Clubfooted Comet

The "clubfooted comet" is only one of 11 horses to ever achieve this championship. Bred by the King Ranch in Texas, this chestnut horse's small dam, Igual, was close to being put down when she suffered a near fatal abscess that kept her from racing and almost kept her from being a broodmare.

As a foal, the champion yet to be, stepped on a surveyor's stake that pierced his right forefoot. The foot did heal, but was so deformed that it was difficult to get a shoe on it. At a walk and trot, the horse had an obvious limp. When running, however, he was a thing of beauty and that is how he got the name "clubfooted comet."

In his first race he finished nearly last and was an unimpressive winner of only won 2 races that year. He was trained by Max Hirsch who said, "He walked as if he'd trip over his own feet." But Hirsch saw glimpses of speed and stuck with the horse.

His greatest accomplishments came in 1946. He won the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths, and then won the Preakness by a nose when his jockey, Warren Mehrtens asked him to make his maximum effort too soon.

In the Belmont Stakes he stumbled out of the gate and trailed the field for most of the race, but showed his spirit by coming on to win by three lengths. What was his name?

Assault was the "Clubfooted Comet" who won racing's Triple Crown. In the WWII era many horses were given military names, hence Assault.

In addition to the clubfoot, Assault had a bad kidney, splints, a wrenched ankle, an injured knee, and he was a "bleeder." But, of course, he had the heart of a champion.