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Hall of Fame - Gotham City
Original article written by Melissa Mae posted 13 years 2 weeks agoStanding under an old oak tree at Fox Lair in New York with his lower lip drooping and his right rear hoof cocked is Susie Raisher’s Gotham City. The chestnut Priceless Forever son has enjoyed his retirement from racing and breeding since the beginning of year 20 and spends his days watching this generation of racers train on the track near his paddock.
‘Gotham’ started his career by winning his debut on week three of year six against a field of 10 others in a five furlong maiden on the dirt. His next start was two weeks later in the G2 Bashford Manor Stakes. The field was the first match up Gotham would have against the true stars of his generation with horses such as Elusive Pegasus and Pi Kappa Dancer in the field. Elusive Pegasus came out the victor in that match up with Gotham finishing a close second and Pi Kappa Dancer third. As the races stretched out, Gotham resumed his winning ways, reeling off two consecutive wins in the G2 Grey Breeder’s Cup Stakes and G1 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He ended his two year old season in the Steward’s Cup Juvenile where he met up with ‘Dancer’ and ‘Pegasus’ again. This time, the order of the first and third finishers was reversed, but Gotham finished in the second spot once again.
Gotham came back strong for his three year old season, prepping for the Kentucky Derby. He started the year winning convincingly against a field of five others in the G3 Gotham Stakes then won the prestigious G1 Wood Memorial. This put him in as a co-favorite going into the Derby but he met a new rival in Loki Flame. In a time of 1:59.90, Loki Flame came home first in the Derby with Gotham finishing in third behind Kleine Romance. The three colts tangled again in the Baltimore Crown a week later, finishing only noses apart with Gotham inching Loki Flame and Kleine Romance out by a hair.
Two weeks separated Gotham’s win in the Crown from his win against five others in the G3 Long Branch Breeder’s Cup Stakes followed by a Canadian win in the G1 Prince of Peace Stakes at Toronto Racecourse. Opting to skip the Steward’s Cup at the end of his successful three year old season, Raisher put her prized colt in the G1 Clark Handicap against older horses and his arch rival, Kleine Romance. It was no contest between the two as Kleine Romance pulled away by two lengths, leaving a tired Gotham City to suffer his final defeat by finishing second.
Week two of year eight saw a more mature and filled out Gotham City making his final season debut as he beat eight other horses easily in the G3 San Antonio Handicap at Arcadia Park. His second race was at the mid-country track, Hot Springs Park. Another easy win had the SIM whispering about the chestnut colt’s chances at an undefeated season. He was finally challenged in his next race when he faced 3-time G1 Metropolitan Mile winner Hedancesdiscopants. The two switched the lead for most of the race before Gotham City pulled ahead by ½ a length at the wire. Gotham had close but exciting finishes in both the G2 Kentucky Cup Classic and the G1 Woodward Handicap but stayed undefeated to end his career.
Gotham City visited 11 mares in his first season at stud but his greatest off the track accomplishment came the next year when he produced No Delay, a colt out of the Sunday Silence mare Sunday Best (dam of Anthem and Thejoyinforgetting). Gotham had 100 foals in his time at stud but only produced 32 winners with an average of only $33,974 per starter and one millionaire.
While Gotham City was a disappointment in the breeding shed, his 17-13-3-1 race record and 3.7 million dollars in earnings proves he exceeded expectations every time his hooves touched the dirt. He joins the long list of Susie Raisher’s successful line of horses and is one she will never forget.