The Horse that Had to Be Bought Twice
by Lisa Harkema
They bought the injured colt and brought him to Europe for stallion duty. But when Pershing healed he looked so good it was decided to race him, a decision that necessitates his owner to have to buy him again. But shelling out again for the excellent trotter who set three world records was an easy decision for his Swedish owner.
A good three-year-old, Pershing was considered one of the favorites ahead of the 1976 Hambletonian but finishing 3-4-5 in the first three heats “only” secured a sixth place (the race was won by Steve Lobell ahead of Zoot Suit and Armbro Regina). Pershing didn’t win any of the big races but picked up wins in some of other races such as Reading Futurity, Tompkins Memorial and Horseman Futurity.
Berndt Lindstedt had noticed Pershing and really liked the type, a somewhat smaller and lighter type with natural, fluid gait and plenty of speed – not to mention that he thought a son of Nevele Pride would be perfect for Europe. He alerted stallion owner KG Bertmark about his possible availability and Bertmark responded positively to the idea. But when Lindstedt and Wallner inquired it turned out that a group of Italian investors were already in contact with breeder and owner Joe Mendelson and had secured right of first refusal. Luck were on their side, however, as the Italians pulled out when they learned that Pershing had picked up a suspensory injury.
Lindstedt believed the injury would heal and in the fall of 1976 Bertmark bought the horse for what has later been described as “a modest price”. The injured horse was placed in a big snow-filled paddock on a farm outside of Stockholm so his injury would heal and the horse get ready for stallion duty. But in late winter, Lindstedt was amazed to see that the 4-year-old showed absolutely no sign of his injury and was in otherwise perfect condition – things looked so good it would be foolish not to see what he could do on the track. This was not planned, though. “We didn’t treat the injury, he healed all by himself” Lindstedt later said. The stallion career was put on hold and Lindstedt and Wallner set their sights on returning the Nevele Pride-son to top form. Despite it taking longer than planned and Lindstedt later praising Bertmark for his patience, it wouldn’t take long!