Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

RiderWriter — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 02:46:52 GMT

I'm with Dawn - if it's about Red, it's gotta be good! You did us fans a huge favor finding someone with a different story to tell about our boy. I thought I was familiar with ALL his human connections, but not the case - I've not heard of this gentleman before. How wonderful to get his perspective! Yep, unfortunately the poor fellow really had nowhere to go but down after starting his racing career in THAT company. :-) PLEASE do post the photo of Mr. Jordan with Red, we're all dying to see it now (though that one of him and Riva is terrific).

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Soldier Course — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:01:30 GMT

Did anyone notice this? Last Saturday in England, Camelot won the Epsom Derby, the second race in the UK's Triple Crown. His silks are purple and white stripes, like IHA's. Omen?

I'll Have Another ... Camelot.

Let's hope. It's time ...

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Wrensflight — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:46:57 GMT

Your words just come to life on the page, Steve. It seems as though you can magically transport your readers so that they, too, can live the moment.

Having been a racing fan almost since I was old enough to know what a horse was, I am very grateful to have seen Secretariat run. I am privileged to have one of his great granddaughters in my family. It may well be that we will never see another athlete like him, but perhaps there just isn't room for too many legends.

That being said, best of luck to I'll Have Another on Saturday. Cookies all around.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

swaps — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:50:29 GMT

Steve, u mentioned on one of your posts that Arts and Letters won two of the TC races. Uh, I thot it was Majestic Prince. Since nobody has yet to correct u, I am fearful I have Alzheimer;s.

Will the racing gods favor IHA? The trainer thingie has me worried. Too much pub. about his violations. True or not, it will read, trainer who doped horses wins the TC.

Too many great horses have lost the TC. In my lifetime Native Dancer, Nashua and Bid. Was Kauai King great? No. Real Quiet? A good horse, but not great. U all can name the rest and make your decisions for the two out of threers. Gee, we coulda even had Forward Pass, TC by DQ.

it;s hard to win, and the three I;ve seen were GREAT horses.If IHA wins, I hope he races next yr and proves he is worthy. or wins by 31 lengths and goes in 24 and then is retired in the fall. Whatever. I just want a TC winner to be a great horse

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Linda in Texas — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:28:26 GMT

Ted from LA, please look for Alex'sBigFan, she will be there in her Cobalt Blue Dress with a beaded halter. She needs a hug from all of us and you are just the one to do it. She said Dr. Hansen would love her dress! So maybe he will like your tutu too!:)

Hope all who are lucky enough to be going have a fantastic

time. Come back and tell us all about it.

Thank you Steve. Hope this is a great race for you. So glad you are

right there with all the excitement and share it with us.

Linda

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Old Old Cat — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:28:55 GMT

If they gave out Pulitzers for horserace writing, you would win hands down. If they ever give an award like that, (besides Eclipse), they should call it the "Haskin". Your photo of Riva Ridge and the cat is great, but I see you worked in black and white back then, (ha ha, kidding, I know). Seeing the movie "Secretariat" brings tears to my eyes, and your writing does also. You always seem to find another unique story about real people and real horses to get to our heartstrings. Thank you.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Ted from LA — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:58:45 GMT

Great article (as usual). I can't wait for Saturday. I'll be at Belmont Park with bells on... and a tutu.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Dr Drunkinbum — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:04:54 GMT

I watched the replay again of Secretariat's Belmont again. Almost immediately I started smiling and felt really good, and I thought, "Wow, I think this is going to be the first time I've watched it that I'm not going to get teary eyed." But I did get teary eyed again. It seems impossible not to. His stride was so beautiful and perfect for the entire race. Secretariat is the greatest. The Derby is the greatest race on earth except for The Belmont when someone is going for the Triple Crown. Then a horse that merely wins the Derby seems to pale in comparison to one going for the Triple Crown. I'm rooting all the way for I'll Have Another and eating my cookies to get in shape for the celebration. We still love you Smarty and will never forget how great you were too despite your narrow loss in The Belmont. What a magnificent ride that was for us and the "four-legged Rocky"(Steve Haskin). His miss of the Triple Crown proves that the racing gods don't care one bit about a great comeback story. The connections thought Smarty might die when he smashed his head on the starting gate early in his career. The Triple Crown is a tribute to the ones that got it and the near misses too. I hope this one isn't one of the near misses. Go baby go, like a machine, like Secretariat, or even close will do. Just win it. I'll Have Another Triple Crown. Like Secretariat's it would be the first one in a long time, a very long time. Even Secretariat's Belmont, in record time seemed to take a very long time and I thought of Mario when I was watching it. I hope he really knows just how long it is, but one thing I have no doubt about is IHA's condtioning and stamina. He can do it.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

El Kabong — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:49:40 GMT

Steve,

Thanks for sharing this incredible slice of life that recalls the honesty of Mr. Jordan's fortunate experience. I rather like the ending, because it is a reminder, and a strong one, to enjoy life while you can. Nothing bad about peaks and valleys, they make us better humans.

