Viva Canonero! Part 1

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

roberto alvarado — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:12:34 GMT

it is possible ti find out the 1972 stymie handicanp where cañonero beats to riva ridga

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

tony — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:33:07 GMT

I remember this race. I watched it at the track(forget which one)I liked CANONERO because he was the only horse in this race that ran a few 1 1/4 miles. I think he ran a couple at 1 1/2. And the weight, he did carry 126lbs. I told my buddy who I was with that CANONERO was going to win this race. He said, "nah". And he was good at handicapping. When the race was over, he couldn't believe CANONERO won. I told him, you read that paper, 'GOOD"! (THE RACING FORM)You gotta read it good. I was so happy to see him win !

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

David — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:30:14 GMT

As a 11 year-old I vividly remember following Canonero's run through the triple crown. I subscribed to Sports Illustrated at the time and remember the cover story after the Belmont, "Canonero should not have run." He had a rash and was not 100% for that final triple crown race.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Matthew W — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:01:16 GMT

And Steve now that my memory's jarred---The Hollywood Gold Cup was (arguably) the "best" overall race of The Seventies...I saw many of them, including the Crystal Water/Cascapedia/Caucasus/Ancient Title '77 renewal and The Exceller/Text/Vigors/J O Tobin "Three Noses On The Wire" '78 running---both were nemed "Race Of The Year"....throw in Ack Ack's 134 lb running in '71, Quacks '72 Tour de Force (Harry Henson called him "Koooo--Whack!" at head of the stretch), The '73 "I couldn't have won it without Mary" running with Shoe nosing out Quack on Kennedy Road...not to mention Affirmed in '79....That was a glory decade for The Gold Cup, once a real marque race.....

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Matthew W — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:44:44 GMT

Yes! Bicker,the son of Round Table---Earl Scheib had to do a whole lot of $29.95 paint jobs for that guy! Bicker was somewhat of a bust on the track, although he did close fastest for 2nd in Riva's Hol Derby----But Finalista! I never thought I'd ever hear that name brought up! He was a favorite of mine, and practically everyone else as well! A leggy chestnut (?) who started out in Tijuana at Caliente, I believe---he went tooth and nail with Riva Ridge all the way in Hol Derby---he always gave his all! So many memories from those times...How 'bout when Shoe was taken off Cougar II by Mary Jones-Bradley/against Charlie's wishes....Shoe wins Hol Gold Cup on longshot Kennedy Road--beats Cougar AND Quack---then tells Gil Stratton in winners circle "I couldn't have won it without Mary"....

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Steve Haskin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:17:32 GMT

Matthew, I'll be going into the Preakness in great detail in part 2. I remember all those horses you mentioned very well. Dont forget Bicker and Finalista.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Laura B — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:17:11 GMT

WOW! Great story -- and great storyteller!

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

DONNA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Haker, what an excellent idea you have on a blogger get together in Kentucky. I wouldn't miss someting like that for the world. To be able to get to meet and talk to people who have a passion for the horses and racing would be fantastic. I vote yes.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

John Manley — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:33:37 GMT

Re the comment about the late Jim McKay in the winner's circle (S Lee, Nov 20 at 3:19 pm)-- this needs checking.

I'm reasonably certain that CBS had the contract to telecast all the Triple Crown races in that era. Jim McKay, of course, was the face of ABC and would not have been working the Derby that year. Perhaps you're thinking of Jack Whitaker or Heywood Hale Broun, both of whom were regulars on races that CBS telecast in the early 1970s.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Matthew W — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:12:01 GMT

Steve my father took me to the races in the early 70's--Santa Anita to be exact, and I learned early on that you just could never know when to expect to see a great race--Canonero won The Derby, but it was his Preakness/near the pace/powering away--that cemented him as the real good horse he was...Your memory jars my own, and I remember the "Derby Fever" mumblings at Santa Anita in '72, over two Cal-Breds, one the smallish/head low MacAurthur Park--the other the huge brilliant Royal Owl.....I saw them both work between races on (I believe) The Sat before SA Derby...Mac Park went 1:35 2/5.....Royal Own went 1:34 3/5-----and Mac retired/Royal Owl bombed as the heavy fav in SA Derby...The only West Coast horse in Riva Ridge's Derby was the plodder Kentuckian.....but it was later that Summer, after he had finished a close 4th in Riva Ridge's Hol Derby---Quack ran one of the greatest two-turn 1 1/4's ever by a three year old(or by ANY horse for that matter!) in Hol Gold Cup.....You never know when you're going to see greatness---like Big Brown's Derby---You just know it when you see it!

