La Prevoyante (1970–1974) was a Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse, whose remarkable career earned her a place in the Racing Halls of Fame in both the United States and Canada.
Background
La Prevoyante was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque. Her sire was Buckpasser, a son of Tom Fool, and her dam was Arctic Dancer, a full sister to Northern Dancer.
Racing Career
1972: Two-Year-Old Season
At age two, La Prevoyante raced in the United States and remained undefeated in all 12 starts under jockey John LeBlanc. Her flawless performance earned her the 1972 Eclipse Award for American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and the Sovereign Award as the Canadian Horse of the Year. In a rare event, she was a contender for the 1972 American Horse of the Year, narrowly losing to Secretariat.
1973: Three-Year-Old Season
As a three-year-old, La Prevoyante did not maintain her previous dominance. She experienced her first loss in a six-furlong race at Gulfstream Park, finishing second. She also finished second in the 1973 Kentucky Oaks and third in the Canadian Oaks. Despite these setbacks, she won the Quebec Derby at Blue Bonnets Raceway but struggled in the Queen's Plate at Woodbine Racetrack, finishing well behind on a muddy track.
1974: Four-Year-Old Season
In 1974, La Prevoyante secured three consecutive sprint victories at Saratoga Race Course. Tragically, her career ended on December 28, 1974, when she collapsed and died from a ruptured lung after the Miss Florida Handicap at the Tropical-at-Calder meet.
Honors and Achievements
La Prevoyante was inducted into the inaugural class of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1995. On November 11, 1972, she concluded a historic campaign with the longest winning streak by a North American two-year-old filly, extending her unbeaten run to 12 races in the Gardenia Stakes. She became the first filly besides Buckpasser's other daughter, Numbered Account, to earn over $400,000 in a single season, amassing $417,109.
Notable Races and Legacy
During her illustrious career, La Prevoyante won races on various surfaces and distances, from five furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, against both her sex and open competition. She secured victories on fast, good, sloppy, and slow tracks across seven different venues. In her juvenile season, she won 10 stakes races, including the My Dear, Fleur de Lys, Colin, and Princess Elizabeth in Canada, and the Schuylerville, Matron, Spinaway, Frizette, Selima, and Gardenia in the United States.
Final Years and Death
La Prevoyante's exceptional juvenile season was followed by a mixed three-year-old campaign, where her only notable victories were the Quebec Derby and the La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs. Despite some disappointing performances, she was named Canada’s champion older filly and mare. Her career came to a tragic end on December 28, 1974, when she collapsed and died from a ruptured left lung after finishing eighth in the Miss Florida Handicap.
La Prevoyante's legacy as one of the greatest Canadian racehorses endures, with her record of 25 wins in 39 starts and total earnings of $517,400. Her extraordinary achievements and tragic end continue to be remembered and celebrated in the world of horse racing.