Rewind: Remembering Invincible Shadow

In the latest edition of Rewind Robert Smith goes back in time almost 50 years ago to recall a spectacular horse of that era who had a very special season on the track during the year of 1974. Eventually a Hall of Famer, his name was Invincible Shadow. A number of great photos accompany today's offering.

Invincible Shadow and driver Jim Miller are shown at Liberty Bell Park in this 1974 photo

This week's story is all about a memorable horse who was making headlines with his on the track accomplishments back in 1974. The previous season of 1973, late in the racing calendar, this son of Shadow Wave was beginning to "turn some heads" as the old saying goes. His entrance into the world of harness racing had been slow and unspectacular to say the least. Purchased at auction as a yearling for $16,000 from the Almahurst consignment and placed in the prestigious stable of Joe O'Brien, Invincible Shadow didn't quite live up to his name. In four starts as a two- and three-year-old he failed to earn a single penny!

Early in 1973 Joe O'Brien may have uttered the words made famous by legendary Yankee baseball manager Casey Stengel who said "I've seen enough!" He ordered his underperforming youngster be put on the auction block. At this point Canadian-born horseman Jim Miller, then living in California, entered the picture and purchased the yet unproven but well-bred son of Shadow Wave - I'm It for $ 5,500. He was acting as agent for millionaire Jack Graham of Aldergrove, B.C. Mr. Graham, never one to back away from a possible lucrative business deal, had a plan. He wanted a sire to stand at his farm in the Fraser Valley and eventually serve the bevy of mares he had already assembled. But first he wanted to enhance his value and pedigree by giving him a mark of around 2:05.

Once in the hands of Jim Miller the horse began to show some long-awaited promise. After qualifying in April (as a green horse with just $280 in earnings to his credit) Invincible Shadow marched on to a very successful season. As the 1973 season went on, this fellow kept improving with each and every start. His season ended in November with a total of 11 wins in 19 starts. His season highlight was a resounding victory in the American Classics Invitational which carried a purse of $114,000. With El Patron finishing second for Doug Ackerman, his list of conquests in that big race also included Armbro Nesbit who finished fifth.

The year of 1974 as a five-year-old Invincible Shadow blossomed into the aged performer of the year. His travels took him to many tracks to compete in most of the top events of the season. He met and defeated the best older horses the sport had to offer. At season's end he had started 26 times, with nine wins, six seconds and two third place finishes. His season record of 1:56.1 was tops in the sport and his earnings were $152,909.

At the conclusion of the 1974 season Invincible Shadow was named Aged Pacing Horse of the Year. He is shown here in action for driver and trainer Jim Miller

Outstanding among his many performances in 1974 was his showing in the $40,000 Mad Anthony Pace at Brandywine Raceway in Delaware. Shown above is the field he faced and defeated. Shown at the bottom are the mutuel payoffs, indicating that he was not exactly the favourite in this event. In case it's not too clear the win price was $56.80.

Invincible Shadow is shown here in a promotional photo taken at Yonkers Raceway. The popular performer was the recipient of some special "groomers" who were getting him ready for a big race.

In late July of 1974 Invincible Shadow scored a victory on Canadian soil capturing the inaugural "Canadian Cup" at Windsor Raceway. A Sunday afternoon crowd numbering 5,718 watched as driver Jim Miller did not have the race won until the final few feet when he finally overcame the pace setting Keystone Ponder and Ronnie Feagan. He stated that his horse did not take well to the Windsor track surface and described his mount by saying "It just wasn't him today even in winning." Time of the mile was 2:00.1 in the $23,500 event.

This was the winner's circle gathering at Windsor following the win by Invincible Shadow in the Canadian Cup, an event for Canadian owned horses only. From left Aime Desrosiers; Mr. Graham; Joe DeFrank, Race Secretary holding the trophy; Jim Miller; Dave Retallick and Wm. Rowe; Windsor Raceway General Manager.

The career of Invincible Shadow was relatively short but filled with intrigue and excitement. He was literally unraced at age two and three and became a national sensation as an unknown four-year-old. His blazing speed leaving the gate and his liking for the larger sized tracks made him an ideal older performer.

A quote from a writer following his win in the Mad Anthony Pace at Brandywine read as follows. "He came thru the stretch like a beautiful cyclone."

Post Racing Career

Invincible Shadow retired from racing at the conclusion of the 1974 season to enter the stud. A chipped bone in his knee forced his retirement. While his career as a sire was promising and fairly successful it was also short-lived. In 1979 this horse was taken to the University of Guelph for surgery to alleviate problems related to colic. He died following the operation due to complications at the rather young age of 10. His stud career was spent between B.C. and Ontario and his oldest foals were three-year-olds at the time of his passing. It was of course a huge loss to his owner as well as the removal of a rising sire that appeared to have a promising future.

In 1976 Invincible Shadow was elected as a charter member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as part of the original class to be inducted.

Invincible Shadow and groom David Retallick share a special moment during his very successful 1974 season

I am indebted to a gentleman named David Retallick who graciously shared a number of his memories and his old pictures which form the basis of this week's story. He groomed this horse during his most successful season of 1974 and in his own words about Invincible Shadow said "He was my love for horses all rolled into one." I must say he did a very nice job of "scrap booking" which I appreciate very much.

Quote For The Week: "Don't let school interfere with your education."

Who Is It?

Can you identify these two smiling fellows all dressed up in their Sunday best?

Who Else Is It?

Can you correctly identify this once famous horse? A lot of horses may look alike but I'll bet our experts can solve this one.