Breakfast With The Doc

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Steve Haskin — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:49:56 GMT

Papillon, where in the story do I compare the talent of the three horses? You read into it what you want to. My only link to the three horses is the toughness and durability they have displayed all year. Whether you are aware of it or not, that is the premise of the column -- not comparing their talent or accomplishments. It is futile to keep addressing comments based on a misguided comprehension of the story.

I actually ranked Orb as the top 3-year-old in the country on the NTRA poll based on his accomplishments all year. Please read the stories more carefully next time before posting.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Matthew W — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:08:07 GMT

sleeper great grey: La Zanzara, back-to-back winner of San Juan Capistrano when it mattered....

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Steve Haskin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:06:31 GMT

Matt, I've written six books, but if you're referring to "tours" from my memory bank, as Kate put it, maybe one day I can do a compilation of the "look-back" blogs. But I've got a long way to go. I will continue to combine both those kind and the topical subjects.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

The Deacon — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:09:21 GMT

A few more grays, Silver Charm, Free House, and Decidedly along with the great Determine.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Kate — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:00:13 GMT

I truly enjoy these "tours" from your memory bank.

Wonderful writing...made me think of my first misty morning in Saratoga...and why this sport has its unique appeal.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Matthew W — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:00:03 GMT

Grays I've seen in person: The Steel Gray Spectacular Bid....The near white Vigors (one of the most beautiful closers in history) Grey Papa, the Longacres Flash running a close third in The Palos Vardes on opening day at Santa Anita....Polynesian Flyer winning The Portland Meadows Mile from the far outside, he was such an awesome looking horse....Normandy Grey, 1/2 bro to Vigors, winning for me, early seventies, from last...in the last race....paid 30-1.....and I got him again at that price, "COME-ON, NORMANDY GREY!!!"

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Matthew W — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:51:16 GMT

Steve, write a book! I mean PLEASE--write a book! What you have to say is meaningful....

re: Breakfast With The Doc

d3hoss — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:34:09 GMT

Wonderful, just wonderful.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Racefan66 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:13:06 GMT

Thanks for another wonderful story, I really do feel as if I'm right there with you when I read them. You have a special gift, thanks for sharing it!

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Bradgm — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:40:30 GMT

Wanda, will keep an eye out for any. Will be watching Heartswideopen go for the all time QH winnings record in the AA Derby.

Deacon,

Winning Colors, Holy Bull, Skip Away etc.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

The Deacon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:16:06 GMT

Here are a few great grays from yesteryear. Spectacular Bid, Native Dancer, Vigors, Foggy Note, and Lady's Secret.............

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Bradgm — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:28:30 GMT

The Gray Ghost on Halloween at the Meadowlands a Starter allowance I believe. Also a pacing race in Australia I think.

You have a nice start on the blog thing, the variety of subjects is what makes it interesting. Something for everyone from the benign and nostalgic to the controversial(unplanned probably) and thought provoking.

Sat in on the chat on Talkin Horses, almost forgot.

World renown, Glasgow, Prague etc and the soldier from Iraq, awesome.

Loved the answer on the BC F/M, echoed a lot of the thoughts on the blog comments. Keep up the awesome job.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Steve Haskin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:23:59 GMT

Brad, an interesting idea, but I've hardly written enough blogs to make a compilation of them. Maybe one day. I'll certainly consider the grays. You do know that there already is a race for grays only.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Wanda — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:11:26 GMT

Bradgm: If you see any Alberta based QH at Ruidoso cheer em on for me.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Bradgm — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:50:51 GMT

Hey Steve, how about a compilation of your blogs, sort of a collection of memories and short stories, sort of like Tales From the TC but broader scope. Work for you but that would keep me from having to save them to a file and print them up and I bet you could sell a ton of them.

Deacon, Great idea, love the gray's. Cool race on Halloween at the Meadowlands The Gray Ghost.

Sad to think the Spa and DM both wrapping up, can barely believe Summer is gone. Going to the All American Futurity in Ruidoso, a tradition for years, since I was a

kid the definite end of Summer racing.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

The Deacon — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:08:02 GMT

Steve, an idea for a new blog, how about the best white, gray (grey), or roan horse you ever saw run.

I just love your writing, puts a lump in my throat. Nothing like yesteryear..............

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Gary Peacock — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:05:21 GMT

Very nice article, Steve. And Karen2 is the greatest for recognizing the same in you, sir. Would love to goose sharebumps with Anne, her , and you. Oh, the Spa.......

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Steve Haskin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:43:45 GMT

Brad, the books may not continue, but the blog will, so the mind will still be working to some extent. And I will continue to include a good deal of history from both a personal and non-personal perspective. Jim, I am hoping that new generation you speak of will appreciate the recollections of how things were and get some sense of history. It was a simpler time back then, without all the issues the sport faces now. You could appreciate the horse and the competition and not have to deal with horses retiring prematurely, because owners were true sportsmen who were not in the game for money.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Hank — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:19:38 GMT

Mr Haskin, U-R-D Best. Thank you for a great article. I thought I was the only fool to carry a picture of a horse in my wallet, it was a pic of Bold Ruler I had taken win I visited Claiborne Farm while on a 3 day pass from Ft Campbell.Best looking horse I ever saw, fell in love with him, when he raced, got my heart broke by Mr Arcaro, when I met him at a golf scramble in Penn, he told me that he was not in his top 5, course Citation was his #1 Two divorces and out went all my pics

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Dan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:51:18 GMT

Steve: on an unseasonably cool sat. morn in the early sixties, i hitchhiked from latham to saratoga by holding up a copy of the morning telegraph. i got a ride from a fellow from mass. only by promising to help him get the rest of the way without getting lost. a great first time experience !! and, by the way, i saw Kelso beat malicious and pia star in the whitney !! been going back for 45 years now. been to world series, super bowl, ky. derby, breeder's cup,etc.,etc. etc. and i'll still take a "non-stakes" thursday at 'toga over 'em all !!!

re: Breakfast With The Doc

misting — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:24:44 GMT

the doctor is always the standard i use when comparing other great horses-the only one that i thought might give him a race would have been Ghostzapper-in a way, it's a shame that racing secretaries are hampered by purses that are offered by other tracks so they can't really weigh them like they should; for fear of chasing them in the arms of these tracks who are only trying to survive..I was privileged to see the good doctor in the Vosburgh carrying 139 lbs to Kissing George's 127 and both of them running as a team until they hit the stretch and the good doctor slowly drawing off and winning in hand by seven and breaking Aqu's 7f of 1:21 set by Bold Ruler down to 1:20 1/5--what a horse

re: Breakfast With The Doc

buzznott — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:21:03 GMT

The turn off the Interstate onto Rte.9 is a turn back in time.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

txhorsefan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:15:29 GMT

Steve,

Once again, an excellent blog bringing a great horse to life for me! Sure do wish I could have been paying attention to racing back then, but was young and distracted and working hard to supress my love of horses to pursue other interests. Now that I'm old and my kids are grown I'm allowing myself to fall in love with horses all over again and it's so great how you bring the best ones that I missed out on to life with your insightful words and the images you create with your stories. Thank you!

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Bradgm — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:20:17 GMT

Steve, I know you said you had no plans for any additional books but the changing industry and the history needs something along the lines of this blog. Think about it, the mind (talent) is a terrible thing to waste.

re: Breakfast With The Doc

Jim — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:20:06 GMT

Steve, you're a freaking museum. Can't you get on the National Register? There's another generation coming that needs you. They at least should know what a horse is.