The fastest juvenile of his day, Count Fleet was guided by the best jockey of the era. The sixth Triple Crown winner was unbeaten in 1943.
All champion thoroughbreds have off days. Like Man o' War, Count Fleet had one. He finished third in the Belmont Futurity in his juvenile season.
That probably happened because he ran lights out at 1:08-1/5 in a six furlong workout (clocked by four different observers) four days earlier. That "eight and one" work was fodder for track conversation for years to come.
The bullet work and third place finish were past history one week later when The Count astounded bystanders, racing fans, and old track hands by jet propelling through the Champagne Stakes in 1:34-4/5, the fastest juvenile mile ever recorded, which stood until 1976, when young Seattle Slew bettered it by 2/5.
Count Fleet did everything a thoroughbred could do. He ran fast. He ran long. He eventually beat his two-time conqueror, Occupation, to take away the latter's certain honors for the 1942 season.
He won the Triple Crown, blazing through the final jewel at Belmont Park by 25 lengths. He bested the son of Rosemont, who had vanquished such champions as War Admiral, Seabiscuit, and Discovery. He sired numerous champions.
The Count even managed to last (age 33) until the end of 1973, the year that finally saw another Triple Crown champion crowned after a twenty-five year lapse dating to 1948.
Likewise, The Count's jockey, Johnny Longden, was one of a kind. Longden remains the only person to both ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner, Count Fleet (1943) and Majestic Prince (1969). Longden lived to his 96th birthday.
The Count and the king of jockeys are both long remembered.
