As the San Juan Capistrano prepared to enter the 1970s, the marathon race had experienced a little bit of everything.

Some of the all-time greats had long been added to its list of champions, with Seabiscuit and Noor among its winners. Others had pulled off the rare feat of not only taking multiple editions of the contest, but doing so in back-to-back years. One notable example was George Royal, whose victories came in the 1965 and 1966 seasons.

Speaking of George Royal, he was one of the protagonists in what has long been the most endearing moment in the race's history. When he repeated as the San Juan Capistrano's champion in 1966, he did so with the legendary Johnny Longden in the saddle. The victory came in Longden's final career start, and tens of thousands in the stands paid tribute to the great rider as he retired a champion.

The San Juan Capistrano also saw iconic riders like Red Pollard, Eddie Arcaro and Bill Shoemaker add the race to their resumes. And before Santa Anita's turf course debuted in 1954, the longtime event took place on the main track.

Indeed, Santa Anita's traditional closing day feature had served as the stage for a lot of big moments in the careers of several horses and riders since its inception in 1935.

But no one saw an outcome to the race like they did in 1970.

A total of eleven horses were in the lineup for the thirty-first running of the San Juan Capistrano. Among those on track that day were Fort Marcy, the 1967 Champion Grass Horse who would become that season's Horse of the Year while again winning the top turf honor; Fiddle Isle, who was well known in Southern California and a multiple stakes winner; Figonero, who captured the 1969 Hollywood Gold Cup; Hitchcock, who had won several stakes and was second in the San Luis Rey at Santa Anita earlier in the season; and Quicken Tree, who won stakes at all three Southern California racetracks along with Bay Meadows and was known as a closer. A Cal-bred who owned many wins, Quicken Tree had also won the Santa Anita Handicap that season.

In front of over 51,000 fans, the field began its excursion around Santa Anita's El Camino Real turf course. The big longshot Off led for a time, as did Quilche, the winner of the San Luis Rey. The fractions were moderate, hovering around the 23 and 24 second range for a while. Later in the race, Vent Du Nord, who was seen as a principal contender, had control of the race, but coming from behind were two closers.

Fiddle Isle and Quicken Tree had been at the back of the pack, but they moved up as the San Juan Capistrano progressed. Both were in with a shot in the later stages of the race, and both kept going to the wire. Fiddle Isle had Bill Shoemaker aboard, while Quicken Tree was piloted by Fernando Alvarez. Both horses continued on in the stretch as the crowd wondered who would win the prestigious turf race. And by the time the race had ended...they still wondered.

Fiddle Isle and Quicken Tree had engineered a photo finish. The judges subsequently went to work to determine who made it to the wire first as the crowd awaited the result. As it turned out, the two horses could not be separated.

For the first time in its long and storied history, the San Juan Capistrano finished in a dead heat. Fiddle Isle and Quicken Tree were co-winners, with Fort Marcy and Hitchcock just behind both horses. But there was more, for Laffit Pincay, Jr., who rode Hitchcock, claimed foul on both Fiddle Isle and Fort Marcy. And Jorge Velazquez, who had the mount on Fort Marcy, did the same on Fiddle Isle.

But the original result was upheld, and the 1970 San Juan Capistrano immediately went into history as one of the most memorable editions of the famed race. It was the third win in the race for both Shoemaker and trainer Charlie Whittingham, while Alvarez and William Canney celebrated their first.

And the fans who walked into Santa Anita that April afternoon witnessed a true rarity in Thoroughbred racing. Dead heats do not happen very often during a race meet, and definitely not in a stakes race. You won't find one in the Santa Anita Derby or Handicap, nor in the Malibu or San Antonio.

That makes the 1970 San Juan Capistrano stand as one of the most unique races in Santa Anita's history due to the end result.

The third running in 1937 had an iconic champion in Seabiscuit. The 1954 renewal began a new era as the race moved over to the turf. The 1966 version produced a classic storybook ending with Longden getting his final win before retirement.

And as for the the 1970 race, it featured two horses who refused to lose.

And neither of them did.

Sources:

Over 51,000 fans: Abbott, Bion: "Fiddle Isle, Quicken Tree Dead Heat in 'Cap." Los Angeles Times April 5, 1970, D-1

Laffit Pincay, Jr. claims foul: Ibid.

Jorge Velazquez claims foul: Ibid.