Bob Back

After finishing unplaced on his racecourse debut, Bob Back started third favourite for a twenty-eight-runner maiden race at Newmarket Racecourse in October and won by a length from Commanche Run. He was then sent to Italy and moved up in class for the Group Two Premio Tevere over 1600 metres and won by two and a half lengths from Life On Mars.[3]

As a three-year-old in 1984, Bob Back won once from ten races. On his seasonal debut he finished third to Trojan Fen in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April and was then sent back to Italy to contest the Derby Italiano and was beaten a short-head into second place by Welnor with At Talaq in third. After being unplaced in his next three starts Bob Back started at odds of 8/1[4] for the Listed Valdoe Stakes over ten furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse in September. Ridden by Bruce Raymond he took the lead hal a mile from the finish and won by five lengths from Kalim. He went on to finish third to Estrapade in La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte in September and third to Gay Lemur in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury Racecourse in October.[5]

On his first appearance as a four-year-old, Bob Back finished third behind Elegant Air and Parliament in the Group Three Westbury Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse in April. After finishing unplaced in his next race he was sent to Italy for the Group One Premio Presidente della Repubblica over 2000 metres at Capannelle Racecourse in May and won by two and a half lengths from Reco. On his return to England Bob Back was one of four horses to contest the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on 18 June. The race was widely regarded as a match between the classic winners Pebbles and Commanche Run with Bob Back starting a 33/1 outsider. The only other runner was Costly Lesson, who started at 66/1. Bruce Raymond restrained the colt at the back of the field as Commanche Run set the pace before moving up on the outside in the straight. He took the lead approaching the final furlong and recorded an upset victory, beating Pebbles and Commanche Run by one and a half lengths and a short head. Excuses were given for the beaten horses: Pebbles was reported to be in season whilst Commanche Run's connections claimed that he was unsuited by the muddling pace.[6]

Bob Back went on to finish third behind Pebbles and Rainbow Quest in the Eclipse Stakes, but ran poorly when unplaced behind Commanche Run in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. On his final European start he finished second, three lengths behind Commanche Run in the Phoenix Champion Stakes. Bob Back was then sold to Bruce McNall and sent to the United States where he was trained by Angel Penna Sr. On his American debut he produced a good performance when finishing second by a neck to the gelding Win in the Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park. In his two remaining races Bob Back finished unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Bay Meadows Handicap.[6]

Although it was reported that he would be retired to stud at the end of the 1985 season, Bob Back continued to race for two more years in North America in the ownership of Allen Paulson. He made no impact in 1986, finishing unplaced in all six of his races. He showed slightly better form as a six-year-old, winning an allowance race at Hollywood Park Racetrack in April on the fourth of his five appearances.[7]