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

NEVERKICKYOURDOG — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:25:07 GMT

TWO QUICK AVELINO GOMEZ( A VERY GOOD RIDER) STORIES:

1.WHEN GOMEZ TRAVELED BACK AND FORTH TO CUBA, HIS AIR ROUTE HAD TO BE OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN BEYOND THE STATUTORY BOUNDARIES OF THE U.S. THE REASON=HE HAD SUCH A BALANCE WITH THE IRS HE THOUGHT THAT IF A PLANE HE WAS ON HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON U.S. SOIL, THAT WOULD BE THE END OF AVELINO.

2. ARNOLD WINICK SENT A HORSE TO WOODBINE FOR A SMALL TWO TURN STAKES RACE. WINICK'S PADDOCK INTRUCTIONS TO THE JOCK: "SENOR, THIS HORSE HAS ONE RUN. IF YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE PACE OR IF YOU ASK HIM BEFORE THE 5/16TH POLE, YOU'LL GET NOTHING!"

THE GATE OPENS...AVELINO GOES RIGHT TO THE LEAD...WINS EASILY WIRE-WIRE...COMING BACK TO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE, GOMEZ TOSSES HIS WHIP TO THE VALET, TURNS TO WINICK AND IN HIS SUSPECT "ENGLISH" SAYS: WINNIE, YOU NO KNOW NOTHING!"

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

LG — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:52:18 GMT

Steve,

Love these stories! Have you seen this series of Canonero photos on the new Google Life archive?

images.google.com/images

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Steve Haskin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:47:13 GMT

Most people dont realize that Frankie Dettori's signature flying leap was stolen from Angel Cordero who stole it from Avelino Gomez, the first rider to do the flying leap.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

s lee — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:37:56 GMT

I guess Slew's legs looked good to some and not so good to others. I knew I'd read this someplace as well as heard it, so if you look in "Thoroughbred Legends: Seattle Slew" by Dan Mearns, it talks about his legs and his selling price. He did sell for $17,500 (I thought it was $17,000), while under orders to sell for at least $15,000. Horsetrader is also right that the average sale price at F-T Lexington was lower than that, though the average price at F-T's Saratoga price was over $37,000 that year. Mearns quotes Steve Cady of the NY Times, who in turn quotes Ted Bates of Fasig-Tipton about Slew: "nice hind leg but passes close at hocks....turns out moderately right front from knee down". Apparently some felt it shouldn't interfere with pursuing a racing career and others saw it as "a serious conformational defect." So, to each his own! He might not have looked perfect, but the important thing was, he had the heart of a lion and could fly!

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

marc W — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:14:37 GMT

I actually saw Canonero run in a sprint at Belmont-running second to a horse called Leemat I believe. I was on a high school trip to NYC from Canada and slipped away from from the group (we also saw Hair on Broadway which really dates me)

I worked every summer for Frank Merrill Jr-(which would also be a great racetrack story to write about him along with Avelino Gomez that were colorful racing characters--hint hint) at Fort Erie racetrack. I was not about to miss a chance to go a major Mecca of racing I had only read about while in NYC. Forward Gal also raced that day who I invested my money on after getting a form. I even got two teachers to send money with me to bet on her--but that is off topic.

Young then but a veteran of 8 years around the track (my dad worked on the mutuals) after seeing Canonero win the Derby I let a friend pick 5 horses and I took Canonero to win the Preakness for $20 which was a lot of money for me at the time. Also dumb he paid $8 or $9 dollars if I recall. Instead of coming from the clouds like the Derby he went to the front and jogged. Things did not go as well in the Belmont but I do remember him well.

