Breeders’ Cup Legends: Da Hoss

Da Hoss captures the first of his two Breeders' Cup Mile victories. (Photo by HorsePhotos)
In the words of announcer Tom Durkin, Da Hoss made “the greatest comeback since Lazarus” to win the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Mile. He wasn’t just referring to how the horse dug in after being headed in deep stretch – Da Hoss won the race two years after his victory in the 1996 Mile, with one start and a series of complications between the two efforts.
Da Hoss was plagued by a number of ailments throughout his life, leading to an erratic but brilliant racing career. The son of Gone West, out of the graded stakes-winning Welsh Saint mare Jolly Saint, had foot problems that resulted in final bid of only $6,000 at the 1993 Keeneland September yearling sale. Trainer Kevin Eikleberry took the horse to Arizona, where he would begin his career at Turf Paradise.
The bay gelding reeled off three consecutive wins in his first three starts for Eikleberry and co-owner Wall Street Racing. In his final start of the year he set the world record at six furlongs for a 2-year-old—1:07 1/5—and the result was so impressive he was purchased by Prestonwood Farm for his sophomore campaign.
In 1995, under the tutelage of new trainer Michael Dickinson, Da Hoss made 10 starts. He won the Best Turn Stakes, Jersey Derby and Del Mar Derby while placing in four more stakes, all graded. The gelding made his first Breeders’ Cup appearance in the 1995 Sprint but wound up 13th and last in the worst effort of his career and his only out-of-the-money finish. He would never run on the dirt again.
Da Hoss won the Fourstardave Stakes and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap in the summer of his 4-year-old season before finishing a close second in the Kelso Handicap in October. He headed to Toronto for his second Breeders’ Cup, this time the Mile, where he would not be defeated.
Da Hoss galloped near the back of the pack early but quickly moved up to a stalking position. He had cleared the field in early stretch and would maintain his advantage to the finish line to win by 1 ½ lengths over Spinning World, the horse who went on to win the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Mile in his absence. The race chart reads ‘perfect trip’ for Da Hoss, and it was a fitting conclusion to his racing season.
1996 BREEDERS' CUP MILE

Things would not go as swimmingly in 1997. Da Hoss battled physical problems throughout the year and did not make it to the races. The year was lost but Dickinson remained hopeful that Da Hoss would eventually make it back to the Breeders’ Cup. The gelding suffered another injury in February 1998 and the odds grew slimmer. Dickinson gave him more time.
Spring was in full bloom before the “Mad Genius” Dickinson could put Da Hoss back in training. Though there were a few hiccups, training began in May and continued throughout the summer. Da Hoss was able to begin breezing regularly in August. Dickinson looked for a prep race and when he ran out of options, he entered him in an allowance race in Virginia. The 6-year-old gelding beat five horses on the Colonial Downs turf to win his lone Breeders’ Cup prep and his first race in nearly two years.
Da Hoss and his team headed to Churchill Downs for final preparations. The gelding was no stranger to having a new jockey on his back—in 19 previous starts he had been piloted by 14 different jockeys. But when John Velazquez climbed aboard for the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Mile, he was attempting to duplicate his win aboard the horse in the 1996 Fourstardave.
After getting bounced around in the first half-mile Velazquez was forced to move Da Hoss early on the turn for home, and the pair struck the front in midstretch. But Hawksley Hill had built up a head of steam rolling down the lane and when he drew even it seemed victory was out of reach for Da Hoss. Hawksley Hill poked his head in front, then a neck. Just when onlookers were certain the former champ would have to settle for second he put his heart and tenacity on display. Gritting his teeth and lowering his head, he fought back and got his nose in front at the finish line to prevail in a head-bobbing finish.
"This is the most emotional day of my life, really," Dickinson said in a Baltimore Sun article. "When Da Hoss won two years ago, that was the happiest day of my life. But today, this is the happiest day of my life."
1998 Breeders' Cup Mile

Da Hoss was retired after that race with a lifetime tally of 12 wins, five seconds and two thirds from 20 starts. His career spanned five years and he earned nearly $2 million.
The gelding has lived at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions since January 2000, alongside such legends as Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero Funny Cide, two-time Horse of the Year Cigar and Kentucky Derby victor Go for Gin. Da Hoss enjoys his daily routine, which includes two shows at the Hall of Champions.
Hall of Champions Manager Wes Lanter has worked with the gelding, known as ‘Hoss’ to his caretakers, since 2010 and reports that the horse relishes being shown off to his admiring fans.
“He really does [like the attention], maybe more than most. Funny Cide could care less, but Hoss is nonplussed,” Lanter said. “ ‘Hey, here I am, look at me’ is his attitude [in the show ring] because he’s done it so many times.”
Though his enthusiasm led to some bearish antics on the track in his racing days, Da Hoss has become more well-mannered since arriving at the Horse Park.
“Hoss is a real steady character,” Lanter said. “He really takes care of himself and is a pleasure to work with.”
The now-22-year-old gelding still performs an old trick he learned at the racetrack, which is further evidence of his sweet personality – giving kisses for a treat. As kind and as competitive as they come, Da Hoss is an exceptional horse with exceptional heart and his Breeders’ Cup feat is not likely to ever be duplicated.