Cody’s men no longer the big dudes of old

The 1965 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe attracted a field more glittering than any other Flat race of the 20th century.

Champions, group winners, sundry Derby heroes, quadrupeds with gilded reputations. First among these supposed equals, and a very comfortable six lengths first at the winning post, was the mighty Sea-Bird, ridden by the Australian jockey Pat Glennon. After Willie Shoemaker, the great American jockey who partnered one of the also-rans, dismounted he recapped his race thus.

“I kept looking over at the big dude, and the jock on him had a double handful. And I thought to myself, I’m getting out of the way here because if that horse is ever let loose he’ll run all over me.”