REALITY SHOW

Racehorses, like people, are often judged by the company they keep. From the very beginning In Reality was in the best of company. Bred and raced by the Mrs. Frances A. Genter Stable, In Reality was foaled on March 1, 1964, at Ocala-based Tartan Farms. On April 6, Tartan Farms homebred Dr. Fager was foaled at the operation. The two foals even shared Rough’n Tumble bloodlines; he was Dr. Fager’s sire and In Reality’s dam sire. A rivalry that began between two foals racing against each other in their paddock would soon extend to the racetrack over the span of three seasons. And both would end up back at Tartan Farms when their racing careers ended, standing stud and producing more future rivalries.

Tartan Farms general manager and trainer John Nerud had a hand in the breeding that led to In Reality. In the fall of 1961, Nerud brokered a deal that had Harry Isaacs selling his Brookfield Farm homebred multiple stakes winner Intentionally to a syndicate headed by William L. McKnight. The latter founded Tartan Farms in 1960 and Nerud was looking for a stallion to

stand at the farm. Nerud had apparently found what he was looking for in Intentionally, a 1956 black colt by Intent out of My Recipe, by Discovery. After the sale, Nerud took over the training of Intentionally with good results. In two For In Reality, the Florida Sire starts carrying the Tartan Stakes Series is a family affair. Three Farms silks, Intentionally beat Florida-bred of the six FSS races are named after Carry Back in the 1962 him, his dam My Dear Girl and his Palm Beach Handicap and Seminole Handicap daughter Desert Vixen. at Hialeah. Intentionally was then retired to stand the 1962 breeding season at Tartan Farms.

The following year, Mrs. Genter sent her grand Florida-bred champion My Dear Girl, by Rough’n Tumble –Iltis, by War Relic, to be bred to Intentionally. Bred by Ocala Stud, Mrs. Genter and her husband Harold had bought My Dear Girl privately as a weanling. She was born on Mrs. Genter’s birthday, February 17, and named after a phrase Harold Genter fondly used when addressing his wife: “Now, my dear girl.” On the racetrack, My Dear Girl became a multiple stakes In Reality under tack at Tartan winner and was named the 1959 North American Farm in 1975

In Reality after winning the 1967 Florida Derby

RAFTERY PHOTO champion 2-year-old filly. That honor made her only the second Florida-bred to date to have earned a national title. Florida-bred Needles had been the first in 1955 when he was named the North American champion 2-year-old colt.

No doubt there were high expectations for My Dear Girl’s Intentionally colt. Named In Reality, the colt did indeed become a first-class racehorse.

Trained by Melvin “Sunshine” Calvert, In Reality broke his maiden quickly and just as quickly moved into stakes company. On Aug. 6, 1966, he posted a second to Great Power in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park. Two months later, he and Dr. Fager met for the first time in the Cowdin Stakes on October 5 at Aqueduct. In Reality had the lead in deep stretch of the seven-furlong sprint, but Dr. Fager displayed his phenomenal speed in a furious rally. Dr. Fager won by three-quarters of a length over In Reality with Successor third.

In Reality would record his first stakes win a little more

In Reality 1964 bay horse by Intentionally – My Dear Girl, by Rough’n Tumble Breeder/Owner: Mrs. Frances A. Genter Stable Trainer: Melvin “Sunshine” Calvert

27-14-9-2/$795,824 CAREER STAKES WINS 1966 Pimlico Futurity 1967 Florida Derby 1967 Jersey Derby 1967 Rumson Handicap 1967 Fountain of Youth Stakes 1968 Metropolitan Handicap TONY LEONARD PHOTO 1967 Choice Stakes 1968 Carter Handicap 1967 Hibiscus Stakes 1968 John B. Campbell Handicap

In Reality than three weeks later. He won the $75,000 Pimlico Futurity on Oct. 29 at Laurel Park, defeating Successor with Proviso third. In Reality’s winning time for the eight and a half furlongs was 1:45. In Reality closed out his juvenile season with four wins, including a stakes win, two seconds in a pair of stakes and banked $185,040.

Given some time off, In Reality made his sophomore debut in the Hibiscus Stakes on Jan. 21, 1967, at Hialeah Park. He notched his second stakes win, beating Reason to Hail with Native Guile third. Winning time for the seven furlongs over a muddy track was 1:23.80. That victory was followed by seconds in the Florida Breeders’ Stakes to Biller and in the Flamingo Stakes to Reflected Glory, both at Hialeah.

Calvert next moved his charge over to Gulfstream Park, where In Reality garnered some headlines by winning two key Kentucky Derby preps. On March 22, In Reality won the Fountain of Youth Stakes with Biller second and Reason to Hail third. On April 1, he encored that with a victory in the $100,000 Florida Derby, winning by length-and-a-half over Biller with Reason to Hail third. Despite notching those two wins in Kentucky Derby prep races, Calvert bypassed the Run for the Roses in favor of the Preakness Stakes on May 20 at Pimlico.

