Another great grey for Bill Marshall - My Swanee

From Racehorses of 1969

My Swanee

MY SWANEE 6 gr.h. Petition 130-Grey Rhythm 99 (Grey Sovereign 128 §) 122

[1967 81g5 8.7d* 8g* 8f 8.5fg* 8g2 8d* 8g3 9g 1968 12d* 10g* 10fg 10s3 1216 120 12g 8g* 8.3g3 1969 10.2s* 12g2 10d2 10v* 8v* 12g2 812 81* 10.5f* 8s3 8f4 8g5 8f3 8fg3 10f3]

Between them the Bill Marshall trained pair My Swanee and Raffingora must have caused the Jockey Club handicappers many sleepless nights in 1969. The two greys won a total of fourteen races, the majority of them under 9-7 or more, and it must have been a daunting task trying to keep up with them. Both were kept very busy, and My Swanee was on the go from March to September, running on courses as diverse as Chepstow and York, and on going of practically every description. It made no difference to him though, and his record of six wins—one each at Doncaster, Chepstow, Newbury and Sandown, and two at York—reflects great credit on all those concerned with him.

Steady improvement was the keynote of My Swanee's success in 1969. Starting off in modest company, he gradually progressed to take on the very best, and though he wasn't up to beating the top horses, his performances in the Magnet Cup and the Rose of York Handicap stamped him as an outstanding handicapper. Giving upwards of 22lb to such useful animals as Yorkshireman, Sovereign Ruler and Pally's Double, My Swanee won the Magnet Cup easing up by three lengths in a very fast tine. On the bridle most of the way, he was asked to take the lead in the last furlong and when given his head quickly put paid to the opposition.

Five weeks later My Swanee returned to the Knavesmire for the Rose of York Handicap — one of the hottest mile handicaps of the year. His prospects looked far from bright when he turned for home in ninth place, a good way behind the leaders. But the picture soon changed. Halfway up the straight My Swanee coasted up to the leaders, sailed into the lead in the last furlong, and in a tremendous race to the line he held on with great courage to win by a head from Fire King, who was receiving 20 lb, with such as Emerilo, Sovereign Set, Paddy Me and Prince de Galles further behind. Lester Piggott, who was associated with My Swanee in so many of his races, is reported to have said that he had never ridden a gamer, more determined horse in all his life. Certainly if there was one racing in 1969 we never saw it. My Swanee couldn't beat the handicapper every time though, and between the Magnet Cup and the Rose of York Handicap he finished third in the W. D. & H. O, Wills Silver Goblets at Ayr and fourth in the William Hill Gold Cup at Redcar.

Many of his admirers were keen to see how he fared against the top horses, and My Swanee’s clash with Jimmy Reppin, Habitat and Lucyrowe in the Wills Mile at Goodwood provided one of the most interesting races of the year. Meeting all except Lucyrowe on terms better than weight-for-age, My Swanee led for over six furlongs, but when Jimmy Reppin went past he didn't last long and at the finish My Swanee was about five lengths behind Habitat in fifth place. This was to have been his last race before retiring to stud, but he was brought out twice more. Giving weight all round in the Doncaster Handicap, My Swanee was beaten a length and a half by Mark Royal and Remraf, and in a minor race at Goodwood Jimmy Reppin beat him very easily by four lengths. Midnight Marauder separated the pair, beating My Swanee by a neck.


A tough and wonderfully consistent racehorse, My Swanee has now retired, and is to stand at the Waterloo House Stud, Mallow, Co. Cork, at a fee of £400 or £500 no foal/no fee. Altogether he won seventeen races on the flat worth over £16,000, and just to show his versatility he also won over hurdles and finished second to King Cutler in a division of the Gloucestershire Hurdle. He possessed many of the qualities that breeders should be looking for, including soundness, good looks, a fine turn of foot, and, above all, an exceptional will to win. My Swanee stayed a mile and a half, but his best form was shown at shorter distances. He acted on any going. Trained by W. C. Marshall.