Darby Dan Days

re: Darby Dan Days

joe — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:29:20 GMT

Your nostalgia columns would make a GREAT BOOK collection. The first race I ever attended: Belmont Stakes 1981. Some open seating those days. Two elderly women I met (saved) on the packed escalator saved me a seat; it fell to me to tell them Pleasant Colony had failed in his triple crown bid. In September I saw a swift, victorious PC thrash older runners in the Woodward; I stupidly did not bet him, noting he was backing up to 1 1/8 miles, after a gutsy 1 1/4 mile second place Travers. In 96 I saw PC and his son Tap bathed at Buckland Farm, KY. Pleasant Colony was antsy that morning. I was told he did not like a bath.

re: Darby Dan Days

Alysse — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:31:37 GMT

God, Steve, reading things like this...you just makes me feel like I was there and lived it. It's the best I can do since I wasn't lucky enough to be around back then.

re: Darby Dan Days

Matthew W — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:23:40 GMT

Steve Canonero WAS a Derby upset--but only on the odds board...I saw this beautiful animal and I'm quite sure he was the best horse out of that strong crop...Yes, so many great ones from The 60's/70's...Canonero II was one of them--

re: Darby Dan Days

Steve Haskin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:27:11 GMT

The Jim French blog will be posted Monday morning.

re: Darby Dan Days

Jennifer — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:44:05 GMT

Hi Steve, I kind of remember the jailed part of the Jim French story, but please tell do tell his story again. You can tell whatever story you want, and it'll be fun to read!

re: Darby Dan Days

Steve Haskin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:01:34 GMT

OK, Jim French it is. Ann, you mention Canonero. That actually may be the best story ever. It would have made a great movie had his connections spoken English. I will have to tell that story one day, although I wrote it in two Eclipse Publications books -- Greatest Derbys and Greatest Derby upsets. But it's certainly worth repeating on here.

re: Darby Dan Days

The Deacon — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:50:45 GMT

Hi Steve: With respect to Baeza, Graustark would have had to be on his A+ game to handle the great Dr. Fager. I loved Graustark, it was a shame that he and Buckpasser never hooked up. Baeza so many great horses it is hard to imagine how he can remember what jappened 40 years ago. But I do agree, I have heard Baeza say that Graustark was his favorite. but in truth, I heard him also say that about Buckpasser and the great Doctor. In my mind Dr. Fager was the greatest horse who ever stepped foot on a track up to a 1 1/8 miles, and Spectacular Bid was the best ever ay 1 1/4 miles, and obviously Secretariat was the best ever at 1 1/2 miles. Just one man's opinion............

Thanks as always Steve for your blog and given folks like me the opportunity to express an opinion.

re: Darby Dan Days

Bellwether — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:44:44 GMT

better than BUCKPASSER & THE DOCTOR...thats a mouthfull!!!

re: Darby Dan Days

Vicki J. — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:10:40 GMT

Well, Steve, I think it's settled then. Get your fingers typing about Jim French & we all expect Vol 1 of Hanging with Haskin to be published soon!! (then you can get started on Vol II). Tx for the great writing.

re: Darby Dan Days

Pedigree Ann — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:18:19 GMT

Jim French was my first Derby horse, the first one I took to my heart and followed from race to race to race, starting after the Champagne. When I knew he was running, I tried to wear his yellow and green racing colors; obviously I wore them a lot of times during that school year. If only that plane from Venezuela had been delayed longer, Little Jim would have been a Derby winner! He was a pure throwback, a dirt horse to the core, and totally wasted at stud in France.

re: Darby Dan Days

Steve Haskin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:43:27 GMT

Jim, I dont submit stories for awards, but I will submit her for an Eclipse Award.

Deacon, that's quite a list. Yep, the game certainly has changed.

Saratoga AJ, Baeza maintains to this day that Graustark was the best horse he ever rode, and that includes Buckpasser and Dr. Fager.

re: Darby Dan Days

The Deacon — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:26:23 GMT

As always Steve another great story. This trip down memory lane really stirred my psyche. A great time in history for horse racing. I think the 60's and 70's produced the greatest horses who ever ran. We had Graustark, Buckpasser, Damascus, Dr. Fager, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid, Affirmed, Majestic Prince, Arts & Letters, Ack Ack, Forego, and way too many more to mention. But with beautiful memories comes a harsh reality that we will never see times like those ever again. Today's horse racing horizon is a very sad affair. It's like the great line that Roy Hobbs said in the movie "The Natural", I didn't see it coming, and I should have seen it"................

re: Darby Dan Days

Jim — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:02:17 GMT

What a beautiful winding trail, Steve!!! I've emailed the link to all my best friends. Actually, it sounds like your little fingers saved you from a life of typing; a God-given gift I guess.

Are your dinner-time conversations like this? An eclipse award for your wife!!!

Might we see Volume 1 of Hangin' With Haskin in print some day?

I hope you will have the opportunity to write about Ribot someday. What a hoss!!!! He could have been rated #1 in the Century as easily as #3.

Somewhere I read or saw that Ribot became quite an angry little fellow after being uprooted and sent to the States. There are even a song about him on youtube to that effect. He's definintely one of those horses whose life was lived in the shadow for those of us in the States. It would be nice to know more.

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russell maiers — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:45:36 GMT

woohoo!!!

Thanks for a wonderful ride through their lives.