Thanks for the story---Gomez or Merrill-hint hint again-they would make good reading.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Horsetrader — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:58:35 GMT

A little off topic, but to set the record straight. S Lee, Seattle Slew legs were for the most part perfectly acceptable. He sold at the Fasig Tipton KY yearling sale in 75 for I believe $17,500. Seems cheap today but remember this was 75. That would be more like $100,000 in today's money. The same could be said for Seabiscut when Hillenbrand said that he sold for the poultry some of $6,500. This was the late 30's! The country was still in the depression. $6,500 for a horse especially with his record at the time was a fortune. I couldn't sell a horse with those PPs now for $6,500

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Steve Haskin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:51:26 GMT

Larry, thank you for sharing that. That's a pretty wild story in itself.

And thank you, Dr. Machado. Horses like Canonero must be kept alive, and his story must be shared with those who were there and lived it and especially those who hadnt gotten into the sport yet.

Haker, that sounds like a fun idea. If the Blood-Horse is willing to undertake something like that I'm all for it.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Haker — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:23:29 GMT

As a newbee to horse racing and Bloodhorse I have come to enjoy your passionate writings about the industry. I also feel the passion of your blog commenters which leads me to this: Why don't you and the other blog writers put together a blogger convention somewhere in Kentucky in mid summer of 2009. Travel day Thur. with a reception that night, seminars or horse visit Fri. AM, off to the track in the Aft. Same for Sat. Big party that night and Sun. for travel home. What do you think?

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Dr.Eduardo Machado — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:15:46 GMT

Dear Mr. Steve:

Thanks in name of many Venezuelans for writting the Cañonero's story for all the world, and again Cañonero still lives in thousands of Venezuelan hearts, before, now and forever...!!!!

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Larry Ensor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:14:35 GMT

I highly recommend buying Mr. Haskins, Ten Greatest Derbies. An easy and good read.

I remember my father telling the story of what happened with Chick, John and he before the race went off. So, you know who we were rooting for. I believe the crowd at the 71 Belmont Stakes was one of the all time highest. Maybe more the Secretariat's. It truly would make a great movie. If the industry could "think out of the box" we should put up the money to produce it.

In the late 80's I was buying horses for a great guy in Panama who's partner was the president. I bought a 2 year old colt that had been RNA'd at a 2 year old sale. He won 5 races in row down there and supposedly there was not a horse in the country that could get near him. My client called me and asked me to nominate him to the Triple Crown. I had to chuckle after hanging up the phone thinking of my fathers story who I called after nominating the horse. Unfortunately for the horse, my clients and myself about a month or two later Noriega over threw the government and the President left the country. But during that time I fielded calls from the press from all over the place. It was a lot of fun and I could not help but think of the Canonero story.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Steve Haskin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:57:41 GMT

Thanks again to everyone from Venezuela for your comments. It's so great to hear that Canonero's memory still lives on.

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Bellwether — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:37:03 GMT

you never noe till you put THEM in the starting gate!!!...Long Live The King!!!

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

Dr. EDUARDO MACHADO — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:30:15 GMT

As a Venezuelan I feel very proud of Cañonero. Actually I'm 37 years old, Cañonero won the Kentucky Derby on May 1st,1971 and I was born the day before!!,I mean on April 30rd, 1971 just 24 hour before Cañonero's win!!! I have always felt that as a magical coincidence in my life. Cañonero for us will be forever a fairy tale, a dream came true who always we are going to keep in our hearts.

Cañonero forever!!!

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

EVANAN NEGRON — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:21:18 GMT

Great Story STEVE!, I'm From Venezuela and I'm 25 years old, so i wasn't born by the time Canonero won the Derby, but i've seen the videos plenty of times, and i've heard many stories from my dad, i can't wait to share this story with him too, he is such a fan of Canonero, it's like a fairy tale...

re: Viva Canonero! Part 1

KatintheHat — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:59:46 GMT

I just went and looked at the Kentucky Derby video. That right front was crooked!!! You can really see it in the head on shot as he crosses the line. It sure didn't slow him down though. What a great story, the stuff dreams are made of. . .