Columnist Ralph Siraco: Horse racing loses legend

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Nov. 17, 1997 | 12:47 p.m.

WEBSTER'S dictionary defines "Master" as "an artist regarded as great."

For 31 years, from 1932 to 1961, the sport of kings defined Master as one Edward Arcaro.

Horse racing lost a living legend on Friday. The one they called the Master, Eddie Arcaro died at age 81 of liver cancer, but the legend of the master will live on in racing history forever.

He will be remembered as the only man, to date, to win two Triple Crowns -- Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1946 -- a record five Kentucky Derbies (equalled by Bill Hartack in 1969), six Preaknesses and another half-dozen Belmont Stakes.

Among the champions of his time, no great horse had ever achieved that stature without either beating the Master or accompanied by him during his domain. The great Bold Ruler, whose bloodlines were the most potent in American breeding and flow through the lineage of today's champions, had Arcaro as his pilot and, of his 4,779 career victories, at least three were aboard the great Kelso as they swept the New York Handicap Triple Crown in 1961.

Slow start

Arcaro's greatness would start as anything but auspicious. As an obscure young apprentice in 1931, he failed to win a race, and combined earnings of horses he rode totaled $200. Arcaro finally booted his first winner at the old Agua Caliente race track in Mexico on Jan. 14 of the following year and would finish 1932 with 62 wins from 557 rides and earnings of more than $40,000. With the exception of 1958, which ironically was the year he was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame, his mounts earned more than $1 million from 1946 to his retirement year of 1961.

But even the Master needed that one "big hoss," and that came by way of Calumet Farm's Whirlaway in 1941. Trainer Ben Jones employed Arcaro to ride the 3-year-old for the Kentucky Derby that year but Arcaro didn't want to, because of Whirlaway's habit of bolting during his races. Jones convinced Arcaro that he had corrected the problem and, after the rider worked the horse prior to the Derby, Arcaro took the mount and the rest is history. "Mr. Longtail," as they affectionately called him, went on to capture the Triple Crown and began an unparalleled dynasty for Calumet, Jones and Arcaro. They combined to win three more Derbies and another Triple Crown with Citation.

Of all the great horses Arcaro rode, he called Citation the best. The 5-foot-3 Italian guided Citation to 13 consecutive victories and admits that he should have won the 1950 Santa Anita Handicap with him if not for getting shut off at the rail by his own entrymate.

Humble, reverent

Arcaro was like that -- taking the heat when losing and humble in victory. He was also reverent in all aspects of the sport that gave him so much.

Just last year when Cigar was on the threshold of tying Citation's modern-day record of 16 consecutive wins, we had the privilege of a rare interview with Arcaro for the "Race Day Las Vegas" radio show. Although he reaffirmed his admiration for "Big Cy." he wished Cigar and his connections a victory and would not diminish Cigar's accomplishments or record by comparing the two.

When we learned of Arcaro's passing, we called a close personal friend of the Master for a reflection on the man. Tommy Roberts, who counts Nevada Dissemination Service as one of his many businesses, sorted his many memories of Arcaro and shared a story that capsules the character of the man.

As an aggressive young rider, Arcaro had a fiery temper that nearly cost him his career in 1942. Arcaro was riding Occupation in the Cowdin Stakes at Aqueduct and was bumped hard at the start by Vincent Nodarse on Breezing Home. After recovering, Arcaro came alongside Breezing Home, knocked him into the rail and Nodarse heavily to the ground. When asked by the stewards after the race what he was trying to do, Arcaro replied, "Are you blind? I was trying to kill that SOB!" Arcaro was suspended indefinitely and was reinstated after serving one year because the influential Mrs. Payne Whitney pleaded, while dying, to see Arcaro ride again. He did.

He got his way

After Arcaro retired and while Roberts was president of Hialeah Racecourse in Florida, the Master gave friend Roberts a call to help a friend in need. It seems this friend was down on his luck and wanted to open a juice stand at the track. Roberts informed Arcaro that, due to an exclusive concessions contract, the request would be almost impossible. Arcaro insisted and, with some good old-fashioned string pulling, the juice stand was allowed. The respect and integrity of Arcaro got the job done. When Roberts inquired about who this friend in need was, Arcaro answered, "Vincent Nodarse."

A young apprentice starting in Southern California during the late 1940s, when Arcaro was leading rider at Santa Anita, credits the Master for teaching him the tricks of the trade at an early stage of his riding career. That "young" apprentice who Arcaro took under his wing turned out to be the world's winningest rider, Bill Shoemaker.

Of the great horses he's ridden, Arcaro humbly comments, "I've been on many of the best horses. Take the best horse in any race and put any one of a dozen riders on him, and he'll come through."

Well, maybe so, but there is only one with the class, dignity and heart of the Master.

Next week at Heavenly Downs in the Big Sky Handicap, there's a new kid named to ride Citation, and don't be fooled by the devil's red and navy silks, the kid can ride. His name is Arcaro, but they'll soon get to know him as the Master.