View From the Verrazano

re: View From the Verrazano

BIGHORSEFAN — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:03:06 GMT

You took the comment too literally. Arab nation, European horse-whether it's England,France whatever, just a category or generalization. Whether Dubai is whatever is irrelevant, they are an Arab country.

As for the rest of it well you're wise to stay out of the who helped who, I know my gramps was in England then Germany fighting off the occupation of your country, getting shot. Was yours here? This is Steve's blog, his feeling at the time. He was kind enough and democratic enough to allow you to post your inappropriate comment.

re: View From the Verrazano

Cheryl, Newmarket — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:13:55 GMT

BIGHORSEFAN, I in no way meant to come across as disrespectful, I completely understand that feelings were running high at the time - with very good reason.

Perhaps my WWII comment was inappropriate, but so was the comment about beating an "Arab" horse. Like I said, Dubai (and more specifically Godolphin) had no connection to 9/11, so where was the validity of the post.

Let's not get into the "who helped out who" debate - that's a whole other kettle of fish!

;)

re: View From the Verrazano

BIGHORSEFAN — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:12:51 GMT

Cheryl,

Not to speak for Steve but I took it as a comment on the irony of it all. At the time feelings in AMERICA were running high, there was a lot of Nationalism and Patriotic pride, more so than usual. There's always been a certain amount of competition between America and the European countries but the comment about WWII was out of place. After all England is a European country and we fought and died along side your countrymen. I could add more but I'm trying to be kind here. Just say you were there, we were here but we were also there when YOUR country needed us.

re: View From the Verrazano

Cheryl, Newmarket — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:36:24 GMT

A wonderful and moving piece, which I missed first time round.

I too remember where I was when this atrocity happened - holding mares for the farrier in a paddock in Newmarket.

My house-mate and I sat all night in front of the television watching events unfold.

I am more than a little disturbed to read the comments above about Tiznow beating an "Arab" horse at Breeders' Cup later that year.

Yes Sakhee was (is) Arab owned, but what has that got to do with anything? Dubai was not in any way involved in 9/11 and is still one of the most western of the Arab states.

It's kind of like saying "Hurrah we beat a European horse!" Of course German's are European, so they must all be bad, after all they started WWII!

re: View From the Verrazano

gammyp6 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:15:57 GMT

I wish everyone could read your piece. I wish everyone would read your piece. Too much complacency a mere 7 years later.

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Cgriff — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:46:44 GMT

Steve-

LUCKY! Give Tiznow a pet for me - I haven't seen him since 2002 - right after he went to Winstar. I remember Lenny (the groom who gave me the tour)mention how smart a horse he was - getting bored easily - and his main handler had even taught him to pick up a stick that was tossed his way!

I remembered McCarron being quoted in your article at the time (I think it was yours, anyway) that he felt Tiznow's bad behavior during workouts was due to him being too smart and getting bored with the same old routine - much like John Henry.

I'm thrilled that he has become the rising sire I'd hoped he'd be - and I'm glad he's healthy and retired sound - but man - I would have loved to watch him run a little more. Greedy, I know!

re: View From the Verrazano

heidi — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:35:12 GMT

i will always remember that day like it was yesterday know people lost that day and many who went to help dig who can forget the fly overs by the f 16 s as they flew up and down the hudson river keeping watch i am a mere 20 miles from the site

we also went thru our stuff and brought clothing for the rescue persons to our local fire house

re: View From the Verrazano

Wanda — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:07:47 GMT

Bittersweet storys for sure. Would a guy like to forget yes but we are reminded of the good things that came along during that trying time. The better halfs birthday is coming up and you guessed it, it's 9/11.

re: View From the Verrazano

joe — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:09:09 GMT

And that was such a cold day, when Tiznow fought back in the stretch of the classic, and would not be defeated. That is the moment of triumph in an oddly muted visit to NYC; how the streets became barren as I neared the wreckage of the WTC Thursday, going into Breeders' Cup weekend. We still applauded firemen as their trucks took them who knows where. Mass-just off Times Square at the "Actors Church"- the Sunday morning after the Breeders' Cup was emotional and deeply moving. There was the tragic fall of Exogenous in the parade to the Distaff, on that cold and strange Breeders' Cup day.

re: View From the Verrazano

Don — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:18:18 GMT

WTC on that day would have been clearly visible from the 5th floor of the Belmont building, facing west after stepping out onto the roof from the door in the hallway that leads to the media department.

Worked in One WTC for five years, then left in 1994. Watched the 2nd plane hit from a window on the 30th floor in my residential building.

Phone rang later. Kevin called to say that the people in our golf outing in 1994 - who thought I was nuts when I told them that the terrorists who botched the 1993 attack would come back and hit WTC again - had changed their minds.

Small consolation.

re: View From the Verrazano

txhorsefan — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:52:49 GMT

Thank you once again, for sharing your art of prose, as stated by Bryce Be Quick, and putting things in perspective again. Yes, you are definitely an artist and I'm grateful you've chosen to re-run this wonderful piece.

re: View From the Verrazano

Steve Haskin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:15:02 GMT

I appreciate all the kind words. Thank you very much.

