Editing Nijinsky (horse) (section)

==Racing career==

===1969: two-year-old season===
Nijinsky's first four races were all at the [[Curragh Racecourse|Curragh]]. In June, he started at odds of [[Fixed odds betting#Fractional odds|4/11]] and won the six-[[furlong]] Erne [[maiden race]] easily.<ref>O'Brien, Jacqueline and Herbert, Ivor. Vincent O'Brien: The Official Biography (2005) Bantam Press ISBN 0-593-05474-1</ref> He followed up with wins in the [[Anglesey Stakes]] and the [[Railway Stakes (Ireland)|Railway Stakes]]. On his fourth appearance, he was extended for the first time in the [[Beresford Stakes]]. He won decisively from Decies, a colt who went on to win the [[Irish 2000 Guineas]] in 1970. Having proved himself the best of the Irish two-year-olds, he was sent to England in October to contest the [[Dewhurst Stakes]] at [[Newmarket Racecourse|Newmarket]]. Ridden for the first time by [[Lester Piggott]], he was held up at the back of the six-horse field before moving through easily to take the lead inside the final furlong, earning top rating in the British Free Handicap.<ref name="Mortimer">{{cite book | last1 = Mortimer | first1 = Roger |last2=Onslow|first2=Richard|last3=Willett|first3=Peter| title = Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing| publisher=Macdonald and Jane's | year = 1978| isbn = 0-354-08536-0}}</ref><ref name="nytimes1992">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/16/sports/horse-racing-nijinsky-ii-destroyed-at-claiborne-farm.html |title=Nijinsky II Destroyed at Claiborne Farm – |work=The New York Times |date=16 April 1992 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref>

===1970: three-year-old season===
[[File:NijinskyII.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Nijinsky at the 1970 Irish Derby]]

====Spring====
On his first appearance as a three-year-old, Nijinsky beat the four-year-old Deep Run<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QMFDJfYT2UEC&q=Nijinsky+%22Deep+Run%22&pg=PA154 |title=Encyclopedia of British horseracing – Wray Vamplew, Joyce Kay – Google Books |isbn=9780714653563 |access-date=5 January 2012|last1=Vamplew |first1=Wray |last2=Kay |first2=Joyce |year=2005 }}</ref> in the [[Gladness Stakes]] at the Curragh in April. The colt was then sent back to Newmarket for the [[2000 Guineas]] over one mile. He started the [[Fixed odds betting#Fractional odds|4/7]] favourite against thirteen opponents. Nijinsky took the lead two furlongs from the finish and, without being put under any pressure by Piggott,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lpJAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4106,6488917&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky promoted Derby favourite |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |date=30 April 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> pulled clear to win by two and a half lengths from Yellow God. The second had won the Ascot 2,000 Guineas trial and the previous year's [[Gimcrack Stakes]], as well as finishing a close second in the [[Middle Park Stakes]].

====Summer====
Nijinsky's opposition in the Derby at [[Epsom Downs Racecourse|Epsom]] was stronger and he started at odds of 11/8 – the only time he was ever odds against. His rivals were headed by the French-trained colts Stintino and Gyr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dwkyAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080,315723&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=It looks like Nijinsky's year |work=The Age|location=Melbourne |date=3 June 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> The veteran French trainer [[Etienne Pollet]] had delayed his retirement for a year to guide Gyr, a son of his champion [[Sea-Bird]], through his three-year-old season.<ref name="Mortimer"/> Nijinsky was held up by Piggott as usual before moving forward in the straight, by which time Gyr was in front and pulling clear of the [[Prix Lupin]] winner, Stintino. A furlong and a half from the finish, Piggott used his whip on Nijinsky. The favourite responded immediately, catching Gyr in a few strides and pulling ahead to win from him by two and a half lengths, with Stintino third.

The winning time of 2:34.68 was the fastest Epsom Derby since 1936.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q0oNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7272,642253&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky cops Derby |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=4 June 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> Nijinsky's time for the last two furlongs of the race (10.6 and 11.25 seconds, respectively) was of sprint championship-winning standard.<ref>[https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/features/rowley/rowley-file-versatility,-greatness,-and-nijinsky%E2%80%99s-triple-crown-50-years-on-592020 'Rowleyfile: Analysing Nijinsky 50 years after he landed the Triple Crown']. Timeform, 6 September 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022</ref> Piggott claimed that he was "always cantering", while [[Bill Williamson]], who rode Gyr, said that "Nijinsky was just too good".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2007/jun/01/nijinskioneofthegreatest |title=Nijinsky, one of the greatest &#124; ''The Guardian'' |work=The Guardian |date=1 June 2007 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> Gyr subsequently franked the form by easily winning the [[Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud]].<ref>[https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/nijinsky-and-lester-piggott-or-triple-crown-winners/201103 'Nijinsky and Lester Piggott|Triple Crown winners']. Timeform, 5 June 2022, retrieved 15 June 2022</ref>

On the day before the Derby, Nijinsky had overcome a severe bout of colic which could have threatened his life.<ref name="Scott">[https://broughscott.com/nijinsky-brough-scott/ 'Nijinsky – Brough Scott']. Brough Scott MBE. Journalist, Author & Broadcaster. ''Racing Post'', 1 January 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2022</ref>

