Damascus ranked as one of the superstars of the memorable era of horse racing in the late 1960s. He thrilled fans with his trademark sweeping move on the far turn and relentless stretch run that left his opponents floundering. Trained by the legendary Frank Whiteley and ridden regularly by Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker, Damascus earned his place in history by defeating champions Dr. Fager and Buckpasser in the 1967 Woodward Stakes, known as the Race of the Century.
