Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

KY VET — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:47:28 GMT

This is a true story..............we were going to claim a horse, and of course, you need to get claim in 15 mins before race...........the horse we were gonna claim, never ran with wraps, or any kind of equiptment...............so we look at the horse when he gets to recieving barn(to make sure he has 4 legs)........he comes out, with a full cup on one eye, 2 front wraps, one of them bigger than the other! He obviously had bowed a tendon, and lost an eye explaining the 6 weeks off, since his last race..........obviously we put the claim in, as we are not idiotic enough to believe this overkill, to make the horse look bad.......at about the 12 min mark, off goes the full blinker! as the horse walked to the back of the walking ring, off goes half the wrap with extra cotton!..the horse ran a good 2nd, and we find out, another claim was put in, by a trainer that already had a horse in the race.....(which was kinda strange, considering he would have 2 at the same level)........as luck would have it, we got outshook......it then occurred to me, we were victim, of the ol' fake claim! the trainer had his friend put in the claim for him! Yes, the proof was,the step up in class re-claim of the horse....( it was a filly so no taxes on sell).....the guy always had the filly! he fake claimed it back........all of this for a cheap claimer! Karma is a "b" though....horse ran off the board in the next 2 races! thank you karma!............we all have our little fun racetrack stories huh?

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Cassandra.Says — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 18:08:32 GMT

Y'all forgetting the illustrations for this book?

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Donna M — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:12:38 GMT

Once again Steve, you managed to hit that nostalgia and romance in your writing.. loved your story about Sectretariat's beloved Meadow.. it was bittersweet as you described... I wonder if that old broom was around back in his day. Thanks for the great story, your writing is the best!

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

KenfromRI — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:46:20 GMT

As always, your prose flows like poetry. So easy to read and 'get into". Joyce (my amateur photographer fiancee) and I hope to run into you at Saratoga this summer. Would surely love to grab a bite to eat some time this summer at the Spa as we did with you and Ed Fountaine a few years ago near Louisville at that Italian place outside the city there. Take care and keep the wonderful words coming!

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Alex'sBigFan — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 03:01:53 GMT

Great Secretariat stuff Steve and photos. I wonder if we will ever see one the likes of him again? I was a kid, all I remember is in bold print SECRETARIAT scrawled across the newspaper somewhere in the 70's. Who Secretariat was then, I had no idea. Lucky are all those who got the chance to see him or see him race. It must have been awesome.

Great news on a filly by Afleet Alex winning at Del. Park. Fran, are you thrilled!!!!!!! This is great news.

Cannot wait for the Haskell in 2 weeks!!!!! Oxbow and Verrazano are set. Wonder if Oxbow will do what cous Paynter did last year? And Verrazano recently won I believe at Monmouth so he seems familiar with and likes the track. Baffert has one in it too and Baffert has won the Haskell six or seven times straight, I forget the exact count. But it is a fun, fun race. Those that live nearby come on out, it's a great and fun summer racing experience.

The way I see it publishers should be bidding on and fighting over who gets to publish Steve's book. Steve has many books to write, the Afleet Alex story, the Paynter story, the Zenyatta phenomenon.........any book by Steve would be of great importance. Even if Steve wrote an article on stall mucking we all would be enthralled. We miss you Steve, have a nice vacation and hurry back. Hope to see you at Monmouth Park.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Ted from LA — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:20:44 GMT

Is this heaven?

www.youtube.com/watch

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Linda in Texas — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 22:50:10 GMT

Watched They're Off Video today and see you are in Iowa - Well Steve and Family you are/were indeed in God's Country.

Must have been an awesome feeling standing in the revered corn field where baseball was the game!

Parents both born in Des Moines, grandfather a pharmacist and owned Reppert's Pharmacy at the corner of 35th and Ingersoll. Dad and mom both graduated from U of I, dad onto Med school there and later my son got his Master's in Music there and taught Italian diction as a freshman to Doctorate Students. Had relatives who graduated in 1900 also. Only way for me to tie this info into the subject of horses is: my mother's family had a livery stable on the premises with a carriage and a driver who took the family to engagements,etc. Maybe that is where i got my love of horses. And since i am so corny sometimes, obviously the corn rubbed off on me also! :)

Bring on the Spa. Cannot wait.

Be Safe Everyone!

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Linda in Texas — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 16:54:30 GMT

Just found the And They're Off Video with Iowa in the background. So Steve you are in my dad's birth state and mother's. Both University of Iowa, Dad, Med School. Reppert's Pharmacy corner of 35th and Ingersoll was grandpa's in the early 1900's. My son got his master's there at U of I. So you are or were in God's Country and in good hands for sure! Stay safe.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Linda in Texas — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 14:14:48 GMT

Steve - we know a book by you would be a goldmine of facts, memories and pure joy.

Dear friends of Steve's who suggest a book. What is needed is a publisher. Seems those are not so easy to obtain.

Anyone out there know a publisher?

If so, send Steve their name/names.

Then our wishes for his words between hard covers will come true.

Hope you are having a nice rest Steve and family. I am looking forward to Saratoga. My favorite race place of all. And Hattie's fried chicken!! :)

Hope everyone who posts here is safe. In Texas we are having a long hot and dry summer. "Pray for Rain" signs are everyplace while the right coast is getting plenty.

