Omaha: Three-Year-Old Season

 In 1935, Omaha began his racing season at Aqueduct, where he won, then moved on to the Wood Memorial. He came third by only a nose. Next he went to the Kentucky Derby as the second favorite, the favorite being Man o' War's daughter from Calumet Farms, Nellie Flag.

 Also racing was the victor of that year's Wood Memorial,Today, and Hopeful Stakes winner Physic Bid, and Boxthorn, the third betting favorite. Omaha ended up taking the lead in the backstretch, winning by a length and a half. Nellie Flag had been caught in traffic, and consequently finished fourth behind Roman Soldier and Whiskolo.

 The Preakness came a week later. Omaha almost effortlessly won by six lengths, with a horse known as Firethorn second and Physic Bid third. By the time the Withers Stakes came along between the Preakness and the Belmont, people began to question Omaha's ability to claim the Triple Crown, like his sire before him. Things became worse when he lost by a length and a half in the Withers Stakes.

 On the day of the Belmont Stakes, when the track was slick and muddy, and the cloudy sky drizzled rain, making track conditions less than satisfactory, Omaha made an attempt to follow in his sire footsteps. The horse named Cold Shoulder took an early, followed by Firethorn. Firethorn led well into the backstretch. Then, in one last desperate drive, Omaha gave his all, passing the leaders and becoming the third Triple Crown winner.

In the Brooklyn Stakes, Omaha lost some of the respect he had just earned, as well as Horse of the Year honors. Then he won the Dwyer Stakes, equalling Man o' War's time of 1:49 1/5. After that, he defeat Black Helen in the Arlington Stakes, and broke Sun Beau's record with the time 2:01 2/5. He had finally gained the status of national hero. Yet in the process, he pulled up lame at Saratoga. He was later sent to England for his next season.

Omaha: Two-Year-Old Season

 On May 24, 1932, a blaze-faced chestnut colt was born at Claiborne Farms. His sire the great Gallant Fox, the second Triple Crown winner, and his dam was Flambino, winner of the Gazelle Stakes and third placer of the 1927 Belmont Stakes. As you can see, he had quite a bloodline.

 Omaha, the chestnut colt, was owned and bred by William Woodward's Belair Stud. Sunny Fitzsimmons was his trainer. Hopes were high for Omaha, Gallant Fox's first son, and no one knew at the time just how amazing he would become.

Omaha standing as a young colt.

 Omaha's racing career began when he lost to Sir Lamorah in a maiden race on June 18, 1934. He then finished fourth behind Balladier in the U.S. Hotel Stakes, and fourth a second time in the Saratoga Special behind Boxthorn. In the Sanford Memorial, he got luckier. He managd to pass Boxthorn, beating him by s length and a half, but failed to catch Physic Bid, who placed first. Physic Bid also won the next race, the Hopeful Stakes. Omaha finished a head behind Esposa, who placed third.

 His best two-yeaar-old race was in the Champagne Stakes. He was neck-and-neck with Balladier, the season's top juvenile, throughout the race, and pushed him to a neck track record. Omaha lost only by a nose. After placing fourth in the Futurity Stakes, he went to his last race: the Junior Champion Stakes. Once more, he just barely failed to win, losing by a head to Sailor Beware.