He Pulled A Silky
By Eire
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7th Jul 2011 •
6,767 views
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18 comments
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The farther time takes us from 1955, the less people who have seen this legend exist. Few people remember Silky Sullivan, the best come-from-behind race horse to ever live!
Silky Sullivan was a chestnut thoroughbred, foaled on February 28th. His sire was Sullivan, a big English Thoroughbred with obvious Irish pedigree. His mother was Lady N Silk, an American mare who went back to Fair Play, sire of Man O' War, grandsire of War Admiral, and great-grandsire of Seabiscuit. He was picture perfect, a beauty of a horse. And he was not small, either. Silky was trained under Reggie Cornell, in Ontario Canada, and was owned at the time of his wins by Mr.Phil Klipstein and Mr.Tom Ross.
Silky Sullivan, being a California horse, raced at Santa Anita Racetrack commonly, and is well known for a race where he "slept", letting the field pass him by 41 lengths (10 more lengths than Secretariat won his Belmont by). In the last furlong Silky zipped to the front, winning the 6 and a half furlong race by three lengths! Unfortunately, after being entered in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness he lost both. To avoid further humiliation he skipped the Belmont to retire as a stud, but was unsuccessful.
Before his tragic ending, Silky Sullivan won 12 races, of 27 starts. Not the best record, but certainly not the worst. He was commonly ridden by Willie Shoemaker (jockey of Gallant Man's mishap), a hall of fame jockey who once described a race on Silky, "You can't do a thing with him, you just have to allow him to run his own race, at his own speed, in his own style in the first quarter or maybe the first three eighths. And you just sit there and wait, hoping you won't have to wait too long, because when he really gets going you have to be alert or he might just leave you behind — and then you hold on for dear life".
Silky ended up as such of a legend, that when he died on November 18, 1977, (of a heart issue) he was buried in the infield at Golden Gate Fields. The Silky Sullivan Handicap still runs today, and an award is given to a 3 year old colt every year, titled "The Silky Sullivan Award". Silky's blood still runs in champion Quarter Horses, as some smart ranchers took their broodmares to have his colts. There will never be another horse as fantastic as him. Many have tried, like Whirlaway, Gallant Man, and Forego, but none have come to his standards. |
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Wanderin Boy Memorial
MOD
I ♥ this horse !! I remember reading about him awhile back, he sure was amazing ! Great article !
I ♥ this horse !! I remember reading about him awhile back, he sure was amazing ! Great article !
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Jul 7, 2011
• 5,272 views
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Stay Untamed
I've never heard of him! Good article!
I've never heard of him! Good article!
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Jul 7, 2011
• 5,271 views
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Jul 7, 2011
• 5,232 views
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All That Jazz
Oh, i've heard of this horse! great article :)
Oh, i've heard of this horse! great article :)
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Jul 7, 2011
• 5,238 views
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Unique
Great article!
Great article!
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Jul 8, 2011
• 5,233 views
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Isadorable
Great article! I've never heard of him before!
Great article! I've never heard of him before!
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Jul 8, 2011
• 5,604 views
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Aslans Roar
never heard of him. :)
never heard of him. :)
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Jul 8, 2011
• 5,237 views
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ParelliRanch
Love Love LOVE this amazing racehorse 3
to bad he isnt well known like he should be :
Love Love LOVE this amazing racehorse 3
to bad he isnt well known like he should be :
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Jul 8, 2011
• 5,304 views
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Clarence Fender
I remember Silky Sullivan. I would much rather have a horse with tactical speed!
I remember Silky Sullivan. I would much rather have a horse with tactical speed!
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Jul 8, 2011
• 5,279 views
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Prarie Rose
Awesome horse! and I never heard of him until now :)
Awesome horse! and I never heard of him until now :)
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Jul 8, 2011
• 5,248 views
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solo pony
i'v never herd of of him!!! but i like the article
i'v never herd of of him!!! but i like the article
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Jul 9, 2011
• 5,259 views
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Jul 9, 2011
• 5,327 views
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solo pony
i'v not heard of him
i'v not heard of him
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Jul 9, 2011
• 5,327 views
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solo pony
i adore this article
i adore this article
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Jul 9, 2011
• 5,327 views
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Laugh and Ride
I've never heard of this horse.... but it's a fun fact and some impressive stuff!
I've never heard of this horse.... but it's a fun fact and some impressive stuff!
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Jul 9, 2011
• 5,259 views
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Jul 11, 2011
• 5,241 views
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Jul 12, 2011
• 5,229 views
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Simplicity
I have never heard of him but then again I live in the UK
I have never heard of him but then again I live in the UK
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Jul 16, 2011
• 5,229 views
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