To win an Oscar is considered one of the highest accolades in the performing arts. To take home more than one Oscar in a lifetime is an honor bestowed on very few actors.

Had Bruce Davidson decided to take to the silver screen, there’s a fair chance that his mantelpiece would be adorned with quite a few golden statuettes. Instead, the 55-year-old veteran horseman has a collection of trophies from the Rolex Kentucky CCI that now spans some 26 years. His longevity in the saddle has justifiably made him a legend in his own lifetime, and soon the Kentucky Horse Park will confer on him an honor even Hollywood couldn’t match–a statue of himself with his great partner Eagle Lion, who competed at Rolex from 1992 to 2001–next spring.

Since winning the World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in September 1978, Davidson has started on the event’s course 68 times, on 30 different horses, and emerged the winner six times.

Event director Janie Atkinson has watched Davidson ride every year. “His record of six wins will probably never be broken, and I fully expect him to have a win in the four-star before he’s through,” she said.

The only thing he hasn’t done is win Kentucky since it reached four-star status in 1998. But he’s been among the top 10 riders five times in the four-star, including fourth in 2001.

“His consistency–be it winning or always placing well–has stamped him as Kentucky’s leading rider,” said Atkinson.

Many see Davidson as a pioneer in the sport, largely because his victory in the 1974 World Championships gave the United States the right to host the 1978 World Championships, and those championships were the impetus for the creation of the Kentucky Horse Park and the founding of what would become the Rolex Kentucky CCI.

James Wofford rode Carawich to the Kentucky victory in 1981 and, on Castlewellan, finished as runner-up to Davidson and J.J. Babu in 1983. He regards his former rival as a consummate horseman.

“I think the one thing that strikes me about Bruce’s career is the enormous range of horses that he was able to produce and to win on. You couldn’t get two more different horses than Might Tango and J.J. Babu,” said Wofford. “That alone speaks volumes about his skills as a horseman, skills which we will now see less and less, as the classic format is run less often.” Mike Etherington-Smith has been designing the Kentucky course since 1993, the year that Davidson won on Happy Talk.

“His record speaks for itself,” said Etherington-Smith. “To have ridden so many different horses speaks to the versatility and skill of the man.”

The course designer especially recalled one of Davidson’s rides in 2002, when drenching rain soaked cross-country day, from noon on. In the morning Davidson rode High Scope to a clear round that would eventually place him fifth, and in the afternoon downpour–when most riders were scratching or retiring on course–Davidson guided Apparition to another clear round that eventually put him 14th.

“It was a master class in how to get on and just do it; it speaks volumes for him as the ultimate competitor and professional,” said Etherington-Smith.

“All his success is well deserved,” Etherington-Smith continued. “It’s one thing to get to the top, but you need his determination and dedication to still be competitive for more than 30 years.”

Davidson had planned to ride Little Tricky around Kentucky for the sixth time, despite breaking three fingers in his right hand on Feb. 12 while competing a young horse. Rods were surgically implanted in two of the fingers but in early April he decided he hadn’t regained the strength he needed to contest Kentucky this year.

Bruce Davidson’s Record At The Rolex Kentucky CCI

1978 Might Tango 1st (World Champion)
1983 J.J. Babu 1st, Beacon Charm 14th
1984 Dr. Peaches 1st, Beacon Charm 2nd
1985 Dr. Peaches 4th
1988 Dr. Peaches 1st, J.J. Babu 2nd
1989 Dr. Peaches 1st
1990 Pirate Lion 4th, Needles Prince 7th
1992 Happy Talk 8th
1993 Happy Talk 1st
1994 Regent Lion 2nd, Heyday 7th, Happy Talk 17th
1998 Squelch 7th, Heyday 8th
1999 Status Symbol (CCI***) 17th, Little Tricky (CCI***) 31st
2000 Eagle Lion 7th
2001 Little Tricky 4th, Apparition 9th, Eagle Lion 10th
2002 High Scope 5th, Apparition 14th
2003 Little Tricky 8th
2004 Little Tricky 7th, Arrow 13th
Total: 68 starts on 30 horses

1978–MIGHT TANGO
Davidson vividly recalls his maiden journey to the Kentucky Horse Park in September 1978, as he set out on what was to be a huge weekend for the sport.

