Peter D. Fuller

Peter Fuller
Born	(1923-03-22) 22 March 1923 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	14 May 2012(2012-05-14) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)	Automobile dealer, racehorse proprietor, amateur boxer
Known for	Owner of Dancer's Image and Mom's Command

Peter Davenport Fuller (March 22, 1923 – May 14, 2012) was a prominent American automobile dealer, racehorse proprietor, and amateur boxer. He is notably recognized for owning Dancer's Image, the first horse to be disqualified after winning the Kentucky Derby, as well as Mom's Command, who earned the title of American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in 1985.

Early life

Fuller’s family in 1920, including his parents and siblings

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 22, 1923, Fuller was the son of Viola T. Davenport and Alvan T. Fuller. His father amassed considerable wealth as an early dealer of Packard and Cadillac automobiles and served as the Governor of Massachusetts from 1925 until 1929.

At birth, Fuller faced an intestinal illness that hindered his physical development and prevented him from attending school. After recovering at age ten, he committed himself to physical conditioning. He was honored as Milton Academy’s Outstanding Athlete in the class of 1942. Fuller pursued military officer training at Dartmouth College and served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Due to a weakened ankle, he was discharged in 1944. He then resumed his education at Harvard College, graduating in 1948. Throughout his academic years at Milton, Dartmouth, and Harvard, Fuller competed in wrestling and captured the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) New England Championship in the 191-pound weight division.

Boxing

As an amateur boxer, Fuller achieved an impressive record of 50 wins against five losses, with thirty victories coming by way of knockout. He secured heavyweight titles at both the AAU and New England Golden Gloves competitions. Transitioning into management in 1955, Fuller began guiding boxers professionally. By 1957, he was managing Tom McNeeley, accompanying him during McNeeley’s world heavyweight championship bout against Floyd Patterson in 1961, which ended in defeat for McNeeley.

Horse racing

Fuller entered the horse racing scene in 1951 with his first acquisition, Oclirock, which eventually earned him $150,000. By 1956, his stable had expanded to include 16 horses. Among his notable thoroughbreds was Hillsborough, who secured victories in the 1961 Display Handicap and the 1962 Bowie Handicap.

In 1958, Fuller purchased Noor's Image for $5,000. Seven years later, he bred this mare with Native Dancer, producing Dancer's Image. Initially suffering from weak ankles, the colt was placed for auction; however, Fuller reversed course and bought him at the sale for $26,000. Following Dancer's Image’s triumph in the Governor's Gold Cup at Bowie Race Track, Fuller declined an offer of $1 million for the horse. Demonstrating generosity, he donated the prize money to Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated just two days prior. Confident in Dancer’s Image’s potential for the Kentucky Derby, Fuller transported him to Aqueduct Racetrack, where the horse won the prestigious Wood Memorial Stakes, a key preparatory event for the Derby.

File:Runnymede Farm sign North Hampton NH.jpg

Billboard at Runnymede Farm in North Hampton, New Hampshire, featuring Mom's Command and Dancer's Image

During the 1968 Kentucky Derby, Dancer’s Image stumbled out of the gate and fell behind to last place. Nevertheless, he staged a remarkable recovery, overtaking the favorite, Forward Pass, near the eighth pole to cross the finish line first. However, three days post-race, officials announced that Dancer's Image had been disqualified after traces of phenylbutazone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used for joint inflammation relief, were detected in mandatory post-race urinalysis. Consequently, Forward Pass was declared the official winner, and Dancer's Image was placed last. Fuller asserted that his disqualification was retribution for his civil rights advocacy and his decision to donate winnings to Coretta Scott King, especially following MLK’s housing discrimination protests in Louisville that had disrupted Derby festivities the previous year. This incident generated widespread media attention across North America and became a cover story for Sports Illustrated, which labeled it as "the year's major sports story." Fuller pursued legal remedies; in 1970, a Kentucky court awarded him first-place prize money for Dancer’s Image. Nonetheless, this ruling was overturned on appeal in April 1972 by the Kentucky Court of Appeals in Kentucky State Racing Comm'n v. Fuller, 481 S.W.2d 298 (Ky. 1972). Notably, phenylbutazone was legalized by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in 1974, and by 1986 it was reported that thirteen of sixteen horses competing in that year's Kentucky Derby were administered this medication.

Another distinguished horse owned by Fuller was Mom's Command, who achieved victory in 11 out of 16 races during her two-year career, including six graded stakes events. In 1985, Mom's Command captured the Mother Goose Stakes, Acorn Stakes, and Coaching Club American Oaks, thereby securing the prestigious American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. The filly was ridden by Fuller's daughter, Abigail Fuller, who made history as the first female jockey to win the Filly Triple Crown.

Business career

In 1952, Fuller assumed the role of president at the Cadillac Automobile Company of Boston, which boasted the nation's largest automobile showroom. He also managed Peter Fuller Oldsmobile located in Watertown, Massachusetts, along with Peter Fuller Leasing, New England Automotive Distributors, and the New England Car Care Center based in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Due to substantial expenses associated with that site, he decided to close his Cadillac dealership in 1978. The family continues to operate the automobile business, now focusing on rentals and pre-owned vehicles, with branches in Watertown and Waltham, Massachusetts.

Politics

Fuller was anticipated to enter the 1974 Massachusetts gubernatorial election as an independent candidate. He had assembled a campaign team and established a headquarters but abruptly withdrew from the race on March 29, 1974. He later disclosed that his departure was prompted by a masked assailant who forcibly entered his vehicle and threatened the safety of him and his family. During the 1978 gubernatorial contest, Fuller supported conservative Democrat Edward J. King over liberal Republican Francis W. Hatch Jr., serving alongside Lloyd B. Waring as co-chairman of Republicans for Ed King.

Personal life

In 1951, Fuller wed Joan Beth Marcotte from Nashua, New Hampshire. Together they had seven daughters and one son. He resided for many years in Brookline, Massachusetts, as well as at Runnymede Farm in North Hampton, New Hampshire. Fuller passed away from cancer on May 14, 2012, at a nursing facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.