I am speechless.

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Saratoga AJ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:26:00 GMT

Great story Steve.

I remember clearly back in the Spring of 1966 when the the big question for the upcoming triple Crown was who was better...Graustark or Buckpasser. Everyone couldn't wait for them to face each other.

Unfortunately, both got hurt that Spring. Graustark never raced again, and Buckpasser missed the whole Triple Crown before going on to become one of the all time greats.

But for what might have been!

re: Darby Dan Days

DONNA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:09:31 GMT

Steve, please do the Jim French story as I've never heard it.

Susan your story of going to Maywood reminds me of the days I used to go to Balmoral after the sixth race and get in free. The harness horses are what got me interested in thoughrobreds also. Funny how things work.

re: Darby Dan Days

Rggc — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:48:25 GMT

Dear Steve,

I will confess that I wasn't going to read this last article since I wasn't really a fan of His Majesty or Good Counsel. But something in my heart told me it would be worth it and sure enough I would have been a fool not to. I loved this one as much as all the others I have read. Did I read you are not going to write another book? Please say that was just musing of a writer who is just having a bad day. If you retired we would all be the worse for it.

re: Darby Dan Days

Steve Haskin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:55:04 GMT

I guess I will follow this up with the Jim French story, with apologies to those who know it already from a previous article I wrote a few years ago. But it's certainly worth re-telling.

re: Darby Dan Days

Steve Haskin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:07:06 GMT

Hey Mark, Yep Sol(I spelled it Saul even though everyone knew him as Sol because that was his real name and I didnt want to confuse him with Sol Seiden) was a phenomenal editor and father-like figure who commanded so much respect. Good ol' Lou. I actually called him recently after God knows how many years to wish him a happy 80th birthday (80? Yikes). From Graustark to Smarty. That encompasses an awful lot. Thanks for writing.

re: Darby Dan Days

Shig — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:37:12 GMT

Dear Steve:

Enjoyed your article very much. I still remember "the class" of Darby Dan at Santa Anita that year. When the horses walked over from the receiving barn into the saddling area; all of the help were dressed in tan outfits with the horses blanketed beautifully. I really appreciated the wonderful presentation of pride of Darby Dan.

Again, thanks for rekindling some fond memories of yesteryear.

Keep up the great work.

re: Darby Dan Days

Bill — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:14:07 GMT

Steve, I remember True Knight vividly from the one time I saw him race live at Bowie when he ran down the local favorite [Delay] in John Campbell Handicap. Angel Cordero was up on True Knight that day and he was so far back I never thought he would catch Delay in the stretch. I have never seen such stretch charge in all of my life. Cordero had to weave in and out and around horses while all the time accelerating in heavy traffic. One of the most exciting races ever.

re: Darby Dan Days

Susan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:27:18 GMT

Steve, thanks for the great story. I would love to hear the story of Jim French and the story of Mr. Gentry hiding Graustark from Conway. Like many older fans,only rarely can I actually get to the racetrack. However, I spend many hours reading online. Of course, you are one of my favorites. Your stories bring these horses to life and that is what I believe creates a fan base. My love of horse racing goes way back to when I was about 6 years old. My parents liked to go the the Maywood harness racetrack near Chicago. We would always go after the 6th race so we did not have to pay admission. The free parking lot was across the street and incredibly the first row of stalls faced the walkway where the horses hung their heads out and could be petted by anyone walking by. This was a dream for a city kid. We would bring cut apples from our lunch and feed them to the horses on our way in. Once inside, my sister and I would look for discarded programs because each day's program had a picture and a new story about about a famous horse. As a teenager, I became more involved with Throughbred racing. A friend and I snuck into Arlington Park at daylight, just so we could touch Secretariat. Over 50 years later, I still am a fan of racing,but is is the love of the horse and the stories of courage and heart that keep me involved. Your stories encourage people to go the racetrack and see today's horses who will become tomorrow's remembrances.

re: Darby Dan Days

McD — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:25:00 GMT

Those were the days. Sol Rosen was the BEST. Never afraid to take a chance on anyone, and surely, the "can you type?" was only a test of your real enthusiasm for the game. Fifty-two Lou, another great name from the past, and the subject of many a heated discussion on his methods of madness. Graustark? Your one, your only. Great to remember the good old days in Hightstown. More!

re: Darby Dan Days

EasyGoerFan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:20:32 GMT

My family took a trip through Kentucky in 1971 and we stopped at Darby Dan and Spendthrift. I must have seen Graustark but I don't really remember. I do remember seeing Swaps and Majestic Prince at Spendthrift.

I was a huge fan of Little Current because he was born at Darby Dan in 1971. Little Current should have won the Triple Crown!

I believe it was Richard Stone Reeves who wrote that Graustark was the most beautiful color of chestnut that he'd ever seen.

Reading about His Majesty's high expectations and the injuries he suffered makes me wonder how quickly he would have been retired if he was racing today. No doubt the very first injury would have ended his career.

Thanks for the great story!

re: Darby Dan Days

slewofdamascus — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:00:10 GMT

Wonderful story, quite riveting.

My mother, who is 83, has I don't know how many times repeated that typist phrase when she would sit down to the typewriter, or keyboard and warm-up.

I wish they would have buried those two next to each other..............why didn't they? I'm a sentimentalist, I guess.

You've been blessed with a joyful, horseracing life! Thanks for sharing.