“I was very excited to be going to Lexington because, as an American, I’d heard so much about Kentucky but never been before,” he recalled. “I remember feeling some jitters driving into the horse park–it’s such a significant piece of land, and everyone was very impressed. But this was the first three-day event in the U.S. with an appreciable amount of spectators.”

For his mount, Might Tango, it was also a huge leap in his career. In late spring, he’d won the DeBroke Preliminary Championship at Ledyard Farm Horse Trials (Mass.) just before launching into his international career. When he arrived in the Bluegrass State, the U.S.-bred Thoroughbred (Mighty Mine–Betango) was just 7 years old.

Horseman Bob Tindle, who died in 2001 at age 87, found the horse for Davidson in Oklahoma, after he’d raced as a 2-year-old at the California fair tracks. It was in 1976 that the powerful gray gelding arrived at Davidson’s Chesterland Farm in Unionville, Pa.

Might Tango made his international debut in hot and humid conditions that fully tested the endurance and resolve of all the horses and riders. But Might Tango showed his heart and courage.

” ‘Tango’ was wonderful–he put his life on the line and gave me all he’d got,” said Davidson simply.

“We went early–I think number five–and the grass was wet on the steeplechase. He jumped horrendously, and we didn’t have one good fence, but I knew if I could stay on him, he’d stay up,” recalled Davidson, who was then 28. “[Coach] Jack Le Goff said to me, ‘Oh, my God, your horse didn’t go well on the steeplechase,’ so I said to him, ‘Why don’t you go and sit down, and I’ll see you in five minutes.’ “

With the first few horses only getting as far as the Lexington Bank (fence 14), Davidson knew he had his work cut out. But they overcame the challenges of the course, the weather and two dislodged show jumping fences to defend the title that Davidson had won at Burghley (England) four years earlier aboard Irish Cap.

“I thought the American effort was fantastic, and we all looked forward to a great future at the park,” said Davidson.

That weekend in September 1978 was special to Davidson for another reason; it was the first time that his son, Buck–then aged 2–watched him compete. Buck rode in the first Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in 1998 and has Private Treaty entered this year.

“During the show jumping, he was playing with his tractor, but as he was watching me someone took his tractor. So when I did my lap of honor with Buck sitting in front of me, he was crying,” recalled Bruce with a smile.

Might Tango lived to age 24 and is buried in the Chesterland cemetery.

1983–J.J. BABU

“The world never saw a greater horse–he was great to look at, he had great manners, and he gave me 15 fabulous years,” said Davidson about J.J. Babu., who won Kentucky in 1983 and finished second in 1988. “He was the ultimate event horse; everyone could ride him, even the children. He was a great friend and companion.”

Davidson found the bay gelding as a yearling at breeder Charles B. Eiler’s farm in Germantown, Md., on a frozen winter day. He was by Babu Dancer–Polymelia, Tudorka. “I paid more money than I’d ever paid for a horse,” he recalled.

“He could have done anything,” said Davidson. “He could win dressage, he seldom erred on cross-country, and was always clean show jumping.”

In addition to his Kentucky victory, J.J. Babu won an open preliminary division at the Essex Three-Day Event (N.J.) in 1980, the Chesterland Advanced Three-Day Event (Pa.) in 1981, and the Stockholm CCI*** (Sweden) in 1987. He also finished second at the Badminton CCI**** (England) in 1982 and sixth in 1986, and second at the Burghley CCI**** (England) in 1986. And he was on the gold-medal team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he finished 13th individually. He competed at advanced for nine seasons, starting in 12 CCIs.

So singling out one memorable round with J.J. Babu was difficult for Davidson. “I can’t think of any round that wasn’t wonderful; he was always fun to ride,” he said.

Davidson fondly recalled the 1983 victory. “I get serious with my horses and fall in love with them. I knew how good J.J. was, and I wanted [the public] to see too,” he said.

J.J. Babu was humanely destroyed at age 15 after fracturing a pastern bone at Fair Hill Horse Trials (Md.) in April 1989.

1984, 1988, 1989–Dr. Peaches

Dr. Peaches began to leave his footprints on the hallowed bluegrass turf in 1984 with the first of his three unequalled victories. His stable companion Beacon Charm, who had placed 14th to J.J. Babu the previous year, returned to Lexington to finish runner-up behind Dr. Peaches. It was the first time Davidson finished one-two at Kentucky, a feat no one else has achieved and which he’d replicate in 1988.

