Riva Ridge was a Thoroughbred racehorse, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972.
22 Facts About Riva Ridge
1.
2.
Contrary to popular belief, Riva Ridge's success was largely responsible for saving Meadow Stable from financial ruin.
3.
Riva Ridge was a light bay stallion who stood 16 hands high.
4.
Riva Ridge's name came from Chenery's daughter Penny and her husband, John Tweedy, honoring their favorite ski run at Vail, Colorado.
5.
Riva Ridge made his racetrack debut on June 9,1971, at Belmont Park.
6.
Riva Ridge asked trainer Lucien Laurin if Riva Ridge could take a month away from racing to work on overcoming his fear.
7.
Laurin had plans for Riva Ridge to run in other races at Saratoga, so he initially declined Turcotte's request.
8.
Ultimately, Turcotte's idea worked, and Riva Ridge won four consecutive stakes in the fall of 1971, netting him honors as that year's two-year-old champion.
9.
Riva Ridge then ran in the Everglades Stakes, but he did not take well to the sloppy track and finished fourth.
10.
Riva Ridge then came back and won the Blue Grass Stakes in his final prep race nine days before the Kentucky Derby.
11.
Later in his three-year-old season, Riva Ridge won the Hollywood Derby by a nose, but then suffered five straight losses, two of which were to eventual champion three-year-old male Key to the Mint.
12.
When Riva Ridge returned to Saratoga the day after, he tested positive for traces of a tranquilizer derivative, indicating someone had likely given him a tranquilizer between 8 and 48 hours before the race.
13.
However, Riva Ridge was not tested immediately after the race by officials and the levels reported were not grounds for any action regardless.
14.
Riva Ridge then lost the Stymie Handicap by a neck to Canonero II, winner of 1971's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and was off the board in his final three starts, all over off tracks or turf.
15.
Riva Ridge is one of five horses who won two of three Triple Crown races but not that year's three-year-old championship.
16.
Riva Ridge's mark was equaled by Farma Way in 1991 at Pimlico Race Course.
17.
In 30 lifetime starts, Riva Ridge won 17 races, finished second three times and third once, with earnings of $1,111,497.
18.
Riva Ridge was syndicated for $5.12 million, and Secretariat for $6.08 million.
19.
Riva Ridge developed a stronger bond with Penny since he was largely overlooked by the general public.
20.
Out of Riva Ridge's 360 named foals, 228 were winners, including 29 stakes winners.
21.
Riva Ridge died of a heart attack in his paddock on April 21,1985, after a trip to the breeding shed.
22.
Riva Ridge was elected to the American Racing Hall of Fame in 1998.