There’s hardly anything that can ignite the passions and feelings of a horse racing enthusiast quite like a heart-pounding stretch run between two courageous Thoroughbreds. Close finishes, decided by the camera alone, where two determined adversaries are nearly inseparable, stand as some of the most electrifying and visually stunning moments in the sport.
Saratoga has witnessed its share of nail-biting photo finishes, such as the 2009 Woodward Stakes, where the exceptional three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra narrowly defeated Macho Again by a head to achieve a memorable triumph. However, it’s questionable whether any photo finish can truly rival the one seen in the 1962 Travers Stakes, when Jaipur and Ridan were locked in an unparalleled contest that concluded with them crossing the finish line merely a nose apart, following a duel that spanned the entire 1 1/4-mile distance.
Prior to the 1962 Travers, both colts boasted impressive credentials. Jaipur had distinguished himself as one of the top 2-year-old colts in 1961, claiming victories in the Flash Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, and Cowdin Stakes during a successful season in which he consistently finished in the top two in all seven of his races. The subsequent year, he commenced strongly with convincing wins in the Gotham Stakes and Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, before experiencing a surprising 10th-place finish as the favorite in the Preakness Stakes. Displaying resilience, Jaipur rebounded 11 days later to secure the Jersey Derby through the disqualification of a competitor who interfered with his run, and that race proved to be an ideal preparatory event for the Belmont Stakes, which Jaipur won by a nose.
Nevertheless, despite Jaipur’s accomplishments, Ridan’s record was even more remarkable. As a 2-year-old, he had maintained an undefeated streak in seven starts, which included prestigious victories in the Washington Park Futurity and Arlington Futurity. Although a minor injury prematurely concluded his season, he was still recognized as the champion 2-year-old colt by Turf and Sports Digest magazine.
Similar to Jaipur, Ridan attained significant achievements during the initial part of his 3-year-old season. Following victories in the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes in the spring, he managed only a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, as Blue Grass Stakes runner-up Decidedly reversed the outcome, but Ridan demonstrated his prowess once again in the Preakness Stakes, finishing second by a nose while Jaipur trailed significantly behind.
Subsequent to that brief encounter, the two colts embarked on separate paths, with Jaipur securing a victory in the Choice Stakes at Saratoga (a race akin to the modern-day Jim Dandy Stakes) and Ridan prevailing in the Arlington Classic, before finishing second in the American Derby.
That established the scene for a decisive showdown in the Travers Stakes.
At that time, just as it is today, the Travers was regarded as the “Mid-Summer Derby” … a race offering an opportunity for the finest 3-year-olds from earlier in the year to gather and determine divisional supremacy. Ridan and Jaipur were positioned side-by-side in the starting gate, occupying post positions one and two, and despite facing five other contenders, none posed a significant threat to the anticipated head-to-head battle that would soon unfold before the eyes of the 26,000 spectators in attendance.
The race commenced at 4:48 p.m., and Jaipur exhibited the swiftest initial acceleration, closely pursued by Ridan. Instantly, the two colts began to pull away from the rest of the field, and after the initial quarter-mile, Ridan held a half-length advantage over Jaipur, with none of the other horses within five lengths of the leaders.
Upon initial observation, the pace fractions appeared unremarkable – an opening quarter-mile in :23 4/5, followed by four furlongs in :47 2/5 – but as Jaipur advanced to within a head of Ridan’s lead, with the remaining horses still trailing by five lengths, it became apparent that the numbers alone couldn’t capture the intensity of the competition. However, the data did reveal that rather than slowing down, Ridan and Jaipur were accelerating; the second quarter-mile was completed in :23 3/5, surpassing the first, and the third quarter was run in the same time, resulting in a demanding six-furlong fraction of 1:11 flat.
It was at that moment, with Ridan still holding a narrow lead, that Jaipur initiated his challenge. As they navigated the far turn and approached the homestretch, Jaipur relentlessly gained ground on his rival, seizing a marginal lead through a mile in 1:35 2/5. A contender named Cyane made a determined bid to contend, briefly closing to within a half-length of the leading duo, but his momentum waned as the horses entered the Saratoga homestretch.
Once more, Jaipur and Ridan stood alone, with virtually nothing separating them. Jaipur, exerting maximum effort, sustained his advantage and momentarily extended his lead; Ridan, displaying resilience, refused to concede and regained crucial ground in the concluding furlong.
Given the circumstances, with both colts performing like champions and intensely focused on each other for the duration of the 1 1/4 miles, it would have been fitting for them to finish in a dead heat. However, as they neared the finish line, Jaipur summoned an extra burst of energy, and as they crossed the line, Jaipur’s neck was outstretched — reaching forward, striving for victory — ultimately edging ahead of Ridan by a nose.
The race was so remarkable that the Daily Racing Form result chart specifically acknowledged the epic clash between Jaipur and Ridan, stating that “Jaipur raced alongside Ridan from the start, and they continued as a formidable pair in a fierce duel. Jaipur, positioned on the outside of Ridan, held a slight lead at the quarter pole and narrowly prevailed in a race where neither horse yielded. Ridan, showcasing exceptional speed, couldn’t shake off Jaipur despite conserving ground throughout. He raced valiantly until the end and was narrowly defeated in a captivating duel.”
The final time of 2:01 3/5 matched the Saratoga track record and marked the fastest Travers ever run up to that point. For Jaipur, the race would be his last victory, although he did finish second in both the Woodward Stakes and Roamer Handicap later in the year, which was enough to earn him the title of champion 3-year-old colt. Ridan also remained winless for the remainder of the year, but during a shortened season in 1963, he won two of three starts, including a 3 ¾-length victory over Jaipur in the Palm Beach Handicap at Hialeah Park.
In the hierarchy of legendary racehorses, Jaipur and Ridan have never been ranked among the all-time greats. Nevertheless, on that summer day at Saratoga, they solidified their legacies by participating in one of the most memorable races in the history of the sport.
