The Great Saluter

Saluter made his debut for Fisher in 1993, and immediately thrived at the marathon timber races. Three miles, four miles, the distance didn't matter to the stout bay son of Salutely. Saluter won his first three starts for Fisher, but things really jelled in 2004. Saluter won the first of six (yes six) consecutive runnings of the Virginia Gold Cup. From 1994 through 1999, no other horse finished first in the 4-mile timber classic at Great Meadow. The 50,000 or so in attendance learned Saluter's name, and he became something of a cult figure in steeplechasing.

"Is Saluter running?" the fans would ask. If he wasn't, the other names didn't matter.

Saluter won the first of four NSA timber championships in 1994, also taking titles in 1995, 1998 and 1999. His greatest achievement may have come in 1997. On May 3, Saluter won the Virginia Gold Cup in his usual overwhelming fashion. That victory qualified him for a chance at the World Timber Championship, which offered a $100,000 bonus to any horse that could sweep the Gold Cup and a new timber race in England, the Marlborough Cup. Saluter traveled to England and two weeks after the Gold Cup won the Marlborough Cup to claim the prize. Saluter was just the second American-owned, trained and ridden horse to win an English steeplechasing - joining Lonesome Glory.

Saluter's fifth Gold Cup win (in 1998) retired the historic trophy to the Sterns' living room, and he passed the great Dosdi atop the timber win category with the 21st American victory in 1999.

Retired in 2000, Saluter lives at Fisher's home in Monkton, Md. and enjoys life as a foxhunter and general celebrity on the farm.