Hungarian Heritage Review, 1986 (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1986-01-01 / 1. szám
16 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1986 Hungary, married, and raised his children to be Hungarians. His mastery of the Hungarian language so delighted the people of the land that he was given the nickname of Bob Czardas. The trio of Hesp, Blaskovich and Kincsem were soon to become famous wherever horses raced. In 1876 Kincsem was one-of a group of nine horses Hesp took to the racing meets in Germany. He and his trainers had already recognized that the lean, liver-yellow mare was by far the best of the lot. And the experience in Germany proved them right. Kincsem was matched against one of the greatest of the German horses, Regimentstochter. It was widely felt that the Hungarian horse, despite some earlier victories, was no match for the German champion. But Kincsem not only beat her famous rival; she won by ten lengths. The news of this triumph spread like wildfire throughout the racing world. This was the start of what became a sensational, almost unbelievable career. From Frankfurt, the site of her first German triumph, Kincsem was taken to Baden-Baden, home of Europe's most famous race for two years old. Here, as was becoming her custom, Kincsem won a sensational victory. By the end of 1876, her first full year of racing, Kincsem had compiled a record of ten races on ten different courses in four different countries, with ten victories. And it must be remembered that in those days horses were transported on trains that were not nearly as comfortable, safe and convenient as modern horse vans. At times Kincsem was not able to get down to walk around for two or three days at a time. It was during a race in Pest Kincsem showed that in addition to great speed, she had a strong, courageous heart. Through some oversight on the part of the attendants, the race course was marked incorrectly. Kincsem's jockey, Madden, who always permitted his horse to appear lazy and indolent at the start, realized in the middle of the race, with Kincsem lagging behind, that he had only one hundred meters to get his horse up to top speed. Applying the whip, he urged Kincsem to her utmost. The gallant mare responded, and within eighty meters she surged to the front and beat her nearest challenger by half a length. It was on August 21, 1878 that Kincsem, now a four year old, had her greatest challenge and proved to one and all that her amazing string of victories was a true reflection of her character. She was to race once again at Baden-Baden. And chief among her opponents was a famous and powerful stallion named Prince Giles the First. This horse, proud possession of Count Hugo Henckel, was a giant of the turf. Count Henckel had had thirteen of his horses race against Kincsem at one time or another, and each time he had been defeated. Now, he felt, his time had come. There was a brilliant crowd in the stands; among the spectators was Maria Lawlovna, the Russian Grand Duchess and daughter of the Czar. The five horses entered in the Grand Prize paraded before the stands on a track that was a sea of mud. And the race was on. Jockey Madden, perhaps overconfident in his steed, and surely a little tipsy from all the champagne the other jockeys had poured into him before the race, permitted Kincsem to fall slightly behind. Reaching the final straight of the track, Prince Giles moved into the lead. Madden brought Kincsem right alongside. The Prince Giles’ jockey, who had been holding his horse back, applied the whip. Prince Giles surged ahead. Madden, awakening to his peril, pressed Kincsem forward. The amazing mare, as though she knew that she was fighting for her reputation, stretched herself almost to the track and reached the finish line in a head to head tie with Prince Giles. According to the custom of the time, the two winners could decide what procedure to follow. There could be an equal sharing of the Prize, or there could be another horse-to-horse contest between the two front-running champions. Count Henckel was willing enough to share the Prize; that would be a victory for him. But Blaskovich was determined to settle the matter once and for all. The tension was almost unbearable as the two great horses, like gladiators of old, prepared for their duel. At the start Prince Giles and Kincsem were running side by side. But as they came to what is called the Rastatt Turn, a stray dog ran onto the track right in front of Kincsem. In order to prevent a disaster, Madden pulled Kincsem back. Prince Giles roared ahead. But with her jockey applying whip and spurs, Kincsem fought back, caught Prince Giles in the final stretch and went on to win by six lengths. By now Kincsem had won her double titles — The Wondermare and Kincsem, the Unbeatable. Indeed, so formidable an opponent had she become, that many owners just would not enter their horse against her. Whenever and wherever she ran, Kincsem garnered additional victories and glory. It seemed that her string would go on forever. But during the winter of the 1879-80 season, while Kincsem was training for the Spring meets, it became apparent that something was terribly wrong. At first it was rumored that she had been kicked by a stablemate. Then it was assumed that her right hind leg had gone “rabbity" and this would prevent speedy action. But what actually turned out to be the trouble — this was determined after Kincsem’s death — was that she had developed growths on her front legs. It was known that this ailment could be treated by an extremely painful process called “firing.” But Blaskovich refused to have his Treasure submitted to such torture. Her racing days were over. Finally, in March 1887 — thirteen years almost to the day after she was born — Kincsem succumbed. It is interesting to know that Kincsem’s great trainer and loving companion, Robert Hesp, fell ill at about this time. Within a month after Kincsem’s death. Hesp, saddened by the news of the death of his beloved mare, died quietly in his home. The record of Kincsem, the Unbeatable stands proudly in the Guinness Book of Records, keeping immortal the name and story of this great Hungarian thoroughbred — and the names of her close companions — Erno Blaskovich and Robert (Bob Czardas) Hesp.
