'Cursed' Horse Loses 1987 Kentucky Derby

Demons Begone #6
by
Anne Eberhardt: Source

Back in 1987, a three year old colt by the name of Demons Begone won the Arkansas Derby. The horse with the interesting name, owned by John Ed Anthony and trained by Phil Hauswald, had won all three of his previous races and was the clear favorite for winning the upcoming Kentucky Derby.  Unfortunately, fate would step in and rob the horse of its predicted victory.

Before the race was halfway through, it was apparent there was a major problem with Demons Begone. Walked off the track by jockey Pat Day, and inspected by veterinarian Gary Lavin, it was discovered that Demons Begone had begun bleeding from the nostrils. Another horse ended up in the winner's circle of the Kentucky Derby, but that didn't mean Demons Begone was out of the spotlight just yet.

The whole incident had caught the attention of C. Mitchell Bedford. Bedford was a self-proclaimed horse psychic and equine exorcist. He owned a horse farm just outside of Winchester, KY called the Rising Star Horse and Health Farm where he spiritually treated horses with the help of psychic healing, facilitated by former vets who were now in the spiritual realm themselves. And, by spiritually treating horses, I mean he was on record for having treated two horses, Sam and Rocky. 

C. Mitchell Bedford at Rising Star Farm
Lexington Herald-Leader
06 May 1987

Bedford was convinced that Demons Begone was, by some measure, possessed by actual demons. You see, his very name was a personal affront to the demon world. Demons be gone? Well, those demons would show humanity just how 'gone' they were by....well, I guess...causing a horse to lose the Kentucky Derby. 

Bedford offered to exorcise Demons Begone to really make the demons be gone, a process by which he apparently just sternly but politely asked them to leave. He stated in the local paper that the owners of the horse had nothing to lose and everything to gain by letting him have a shot at cleansing the equine's demons. However, it doesn't appear as if Anthony ever took him up on the offer. 

Luckily, Demons Begone was able to recover from his health problems. He lived to race again, but never quite achieved his former glory. In 1989, he was put out to stud at the Claiborne Farm near Paris, KY. In 1997 he was moved to El Dorado Farms in Washington state, where he spent his final days. He passes away on July 4, 2001 due to a ruptured aorta. 

It is unclear whether Demons Begone really ever bid his demons be gone. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Washington Stallion Demons Begone Dead. Blood Horse July 8, 2001

Demons Begone Wins Southwest Stakes. Blood Horse February 21, 2019

Ventura County Star
03 May 1987

Lexington Herald-Leader
06 May 1987

Dead Jockey Declared Belmont Winner

California Chrome, by Barbara D. Livingston

Yesterday, the racehorse, California Chrome, made history!  After winning the Kentucky Derby several weeks ago, California Chrome returned to the track on Saturday, May 17th and won the Preakness Stakes!  This puts him in the running for the Triple Crown!  If Chrome can take first place in the Belmont Stakes on June 7th, he'll be only one of 12 horses EVER to be be named a Triple Crown winner, and the first to take the honor since 1978. 

But, as announced today, there may be a problem.  In both Kentucky and in Maryland, where the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes are held respectively, horses are allowed to wear nasal strips to help with breathing, with California Chrome did in both races.  However, New York, where the Belmont Stakes will be held, does not allow such devices.  Whether trainers and owners of California Chrome will get special permission to race the horse with the nasal strips, or choose to sit the race out remains unknown at this point.

So, while we all sit and wait to see what happens, I wanted to bring you a VERY interesting anecdote from the Belmont racetrack...the same track where the final leg of the Triple Crown will be held in June!

No idea why the date on this is February, lol.

On June 4, 1923 Frank Hayes was riding a 20-1 outsider named Sweet Kiss, owned by Miss A.M. Frayling.  Hayes wasn't a jockey.  Normally a trainer, Hayes had to undergo a rigorous regime to make weight requirements in hopes of gaining his first win in this new position.  But, it worked, and excitement was high as Sweet Kiss crossed the finish line ahead of all the other horses!

But after crossing the finish line, Frank, who was not described as a young man by any means, slumped forward and fell, just as Miss Frayling was walking over to congratulate him.  To the horror of all who witnessed it, Frank Hayes was dead in his saddle.

It is believed that Hayes passed away somewhere in the middle of the race of a heart attack brought on by the combined excitement of taking the lead and abuse he put his body through trying to make weight requirements. As an act of respect, the post-race weigh-in was suspended and Frank Hayes, despite his non-living status, was named the winning jockey. 

He was buried three days later in his colorful racing silks.  To date, he is the only jockey to win a race deceased.  As for the winning horse, Sweet Kiss became known as "Sweet Kiss of Death," for the rest of its life.  This year's Belmont Stakes will be held on the 91st anniversary of Hayes' burial at St. Agnes Cemetery in Syracuse, NY.  Will you be watching?

(New York) Daily News
07 June 1923