Hall of Fame - Nar

Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 2 weeks ago

Arabians were the founders of the Thoroughbred but ironically Arabians came into the SIM after Thoroughbreds did being integrated into year 23. Many new Hall of Fame stars would start their careers. One of these was a small Arabian named Nar. He was barely 15 hands high far from the tallest horse out there. But he would prove to be one of the fastest Arabians of all time.

He burst onto the scene with an easy win going gate to wire in an easy Maiden race by 2 lengths. He came back to an easy stakes victory next time out. His third win was a bit harder as he came off the pace to face off against his regular rival and fellow Hall of Famer Midnihte. In the home stretch, he managed to outdo the champ by half a length. Unfortunately, he would lose out to El Pantera for Arabian Champion 3-year-old male as El Pantera would outdo him in his last 2 starts. The first time it was in a harsh head to head duel where El Pantera got his nose right on the line to win. The second time he was more commanding winning by 2 lengths over Nar in the Arabian Cup. In his career, El Pantera would be the only horse to ever defeat Nar more than once.

In his first start back at the age of 4 Nar showed off his fighting spirit. He fought off Night Ruler for the majority of it but in the far turn Hall of Famer Rian made his move moving late to try and catch Nar but in the stretch, Nar refused to quit, holding off Rian by half a length. Rian would get back at Nar in there next match up. Nar lost the lead to Goshenite early. He would eventually pass Goshenite but Rian and Zamil passed him late in the race. Nar was third by less than half a length with Rian the winner and Zamil a close second. It was the worst showing Nar had and the only time he was worse than second. Despite this, he only needs a mile drive to hold off Rian in the Racing the Wins Stakes. Where he was a clear victor by 1 1/4 lengths. But Nar would taste defeat again this time to Midnihte where the two were never less than half a length away from each other at all times dueling to the wire. But Midnihte kept a slight advantage over Nar the whole way holding to win by a quarter of a length.

But finally came the biggest race of the year for Arabians the Arabian Cup. There he would face off against all 4 horses that had beaten him previously. Of the 9 horse field, 4 of the horses were eventual Hall Of Fame inductees. It was truly the fastest Arabians in the Sim world, all racing against each other. Anyone of the 4 could win the coveted Simmy for Arabian Horse Of The Year. Everything was on the line for these champs. The race began and Nar broke quickly breaking just faster then Midnihte his main competition for the lead. The two fought it out but this time Nar had the heart, he raced Midnihte off his hooves that day causing the horse to fade to sixth. But late-game Rian and El Pantera began to fly late trying to catch the front running Nar. The 2 flew with incredible speed ready to catch Nar. The line was near the 3 of them across the track Nar had to fight harder than he ever fought before holding on to the lead for the last possible moment. He was tired from battling Midnihte but he had the heart, digging in and sticking his head out in the final strides of the race. He won it by a head from El Pantera with Rian a head behind El Pantera. The 3 had run faster than any other Arabian but Nar was the fastest. The timer said 1:05.18. It would be the fastest 5 furlongs ever run by an Arabian and the record still stands over 31 years later. Most Arabian world records have since been broken but no one has ever matched Nar's 5-furlong record. Nar would win Arabian Older Horse that year but the router Sayitsyourbirthday would usurp Nar for Arabian Horse Of The Year. Although he didn't win Horse Of The Year Nar had proven to be the best Arabian Sprinter in the world and he was ready to go again.

He started the year ready to fight as in his seasonal debut he held off the late-charging Zamil by half a length at the wire. Next time out he would do the same to the stalker Pollini again by half a length. But Pollini would be the final horse to ever defeat Nar. Although Nar would not win every fight he always put up the good fight and didn't let it phase him. When he returned in the Coma Stakes after his second to Pollini he led all the way. When they hit the far turn a wall of horses came charging forward, not much separated the 7 other horses when they charged but the leader of it was Nar who held all of them to win. In his final prep he would lead the pack again but this time Combat Rock would try to lead with him. But Nar proved that no normal horse could keep up with him in the early going tiring out Combat Rock easily and holding off Pollini for another half a length win. All that was left was the Arabian Classic. Could he repeat his win the previous year

He would rematch against his old rivals Zamil and Rian for the final time. As well as his new rival Pollini for what would be his last race. The race began Nar broke the fastest but Combat Rock and El Mokhtar would challenge Nar early. Although they did get close to taking away his lead Nar stuck to his guns and fought the 2 off keeping his lead. But now he had to deal with Rian. Rian made his move to try and catch Nar late in the race. Nar was in front but Rian was closing late he wanted to redeem himself from the year before more than anything. He was coming like a freight train flying late looking ready to catch Nar. But Nar dug in like he always did. The 2 were running nearly in unison but Nar refused to let anything by him. He held onto the lead for as long as he could stretching his legs forward and driving his slender head down on the line. At the wire, it was Nar by a head.

No one was stopping him from becoming the first horse to ever win the Arabian Classic twice. Although there have been quite a few notable repeat winners, Nar would be known as the first of many repeat champions. He would easily become Champion Arabian Older Male a second time but as well as that he would finally get the coveted honor of Arabian Horse Of The Year. After that the little orange brawler was retired. He had nothing left to prove and fought the good fight every time. He raced 16 times and was never worse than third any of them. He would win 11 times and win 3 Simmy awards throughout his career and still holds the world record for 5 furlongs being 1:05.18 in his first victory in the Arabian Classic. He would become a great sire as well, earning over 7 million in progeny earnings and producing fellow Hall of Famer Qairan who is a 2 time Simmy and Steward's Cup winner. Beautiful, fast, and willful to the end. Everything an Arabian should be is in Nar the fastest Arabian at 5 furlongs ever to race and one of the greatest Arabian sprinters of all time.

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