 He was trained throughout his career by Joseph B. Cantey.After showing strong potential throughout the spring of 1980, with wins in Kentucky Derby prep races, the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby, Temperence Hill's breakthrough performance came in the 1980 Belmont Stakes where he defeated Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk and Preakness Stakes winner Codex at odds of 53-1.He went on to win several additional Grade I stakes and was voted Champion three-year-old of 1980.