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Richie — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:27:28 GMT

I will never, ever forget the joy that I felt, standing at Belmont and screaming as Tiznow fought his way back to win the Classic after the 9/11 tragedy. I stil get goosebumps thinking about it today. I visit him every time I am in Kentucky. Thanks Steve for anothe great piece of writing.

re: View From the Verrazano

Matthew W — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:14:32 GMT

I put my last tenner on Tiznow that year...his first Classic was/still is, I believe, the strongest run Classic (over Giants Causeway)...as a 4yo he romped in The Big Cap and looked like a horse for the ages---then back problems/as well as "head" problems side-tracked his Spring/Summer...he surfaced at Belmont, he had so much class even in defeat that day...only to return...to pounce on Albert The Great, only to be passed by Sahkee, The (impressive) Arc Winner...Frankie Dettori said it felt like he was alongside a dinosaur's head....and Tiznow won it "For America..." as dramatized by Durkin (whom I really miss as The Voice Of The Breeders Cup"....)..and now with his success as a sire he remains important to Racing! He was a specimen and he's putting out some pretty good looking horses...Tiznow was a real diamond in the rough, and now he's strengthening the breed....he was/is good for America---I even rooted for The Yanks that ONE year....

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russell maiers — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:47:27 GMT

Thanks Steve for making the picture so clear again! A great read.

My arabian horse was smelling the clear, crisp air also. She helped me and others at the time find a way to put one foot in front of the other. She is always great to remember. P.S. Congrats to anak nakal! Something about that horse.

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Bryce Be Quick — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:50:46 GMT

For over 20 years before 9/11 I was in the aviation industry, part of a State aeronautcal agency with duties which included operation of a major commercial air carrier airport, in an office located right under the air traffic control tower and above the passenger ticketing concourse. My dream job.

What use to be a joy increasingly became a burden after the attacks, however, and it just got harder and harder to go to work. Hung in there for almost another seven years, but finally realized when things change, and 9/11 was a transformational shift of semistic proportions for aviation, they can never go back to the way they were. Even the pleasure of going out on the ramp each May to welcome horses flying in for the Preakness was not enough, so I took a job with similar but non-aeronuatical duties at another State transportation agency. Looking back, I can now see where my interest in t-breds flowered as by passion for all things aviation diminished.

Thanks, Steve, for helping me piece this together with your usual evocative prose-- you express and capture feelings and thoughts so well, and in a seemingly effortless economy of well-chosen words.

That, fellow bloggers, is art. Having not a creative bone in my own body, I appreciate all the more Steve's immense talents. Thanks for sharing them, and yourself, with us.

re: View From the Verrazano

Mercedes — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:08:26 GMT

Bravo Maestro!

When you are there, you see, you feel and then you put the words together in such a way that they become alive and they become a picture, your writing becomes a Masterpiece.

You take us there to see and feel.

Thanks

re: View From the Verrazano

Steve Haskin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:50:15 GMT

Griff, that's why he remains my favorite contemporary horse as well. With the U.S. losing three straight races to foreign horses, for Tiznow to come through, and against an Arab-owned horse no less, was one of the most emotional moments I can recall. And for for him to do it the same way he did it to another foreign horse the year before made it all the more remarkable. It was privilege to cover both those Classics. I'll be seeing Tiznow next week when I go to Kentucky.

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$BILL — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:03:00 GMT

ISTILL RECALL THAT MORNING AS I WAS @ AQUEDUCT & PAUL TOSCANO CAME INTO THE BARN ON A HORSE AND TOLD US A PLANE HAD JUST HIT THE WTC, AS WE ALL RAN OUT TO THE RAIL TO SEE THE 2ND PLANE HIT ,JUST A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE DAY & THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS STILL HAVENT BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE...........

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Tiznowbaby — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:58:12 GMT

I, too, thought of Tiznow fighting back down the stretch, perhaps carrying a bit more on his back than a jockey and a saddle. Your column brings back so vividly my own memories of that day. It's good not to forget.

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Golden Gate — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:57:10 GMT

Steve,

As the first rain bands from now tropical depression Gustav sweep over us I am crying. Crying for those lost and yet for us life goes on and racing goes on. Thank you for sharing your memories of that horrific time with us. I thank God for having spared New Orleans and for what we do have still.

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Cgriff — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:20:23 GMT

Steve,

Isn't it more than a little cool that you'd see Tiznow on that first day over to Belmont...and it was Tiznow who won for America on Breeder's Cup day and gave us a reason to cheer, laugh and even cry in celebration.

He remains my contemporary favorite - just such a cool, neat horse.

Thanks for the walk down a bittersweet memory lane.

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Huh — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:49:34 GMT

Amazing story, thank you for bringing back the memories of a horrific incident in this great countries' history.

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Bill — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:09:55 GMT

You've managed to capture the mood of that awful time. My first thought was the impossibility of such a horrific event occurring on such a beautiful day. The contrast between what nature and man had wrought was stunning that day. The gloom that pervaded everything including Belmont was palpable. It's too bad it takes an immense tragedy like this to remind us what is really important. Why is it that we rarely can come together except during times like this??

re: View From the Verrazano

Bradgm — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:28:20 GMT

Steve,

Just as heart wrenching and touching as it was the first time I read it in that year of tragedy.

Thanks for your eloquence then and now.