Vigors (horse)

Vigors
Sire	Grey Dawn
Grandsire	Herbager
Dam	Relifordie
Damsire	El Relicario
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1973
Country	United States
Colour	Gray
Breeder	William R. Hawn
Owner	William R. Hawn
Trainer	Larry J. Sterling
Record	34: 9-6-4
Earnings	US$633,305
Major wins
Hollywood Invitational Handicap (1977) Rolling Green Handicap (1977) San Marcos Handicap (1978) San Antonio Stakes (1978) Bel Air Handicap (1978) Santa Anita Handicap (1978)

Vigors (1973–1994) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse known as "The White Tornado." Called by Bloodhorse.com in a 2011 article "the great California closer," Vigors earned the affection of racing fans because of his dramatic come-from-behind running style.

Vigors was bred in Kentucky by William R. Hawn, a Dallas, Texas businessman who was the president and a shareholder of Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California, and a founding partner of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. The horse was named for William Hawn's friend Tim Vigors, a World War II fighter ace and founder of Ireland's renowned Coolmore Stud.

Raced mainly on grass, in 1977 the late developing Vigors won the Hollywood Invitational Handicap and the Rolling Green Handicap. The following year, trainer Larry Sterling entered him in the San Marcos Handicap, a race of a mile and an eighth on dirt. Under jockey Darrel McHargue, Vigors won easily then with the same rider followed up with a win in the San Antonio Stakes in track record time on dirt. In the most important win of his career, Darrel McHargue brought Vigors from dead last to win the Santa Anita Handicap by two lengths, again on dirt. For jockey McHargue, the win topped off an extraordinary day in which he won six races. Vigors did not race again until early June when he won the Bel Air Handicap on dirt. Assigned top weight in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Vigors ran third in what was his final race before retiring to stud duty.

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Wikipedia