Clyde Van Dusen (horse)
Encyclopedia
Clyde Van Dusen was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse and the winner of the 1929 Kentucky Derby
.
Although he was a son of the noted Man o' War
, Clyde Van Dusen had an unimpressive appearance, being described as "a mere pony of a horse with a weedy frame." Owner/breeder Herbert Gardner, an Amsterdam, New York businessman, named the horse after his trainer, former jockey
Clyde Van Dusen
. Van Dusen said, "Clyde is a little horse, and that is why Mr. Gardner named him after me."
Clyde Van Dusen had a successful two-year-old season, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
, Orphanage Stakes, Valley Stakes, and Idle Hour Stakes. As a three-year-old, he lost a Kentucky Derby
prep race to the Derby favorite and eventual Horse of the Year, Blue Larkspur
, and he drew the far outside #20 post position on Derby Day. His jockey, Linus McAtee
, was startled by the horse's appearance and admitted to being "kind of scared" before the race. However, the race was run in a downpour, and unlike Blue Larkspur, Clyde Van Dusen was wearing mud caulks
on the sloppy track. As a result, he was never seriously threatened and won by 2 lengths, although his time of 2:10 4/5 was one of the slowest winning times in Derby history. After the race, Blue Larkspur's owner, Colonel Edward R. Bradley
, called Clyde Van Dusen "the worst horse to win the Derby in twenty years." Clyde Van Dusen was the seventh gelding
to win the Kentucky Derby in the race's first 55 runnings. It would be 74 years before another gelding (Funny Cide
) won the race.
After winning the Derby, Clyde Van Dusen finished in the money in several stakes, but he never won another major race. He retired in 1933 with a career record of 12 wins in 42 starts and $122,402 in earnings. Following the horse's retirement, trainer Van Dusen acquired him and used him as an exercise pony.
Clyde Van Dusen was humanely euthanized in 1948 at the age of 22 due to the infirmities of old age.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse and the winner of the 1929 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
.
Although he was a son of the noted Man o' War
Man O' War
Man O' War, man o' war or manowar may refer to:* Man-of-war, a warship* Man of war for uses with this spelling - Places :...
, Clyde Van Dusen had an unimpressive appearance, being described as "a mere pony of a horse with a weedy frame." Owner/breeder Herbert Gardner, an Amsterdam, New York businessman, named the horse after his trainer, former jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Clyde Van Dusen
Clyde Van Dusen
Clyde Van Dusen was an American jockey and trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses best known for winning the 1929 Kentucky Derby....
. Van Dusen said, "Clyde is a little horse, and that is why Mr. Gardner named him after me."
Clyde Van Dusen had a successful two-year-old season, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the last week of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky...
, Orphanage Stakes, Valley Stakes, and Idle Hour Stakes. As a three-year-old, he lost a Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
prep race to the Derby favorite and eventual Horse of the Year, Blue Larkspur
Blue Larkspur
Blue Larkspur was a bay Kentucky-bred thoroughbred race horse. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957, awarded the 1929 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, and ranks Number 100 in Blood-Horse magazine's top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century...
, and he drew the far outside #20 post position on Derby Day. His jockey, Linus McAtee
J. Linus McAtee
John Linus McAtee was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He went by his middle name, Linus, but was nicknamed "Pony" by friends and would be called that by some in the press. While still an apprentice, he rode for Commander J. K. L...
, was startled by the horse's appearance and admitted to being "kind of scared" before the race. However, the race was run in a downpour, and unlike Blue Larkspur, Clyde Van Dusen was wearing mud caulks
Shoe studs
Shoe studs may refer to:*Caulkin or calks on a horseshoe*Cleat on a human shoe*The sole studs of Caulk boots, which are similar to cleats....
on the sloppy track. As a result, he was never seriously threatened and won by 2 lengths, although his time of 2:10 4/5 was one of the slowest winning times in Derby history. After the race, Blue Larkspur's owner, Colonel Edward R. Bradley
Edward R. Bradley
Colonel Edward Riley Bradley was an American steel mill laborer, gold miner, businessman and philanthropist. As well as a race track proprietor, he was the preeminent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern United States during the first three decades of the 20th Century...
, called Clyde Van Dusen "the worst horse to win the Derby in twenty years." Clyde Van Dusen was the seventh gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
to win the Kentucky Derby in the race's first 55 runnings. It would be 74 years before another gelding (Funny Cide
Funny Cide
Funny Cide is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2003. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the first gelding to win since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.-Bloodlines:...
) won the race.
After winning the Derby, Clyde Van Dusen finished in the money in several stakes, but he never won another major race. He retired in 1933 with a career record of 12 wins in 42 starts and $122,402 in earnings. Following the horse's retirement, trainer Van Dusen acquired him and used him as an exercise pony.
Clyde Van Dusen was humanely euthanized in 1948 at the age of 22 due to the infirmities of old age.