Hall of Fame - Dwight Eisenhower

Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 4 weeks ago

In real life, Dwight Eisenhower was an army general and President of the United States, but in the Sim racing world, that name is associated with a different type of leader. Instead of leading a country, this Dwight Eisenhower was a competitive leader on the turf surface. His 2-year-old season was a simple year as he raced only 3 times. The first 2 would not be in stakes mainly due to him barely winning his first race. After taking the lead in the stretch a closer named Burning Up a Sun flew late in the stretch and nearly past him. But Dwight Eisenhower got his nose on the line and just held on. Following a more confident win in his next start, he went into Grade 1 company. Again he stalked but took the lead mid-stretch. But he was not out of the water as Savage charged late from mid-pack, again Dwight Eisenhower would fight for his prize holding off the challenger to win by a neck. He would extend his undefeated streak to 4 wins again only barely winning as Magnier flew late to try and catch him. But Dwight Eisenhower kept his nose in front till the final stride winning the race slimly. But after this, he tasted defeat for the first time when Electric Blue made his move early and held him off by a strong 3 lengths. His second and final defeat would come right after the first when he and 3 other horses dueled for victory in the London Derby. But Dwight Eisenhower was outdone just slightly by all of them. He finished fourth his worst showing and only off the board result.

After 2 straight losses, he went to South Africa to gain back his confidence. There his famous winning streak began. He would start by going to the lead in the Black Ironwood Classic holding off all comers by a strong length and a half. He still had his fighting spirit holding off Serendipity in the Cape Town Diamond Cup by a neck. Before showing slightly more confidence when he started his 4-year-old season. He swept another 2 races in South Africa before setting sights on the bigger competition. He started by running for the first time in North America in the Toronto International. He gave Owen a good early lead but wore him down stride for stride and beat him by a length. He would round out the year with 2 more wins in Europe including a handy win in the English Champion Stakes by going to the lead. He would take the Simmy for African Champion Older Male and get ready for his final season of racing.

It started in Spain where he set an aggressive early pace tiring out the front runners. A Proud King made his move in the home stretch but even a tired Dwight Eisenhower still had enough heart to win and held on by a neck. He then went back to South Africa to attempt a repeat win in the South African Cup. But he took himself further back than normal letting Owen lead by himself. By the far turn, Owen was nearly 3 lengths in front and Dwight Eisenhower had to give it his all in the home stretch. With every stride, he was giving it his all trying to wear down the front runner. By the finish, the 2 were in unison but Dwight Eisenhower was a fighter and if you put him right next to another horse he always would know when to put his head down. In the last stride of the race, Dwight dove his nose down nailing Owen at the line and defending his title.

Next up would be New York for the grade 2 Chief Bearheart Stakes. At the start, Ylvis and Stormer rushed to the lead running blazing fractions early while the other 3 competitors were far behind. But Dwight Eisenhower was a master at minding the gap. Just like he had done many times before he let the leaders tire themselves out before making his move he would regularly time to where he didn't have much time to open up a significant margin. In this case, he got up by a neck at the line. Next time out he rematched against Ylvis in the Kentucky Cup Turf. But this time it wasn't so easy as he would be severely handicapped at the start. Dwight was normally a clean starter but on this day he started on the wrong foot going down to his knees and nearly hitting the floor. But in a few strides, he crawled back, letting Ominous Tone set the pace with Ylvis right behind. He got back into his stalking position easily and in the stretch, his unrelenting determination would get him a 3/4 of a length win.

For his final race Charles Bunbury, the breeder of Dwight Eisenhower would give him to Nick Gilmore so that she could race Dwight in his last race, the Steward's Cup Turf. Out of the gate, he did not completely fix his clumsiness from his previous start but he didn't stumble as horrifically. Around the finish line the first time he was seventh but around the backstretch, he began to pick off horses. He quickly began to surge past horses and in the home stretch had the lead by 2 lengths. He took down the leaders and now just had to hold off the closers. Reddington and Imperative both charged after Dwight but they could only shorten his lead as Dwight was simply too good, holding them off and concluding his win streak at 13 straight races. He had beaten the best turf horses in the Sim world for his last out. Although he didn't race in many of the biggest turf classic races he did end on his highest note winning the Steward's Cup Turf that day. He would be honored as North American Champion Male Turf Horse and begin siring duties. His progeny earnings were over 13.8 million and he sired multiple millionaires and Simmy award winners such as South Pacific Champion Older Male Culzean Castle. But none were better then Dwight. He managed an inspiring winning streak that lasted more than 2 SIM years and only ever lost twice in 19 starts. Out of the many champions that have come after Sidney set the unreachable bar. The dark general of the turf Dwight Eisenhower came closer than most.

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