The Resume

(March 27, 1950-November 16, 1967)
Born in Scott Farm, Kentucky
Sire: Polynesian
Dam: Geisha
Owner: Alfred Vanderbilt II
Trainer: Bill Winfrey
22 races, 21 victories
Lifetime earnings: $785,240
Won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes (1953)
Inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame (1963)
Nicknamed the Gray Ghost

Why he might be annoying:

His one loss was the Kentucky Derby.
He had to retire due to recurring foot injuries (1954).
Many of his descendants are prone to similar injuries.
Many leading horses can trace their ancestry to Native Dancer through both their sire and dam, leading to concerns that the gene pool is becoming too restricted.

Why he might not be annoying:

Fans thrilled to his come from behind running style.
He was a two-time Eclipse Horse of the Year (1952,54)
Fourteen consecutive Kentucky Derby winners were descended from him (1995-2008).
All 20 entrants in the 2008 Kentucky Derby were his descendants.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 12]
• Horse Faces
• Horses, Donkeys and Mules
• I am a Kentuckian
• I Died Before My 18th Birthday (Ranked: 17)
• I Died in 1967 (Ranked: 17)
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of Time
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Menagerie of Animals
• Profiles 23001-23250 (Ranked: 23112)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 29 Votes: 55.17% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 29 Votes: 41.38% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 29.41% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 33 Votes: 39.39% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 50 Votes: 34.00% Annoying