Right Tack

Right Tack made his first appearance at his home course in June when he finished second in the Caterham Stakes at The Derby meeting. He won his first race shortly afterwards when he took the Southgate Stakes over five furlongs at Alexandra Park ridden by Joe Mercer. Further wins followed in minor races at Windsor and Epsom and the Imperial Stakes at Kempton Park Racecourse. On his final start of the year, Right Tack was sent to Newmarket where he won the Middle Park Stakes, one of the season's most important two-year-old races in which, ridden by Geoff Lewis, he defeated Tower Walk by half a length. In the Free Handicap, a ranking of the year's best juveniles, Right Tack was given a rating of 131 pounds, making him officially the second-best colt of his generation behind the American-bred Dewhurst Stakes winner Ribofilio (133).[5]

Right Tack began his three-year-old season in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, a recognised trial race for the 2000 Guineas. He finished second to Tower Walk, to whom he was conceding five pounds.[5] Ribofilio, ridden by Lester Piggott was a strong favourite for the "Guineas" at Newmarket on 30 April, but Right Tack was also well supported and went off the 15/2 second choice in the betting. Ribofilio ran inexplicably poorly (there was speculation that he had been drugged[6]) and was virtually pulled up by Piggott as Right Tack, ridden by Geoff Lewis won decisively by two and a half lengths from Tower Walk with Welsh Pageant in third.[7] At the Curragh Racecourse near Dublin two weeks later, Right Tack became the first winner of the 2000 Guineas to win the Irish 2000 Guineas as he won impressively by two and a half lengths form Hotfoot.[8] Right Tack returned to England for the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He overcame interference to win by half a length from Habitat in a particularly rough race, which led to the runner-up's jockey, Lester Piggott, being given a seven-day suspension.[9] After this race, Right Tack contracted a respiratory infection[4] and did not run again for three months.

Right Tack returned to the racecourse in September but was unable to reproduce his best form. An attempt to move up to middle distances ended in failure as he was beaten by Principal Boy in the Peter Hastings Stakes over ten furlongs at Newbury. On his final start he traveled to France for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and finished unplaced for the first time in his career as he ran seventh behind Habitat. He was then syndicated and retired to stud.[4]