Dancer's Image: The Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby

by Milton C. Toby

On May 4, 1968, Dancer's Image crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs to win the 94th Kentucky Derby. Yet the jubilation ended three days later for the owner, the jockey and the trainers who propelled the celebrated thoroughbred to victory. Amid a firestorm of controversy, Dancer's Image was disqualified after blood tests revealed the presence of a widely used anti-inflammatory drug with a dubious legal status. Over forty years later, questions still linger over the origins of the substance and the turmoil it created. Veteran turfwriter and noted equine law expert Milt Toby gives the first in-depth look at the only disqualification in Derby history and how the Run for the Roses was changed forever.

Genres: Animals, Horse Racing, Nonfiction

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2011

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author seems biased in his account and fails to provide proof in many instances when he alleges incompetence etc. I am also astonished that he does not follow up more on the suspicious behavior by the veterinarian that treated Dancer's Image. In the end, I was not sure what the point of the book was. Was it to say that phenylbutazone was actually not in the horse's urine sample? Or was it to say that maybe the drug was there, but the owner and trainer should not have been held accountable?

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before there was Medina Spirit, there was Dancer's Image.

This was a difficult book about an event the American Thoroughbred racing industry would prefer that everyone would forget -- that the 1968 winner of the Kentucky Derby tested positive for Bute.

It's laughable today that Bute would be such a big deal. Almost all horses run on it. Drugs and racing have been around since chariot racing in the Roman Empire. The 1960s were the early days of drug testing in horses. Parameters and protocols had not been established.

And no one in racing gave a damn until the 1968 Derby.

Toby starts to hint that there was a conspiracy against the owner of Dancer's Image. However, he is later able to dismantle these conspiracy theories. He points out in the beginning of the book that the mystery can never be solved.

However, I think I know what happened.

Bear with me.

Dancer's Image was slightly smaller and lighter than most three year old Thoroughbreds in the first week of May. He was definitely given a large dose of Bute six days before the race. It was the first time he was ever given Bute, according to his connections. He even suffered side effects from the dose, colic and diarrhea.

Could it not be possible that there was still Bute in his system when he ran in the Derby six days later?

Nothing fundamentally has changed in racing. There is no central authority. Each track is autonomous. Almost all horses train on drugs. Horses get injections almost every day since they are foals, even if they are only given vitamins. Drugs are much harder to detect. There is no incentive for better testing (although testing has certainly improved since 1968.)

I would have liked to see the author go into a history of drugs in racing, or even mention when running on Bute became legal in Kentucky, but he focused this short book on just this case. It was a complicated case.

The most interesting part of the book took up less than one paragraph in the Epilogue. The owner of Dancer's Image also owned the 1985 three year old filly of the year, Mom's Command. Her jockey was Abigail, the owner's teenage daughter. Can someone please write a book about Mom's Command?

Meanwhile, this book is currently available at The Open Library, for who knows how much longer.

[Sharon Healy-Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby's book intelligently and interestingly conveys the story behind Dancer's Image's disqualification in the 1968 Kentucky Derby. The author provides a detailed background on the horse, his owner, his trainer, and the vet involved that enables you to understand the circumstances of the event. Toby's detailing of how the horse was tested for Bute, the problems with the procedures and the interpretation of the results, and the legal fuzziness of the steward's, the racing commission's, and others rulings clarifies a situation that has languished in confusion and misreporting for many years. What a shame Dancer's Image was deprived of the honor he won in a brilliant race. Of course, my disclaimer is that I am from Massachusetts. A fast yet enlightening read.

[Chris Christiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fascinating story of the horse that won the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was later disqualified from the purse money because of a "failed" drug test. Any racing fan should read this. Its an enlightening read into the horse racing drug testing process from 1968 and how this fiasco forced later changes into this process. Quick read and well worth the limited time for any racing fan.

[Randall Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

For horse racing fans only

Lots of technical, chemical and detail. The author does a remarkable job in making the events and details a good read. Especially for anyone interested in horse or horse racing.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read on the controversy surrounding the Dancer's Image win in the '68 Derby, and goes into good detail about the proceedings and appeals afterwards. Professionally written and well researched.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Account of 1968 Derby

This book was an easy read despite having a lot of boring legal material. It is a good book for those wanting to know more about the history of Classic Races.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. What a story. I'm horse crazy so it was right up my alley. Never knew about this. I've met the jockey who rode Dancer's Image. He won the Derby two years in a row. Seems there was some skullduggery going on there. There's politics in everything. What a shame. Of course now the rules have been changed.