Robert Tindle also found this U.S.-bred Thoroughbred (Troubled Area–Doc’s Last Dollar, Tudorich) as a yearling. He made an early impression on Davidson.

“He was a lovely horse, and with a name like that I thought, ‘He’s got to be good.’ He was very tender and had lots of character, a great temperament and lots of movement,” said Davidson.

His tender side came from being attacked by a stallion before arriving at Chesterland, causing him to be frightened of other horses. “He was very
consistent, even though he was an internal worrier. He liked being one on one with me,” Davidson recalled.

While he didn’t like hunting or crowds, he was never nervous in the dressage arena, which paid off with consistently high marks.

“He was always a bit in J.J.’s shadow, and was it hard to be in his shadow,” Davidson said. “Peaches would say to me, ‘Hello, Bruce, I’m quite good at this too,’ and it was fun to have two horses competing against each other.”

In 1984 Dr. Peaches completed the cross-country with the second-fastest time (Beacon Charm was 1 second faster), and in 1988 he finished inside the optimum time. Davidson said Dr. Peaches could be fast because “he didn’t pull or fuss.”

And in 1988 Davidson rode both Dr. Peaches and J.J. Babu to clear and fast rounds after breaking two ribs falling with Samuel Gwiffey.

To Atkinson, that performance “illustrated the fiber of the man and the generosity and ability of the horse. He rode in a great deal of pain. The partnership between the two was something to see. You could see the pain in Bruce’s face with each jump, but he gritted his teeth and ‘Peaches’ again took off and landed as lightly and smoothly as he could, touching nothing and coming in within the time.

“To come back the next year, with just Dr. Peaches, at 13 years of age and arthritic, and to nurse that wonderful horse through all phases and win was a remarkable feat of horsemanship,” added Atkinson.

Dr. Peaches lived until his mid-20s.

1993–Happy Talk

Happy Talk, who contested the Rolex Kentucky CCI four times with Davidson, was the most difficult horse to produce of all his Kentucky partners. “It took me longer to get him going on the flat. He had something of a rigid top line, so it was hard to get him on the bit,” he admitted.

Davidson owned Happy Talk, an Irish-bred Thoroughbred by Hard Boy and out of a mare by Mon Capitane, in partnership with Dr. Brendan Furlong, now the U.S. team’s veterinarian.

“He was the first horse that I didn’t own outright myself,” said Davidson.

“It was the start of a great relationship with Bruce,” said Furlong. “He’s an incredible guy, with an unbelievable love of the sport. I’ve never met anyone so devoted to horses. No matter how badly they might go, he would always find something good to say about them.”

Happy Talk made his way across the Atlantic from Co. Tipperary after Furlong’s brother bought the horse from Clare Ryan, planning to show him in the hunter classes at the Royal Dublin Horse Show. (His appearance there was thwarted by a bout of ringworm.)

“I bought him as a 4-year-old in 1987, and it took me all of 10 minutes because I had a flight to catch,” said Furlong.

When the horse arrived in the United States, he was sent to show jumper Michele Grubb, but he was found to be too keen for that job. After making a start in eventing with Furlong’s wife, Wendy, he was offered to Davidson.

Davidson never doubted his bravery. “He was a good galloper with lots of stamina, but very strong for me,” said Davidson.

At Kentucky in 1993, “he did a good dressage test and was great cross-country, then jumped clean in the show jumping. I really had to pay attention to detail, and he would come through because he was always an honest-jumping horse.”

Together the pair made three appearances in the Rolex Kentucky CCI from 1992 to 1995, finishing eighth and 17th in his other starts.

Davidson fondly remembers the expression on Furlong’s face when Happy Talk won the Rolex Trophy. “I’ll never forget the smile on Dr. Furlong’s face as they opened the out-gate and Happy came out of the ring. There was a sparkle in his eyes,” he said. “Even days later he would call me and say, ‘Can you believe we did it?’ That’s got to be the most fun you can give anyone.”

Now 22, Happy Talk is retired at Furlong’s farm in Pittstown, N.J.