Thanks Steve out there some place!

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Mary — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 00:57:41 GMT

Who's In Town, a 2 year old filly has one of the finest pedigrees I have ever seen. She is being trained by Michael Matz, and will make her debut July 15.

She has a Secretariat pedigree. Her last work was fantastic. Keep a close eye on this lovely filly.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Old Bald Peg — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 21:39:41 GMT

As for Virginia doing ANYTHING in memory of Secretariat, don't hold your breath. I live in VA and we can't even get a specialized SECRETARIAT license plate. This from the folks in Richmond who just started awarding a 'Virginia bred horse of the year' award (to Bodemeister this year). I refuse to get the generic (and ugly) 'horse enthusiast' plate. I have a regular blue and white VA plate with the 'vanity' phrase Z20669. Anybody out there in Virginia want to petition your Delegate/Senator in Richmond?

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Ida Lee — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 23:24:44 GMT

Oh what wonderful memories. Thank you so much. To this day, I don't really know why Secretariat is so important to me. Maybe it's because it was love from the first moment I set eyes on him. Maybe it's because his beauty was blinding. Maybe it's because he never disappointed me. But whatever reason...he's my favorite all-time athlete...no other horse or human touches him as far as I'm concerned. I just got back from my dream vacation to horse country in Lexington KY and of course went to Claibourne Farm to see Big Red's final resting place. It was such an emotional experience. Plus, the fact that Bold Ruler is buried there but a few steps from his most famous son brought tears. I also saw the famous paddock where so many gorgeous photos of him running and grazing were taken. I still have goose bumps. Thank you for the memories.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

52baby — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 14:33:50 GMT

And Steve... I'm in line for your book as well. Several, in fact, if you'll sign them!

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

52baby — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 14:31:41 GMT

Farm currently owned by the Farm Bureau. There was a Secretariat birthday clebration there and it appears there is a lot of support to keep the property from being further developed. Only time will tell.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Agnes — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:44:23 GMT

I love anything you write, Steve. You always manage to transport us to the glory days of racing. It is sad that Meadows wasn't maintained as a memorial to Secretariat but it's OK as he lives on in our hearts.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Paula Higgins — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 03:52:25 GMT

Oh Steve, there would be more than 1 person in line to buy any book by you. This was wonderful but it made me very sad to see The Meadows come to this. I know nothing can stay the same forever, but it is sad that the state did not see the value of this very historic farm. The men that worked there were so important to its success. Sad that they weren't kept on longer.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Racingfan — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 21:54:04 GMT

We are ready for a new post whenever you are Steve! :-) Miss you already! :-(

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Fran Loszynski — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 01:57:11 GMT

Turn the Meadows into a training area for young racehorses and jockeys. The way Secretariat romped and raced around the rails there his spirit would like that.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Bellwether — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:02:14 GMT

Steve...I believe the State Fair of Va. still owns what was left of "The Meadow" about 400 acres and they did save Riva Ridges and Secretariats stalls where both were born but were moved to another location where they can be viewed...I believe the property is up for sale again...ty for another great piece of racing history and maybe you should write that book as a grand finale???...Best Wishes for You...

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Bellwether — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 14:31:25 GMT

Went there the winter of 2006 just before Va. State Fair took over the farm...It was just like the pictures you have shown here...Went in Big Reds stall and picked up a hand full of dirt and let it run through my hands as I looked out over the training track where the Immortal one laid down his first licks...His groom Eddie Sweat(Eddie should had stayed with Big Red during his breeding years too)had a ton to do with what Big Red did on the race track...ty Steve...

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Debbiek — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 04:14:55 GMT

Steve, thank you for another of your great stories. Secretariat was, is, and always will be my favorite. I cried reading this. His Belmont remains, for me, the most amazing race I have ever seen and I still get goose bumps watching it. His grooms deserved to have their stories told and you are the best man to do it. I think you would sell a great many books :) Have a great summer!!

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Davids — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 00:26:30 GMT

Steve, every time I've read the above article and been saddened by the images, it always reminds me of this verse from Cymbeline:

Fear no more the heat o'the sun

Nor the furious winter's rages;

Thou thy worldly task has done,

Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages:

Golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Old Old Cat — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 21:36:46 GMT

Reading this reminded me that Albert Vanderbuilt's Sagamore Farms in Baltimore County Maryland had gone through some tough times, (from a horseman's point of view). Today Kevin Plank of UnderArmor has been restoring it to a better condition than maybe the original. Maybe someday someone will do the same for the Meadows. Or maybe we will hear, "Attention WalMart Shoppers, there is a blue light special for the next hour in Outdoor Lighting, formerly the paddock of Secretariat".

I would hope not.

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

Jacklyn — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 19:01:09 GMT

Why doesn't the current owner restore Secretariat's barn & stall and give tours for money? I just can't believe no one has preserved it all these years!What is the farm now? Any horses? Why didn't a horse owner purchase it?

re: Haskin Series Part 4: Meadow's Grooms Remember Big Red

duchess — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 04:23:26 GMT

Add me to the list of people who would gladly buy a book of your columns. WHEN it is released, please also have an e-book version. :-)

I am so glad that the grooms of the Meadow got a chance to share their stories. Grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders are the backbone of the industry, and we do not get to hear from them very often.