On 27 June, Nijinsky followed up his Epsom win by taking the Irish Derby at the Curragh. Ridden by [[Liam Ward]], he started at odds of 4/11 and accelerated late to win by three lengths from Meadowville.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KmxGAAAAIBAJ&pg=882,6367289&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky captures Irish Sweepstakes |work=Schenectady Gazette |date=29 June 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> In July, Nijinsky raced against older horses in the [[King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] at [[Ascot Racecourse|Ascot]]. His five opponents included winners of major races: [[Blakeney (horse)|Blakeney]] (1969 [[Epsom Derby]]), [[Karabas (horse)|Karabas]] ([[Washington, D.C. International Stakes]]), Crepellana ([[Prix de Diane]]) and Caliban ([[Coronation Cup]]). Without being extended, Nijinsky moved through to take the lead a furlong from the finish and won by two lengths from Blakeney despite being eased down to a [[canter]] in the closing stages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-NKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6766,5549203&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky wins 10th |work=The Press-Courier |date=26 July 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref>

In August, Nijinsky contracted [[ringworm]], which seriously affected his training schedule. The horse lost most of the hair on his body.<ref name="Scott"/>

====Autumn====
Nijinsky appeared to be recovering after being placed on a "rich" diet including raw eggs and [[Irish Stout]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pJwgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1415,5131055&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky goes on rich diet |publisher=Lewiston Daily Sun |date=18 August 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> and was sent to Doncaster for the [[St. Leger Stakes|St. Leger]] in September. In the one mile and six furlongs race, he was attempting to become the first horse since [[Bahram (horse)|Bahram]] 35 years earlier to complete the English [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#English Triple Crowns|Triple Crown]]. He started the 2/7 favourite and won comfortably,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ooRWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4724,5440536&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Triple feat to Nijinsky |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 September 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> although his margin of victory over Meadowville was only one length. As of 2024, he is the last horse to accomplish the feat of sweeping the English Triple Crown: since 1970 only [[Reference Point (horse)|Reference Point]] (1987), [[Nashwan]] (1989), [[Sea The Stars]] (2009) and [[Camelot (horse)|Camelot]] (2012) have won two of the three races, but [[Oh So Sharp]] won the filly's version of the Triple Crown in 1985.

In his next race, Nijinsky was sent to France for the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] at [[Longchamp Racecourse|Longchamp]] in Paris in October. Piggott produced Nijinsky in the straight to make his challenge but was baulked twice before making his run on the wide outside. However, 150m from the finish he caught front runners Miss Dan and Sassafras and took a slight lead. In the last strides, Nijinsky appeared to veer left away from Piggott's whip,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B5IuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2462,1042267&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky's unbroken string snapped in French classic |work=The Gazette|location=Montreal |date=5 October 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> and Sassafras, ridden by Yves Saint-Martin, produced a renewed effort to regain the advantage and win by a head. While many, including his trainer Vincent O'Brien, felt that Piggott had given Nijinsky too much ground to make up and had left his challenge too late,<ref>{{cite web|author=Whitney Tower |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084221/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114120217/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084221/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2012 |title=Nijinsky's defeat after 11 straight victories raised – 10.26.70 – SI Vault |work=Sports Illustrated |date=26 October 1970 |access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref> the jockey, who was heavily criticised by the media and racing public, said that in his opinion Nijinsky was past his peak for the year.<ref name="google1222">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FJIuAAAAIBAJ&pg=1222,5229241&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |author=Dink Carroll |title=Playing the field |work=The Gazette|location=Montreal |date=20 October 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> It is beyond dispute that Nijinsky was a most unlucky loser.<ref>O'Brien, Jacqueline and Herbert, Ivor. Vincent O'Brien: The Official Biography (2005) Bantam Press {{ISBN|0-593-05474-1}}</ref> Piggott commented: "Certainly Nijinsky would have won had he not swerved almost in the shadow of the post, and certainly he would have won had his initial finishing run not been blocked on the final bend".<ref>Sean Magee, [https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/1916/race-sealed-nijinskys-greatness/ 'The race that sealed Nijinsky's greatness']. Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, 8 September 2014, retrieved 15 June 2023</ref>

Less than two weeks after his defeat in the Arc, Nijinsky ran his last race in the [[Champion Stakes]] over ten furlongs at Newmarket. Although he had been known to sweat freely before some of his previous races, Nijinsky on this occasion appeared to become particularly nervous and anxious before the start. In the race itself, he ran well below his best form and was beaten 3/4 length at odds of 4/11 by the five-year-old English horse Lorenzaccio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I-FUAAAAIBAJ&pg=1987,4233678&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky beaten |work=The Age|location=Melbourne |date=19 October 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref> O'Brien on this occasion concurred with Piggott, saying that Nijinsky appeared to have "lost his fire."<ref name="google1222"/> Nijinsky was retired to stand at stud at [[Claiborne Farm]] near [[Paris, Kentucky]] having been syndicated in August for $5,440,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=akQsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6030,2392646&dq=nijinsky&hl=en |title=Nijinsky will stand in Kentucky |work=Herald-Journal |date=16 August 1970 |access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref>