A 16.2 chestnut with three white socks, Moccasin was an eyeful , and her performance as a 2-year-old was every bit as dazzling as her looks. She made eight starts and won eight times. In what was considered the five most important races of her division: the Gardenia, Matron, Selima, Spinaway, and Alcibiades, she won big. Twice there was no pari-mutuel wagering because she was such an overwhelming favorite. At the end of the season, Moccasin was voted divisional champion as expected, but she also earned a title no 2-year-old filly has been given before or since – Horse of the Year.
Although she was never as dominant as she had been during her juvenile campaign, Moccasin remained a quality stakes winner at three and four, winning Saratoga’s Test S. and defeating males in the Phoenix H. at Keeneland. She retired with earnings of $388,075 (11 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds in 21 starts).
As a broodmare, Moccasin has had a lasting influence. From nine foals she produced seven stakes winners. They included Apalachee, Champion 2-year-old in England in 1973 and successful sire, and Belted Earl, Champion 2-Year-Old in Ireland in 1982. Her last foal, Flippers won the Golden Rod, Pocahontas, etc., and placed in the Alcibiades-G2 and Monmouth Oaks-G2. As a broodmare, Flippers produced two stakes winners, including G1 winner Hail Atlantis, the dam of successful sire Stormy Atlantic, and Divine Dixie, dam of 2005 Blue Grass S. winner Bandini. It should also be noted that major stallions Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells both trace to Moccasin’s full sister, Thong. Moccasin was pensioned at the age of 20 in 1983 and died July 1, 1986. She is buried at Claiborne Farm.