaded 2yo stakes was won with a figure of 93
Salvator ran a figure of 130 in his race against time
And the New Jersey Handicap was won with a 113. Our old friend Banquet gets a 102 in the race.


Had Salvator run a mile in 1:37 or slower - as all the bookies of the day hoped - he would have run a figure of 114 or less.

Salvator was probably the most popular African American horse in American history. A famed Negro folk song was 'can't ketch Salvator' - his regular jockey was the black Isaac Murphey.

The 'black Isaac Murphy'? Was there a white one?

He was a bay. Was a stallion as well - sired quite a few.

FWIW - Isaac Murphy - the black jockey - said Salvator was the best horse he ever saw. However, he was suspended for the record mile.

With a name like Isaac, maybe he was a Black Jew?

The only black jews I know of are named Jackie, Lenny, and Sammy...

Rod Carew.

Did you know Michael Jordan is Jewish?

Rod Carew is from Panama...

Many have undoubtedly heard this, but the great Dave Parker used to wear a Star of David. When asked once by a reporter if was Jewish, Parker answered no. 'Then why the are you wearing it?' came the reply. Parker: "Because I'm a star and my name's David."