Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

Mary Ann Burton — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:49:11 GMT

Anyone out there who remembers Spengers, Brennan's, Mrs. Cooks, or Serbs? We do; we are related to the late Tod Creed. Herb Caen wrote an amusing article about him that says it all...

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

John Farrow — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:10:26 GMT

I remember well Arbre Chene he was my favourite galloper. His record considering his breeding was outstanding Winner of the Grp 1 Railway Hcp 1200m, Grp 1 Telegraph Hcp 1200m, Grp 2 Memsie Stks and The Grp 1 Air New Zealand.All tis from a horse bred on both sides to need at least 2 miles and a few jumps...I still have a newspaper cutting kept for 28 years of his tragic death

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

Nicki — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:35:07 GMT

Heartwarming story from the best writer I know whose love for and knowledge of horses reveals his love for life.

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

Bellwether — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:18:53 GMT

castles made of sand slip into the sea...eventuly...Long Live The KING!!!

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

El Dorado Shooter — Mon, 05 May 2008 02:40:03 GMT

The San Mateo County Fair will conduct a 12-day meet in August, racing from August 6-August 18. So there's a bit more time for us!

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

DAP — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:56:59 GMT

Great article, Morton...I remember attending the races with my dad at age four. My recollections start in the 70's. For me it's always the horse stories that enthralled me, and getting caught up in the hometown horse. Here's an unscripted dump of my memories:

Linda's Chief in 73'. Baffle. Quilibi winning and swashing his tale back and forth. Brown Giant. Agitate with the shoe, beating Confederate Yankee with Volzke. A few weeks later one of my favorites Willie Pleasant conquered the Yankee. A heartbreaking loss to Pass the Glass with Oliveres. I still have the losing ticket. Al the Doctor, Capt. Don., Dusty County, and my alltime hero, Silveyville. He rarely let me down...As I run through the parking lot in the early mornings, I can still hear Tod Creed echoing, "And here comes the Doctor!"...

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

Sampson — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:39:50 GMT

I had this great boss who just loved the ponies and he said one day he would take some of us from the crew to Bay Meadows and we would hang out in the infield and he would teach us about horse racing.

Sadly, he never had the chance to do so, as he died from a massive heart attack on the golf course. Frank was such a great guy, and probably the best boss I ever worked for, so I figured as a sort of tribute I would go to Bay Meadows and hang out.

Althought I'd been around horses all my life, I'd never been to the track,but I bought a program and visited the paddock and made a few bets based on observation and did OK, in fact, I had a great time. Pretty soon I found myself going at least once a week and started making some great friends among my fellow rail birds.

It saddens me that a piece of history will soon be sacrificed in the name of greed. It makes one wonder what is sacred anymore? How long before we build condos at Gettysburg? I just don't get it. Does the area really need more housing and shopping opportunities?

I used to think my Dad was just so out of it when he talked with such fondness of places long gone, but when Bay Meadows is history, I think I'll know what he felt.

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

Bruce Greene — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:29:25 GMT

Well done Morton. History is palpable throughout Bay Meadows, backside to frontside. In my 15 years of covering the bay for The Blood-Horse, many of my personal memories centered around the San Mateo track. Yes Wild Again and Cigar's performances puzzled us there but many of us went on to cash tickets on them later down the road. Bay Meadows had a wonderful Art Deco look that made daydreaming about Seabiscuit or Mr. Kyne part of the experience of being there.

Among the memories locked in my mind are the foggy mornings on the backstretch, the buzz of optimism and friendship at the little stable area coffeeshop.

Fortunately I knew to speak to Lester Piggot's "good ear" and he answered my questions with a smile as he hurried back to the jock's room. Before I lay Bay Meadows to rest, I'll hear the tip sheet seller's voices, see the huddled trainers shiver but never take their eyes off a workout in progress, and recall many a darkening night driving home with the last light of day catching the Bay Bridge. I'll see Shoe in the winner's circle, hear Todd Creed call a race and hand a press box phone to Joe Dimaggio.

re: Farewell to the Meadows - by Morton Cathro

london express — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:11 GMT

My intro to horse racing came at the Bay about 30 years ago, when the place was much different than the Disney clean facility of today. They used to run the quarters and the sulkies at night in the summer and then thoroughbreds in the fall.

Typical weekend crowds for the thoroughbreds were over 10,000, the night cards about half of that.

The grandstand looked more like a scene from Scorcese's Taxi Driver than the broadway musical ambience of today's grandstand that will soon be plowed.

The food was always good and the racing always formful. The Gunderson family ran the place back then and knew what they were doing; best sport in the world in one of the best cities in the world. The place rocked.

Remember Mountain Marine, Super Moment, and the Bart? What about Wild Again's 3:5 loss on the BM turf before going on to win the inaugural Breeders Cup Classic?

After a few years as a grandstander I moved up to the turf club. Food was every bit as good and it was easier to read your form at a table. The place used to be full every Saturday and you usually had to wait for a table.

In 1988 I moved back east but after a decade of handicapping practice at the Bay, I was able to compete with the best of them.

I have never been a horse owner and probably never will be one, but when they close the doors on Bay Meadows, I will know how an owner feels when they lose one of their best horses.

Pity Hoedown Day, Saturdays at the Bay always used to be Super Moments.