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.

re: Darby Dan Days

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

woohoo!!!

Thanks for a wonderful ride through their lives.

I am speechless.

re: Darby Dan Days

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!