Trainer's Daughter Remembers Buckpasser

1965 would have been an exciting time for any young girl living in America. For one Carol Louise Neloy, however, exciting would climb to a new level. For Americans, 1965  presented several events that would go on significantly to affect changes that are still present in their society today. For one thing, America was sunk to its chest in the Vietnam War that year.

Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President after having assumed the seat left vacant by the assassination of John.F.Kennedy. Moreover, 1965 would see the death Of Malcolm X and the marches on Montgomery, Alabama, led by Martin Luther King, Jr.

1965 would also witness the introduction of an American-bred bay colt that would forever leave his mark upon thoroughbred racing, his name, Buckpasser.

Carol Louise Neloy, the daughter of Buckpassers’ trainer Eddie Neloy, tells of her found memories of the brilliant bay colt.

"Buckpasser was always so kind and gentle around the stables," Carol describes, "and enjoyed playing with items like the towels or brooms, often mimicking someone sweeping the floor."

Owned and bred by Ogden Phipps, Buckpasser was anything, but “kind and gentle” in handling his foes on the race track.

Following a rocky start, where he ran a poor fourth in a maiden event, Buckpasser ( Tom Fool - Busanda, by War Admiral) would soon become the jewel of American Racing. Capping off his two-year-old season undefeated in seven consecutive stakes events, he was considered a favorite for the 1966 Kentucky Derby, a race in which he would not compete.

In the early part of that year, Buckpasser was experiencing complications from a quarter crack, and Eddie would not run the colt until he was right. Having just assumed the role of Buckpasser's new trainer after the retirement of Bill Winfrey, Eddie knew the difference.

Already an award winning trainer, and with victories in races such as the Kentucky Oaks, Beldame, and Withers Stakes, Eddie had proven his knowledge of horses. His charge Gun Bow had defeated Kelso twice, and Eddie Neloy knew how to make Buckpasser right.

The answer to Buckpasser's quarter crack problem came in the way of a fiberglass patch designed by one of his friends in Harness Racing. With that problem out of the way, Buckpasser would win thirteen race in a row that year, and was the first horse under the age of four to have earned a million dollars. Two notable performances that season came in the Arlington Classic and Flamingo Stakes.

In the Classic, he set a world record time for the mile of 1:32 3/5 (the record would later fall to Dr. Fager, and Buckpasser's own grandson Easy Goer.) The latter race is often referred to as the “chicken” Flamingo and accents Carols memories of watching Buckpasser run.

"I had to hold my breath when he ran as Buckpasser needed competition to point at, and he always came from behind," said Carol in our conversation. An action she may well have employed while watching that race.

Buckpasser had shown he would wait on his rivals after making the lead, a trait that almost cost him the Flamingo. He took command early into the stretch and was passed by Abe’s Hope nearing the quarter-pole. Seeing his rival go past him Buckpasser re-broke, and in a display of pure athleticism regained the lead and won drawing away.

His accolades on the track would earn Buckpasser nearly every award in racing during his reign on the track. Moreover, he was America's leading broodmare sire on three separate occasions, and his influence to American breeding will be noticed for many years to come. Since his accomplishments are too many to list them all here, I would urge you all to research them yourself. Have fun with it, I know I did!!!

Sadly, Carol Louise Neloy's life drifted apart from the horse racing world with the passing of her father in 1971. She now resides in Cape Coral, Florida where she will always have her memories’ of the great horse Buckpasser, and the “kind and gentle” man that trained him, her Dad.

The mother of three children, she enjoys crafting and time spent with her seven grandchildren. Even though they discredit Carol when she mentions her father's accomplishments now, it is my belief their opinions will change in time, when they have learned just how rarely those accomplishments are achieved..