Editing Nijinsky (horse) (section)

====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>