Dr. Fager (FL)

Dr. Fager recorded one of the greatest campaigns in the history of American racing when he was named Horse of the Year, Champion Older Male, Champion Grass Horse, and Champion Sprint Horse in 1968.

Inducted

1971

Foaled

1964

Sire

Rough'n Tumble

Dam

Aspidistra

Damsire

Better Self

Breeder

Tartan Farms

Owner

Tartan Farms

Trainer

John Nerud

Career

1966-1968

Earnings

$1,002,642

Racing Record

22

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1966	5	4	1	0	$112338 $112,338
1967	9	7	0	1	$484194 $484,194
1968	8	7	1	0	$406110 $406,110

Biography

Dr. Fager recorded one of the greatest campaigns in the history of American racing when he was named Horse of the Year, Champion Older Male, Champion Grass Horse, and Champion Sprint Horse in 1968.

Bred and owned by William L. McKnight’s Tartan Farms, Dr. Fager was named after Boston-based neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Fager, who saved Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud’s life with two operations after Nerud suffered a serious fall from his pony.

A bay son of Rough’n Tumble out of the Better Self mare Aspidistra, Dr. Fager won the World’s Playground Stakes and Cowdin Stakes a 2-year-old in 1966. The following year, he won the Gotham, Withers, Arlington Classic, Rockingham Special, New Hampshire Sweepstakes, Hawthorne Gold Cup, and Vosburgh Handicap to be named Champion Sprinter with a record of 7-0-1 from nine starts and earnings of $484,194.

As a 4-year-old, Dr. Fager lowered the world record for one mile to 1:32⅕ while carrying 134 pounds in the Washington Park Handicap. He carried 139 pounds and set a track record for seven furlongs to win his second consecutive Vosburgh. Dr. Fager also won the Whitney and Californian stakes, Roseben Handicap, defeated Damascus in the Suburban Handicap, and beat Fort Marcy in the United Nations Handicap in his only start on the turf. With a record of 7-1-0 from nine starts and earnings of $406,110, he was named Horse of the Year and added the three division championships.

Dr. Fager was retired to stud with a record of 18-2-1 from 22 starts and earnings of $1,002,642. The only time in his career he did not finish in the top three was the Jersey Derby. Dr. Fager crossed the finish first by 6½ lengths in that race, but was disqualified.

Standing at Tartan Farms in Ocala, Florida, Dr. Fager sired champions Dearly Precious and Dr. Patches. He died Aug, 5, 1976, at the age of 12, and was buried at the farm. He was America’s leading sire posthumously in 1977.