Today in 1953 the heavily favored and legendary
Native Dancer, known as the
Gray Ghost, was upset by the unheralded
Dark Star, who nipped him at the finish. This was the only defeat for
Native Dancer, who won the
Eclipse Award for 2 year old horse of the Year for 1952. After the Derby,
Native Dancer would not lose again and won the
Preakness and
Belmont Stakes and then won the
Eclipse Award for Champion 3 yr old Colt for 1953 and then Horse of the Year in 1954. Sadly,
Dark Star would finish 5th in the
Preakness and did not run in the
Belmont due to a ligament injury suffered during the Preakness run.
