Regret’s Derby Win – Legendary Feat Acomplished By First Filly Ever

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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That year emerged as the greatest year for fillies in American Racing History as Regret won, the first ever by a filly, Kentucky Derby, the most crucial and honoured race in thoroughbred racing culture. And while she did it, she grabbed the victory from her competitor from last racing season, Champion Colt, Pebbles. It was payback time.
Regret was foaled in 1912, born to Jersey Lightning by Broomstick, at the Brookdale Farm, in Lincroft of New Jersey. Her pedigree was highly impressive owing to the fact that it comprised of Modesty, her third dam who was the first filly to win an American Derby. Her damsire was Hamburg by Hanover who was the most renowned colt by the great, Hindoo. Even her connections smelled of victories; bred and owned by Harry Payne Whitney, a leading breeder and owner in America and conditioned by the famous James Rowe Sr. who had also trained her pedigree’s most critical member, Hindoo.
Regret raced only 11 times in her entire career of four years. Her maiden season set her on the hot seat as she became the first horse to even win the races trio at Saratoga for two year olds. Regret ...
... won the Saratoga Special Stakes, Sanford Stakes and the Hopeful Stakes, all together in her first racing season, a feat that only three more horses accomplished after her. As a two year old, Regret was recognized with the Champion Two Year Old Filly Award while the Champion Colt went to Pebbles, a contender that would charge her with vengeance soon in their next season.
For her three year old campaign, Regret had merely realized her age when she was already competing in the Kentucky Derby against a field full with male counterparts especially, Pebbles. Regret pulled off a clean win against vengeful Pebbles without asserting herself making it the first win ever by a filly in this male dominated race. She started just once more in the Saranac Handicap winning it again, this time she defeated season’s Belmont Stakes winner, The Finn; an effort strong enough to win her the Eclipse’s Horse of the Year.
It is believed that had Regret entered the 1915 Preakness, she would go on to conquer that as well as she had never been defeated by any filly. Preakness that year was won by Rhine Maiden, a female horse Regret could easily defeat.
Again at four, Regret started only twice as her last season. She won one and lost another at Saratoga. Regret was once again racing as a five year old in 1917 when she started at Belmont in an eight furlongs race where she easily beat Yankee Witch and three year old male colt, Admiration who she gave 22 pounds. Followed soon with Brooklyn Handicap; a legendary field comprising of award winning horses like Old Rosebud, Roamer, Omar Khayyam and stable mate Borrow, who also defeated her by a nose. She then won the Gazelle Stakes against Bayberry Candle and Wistful.
Regret started one last time before returning to the stables to broodmare duties; she raced in the handicap at Aqueduct, a seven furlong race only contended by one other horse. She won her last furlongs in racing by three lengths also setting a new track record at 1:24 1/5. Regret had little influence as a broodmare and her only reputed stakes winner was Revenge.
Regret is ranked third greatest American filly and Blood-Horse keeps her at rank 71 amongst top 100 thoroughbreds of all times. She can once again be raced in a virtual environment through online racing games on HorseRaceGame. Check out the link to find more thoroughbreds and interesting racing games.