My Favorite Year

re: My Favorite Year

Susan from VA — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:00:04 GMT

Loved this article, too. You're the only Bloodhorse writer - heck the ONLY writer - whose columns I always show to my friends. Like Stellar Jayne, I've been thinking of saving the entire collection.

re: My Favorite Year

PioneerCountry — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:11:02 GMT

The best part of your blogs Steve is always the trip down memory lane. Names like Majestic Prince, Arts and Letters, Al Hatab etc. Names that evoke memories, unlike so many horses racing today. I was just a little girl, horse crazy, but I have never forgotten their names, pedigrees etc. Considering this was well before satellite HR & internet info & we were lucky to catch a race or two on TV, yet all these horses stuck in my mind. When I get to Ky, once I've seen certain horses, the best part of my trip is getting as close as is now possible to the greats of yesteryear by visiting the cemetaries. I can't believe I'm in their presence sometimes when I run my hand over the stones. Sad always that I never got to see them in 'person'.

I'm voting for you to make that HOF (see Nip Nip!!)& in the meantime, keep writing & we'll keep pushing you to publish your blogs into a book....

re: My Favorite Year

Sandra — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:35:25 GMT

If I'm not mistaken, Al Hattab holds a quirky record. 100% of his offspring were grey. I noticed this as a teenager, reading the PPs and later read an article about it.

re: My Favorite Year

Dan McCall — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:59:08 GMT

Steve

The 1969 Belmont is one of my favorite races. I have saved copies of the Bloodhorse for the Triple Crown races since 1968.

One of the best "writings"( if that is a word) that I have ever read is Kent Hollingsworth's column where he talks about the 1969 Belmont. The pace of that race was so weird and perhaps the ride that Hartack gave Majestic Prince was not one that he remembers fondly.

In any event, I imagine that you might have access to that article and you should read it(If you haven't already). Perhaps you might think it worthy of reprinting it it one of your blogs.

You certainly have rekindled my memories of that era

Thanks

re: My Favorite Year

Secreteriat — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:08:19 GMT

Steve I used to go to Battery Park daily and have lunch there when I was at White Weld. Maybe you remember Seamen's Restaurant. They had the best chiken pot pie on Tuesday's for $2.50. I too was at Belmont that day and bet Majestic prince to win and hedged it with a place bet on Arts and letters. I was only making $90.00 a week at the time so I was a $2 bettor. Horseracing was the best entertainment for the buck. Thanks for bringing back the memories and Stay Well. Tony from White Weld.

re: My Favorite Year

Steve Haskin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:56:17 GMT

Morvich, he rode him for the first time in the Derby, not the Blue Grass. I'm glad you asked. I forgot to include it in the story. Three days before the Derby, his regular rider Bill Shoemaker had a horse fall on him in the paddock at Hollywood and suffered a fracture. He said he was just beginning to get to know the horse in the Blue Grass, which was the third time he had ridden him.

re: My Favorite Year

Dr Drunkinbum — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:28:33 GMT

Memories. Where would we be without them !!! Another great Haskin story brightens my day and brings back some of my own memories. I'm pretty sure I saw Janis Joplin being interviewed on the Dick Cavett Show. Reading about great horsemen like Johhny Longden brightens my day. Arts and Letters is another one that almost won the Triple Crown, and how many can win the Met Mile in 1:34 and then win The Belmont a week later? Nowadays if a horse won a stakes mile race in 1:34 and someone asked the owner or trainer if he was going to run in The Belmont next week, he'd say, "Are you insane? Get out of my barn and don't come back !!!"

re: My Favorite Year

Morvich — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:15:14 GMT

Just wondering why Baeza was riding Arts and Letters for the first time in the Blue Grass. Who rode him before that and why did they switch jocks?

re: My Favorite Year

johnaugustwest — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:04:44 GMT

Mr. Haskin: I noticed your comment in which you admitted wondering if this article would be embraced.

Well, please don't do that again; terrific writing will always be welcome... especially since there's not enough of it about the sport we all love.

I did have one complaint, however: your article was over way too soon.

re: My Favorite Year

Convene — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:36:40 GMT

Thanks for the glorious walk back down memory lane! That really was a year to remember - all the rivalries and Arts and Letters, doing his thing! Those are heroic names and where they now lie for eternity is truly hallowed ground. Thanks for bringing yet another tear to this ol' eye.

re: My Favorite Year

sanmanmick — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:50:55 GMT

being a huge met and jet fan and also a great racing fan i remember 1969 vividly(i attended woodstock as well)i remember seeing top knight run at saratoga the year before (my first of many trips to the spa)i think 1969 may have been one of the most memorable years of my lifetime.i been a fan of the sport for 46 years and hope for many more.

re: My Favorite Year

Linda in Texas — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:02:13 GMT

Steve, i don't ever write my posts down, i think it took me a while to write it so to speak and after some chores i came back finished it and clicked submit. And the error notice came up so i surmised it did not get to you. Sometimes i will write something in the morning after reading your articles or admire what someone wrote in response to your writings and then not send it because i don't want to be spouting off all the time because i get tired of looking at my name and later in the day i delete them. But i did send that one but it showed error and brought up the sign in box.

I do remember mentioning to Alex'sBigFan that i had failed earlier to mention 2 other grays and Unbridled Humor whose winning races i also watched over the week end. And that Winter Memories reminds me of Skippy when she runs.

And Bless "Pearl" wherever she is.

