Regret: The First Filly To Ever Win The Derby

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
Comment this article

When Regret was foaled in the year 1912, in Lincroft, New Jersey, little did Mr. Harry Payne Whitney know what the mare would accomplish as a thoroughbred on the race tracks she would soon invade once she turned old enough. Despite being foaled in an era when male horse were always more preferred given their greater strength and stamina, Regret was named in disappointment owning to the fact that a colt was greatly anticipated, especially when the sire was a leading one, Broomstick who’d bred Jersey Lightning, a great mare herself.
Regret started a total of 11 times in her career, never finishing any less than in the money except once. She won nine of her races and placed second once. As a two year old, without having started in any allowance or special weight races, Regret was directly put to test. Her trainer James Rowe Sr. is believed to have expressed great faith in the filly; hence her first start was a crucial one already.
In 1914, Regret won her maiden, the Saratoga Special Stakes where she competed against top two year old colts. She won without breaking a sweat by a length ahead of her prime rival, Pebbles, ...
... a champion colt himself. Next, Saratoga Memorial would follow within a small span of break and Regret once again glided to victory by ½ lengths despite competing against male counterparts and also running under an impost; she was assigned 127lbs. Third leg of the Saratoga races, the Hopeful Stakes and once again Regret pushed back her prime contender, Pebbles to third, finishing ½ ahead of the runner up.
Regret became the first ever filly to have won all three legs of the Saratoga event. The feat has been achieved by none more than three other racehorses.
Come 1915 and Regret’s career was littered with first time successes. She started as a three year old, straight into the Kentucky Derby. And once again, she won the race effortlessly by 2 distinct lengths over the race second place finisher, Pebbles. Regret was the first ever filly to have won the race and also established herself and the mile and a quarter event as a highly crucial thoroughbred racing event.
As a three year old, Regret started only once more, in the Saranac Handicap. Once again it was a field comprising of the top male thoroughbreds and Regret disappointed none. She maintained her winning spree and handed over to her connections another win, this time winning it from The Finn (winner of Belmont Stakes and Withers Stakes).
Regret’s three year old season was limited to two starts and what followed was a not so impressive third season of racing. As a 4yo, Regret first started in the Saratoga Handicap and was defeated the first time in her career. She was then directed to an allowance race where again she was back to her form defeating FlitterGold. Regret was once again moved into layoff. She wouldn’t race again until she turned five and started with a win at an allowance race at the Belmont Stakes. Then came Brooklyn Handicap where she was again met with male counterparts. Regret faded in the final few strides finished second by a nose to the race winner. She later won the Gazelle Stakes against fillies and an overnight race at Aqueduct. Regret was finally retired after her 9 winning performances and placing once. Free racing games download is now available on www.horseracegame.com. Check out our Horse Racing Fantasy with simulated racing legends from the past and present. Enjoy the games races in a 3D simulation and share the experience with the world as you get to play the game on the web with many more players interacting with you. To get started, log on and get registered.