South of Crete on the Arba Pike along the eastern edge of Randolph County, a small monument rises up from a clump of grass to commemorate one of the area's greatest legends.
Inscribed on the stone is the singular name, "Red Sails"; the dates "1948 to 1954" and the epitaph, "One In A Million." Also inscribed on the monument is "1:58."
Time has not dimmed the memory of Red Sails, the spirited pacer who not only set records at hundreds of tracks across the country, but won the hearts of thousands of race fans. Red Sails' rise to record-holding popularity was as swift as his untimely demise into his ultimate resting place along Arba Pike, a scant six years later.
Red Sails' story began on the farm of his owner, Herbert King, near Crete, where he was foaled on a fine spring day in 1948 by Marigold. Red Sails' geneology can be traced back through some of the greatest harness horses to ever grace a racetrack-a claim that would ultimately be made about the Randolph County horse by race fans and horsemen alike.
Marigold was foaled out of Single Ann (sired by the famous Indiana horse, Single G) and Cold Cash (the fastest son of Peter Volo.)Marigold was bred to The Abbot, a horse renowned for his competiveness on both pacing and trotting tracks across the country. The result of blending the bloodlines of these two fine steeds pad off that spring day in Crete-Red Sails.
From the moment he was born Red Sails looked like he had something special about him-the air of a winner, it could be called, according to Mrs. Gladys Anderson, from Union City. Mrs. Anderson, King's cousin, who was then acting as the horseman's housekeeper, bookkeeper and general manager, took quite a liking to the spirited young colt. Her voice still cracks and her eyes turn misty when recalling Red Sails' first days on the farm.
The red chestnut colt had a perfect confirmation and behaved well, Mrs. Anderson recalls, "but he did have a mind of his own and an abundance of spirit."
The name "Red Sails" can be credited to Mrs. Anderson, who named most of the horses on the farm. The colt as a weanling would often romp around the pasture and race with his mother along the fences.
One evening, a visitor watching the frisky colt cavort around the field commented: "Look at him sail." Mrs. Anderson, thinking of the colt's reddish coat and a popular song of the time, "Red Sails In The Sunset," said, "Lets call him Red Sails," and one of the most popular names in harness racing annals was christened.
Red sails was placed under Roy Reigle's care for training as a two-year-old and raced extensively at the Darke County, Ohio fairgrounds. That year with Reigle's son, Gene, doing most of the driving, Red Sails won six times, was second four times and placed third three times in 20 starts. An impressive enough impetus to encourage King and the trainer to continue racing Red Sails.
The Reigles continued training and racing the horse until 1953 when Bob Walker took over the training reins. With Walker and driver Gene Sears, Red Sails came into his own. Although he only won four races in 1953, he brought home to Indiana $28,207.50 in purse money.
The next year, 1954, became the era of Red Sails. Sears, combining good horse sense with gentleness and firmness, brought the big red chestnut across the finish line ahead of the fastest horses in the country 12 times. That year Red Sails was top money-winner in his division with earnings of $66,615. After a clocking time of 1:58 during a mile race at Lexington, Kentucky he was named the Fastest Racing Pacer of 1954.
Another record was set at Yonkers, New York in 1954 with a time of 2:08. Although the record has been matched, it has never been broken.
Red Sails was considered something of an "individualist" and would rebel against trainers if the training wasn't administered with a generous quantity of kindness and consideration. Occasional kicking at boards in his stall and snapping at unliked grooms and trainers or a rival horse gained Red Sails the title of being "a cantankerous and mean horse" by some horsemen.
The horse was once said to kick his driver out of the sulky before thousands of surprised spectators at Roosevelt Raceway in New York. After that, his reputation as a mean horse was hard to dispel.
However, Mrs. Anderson strongly disputes this contention. "A lot of people referred to him as mean, moody, bad tempered, but I could handle him," she said, "all the bad reputation he had over the years was absolutely untrue. Mr. King found out that a good part of his bad reputation was because the trainer and one of the drivers were not treating him right. If he was abused he would fight back."
She says he hated the sight of the whip and one of the drivers would always sit on the whip to keep it out of sight. "The drivers never had to use the whip" she said. "Red Sails just enjoyed the race-he'd love to start out with a competing horse and then take off and leave it behind."
