Pollard's Vision who ran in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.
Updated: 05/08/2017
Most people have heard of the one-eyed Pollard's Vision, named after Seabiscuit's jockey Red Pollard who was blind in one eye, who ran in the 2004 Kentucky Derby, finishing 17th. In 2017 Calumet Farm's Patch, who is missing his left eye, ran in the Kentucky Derby and was a fan favorite. Curious about what other one-eyed or blind in one eye horses have run in the Kentucky Derby, I was able to find two others: Cassaleria from 1982 and Storm in May from 2007. If there were any others, please let me know so I can add them here.
Cassaleria is reported as the first one-eyed horse to run in the Kentucky Derby. He was foaled in 1979 and injured his left eye as a very young foal on the farm so never knew to miss his left eye. He still had a successful career on the track, winning 5 of 28 starts with 6 seconds, 8 thirds and $525,662 in earnings. He won two graded stakes: the El Camino Real Stakes (G2) and the Longacres Derby (G3). Trained by Ron McAnally, he came into the Kentucky Derby off a 3rd in the San Felipe, 6th in the Santa Anita Derby, and 3rd in the California Derby. He went off at odds of 12-1 in the Kentucky Derby and was never a factor in the race, finishing 13th. He retired to stud at age 4 at Bradyleigh Farm near Lexington where he was born and died there from farm injuries in 1993.
Pollard's Vision in the post parade for the 2004 Kentucky Derby.
Pollard's Vision was the next in 2004, blind in his right eye. He was one of about 100 foals in Kentucky in 2001 to lose the sight in one or both eyes due to an obscure side-effect of mare reproductive loss syndrome. Despite this rough start, he retired a multiple graded stakes with with 23 starts, 6 winds, 7 seconds, 4 thirds, and $1,430,311 in earnings for trainer Todd Pletcher. He came into the 2004 Kentucky Derby off a win in the Illinois Derby (G2) when it was still run in early April. At odds of 24-1. he stalked the pace early then faded badly to finish 17th in the Kentucky Derby. He went on to have a successful career after the Derby, although not spectacular, and retired to stud at age 4. He currently stands stud at Mighty Acres in Oklahoma for a $3,000 fee.
Storm in May returns after the 2007 Kentucky Derby.
Storm in May is mostly forgotten now, but he was the one-eyed horse in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Blind in the right eye since he was a foal, he raced until age 5 but was winless in his last two seasons. His record was 32 starts with 4 wins, 3 seconds, 7 thirds, and $511,282 in earnings. He was graded stakes placed, with his only stakes win coming in the restricted 2007 Sunshine Millions Dash. He came into the 2007 Kentucky Derby off a 3rd in the Palm Beach Stakes (G3) and a 2nd in the Arkansas Derby (G2) behind eventual Horse of the Year Curlin. He went off at 27-1 in the Kentucky Derby and was never a factor, finishing 16th for trainer Bill Kaplan. He never won another race after that and dropped down the ranks to finish his career in allowance/optional claimer races at Calder. After retiring from the track, he started a second career as a show horse and he competed in the 2012 Heritage Horse Show in Plantation, Florida.
Patch gallops at Churchill Downs on Wednesday before the Derby.
This year we have Patch, who is missing his left eye as a result of an accident at the track. His name has nothing to do with his missing eye as he was already named and at the track before he lost it. His sire is Union Rags and Patch was selected as a play off that. Bred and owned by Calumet Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher who also trained Pollard's Vision, he did not start until January and is lightly raced with only 3 starts, including two maiden races and his 2nd place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2). In the 2017 Kentucky Derby he broke from post 20, was never better placed that 9th in the race, and finished 14th.
Tapwrit wins the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) - Tapwrit ran down favorite and pacesetter Irish War Cry to win the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) by 2 lengths on Saturday with one-eyed Patch finishing third. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Belmont Undercard Stakes Results - There were nine other stakes on the 2017 Belmont undercard, including the Manhattan Handicap (G1), Just a Game Stakes (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1), and Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) won by Ascend, Antonoe, Mor Spirit, Abel Tasman, and Songbird. Plus a world record was set by Disco Partner in the Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos for all nine here.
