Draft:Autobiography (horse)

1970–1971: Early career

Autobiography made his only start as a two-year-old on June 5, 1970, finishing second to Amber Duke in a 51⁄2-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park.^[6] He returned at three on April 28, 1971, winning a seven-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct.^[7]

During the spring and summer of 1971, Autobiography raced mainly in allowance company for Phipps.^[8][9] He was first trained by Edward Neloy and later by Roger Laurin.^[10] After placing in four consecutive races between May and July, he won an allowance race at Aqueduct on July 21.^[11] He then finished unplaced in two allowance races at Saratoga Race Course.^[12][13]

By his next start at Belmont on September 3, Autobiography had been acquired by Sommer and transferred to Martin.^[14][2] He finished fifth in that race and second in a six-furlong allowance at Aqueduct on October 19.^[15]

Autobiography ended the season with three consecutive victories at Aqueduct.^[16][17] On December 1, he made his stakes debut in the Discovery Handicap.^[18] Ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., he challenged Minsky in the stretch and won the 11⁄8-mile race in 1:502⁄5.^[19][18]

1972: Championship season

Autobiography began his four-year-old season in California, finishing sixth in a six-furlong allowance at Santa Anita on January 1, 1972.^[20] He then finished second to Kfar Tov in the first division of the Malibu Stakes and third behind Triple Bend in another Santa Anita allowance race.^[21][22]

On January 29, Autobiography and Triple Bend reached the finish together in the San Fernando Stakes and were declared dead-heat winners.^[23][24] He then finished sixth behind Unconscious in the Charles H. Strub Stakes.^[25]

After returning to New York, Autobiography won two consecutive stakes at Aqueduct.^[26][27] In the one-mile Westchester Handicap on April 1, he defeated Tunex, with Native Royalty third.^[28] Two weeks later, he won the Excelsior Handicap under Ángel Cordero Jr., carrying 123 pounds and completing 11⁄8 miles in 1:49.^[29]

Autobiography did not win in his next nine starts, but he continued to run in major races for older horses. He finished second to Key to the Mint in the Brooklyn Handicap, second to West Coast Scout in the Hobson Handicap, second to Loud in the Governor Stakes, and second to Key to the Mint in the Woodward Stakes after Summer Guest was disqualified from second and placed third.^{[30][31][32][33][34]}

He also finished fourth in the Gravesend Handicap, seventh in the Nassau County Handicap, seventh in the Suburban Handicap, fourth in the Whitney Stakes, and third in the first division of the Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap at Detroit Race Course.^{[35][36][37][38][39]}

On October 20, Autobiography won an allowance race at Garden State Park, defeating Canonero II and Rule by Reason.^[40] Eight days later, he contested the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup at Aqueduct.^[41] The race had been expected to draw several prominent older horses, but the field was reduced by scratches before post time.^[3] Martin entered three Sommer-owned runners: Autobiography, Paraje, and Perry Mason.^[3] Autobiography, ridden by Cordero, advanced near the half-mile pole and drew away to defeat Key to the Mint by 15 lengths, with Riva Ridge third.^[3]

Autobiography made his final start of the year in the Gallant Fox Handicap at Aqueduct on December 2.^[42] Carrying top weight of 128 pounds, he crossed the finish line first in 2:41, equaling the track record for 15⁄8 miles.^[43] The stewards ruled that he had interfered with Crafty Khale in the stretch and disqualified him to second.^[43]

Contemporary coverage described the Gallant Fox as important to Autobiography's candidacy for American Horse of the Year.^[43] The award went to the two-year-old Secretariat.^[44] Autobiography was voted American Champion Older Male Horse and was assigned high weight of 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form Free Handicap for older males, two pounds above Unconscious.^[1][2]

1973: Final season and death

Autobiography returned at five in the $56,350 San Pasqual Handicap at Santa Anita on February 3, 1973.^[45] Making his first start since being named champion older male, he was the 3–2 favorite in a field of nine.^[46] Single Agent defeated Kennedy Road, while Autobiography finished third.^[45]

Autobiography's second start of the season came in the San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita on February 19.^[47] The 11⁄2-mile race was normally held on turf, but heavy rain left the grass course too soft, causing the race to be transferred to the main track.^[4]

Ridden by Eddie Belmonte, Autobiography was advancing on the outside as the field entered the homestretch when he stumbled and threw his jockey.^[4] He remained standing, but his left foreleg had been shattered. The injury was considered irreparable, and he was euthanized at the track.^[4]

Almost simultaneously, the Argentine-bred Tuqui II fractured his left foreleg and fell, throwing jockey Álvaro Pineda.^[4] Tuqui II was also euthanized.^[4] Another runner, Yvetot, collided with Tuqui II but was not seriously injured. Pineda escaped without significant injury, while Belmonte was hospitalized with a concussion, a bruised thigh, cuts, and other bruises.^[4][48] A later account reported that Belmonte had also sustained a hairline fracture of the jaw.^[4]

Queen's Hustler won the San Luis Obispo in 2:271⁄5, setting a track record for the distance on Santa Anita's main track.^[4] The race was the final start for both Autobiography and Tuqui II.^[4]

Autobiography ended his career with 10 wins, 11 seconds, and four thirds from 36 starts, earning $385,909.^[5][2]