Moccasin

Moccasin (April 16, 1963 – July 1, 1986) was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. In a career that lasted from 1965 to 1967, she ran twenty-one times and won eleven races. She remains the only two-year-old filly to be voted United States Horse of the Year. Moccasin won only one race in each of her two subsequent seasons but was an effective performer over sprint distances. Background Moccasin, foaled on April 16, 1963, was a chestnut filly with three white socks, bred by Claiborne Farm. Her sire, Nantallah, was a moderate racehorse by the champion Nasrullah, who in turn was sired by Nearco. Moccasin's dam, the British-bred Rough Shod, was a great success at stud, producing Ridan, Lt. Stevens (Palm Beach Stakes) and the broodmare Thong (ancestor of Sadler's Wells). Moccasin grew to be an unusually large and powerful filly, standing almost 16.2 hands high with a girth of seventy six inches. Racing career 1965: two-year-old season At age two, Moccasin put together an unbeaten eight-race season that culminated with her being named U.S. Horse of the Year by both Turf and Sports Digest magazine and the Thoroughbred Racing Association, beating Kelso by one vote in the latter poll. The rival poll organised by Triangle Publications was won by Roman Brother. Moccasin's performances drew attention beyond the racing media, and she was featured in the November 5 edition of Time.