2017 Belmont Festival Friday Stakes Results - Friday at Belmont Park had 5 stakes races: the True North (G2) won by Roy H, the New York Stakes (G2) won by Hawksmoor, the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational (G3) won by Red Cardinal, the Bed o'Roses Invitational (G3) won by By the Moon, and the Tremont Stakes won by He Hate Me. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Intercontinental (G3), Wonder Again (G3), and Astoria Stakes - The Belmont Stakes Festival kicked off on Thursday with three stakes races, the Intercontinental (G3) won by Mississippi Delta, the Wonder Again Stakes (G3) won by New Money Honey, and the Astoria Stakes won by I Still Miss You. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Thursday Belmont Photos - Check out photos of 10 of the Belmont Stakes horses from Thursday morning at Belmont Park along with Songbird, Cloud Computing, Mor Spirit, and Abel Tasman.
Cloud Computing wins the Preakness (G1) - Cloud Computing pressed the pace and got up to win the 2017 Preakness (G1) by a head over Classic Empire with Senior Investment third. Favorite Always Dreaming faded to 8th. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Preakness Undercard Stakes Results - There were 7 other stakes on Preakness day, highlighted by the Dixie Stakes (G2) on the turf won by World Approval, the Gallorette (G3) won by Cambodia, and the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) won by Whitmore. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 7 races here.
Black-Eyed Susan Day Results - Actress broke her maiden in the mud to win the 2017 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico on Friday. There were 6 other stakes on the card including the Pimlico Special (G3) won by Shaman Ghost, the Allaire Dupont Distaff (G3) won by Terra Promessa, and the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) won by Vertical Oak. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 7 races here.
Thursday Preakness Photos - Two photos each and comments for all 10 Preakness horses from Thursday morning at Pimlico. Everyone galloped today since training ends early Friday.
2017 Alibi Breakfast - The traditional Alibi Breakfast was held on Thursday May 18, before the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes. Connections of some of the 10 Preakness entrants were on hand to swap stories about their horse as well as watch the presentation of the annual awards.
2017 Preakness Entries - A field of 10 was entered for the 142nd Preakness on Saturday, with Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming drawing post 4 as the 4-5 favorite. Classic Empire is second choice at 3-1 from post 5. Get the horses, posts, odds, and free past performances here.
Wednesday Preakness Photos - Two photos each and comments for all the Preakness horses from Wednesday afternoon at Pimlico, except Multiplier who arrived late yesterday.
Tuesday Preakness Photos - Photos and comments for seven of the Preakness horses from Tuesday afternoon at Pimlico, including Always Dreaming, Classic Empire, and five others who arrived today.
Analyzing the top Preakness Contenders - Our annual analysis of the contenders to see who best matches the profile of a Preakness winner. The tie for top pick is a bit of a surprise this year.
Preakness Weather Forecasts - up to 15 days in advance. Looks good for now and hopefully it will be drier than the Derby!
Preakness Entry Rules - the field is limited to 14 starters, here is how they determine the order of preference if more than that enter.
Preakness Infield - After the massive tightening of the rules which resulted in a huge drop in attendance in 2009, things have relaxed slightly and you can buy a special "all you can drink beer" Mug Club ticket now.
Preakness Traditions - Black-eyed Susans to the winner, the Woodlawn Vase trophy, the Alibi Breakfast, painting the weather vane, and more.
Always Dreaming romps in the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) - Favorite Always Dreaming led most of the way to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths in the slop at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Longshots Lookin at Lee and Battle of Midway finished second and third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Derby Undercard Stakes Results - There were 6 other stakes on the card today with the Derby, including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) won by Divisidero, the Humana Distaff (G1) won by Paulassilverlining, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) won by Roca Rojo, the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) won by Limousine Liberal, the American Turf (G2) won by Arklow, and the Pat Day Mile (G3) won by Wild Shot. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Abel Tasman wins the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) - Abel Tasman came from last early on to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths in the slop at Churchill Downs on Friday. Daddys Lil Darling was second and Lockdown was 3rd while favorite Paradise Woods faded to 11th. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Oaks Undercard Stakes Results - There were 5 other stakes on the card today with the Oaks, including the La Troienne (G1) won by Big World, the Alysheba (G2) won by Bird Song, the Eight Belles (G2) won by Benner Island, the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) won by Green Mask, and the Edgewood Stakes (G3) won by La Coronel. Get the results, charts, and photos here.