tɹˈeɪnd baɪ mˈɛʃ tˈɛni hˌuː wʌz ɪndˈʌktᵻd ˌɪntʊ ðə nˈæʃənəl mjuːzˈiəm ʌv ɹˈeɪsɪŋ ænd hˈɔːl ʌv fˈeɪm ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn, bɹˈɛd ænd ˈoʊnd baɪ ðə wˈʌns kˈaʊhænd ɹˈɛks ˈɛlswɜːθ, swˈɑːps wˈʌn hɪz fˈɜːst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈaɪv stˈɑːɹt, ðə sˌæn vˈaɪsənt stˈeɪks.
Trained by Mesh Tenney (who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991), bred and owned by the once cowhand Rex Ellsworth, Swaps won his first 1955 start, the San Vicente Stakes.