"He knew when he was out in front and had the race won, because you could see him let up before he crossed the finish line," she continued. "We had pictures to prove that. After winning a race, he would automatically walk to the winner's circle-he knew when he won, he was almost human."
Red Sail's last race was his greatest and probably one of the most memorable races in harness racing history.
The sun was going down at the last race of the Golden West Pace in Hollywood, California, throwing an orange tint to the large grandstand and paddock area as the horses lined up for the start. Red Sails and his arch-rival, Knox Hanover, were expected to battle it out neck-to-neck for the $30,375 purse.
Red Sails, coming out of the start strong, bypassed the field and as he was coming across the finish line, with his red mane flowing in the breeze and the long shadow of his legs cast beyond the white-boarded paddock area, the crowd of nearly 20,000 spectators gave the horse a rising ovation, singing "Red Sails In The Sunset."
Red Sails had not only outdistanced his rival by three lengths, but he had won the prestigious Golden West Pace at a record clocked time of 1:58.
About a month later, Red Sails was hoisted up in a large sling to breathe his last. The mane laid lifelessly on his red chestnut neck. The next morning he died of tetanus infection.
Subsequent investigation hd borne out that before his death a farrier at the California race had driven a nail too far into the horses foot. After the race, King had sent the horse to the Castleton Farm in Kentucky for rest and winter training. The owner had instructed the handler to remove Red Sails' shoes as soon as he was unloaded at the farm; however, this was not done and the tetanus developed.
Red Sails, showing his owner and fans alike what great heart and determination he had, won the race with the nail impaled an inch or more into his foot.
Red Sails, at his owner's insistence, was brought back to Crete to be buried. Mrs. Anderson recalls a large number of horsemen and racing fans from throughout the country gathered at the farm for the burial. Neighboring farmers dug the grave and donated a thick bed of straw for his final resting place. A blanket Red Sails had won at one of his races, was put around the horse. Telegrams and letters of condolences were received by King from all over the country. The Hollywood Park raceway held a Red Sails Memorial Race the following year.
The Arba Pike monument still remains a mystery to the motorist occasionally passing the site, but those who saw Red Sails on the track are fortunate to realize the courage, beauty and spirit the gravestone represents. Winchester News-Gazette, Sept. 4, 1976. Eric Rodenberg.
Red Sails' story began on the farm of his owner, Herbert King, near Crete, where he was foaled on a fine spring day in 1948 by Marigold. Red Sails' geneology can be traced back through some of the greatest harness horses to ever grace a racetrack-a claim that would ultimately be made about the Randolph County horse by race fans and horsemen alike.
Marigold was foaled out of Single Ann (sired by the famous Indiana horse, Single G) and Cold Cash (the fastest son of Peter Volo.)Marigold was bred to The Abbot, a horse renowned for his competiveness on both pacing and trotting tracks across the country. The result of blending the bloodlines of these two fine steeds pad off that spring day in Crete-Red Sails.
From the moment he was born Red Sails looked like he had something special about him-the air of a winner, it could be called, according to Mrs. Gladys Anderson, from Union City. Mrs. Anderson, King's cousin, who was then acting as the horseman's housekeeper, bookkeeper and general manager, took quite a liking to the spirited young colt. Her voice still cracks and her eyes turn misty when recalling Red Sails' first days on the farm.
The red chestnut colt had a perfect confirmation and behaved well, Mrs. Anderson recalls, "but he did have a mind of his own and an abundance of spirit."
The name "Red Sails" can be credited to Mrs. Anderson, who named most of the horses on the farm. The colt as a weanling would often romp around the pasture and race with his mother along the fences.
One evening, a visitor watching the frisky colt cavort around the field commented: "Look at him sail." Mrs. Anderson, thinking of the colt's reddish coat and a popular song of the time, "Red Sails In The Sunset," said, "Lets call him Red Sails," and one of the most popular names in harness racing annals was christened.
Red sails was placed under Roy Reigle's care for training as a two-year-old and raced extensively at the Darke County, Ohio fairgrounds. That year with Reigle's son, Gene, doing most of the driving, Red Sails won six times, was second four times and placed third three times in 20 starts. An impressive enough impetus to encourage King and the trainer to continue racing Red Sails.
