Very entertaining Bloodhorse article

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I knew it was Iskra and I guess the similar name made me think of Naskra as I am almost sure he was a half to somebody noteworthy.

Unfortunately ... Wajima is one of the most forgotten champions of the past 30 years.

He didn't race as a 4YO because he came along when stallion syndications were booming ... and the cost of insurance to keep him racing became prohibitive.

And both his 2YO and 3YO campaigns were very brief ... his 4 starts as a 2YO covering only six weeks ... and his stakes efforts as a 4YO covering less than 4 months ... much too short a time to attain noteworthiness in the era of Secretariat, Forego, Ruffian, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Alydar, and Spectacular Bid.

Also ... he was one of the world's worst stallions ... so his name no longer appears in the pedigrees of good horses.

But ... his titanic efforts against Forego, Foolish Pleasure, and Ancient Title ... and his ten-length runaway in the Travers ... stamped him as truly remarkable talent in an age of legends.

Fortunately ... his name will always appear in the record books as Champion 3YO of 1975.

[blackthroatedwind]

I saw Wajima race a couple of times. I saw him win the Travers ( Media was second and I believe Jim Dandy winner Forceten was 3rd ). It was a pretty weak five horse field. When he won the old Governor's Cup, the ex-Labor Day feature and Marlboro prep, he beat Foolish Pleasure in his first start since the match race I believe and Forego who they stiffed in order to get weight off for the Marlboro. Ancient Title, off his Whitney win, was probably also in that field. When he beat Forego in the Marlboro Gustines unwisely sent Forego up the rail and big free running horse that he was he was not happy inside. Forego, of course, turned the tables a couple weeks later in the Woodward and then Group Plan upset Wajima in his final start, the two mile JCGC in the slop. Forego missed that race with an injury.

Wajima was a very nice horse....in the days when there were a bunch of nice horses around....and they raced!

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Group Plan upset Wajima in his final start, the two mile JCGC in the slop. Forego missed that race with an injury.

That was Wajima's only weakness as a race horse ... he hated the slop. He also lost in the slop to the mudder-of-all-mudders Valid Appeal.

I too was there for the Travers ... and was very disappointed when DiMauro saddled Wajima in the shed ... instead of in the open where spectators could walk right up to the horse in the old paddock configuration.

I was able to run alongside Wajima from the shed to the path which leads to the track ... and was able to appreciate his size and appearance. He was one of the most beautiful bay horses I've ever seen.

P.S. I recall there was a middle-aged woman on the way to the track ... who called out "Hi, Waji Waji Waji!" Wajima gave her a look which said, "Hey, lady ... I'm a professional race horse ... what's this 'Waji Waji Waji' stuff?"