Thanks Steve. You are the best.

re: My Favorite Year

Linda in Texas — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:37:45 GMT

Just watched Rahystrada win on turf at The Kentucky Downs going a mile and a half for the first time on September 10, and that day looked up his sire, of course it would be Rahy, and i thought then good for you Rahy old man, and now i read he died today.

Job well done little champion, your greatness lives on in the blood of those of those you sired and may you rest in peace. This is the hardest part of all horse racing for me, but i always feel compelled to mention them rather than not as Rahystrada won by 3 3/4 lengths and that is to be commended for both Rahy and his son.

re: My Favorite Year

Steve Haskin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:35:04 GMT

Thank you, WWSTP, I appreciate that.

Nip Nip, Hall of what?

Linda in Texas, I dont see that comment. Can you send it again?

Nickie, The topper, I like that. Glad he had a happy ending.

re: My Favorite Year

deb — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:42:42 GMT

Arts and Letters and Majestic Prince were my first faves in horse racing as a kid. Prince was the "snob" and Arts and Letters was the little work horse in my memory. I think Johnny L. rode M.Prince in workouts? What a pair of characters those two were.

Everytime I read your articles I remember how much I love racing for the horses and the people.

Thank you.

re: My Favorite Year

Linda in Texas — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:01:28 GMT

Steve, yesterday i wrote a few words about the wonderful people who post on your blog, and wanted them to know how much they bring here. And how much they are appreciated. I submitted it but i think it vanished in space. And today i read Wil.E.Kayotay's words and the mention of his mare "Pearl" and i think how many of us learned the sweet sorrow of parting lesson with an animal. I hope Pearl was loved and cared for long after her special friend moved to the city.

So thanks to the kind folks who share their private thoughts and memories with the rest of us.

And Thank You as always Steve, for drawing so many faithful fans to your vast library of knowledge about all things horse.

re: My Favorite Year

Kyri — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:57:26 GMT

1969 was the year I was born. Thank you for the article!

re: My Favorite Year

WWSTP — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:49:09 GMT

Steve...I hope you keep writing!! The power of "the story" and "the horse" combine in your writing, and it elevates and expands us....reminding us of what it is that brings out the best in us. What a gift! Thank you!

re: My Favorite Year

Nip Nip — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:25:26 GMT

And somewhere a future Racing Hall of Fame journalist was watching a Gallant filly bloom, becoming his "heart horse" as she won 12 races in a row from ages 2-4 on her way to Championship honors two years in a row -- and her own Hall of Fame career. Her great grandma had foaled the sire of Kelso and founded a line of Blue Hen mares. The daughter of Gallant Man-Multiflora was appropriately named Gallant Bloom.

re: My Favorite Year

oso7 — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:21:31 GMT

Loved your post, I like Candy. I hope I spend the rest of my life in the same company but add some dogs, cats, chickens and ducks too.

re: My Favorite Year

nickie — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:59:40 GMT

I found an "error" in your opening Steve..."...extremely long"?...no Steve, I for one think it wasn't long enough. If you only knew the significance of Top Knight, and your digging to find where he spent his final years is totally uplifting. I remeber him going to the Rhode Island circuit and it was a tough nut to swallow, but he was one of my favs...."The Topper" as I and my fellow "wags" affectionately called him. Thanks Steve...Funny Baeza truly one of the all time greats, and a "misuse" of the whip may ahve caused A & L to not capture the Preakness. Looking forward to your muse on Ta Wee, Susans' Girl et al!

re: My Favorite Year

Shutterbug — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:24:10 GMT

Mr. Haskin, what a wonderful and informative article. The only thing I knew, prior to reading this, was that Majestic Prince was a gorgeous chestnut who keeps company on the list of horses that won two out of three TC races. You have a gift, a way of educating in a clear and concise way while moving the reader to both tears and laughter.

The details you provide on Reviewer -- the hairline fracture, and ultimate fate of breaking a leg in his paddock -- explain what happened to his magnificent daughter when she was pressed by Foolish Pleasure. How blessed you were to have known the sires of great racehorses, to have witnessed their racing careers.

I was expecting the worst while reading your description of Top Knight (a name I had never heard before) during his stint in cheap races. I burst out laughing as I read that he spent the rest of his long life on a small farm "in the company of donkeys, mules, and ponies." That's the way I plan to spend my golden years eventually, if I'm lucky :-)

re: My Favorite Year

Old Timer — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:03:06 GMT

Steve, what a great article on a great campaign! I was one of the 66,115 in attendance when Arts and Letters trounced Majestic Prince in the Belmont. Even with MP undefeated and going for the TC, I had my money on Arts and Letters. As you have noted, it is amazing that where today most trainers won't even run their horses in all three triple crown classics, back then Arts and Letters ran all three, and even made a stop to take the Met Mile from older horses! What a great horse he was.

It also highlights that it seems every time a horse like Dike is gaining in the Derby stretch, everyone says "wait until the Belmont" figuring the longer distance will favor the "come from behind" type. Yet it seldom seems to work that way.

re: My Favorite Year

mz — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:14:48 GMT

Steve: yay! fillies and mares!

Don't forget Princessnesian!

re: My Favorite Year

Steve Haskin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:51:45 GMT

Thanks to all who shared their own experiences. Deacon, thank you; I'm having fun reliving all this myself.

Nip Nip, you're getting pretty poetic yourself, beautiful.

Wil. E, thank you for sharing that.

While on the subject of 1969, I'm switching to the fillies next. Should be in a couple of days.