The following facts about a real horse were submitted for publication in our newsletter and have been previously published.
Swaps was foaled in 1952 in Ontario, California, at the ranch of his breeder and owner, Rex Ellsworth.
Sired by Khaled out of Iron Reward, Swaps was the most successful of a remarkable number of successful offspring sired by Kaled.
Magnificently muscled, and with an abnormally deep chest, Swaps' appearance suggested as much for pure speed as for staying quality.
While most Thoroughbreds are somewhat jerky in the movement of their hindquarters at the walk, the action Swaps had was noticeably more fluid, and he would nimbly rise to his feet from a lying position rather than lumbering as most large animals would.
While being a ball of fire in action, Swaps was as gentle as a lamb otherwise, as was the reputation of horses flying the black and red Ellsworth silks.
With Ellsworth and Tenney swapping back and forth ideas on the subject of the colt's name, Swaps was thus named.
Nashua was Swaps' rival on the track, dominating racing as four-year-olds, and there was always a clamor for a rubber match between them until they retired.
As a four-year-old, Swaps won eight out of ten starts, seven in record time and six under his maximum load of 130 pounds -- winning in one season the largest sum ever by any horse of handicap age.
Becoming a chestnut streak, Swaps won five straight races while setting new world records.
In his only bad race, Swaps came in seventh, only to go out the next time, carrying 130 pounds to win and set a new world record.
Never racing again, half-interest in Swaps was sold to John Galbreath in exchange for breeding stock "and other considerations" equivalent in value to a million dollars. This exchange took place though he was withdrawn from racing because his foot was giving him trouble.
Swaps entered the stud with the largest collection of recognized world records in history - 5. He had a lifetime performance summary of 25 starts, 19 wins, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds.
Swaps demonstrated the impractibility of weight ceilings through his unofficial accomplishments, and the policy was later abandoned at a number of tracks.
About a year after retirement, Swaps was transferred to the Galbreath's Darby Farm in Kentucky, following the transfer of Ellsworth's remaining half-interest to Mr. Galbreath.
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