Meanwhile, Nerud had kept Dr. Fager at Aqueduct and away from the Kentucky Derby prep races with no intentions of running in the Triple Crown events. So while In Reality would not have to meet Dr. Fager in the $150,000 Preakness Stakes, he would have to take on the mighty Damascus. The latter prevailed, winning the Preakness Stakes by two-and-a-quarter lengths over In Reality with Proud Clarion third. Damascus would go

on to win the Belmont Stakes and be named the 1967 North American champion 3-year-old colt.

Only 10 days after his Preakness Stakes runner-up finish, In Reality would once again meet up with Dr. Fager in the $100,000 Jersey Derby on May 30 at Garden State Park. Only two other horses, Air Rights and Gallant Moment, went into the starting gates. But somehow a four-horse field became a bizarre traffic jam going into the clubhouse turn. With Dr. Fager on the lead, Air Rights and Gallant Moment bumped twice. In Reality, who was running second just inside Dr. Fager, was forced to steady and then came in on Air Rights and Gallant Moment on the outside. Seemingly, Dr. Fager had avoided the fracas and rolled on to win by six-and-a-half lengths. On the tote board, the steward’s inquiry light flashed. Moments later to everyone’s surprise, Dr. Fager was disqualified to fourth and In Reality was awarded the win.

Again freshened, In Reality didn’t start again until the Rumson Handicap on July 12 at Monmouth Park. He won the Rumson Handicap, stopping the clock in 1:10.20 for the six furlongs. Less than two weeks later, In Reality captured the $50,000 Choice Stakes at Monmouth Park with a winning time of 1:43.80 for the eight-and-a-half furlongs.

And then In Reality faced off again with his two rivals, Damascus and Dr. Fager. On August 5, he was second to Damascus in the $100,000 American Derby at Arlington Park. A month later, In Reality was second to Dr. Fager in the $250,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes Classic at Rockingham Park. In winning by a one-anda-quarter lengths, Dr. Fager had set a track record of 1:59 4/5 for the mile-and-a-quarter. Dr. Fager would be named the 1967 North American champion sprinter.

In Reality closed out the 1967 season with a second to High Tribute in the $50,000 Jerome Handicap on Sept. 13 at Aqueduct. A model of consistency and class, In Reality had posted six stakes wins and six seconds in stakes in 12 starts and earned $415,984.

Back at the races as a four year old, In Reality started slowly with thirds in the Royal Palm Handicap and Seminole Handicap at Hialeah. Then he shifted gears and put together an impressive three-stakes race winning skein, again asserting his talent and class.

On April 20 at Bowie Race Course, In Reality won the $100,000 John B. Campbell Handicap over Barbs Delight with Peter Piper third. His winning time for the eight-and-a-half furlongs was 1:42. Next up was the $50,000 Carter Handicap on May 20 at Belmont Park. In Reality won by a length-and-a-half over Tumiga with Mr. Washington third. For the seven furlongs, In Reality stopped the clock in 1:21.80.

Ten days later, In Reality again found the winner’s circle, winning the prestigious $100,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. In Reality won by a lengthand-a-quarter over Advocator with Full of Fun third. Winning time for the mile test was 1:35.

For the final time, In Reality would take on arch rivals Dr. Fager and Damascus in the Suburban Handicap on July 4 at Aqueduct. In Reality broke awkwardly, took a bad step and while gamely racing on was never a factor in the race. In fact, he had injured a foot and was immediately retired. On the season, he had posted four wins, including three stakes, one second and two thirds to earn $194,800. With career earnings of $795,824 on 14 wins, including 10 stakes, nine seconds and two thirds, In Reality was sent to Tartan Farms to ready for the 1969 breeding season.

Dr. Fager raced until November, became a millionaire and collected honors as the 1968 North American Horse of the Year, champion older male, champion sprinter and champion grass horse. Dr. Fager would also start his stud career in 1969 at Tartan Farms, alongside old rival In Reality. Both would go on to have successful stud careers, although unfortunately Dr. Fager’s was cut short. On August 5, 1976, Dr. Fager died from a lethal bout of colic; he was 12. Among his RAFTERY PHOTO 35 stakes winners were Florida-bred national champions Dearly Precious (1975 champion 2-year-old filly) and Dr. Patches (1978 champion sprinter).

In Reality would produce 20 crops with lifetime progeny earnings of $28,401,484. He recorded 83 black-type stakes winners, including 28 graded stakes winners, and three champions. The latter included Florida-bred Desert Vixen, who collected Eclipse Awards as 1973 champion 3-year-old filly and 1974 champion older mare. Desert Vixen was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1979. In Reality also sired Florida-bred millionaire Smile, who garnered the 1986 Eclipse Award as champion sprinter, and Known Fact, who was named the 1980 champion 3-year-old colt in England.

When Tartan Farms ceased operations in 1987, In Reality was moved to Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky. On May 8, 1989, he was humanely euthanized due to laminitis at 25 and buried at Gainesway Farm. ■

Mrs. Frances A. Genter with a painting of In Reality