The blind champion

He was champion stallion for many years, even after his death, in Norway. What many did not know is that he was initially considered a very good trotter in his crop in the US. Senator Ford was practically blind early in life, however, and for welfare reasons was not allowed to race. At stud, however, there was no stopping Senator Ford.

An article in the Indianapolis News on June 13, 1928 read “a mile around 2:11 (1.21,4) has been credited to Senator Ford this year, but some shrewd horsemen say he will be ready for the 2:10 (1.20,8) list by July. While this youngster may not equal the caliber shown by Spencer 2, 2:05.4 (1.18,2) in the hands of McDonald last year, he will very surely make a good replacement for that sensational youngster, and become a factor in the rich events for two-year-olds.” Indeed, in the Trotter and Pacer on January 16 earlier that year it said that “it is reported from Memphis that Senator Ford, by The Senator out of Alice Ford, is the likely successor to Spencer as the star two-year-old of Lon McDonald’s stable”, showing the high expectations hanging over the bay colt.

On Jul 20, 1928, at the Grand Circuit meeting in Kalamazoo, Senator Ford was fourth in the Columbia Hotel Trot behind Caretaker, Bingen McKlyo and Hayes. Interesting enough, the crop’s otherwise dominant trotter Walter Dear ended up behind him in the standings. On August 16, the roles were switched. At that fateful day at North Randall when Fireglow was involved in a massive crash, Senator Ford and Trusty Brewer split second place behind Walter Dear, driven by Walter Cox. A week later at Goshen, Senator Ford won the Horse Review, finishing 2-1-1 in the three heats, his fastest winning heat in 2:10 (1:20.8). Sir Guy Mac, third in next year’s Hambletonian finished fourth.

In Indianapolis on Sept 6, in the Senator Farm Trot race, the race named for his sire, Senator Ford was the favorite ahead of Volomite and Contender. However, the unpredictability of two-year-olds was visible as Sybil Worthy won both heats in front of Caretaker and Hayes, who split second place. Even though Senator Ford was Indianapolis-bred and raised, he was, though, a favorite based on merits and not just because of his local affiliation.

Come Junior Kentucky Futurity time on Sept 24, Senator Ford was considered one of the outsiders to take home the rich stake. The clear favorite was Walter Dear who, courtesy of his 2:06 3/4 (1.18,8) mile, was the then-fastest two-year-old trotter that year. And although Walter Dear did win the first heat he lost the next two to eventual winner Volomite, while Senator Ford ended outside the money. He then picked up a fifth place in the Lexington Consolation on Oct 3 before finishing fourth in the Horse Breeders’ Futurity in Toledo a week later.

To Denmark

In November the owners, Clarence Cole of Indianapolis and George McKinney of Boston, put him up for sale at the Old Glory auction in New York. There he was bought for $3,500 by Danish owner Peter Hansen. What Hansen did not know was that his newly bought star had very poor eyesight. In hindsight, some have concluded the colt’s blindness is the likely reason he had been put up for sale – but this is only speculation.

Hansen had bought a very good trotter with a strong mark at 2 and from impeccable breeding. Clarence Cole also owned the dam, Alice Ford, when she took her 2:11 1/2 (1.21,7) record. Alice Ford, born 1912, was bred by JH Richardson of Andover, MA, but was purchased to Indiana by Cole as a youngster. Hansen was surely also familiar with his older brother Peter Speedway, a very good trotter with a two-year-old record of 2:06.1 (1.18,5) before being exported to Germany. There he had a very good career and won the prestigious Matadoren-Rennen two years earlier, in 1926.

Great sire, even better damsire

But when Senator Ford arrived in Denmark he was pretty much blind. Considered unfit for racing he was sold on to Norway in 1931. There he actually started in a race, and won in 2:17.4f (1.25,6) but for welfare reasons he was prohibited from running again. Senator Ford was then devoted to stallion duty full-time and immediately established himself as the best in the land. As a stallion in Norway his get immediately started dominating and the top 5 of every crop usually contained 2 or 3 of his sons or daughters. He produced winners of three Norwegian derbies, as well as five of the prestigious Axel Jensen Trot. He also sired numerous top Norwegian trotters including Tango Senator, the first Norwegian-born horse to break the 1.20 (2:08.4) barrier.

He was perhaps even more impressive as a damsire, and to illustrate his dominance, all but one winner of the Norwegian championship from 1962 to 1976 counted Senator Ford as his damsire or damdamsire. His daughter Marion Ford, one of the best broodmares in Norwegian history and out of Elsie Scott, a full sister to Peter Scott, produced Scott Protector, Lloyd Protector, both by Saint Protector, and Tove Bulwark, by Khedive. At the Scandinavian Championship in Denmark in 1968, these three siblings represented Norway.

Active as a stallion until his death in 1957, he was with the exception of a few years, champion stallion in Norway from 1938 until 1959.