The fragile star
by Lisa Harkema
It’s a good thing horses don’t know what humans expect of them, otherwise chances are high that Victory Song would have crumbled under pressure. The blue-blooded colt struggled with unsoundness throughout his career and was seen as lacking mental toughness. When it clicked, though, the horse was a phenomenal trotting machine who some people even thought could challenge Greyhound’s legendary record.
Not only did Victory Song face the near-impossible task of having to having to fill the shoes of his brother, Volo Song, but there was also the then-hefty yearling auction fee of $37,000 back in 1944 – an auction record which shattered the previous yearling record from the previous year when EJ Baker shelled out $15,000 for Algiers. The auction turned out to be a battle between EJ Baker, owner of Greyhound and Volo Song, and the 29-year-old Frances Dodge Johnson (later van Lennep). Eventually the latter’s virtually unlimited riches prevailed and Victory Song was put in the training of Sep Palin. Despite the price tag, the Walnut Hall-bred Victory Song eventually proved an excellent buy.
Since Victory Song was slightly buck-kneed and Palin didn’t want to push things, he only raced him once at two and instead put him through rigorous training. The colt’s only start at two was a rather mediocre performance at Greenville, Ohio on August 23, 1945, when he finished third to Protem and Earl Spencer.
The following spring, Sep Palin started the high-priced 3-year-old at Santa Anita in California and almost immediately he showed signs of being a Hambletonian contender. His first race in California, where he finished out of the money, was over the somewhat odd distance of 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) but he soon got into the groove and a few days later he won his next race easily (this time over a 1 mile distance). Although the winning time of 2:10 (1.20,8) didn’t scare anybody, it was noted that Victory Song won with ridiculous ease. After another couple of wins on the east coast, Joe Neville of Delaware, a sponsor of the Little Brown Jug, offered Frances Dodge Johnson $50,000. Knowing the talent she had, the offer was declined on the spot.