His career seemed to come at the right time and the wrong time.

A California-bred colt by Runnymede, he was highly successful on track. A bona fide win machine, he never tasted defeat as a juvenile. And as a three-year-old, he became the first horse born in the state to win what is now America's biggest horse race.

But his racing days came during an odd time, and it was no fault of his own. This was the early 1920s, and horse racing in California was well into its quarter-century sabbatical. His era came between the two Santa Anita Parks, and long before Del Mar and Hollywood Park was even conceived. Though he lived well after California racing began its Renaissance, he missed out on running before crowds in his native state.

Nowadays, he is largely forgotten, though longtime Southern California racing fans might remember his name being attached to a stakes race back when the Oak Tree Racing Association hosted its annual fall meet at Santa Anita. It was a nice tribute, though it was also ironic because he had long been retired before the track opened in 1934. And well before the hillside turf course was even built.

But the horse named Morvich is one of the most significant Cal-breds of the twentieth century.