The Reigles continued training and racing the horse until 1953 when Bob Walker took over the training reins. With Walker and driver Gene Sears, Red Sails came into his own. Although he only won four races in 1953, he brought home to Indiana $28,207.50 in purse money.
The next year, 1954, became the era of Red Sails. Sears, combining good horse sense with gentleness and firmness, brought the big red chestnut across the finish line ahead of the fastest horses in the country 12 times. That year Red Sails was top money-winner in his division with earnings of $66,615. After a clocking time of 1:58 during a mile race at Lexington, Kentucky he was named the Fastest Racing Pacer of 1954.
Another record was set at Yonkers, New York in 1954 with a time of 2:08. Although the record has been matched, it has never been broken.
Red Sails was considered something of an "individualist" and would rebel against trainers if the training wasn't administered with a generous quantity of kindness and consideration. Occasional kicking at boards in his stall and snapping at unliked grooms and trainers or a rival horse gained Red Sails the title of being "a cantankerous and mean horse" by some horsemen.
The horse was once said to kick his driver out of the sulky before thousands of surprised spectators at Roosevelt Raceway in New York. After that, his reputation as a mean horse was hard to dispel.
However, Mrs. Anderson strongly disputes this contention. "A lot of people referred to him as mean, moody, bad tempered, but I could handle him," she said, "all the bad reputation he had over the years was absolutely untrue. Mr. King found out that a good part of his bad reputation was because the trainer and one of the drivers were not treating him right. If he was abused he would fight back."
She says he hated the sight of the whip and one of the drivers would always sit on the whip to keep it out of sight. "The drivers never had to use the whip" she said. "Red Sails just enjoyed the race-he'd love to start out with a competing horse and then take off and leave it behind."
"He knew when he was out in front and had the race won, because you could see him let up before he crossed the finish line," she continued. "We had pictures to prove that. After winning a race, he would automatically walk to the winner's circle-he knew when he won, he was almost human."
Red Sail's last race was his greatest and probably one of the most memorable races in harness racing history.
The sun was going down at the last race of the Golden West Pace in Hollywood, California, throwing an orange tint to the large grandstand and paddock area as the horses lined up for the start. Red Sails and his arch-rival, Knox Hanover, were expected to battle it out neck-to-neck for the $30,375 purse.
Red Sails, coming out of the start strong, bypassed the field and as he was coming across the finish line, with his red mane flowing in the breeze and the long shadow of his legs cast beyond the white-boarded paddock area, the crowd of nearly 20,000 spectators gave the horse a rising ovation, singing "Red Sails In The Sunset."
Red Sails had not only outdistanced his rival by three lengths, but he had won the prestigious Golden West Pace at a record clocked time of 1:58.
About a month later, Red Sails was hoisted up in a large sling to breathe his last. The mane laid lifelessly on his red chestnut neck. The next morning he died of tetanus infection.
Subsequent investigation hd borne out that before his death a farrier at the California race had driven a nail too far into the horses foot. After the race, King had sent the horse to the Castleton Farm in Kentucky for rest and winter training. The owner had instructed the handler to remove Red Sails' shoes as soon as he was unloaded at the farm; however, this was not done and the tetanus developed.
Red Sails, showing his owner and fans alike what great heart and determination he had, won the race with the nail impaled an inch or more into his foot.
Red Sails, at his owner's insistence, was brought back to Crete to be buried. Mrs. Anderson recalls a large number of horsemen and racing fans from throughout the country gathered at the farm for the burial. Neighboring farmers dug the grave and donated a thick bed of straw for his final resting place. A blanket Red Sails had won at one of his races, was put around the horse. Telegrams and letters of condolences were received by King from all over the country. The Hollywood Park raceway held a Red Sails Memorial Race the following year.
The Arba Pike monument still remains a mystery to the motorist occasionally passing the site, but those who saw Red Sails on the track are fortunate to realize the courage, beauty and spirit the gravestone represents. Winchester News-Gazette, Sept. 4, 1976. Eric Rodenberg.
______________________
Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society
Visit the website.
Here is a link to the cemetery database. https://rchsmuseum.org/cemeteries-database
Follow the blog.
Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded. This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.
Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society
Visit the website.
Here is a link to the cemetery database. https://rchsmuseum.org/cemeteries-database
Follow the blog.
Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded. This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.
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