In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

MN — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:50:03 GMT

When I saw the name Citation - I just had to respond. As a child, my mother had a cousin that worked at Calumet. We visited and got the rare privilege of meeting Citation up close and personal. Also Tim Tam and went home with a braided tail section from that wonderful horse. As a child not accustomed to such stunning horses or to a place like Calumet-I was imprinted for life. To my cousin maybe it was just another day at the barn-for me it changed my life. Thank you for triggering my heart.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Joanne S — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:54:24 GMT

Great story !! I wish I had been around then.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Whatever — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:08:47 GMT

Saw the mare Shuvee win this race twice. She was a great mare.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Susan Nunes — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:58:26 GMT

Citation was great, but Secretariat was greater.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Mary — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:04:11 GMT

Citation by far is the greatest horse ever!

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Bellwether — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:20:19 GMT

PLEASE...rust never sleeps...don't even try to compare the two...Long Live Bellwether!!!

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

julie.o — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:14:01 GMT

I was so sad when the JCGC was shortened to its present distance.

don't get me wrong, I love the Breeders Cup and its excitement, but I think it's partially to blame for weakening the breed. There used to be real series of races leading up to the end of the year, and great horses were tested over several distances and tracks and weights. Horses were supposed to be versatile and to beat all comers. They had to stick around to earn their oney. Now we give out a gazillion dollars to a horse who had just one good race in them (Arcangues or just about any recent juvenile colt winner) and often championships based on one race. A horse can command a huge stud fee off of one race without ever really being tested. I always had doubts about Cigar because he didn't really run over varied distances, though he carried his weights and ran everywhere.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

MRO — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:59:19 GMT

I enjoyed the article. I have playing cards from the 1940s of Citation and Ponder. My mother had saved them with figurines and other knickknacks from her childhood. Citation was a household name in 1940s. I wish I been around to see him run. Coaltown was a pretty amazing horse too.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

racefan — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:53:56 GMT

You must have been taking an extra long nap in 1973. Sorry, but you missed the greatest horse ever.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Bellwether — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:41:41 GMT

ps...by the way Mr. Califano thanks for one hell of a piece about one hell of a HORSE...Long Live The Dirt Too!!!

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Bellwether — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:36:33 GMT

AMEN BROTHER to THE GREATEST...CITATION...Long Live The King!!!

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

oldgraymare — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:15:19 GMT

but down the street from memory. I grew up in the 1950's in New Rochelle NY...a short bike ride for me and my friend from Ward Acres Farms where two little girls persuaded (pestered?) the stud grooms to let us see and pet

Wait-A-Bit ( he of the famous triple dead heat with Brownie and Bousett<sp> )

The farm is long gone, the memory remains and is cherished.

Yes I agree..don't race babies and let the good ones prove their worth at 4 and (gasp) 5 -before- going to stud.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Bill — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:03:30 GMT

I remember Eddie Arcaro recalled not being certain which horse - Coaltown or Citation - as his mount to select in the Derby. Ben Jones knew the answer and advised Eddie that he would be making a mistake if he chose Coaltown. During the early running of that Derby, Eddie was unsure of Jones' wisdom as Coaltown drew out to an easy lengthy lead, but his doubts were erased in the stretch as Citation blew by his stablemate. Eddie never doubted Ben Jones again.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

RF — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:58:13 GMT

Yes, Citation was a true great, but he was a member of a crop only 1/10th that of today...As far as the Jockey Club Gold Cup being the "preeminent event in thoroughbred racing" (aside from the Triple Crown) prior to The Breeders' Cup, I beg to differ. By the 60s it was The Woodward (1 1/4m), and not The Jockey Club (2 m) that attracted more with championship aspirations. The true hallmark race was the 1967 Woodward (likely the best field ever assembled) in which Buckpasser, Damascus and Dr. Fager competed. Buckpasser, the greatest, and most beautiful racehorse I've ever seen was not at his best that day (foot issues), Dr. Fager was hampered by the "rabbits", so Damascus won easily in then track record time. No race, before or since, comprised a field of that ilk.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

STEVE STONE — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:54:38 GMT

Hello John..Thank you for the interesting ride down memory lane and waxing nostalgia of racing's past legends of the turf..There are certainly an inordinate number of turfs great whose hoofprints have left an indelible mark on the track(not artificial) ..however too numerous to note here..However one that heads the list is the indomitable Forego..much more contemporary vis-a-vis those you mentioned..He was one of the truly greats of all time...Over 17 hands..ran on all surfaces and shouldered huge imposts..at all distances....Regrettably he was an gelding...Now that's an thoroughbred..perhaps of another and earlier era...But as the saying goes..They just don't build them like that anymore..You can take all of the Curlins..Big Browns..et al..not even in the same class..Shouldn't even be loaded in the same starting gate....Thank you always for the window..Best regards..Steve Stone..East Hanover..New Jersey

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Dr. Fager — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:59:57 GMT

A great story of another great horse, before my time, but one of my heros.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

da3hoss — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:20:26 GMT

Thanks for sharing great story.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

FFacer — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:51:46 GMT

I too remember Citation with fond memories. TV was not always available but the radio kept us up to date as did the local 'bookies'.

A grand horse. So sad that they retire the good ones to stud so young, they never get to prove just how great them may be.

If they would get back to breeding for conformation instead of speed,

there would be less 'accidents'

Right from Man O'War's time, the good horses ran 20 or more races and did it well. Confirmation will race, will jump and travel the mountains with our breakdowns from inbred weaknesses. Money is the only name of the game today.

re: In My Lifetime - by John L. Califano

Cheryl from Maryland — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:07:32 GMT

I guess every generation has their own favorites (my first favorite horse was Damascus-until we had horses of our own). I remember even as a small child, hearing my dad, who was and is to this day a diehard racing fan, talk about how great Citation was. To him Citation was, and always will be, the greatest of all time!