On another note, that interview with Dale was hysterical, and you both handled it with genuine good humor. Not bad considering what's on the line.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

GPS — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:26:35 GMT

Steve, love the article but if he was 21 in 1973 he would have been born in 1952. To be 64 Saturday he would have been born in 1948. ??? Just poking fun.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Steel Dragon — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:52:15 GMT

One race prior to Secretariat's Belmont was a $20,000 allowance race.

The winner by 8 lengths was a little known gelding named Forego...

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Thelwell Pony — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:51:27 GMT

THANK YOU! What a great article. Just when I think that everything that can be said about Big Red has already been said, you find someone else interesting to tell us about him! You always help us feel like we were right there with you, meeting the subjects of your writing.

P.S. ~ Thank you for putting the picture of Riva, Steve, and the kitty in the article! You knew if you wrote about it, we'd want to see it. What a fine, fine horse in his own right.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Blue Rum — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:26:17 GMT

Steve - I don't know how you do it but you did it again! Wonderful story. Love the picture of Riva Ridge also! Somehow it all fits together, you have a gift.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

bohemiastable — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:22:12 GMT

Steve--like always its fun to read your stories---NOW only if they used you as a writer or consultant of the "Secretariat Movie" of a couple of years ago. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes does a horse racing theme. Thank God there has been movies like Seabiscuit as well.

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Paula Higgins — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:01:06 GMT

Thank you Steve for this piece. Just wonderful and timely. Secretariat's Belmont counts as the best moment in sports of the 20th century along with the U.S. Olympic hockey team's performance against the Russians at the Olympics. Not sure which is first and which is second but it hardly matters. He was magnificent and probably the greatest horse of the 20th century and so far the 21st century as well. I do have a soft spot for Man O' War too, so again, not sure which is 1 or 2 but it hardly matters. When Queen Elizabeth visited Kentucky on a private trip, the one horse she wanted to see was Secretariat. Her Majesty knows her horses so that says something.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

steve from st louis — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:45:26 GMT

Speaking about the Million, the night before Perrault's winning effort, I was standing with Jay Hovdey at an Arlington dinner when I asked Charlie Whittingham what he was expecting the next afternoon. "A track record", he said. When I worked the backside of the Chicago tracks, I rarely wagered because if I got caught up with all the tips I heard, I would never get my job done, but I withdrew money from the bank to throw it down on that beast 30 years ago this August. Thank you Charlie.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Bill Two — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:38:11 GMT

A little off thread, but I found a link to some fascinating old Belmont newsreels: www.thatsamorestable.net/.../monday-movie-belmont-newsreels

Well worth checking out.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

arlingtonfan — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:12:22 GMT

Steve, your pieces are such a pleasure to read! I was lucky enough to see Secretariat run at Arlington in the summer of '73. I was ten years old. What I treasure most about I'll Have Another's Triple Crown bid is the way it's connecting racing fans with their most cherished memories and with each other. The best of luck to him on Saturday!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

TerriV — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:48:00 GMT

What is Belmont without remembering Secretariat!! This article has reduced me to tears just to think about the greatness of that horse. There will never be another like him but there doesn't have to be. I'll Have Another will give us a different story. Thanks, Steve, for another beautiful memory.

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deb — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:47:05 GMT

Awesome story! more please?!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Giddyup — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:56:08 GMT

I was looking through the excellent slideshow of past Triple Crown winners and photo 28 highlighting Big Red's Belmont romp was particularly interesting. There is a solitary figure standing on the infield turf course in that shot....anyone know if it might have been Steve Haskin?

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Heidi Carpenter — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:35:52 GMT

Wonderful piece, I love reading about fresh perspectives from that time. I too would love to see that photo of Secretariat, and also hope you can come out for the Million. Signed, another Arlington Park regular!

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Slew — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:12:20 GMT

Steve, you are a magician, conjuring up tales of the backside that everyone else missed, and presenting them to us, an enthralled audience who can only marvel at your expertise. You so willingly share with us an insight that defines individuals who were an integral part of our champions' lives with a poetry that is a love song not only for the horse, but for people we may otherwise have never known. And you present us with the illusion that we are walking the backside with you, intimately familiar with the people and sounds and aromas and flavors of horse racing.

I want to thank you, and I'm certain Big Red would too. You're the greatest!...a master of your art, and a blessing to your readers.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: Remembering Big Red

Sue MacGray — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:18:50 GMT

What a great story Steve, thanks again (as always!). I remember watching the Belmont, I was 16. I remember getting tears in my eyes and calling to my family to hurry up!! hurry, come in here!! Look what he's doing!! I was beside myself and knew I was witnessing not just history but something special, something beyond mortal, reasonable and any expectations. I still love to dial that up on youtube occasionally to relive that day. It is true what someone above said about being in the presence of greatness and how it's different. I was privileged to see Z on the backside at the 2010 BC - that day was another incredible event and I was lucky (this time) to actually be there (even if the ending wasn't what I had wanted). Thank you so much, and as others have said, I hope to see history this Saturday as well. Sue

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steve from st louis — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:06:19 GMT

Steve, Secretariat had to be the s Horse of the Century. He routinely came close to setting track records in his workouts. I once timed him going a two minute lick standing still.