The Story of Mort and Omaha

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

LauraMartin — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 04:44:10 GMT

What a touching anecdote of the time spent with this hero of yesteryears. How sad to see the icon of courage, valor lost from the memory of many!

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

TizAllie — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:42:03 GMT

For those of you wanting to learn more about Morton Porter's son, Budge, there is a very good Youtube video under Budge Porter Project.Budge and Family lost their home as his ability to work has diminished. The .com page no longer exitst, but both Budge Porter and the Budge Porter Project are on Facebook. The city of Omaha has worked very hard to build a new house for Budge. Contact information is on the Facebook page for those of you wanting to make a donation. All donations to this project are tax deductible.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Moodygirl — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 14:59:30 GMT

I know where there is a beautiful color movie clip of Omaha! It's in an old movie "Kentucky" 1938 with Walter Brennan and Loretta Young. I believe it is at the beginning of the movie and they show several thoroughbred stars, all T.C. winners I think. There is Omaha I remember for sure and think Gallant Fox and Man o'War too. I saved the movie for a long time just because of those clips of those horses. They were such beautiful movie shots of them. I saved the movie on the DVR for a long time just to see them again but alas I lost it. It's a good old movie too about the racing biz. Loretta Young saves the family farm and I think Walter Brennan plays the trainer or her father, I can't remember. I hope this adds to the list of pictures of Omaha.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Bellwether — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:48:10 GMT

"Long Live The King"!!!...Great Horse...Great Story...Great Blog...

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

TizAllie — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 23:59:29 GMT

I began the Omaha Project in October of 2011. Read about the Porter Farm early on and from there out, I knew there was a very good story that needed telling. Never dreamt that I would actually find and talk with Morton Porter. I researched Omaha and Mort on and off for 2 years. Steve, I am so thrilled that you answered my email to say you were interested and would write the article. It doesn't get any better than this. Thank you for adding your special touch to Omaha's Nebraska story.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Lexington Bloodstock — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 02:57:07 GMT

That's it...NO MORE time off for you. ANOTHER great piece. Thank you.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Love 'em all — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:51:17 GMT

Thanks to TizAllie for setting us straight about the myths of Omaha. Never thought to check snopes.com for that story.

Who knew? The name "Ak-Sar-Ben" is Nebraska spelled backwards. Gee! Why didn't I know that? [laughing] There's a web site that explains it all ...

ak-sar-ben.com/

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Will's Way girl — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:23:11 GMT

Steve,

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Janice and I met on the ""old"Zenyatta blog two years ago. I posted a message there that while I was in Saratoga visiting the hall of fame, Omaha "spoke" to me in a way I cannot adequately describe...it was a very strange experience that changed my life. She responded that she had always wondered about the fate of Omaha and we then began to email and speak to one another over the next few months.

We first began with the idea of finding Omaha's grave and having him exhumed from obscurity and re-buried in a location "appropriate" for a TC winner. Janice's unrelenting research found Morton Porter and the truth about Omaha. I spoke to Morton and Mary a few times but illness and life delayed and finally stopped my forward momentum.

Janice's remarkable research skills found Mort and you have now given Omaha the recognition and respect he deserves that overcame me that say in Saratoga.

You and Janice have remarkable gifts and Omaha and Morton are the beneficiaries. Their story is one of enduring love and mutual respect. Omaha was a great, gifted and beloved race horse both here and in Britain. You and Janice have made a dream into a reality. Omaha is now known and admired by your readers and that gives me great joy. Omaha is buried where he should be buried; in the city that welcomed him "home" and with the family who loved him. WHat more is there to say...Omaha rests in peace.

Mary

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

ksweatman9 — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:46:36 GMT

Lovely story, many thanks. As a Nebraskan, I won't ever forget the triple crown winner they called Omaha. Loved the part about the bell. He was aching to run, the heart of a thoroughbred. To think some people believe racing is cruel and unusual punishment for these horses. No, history hasn't been exactly fair to many of our equine heroes. Omaha wasn't a great sire, but a wonderful champion and he belongs in the elite group of triple crown kings.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

TizAllie — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 12:26:31 GMT

After talking with Morton Porter and scads of Nebraskans, I knew exactly where Omaha was...in the hearts and minds of Nebraskans (Cornhuskers) who visited Omaha at Ak-Sar-Ben race track and the Grove Porter Farm.

Another Omaha Myth that abounds is that they placed children on Omaha's back for rides and pictures at Ak-Sar-Ben. When I asked Morton that question he said, "Are you kidding me? No one was allowed to ride Omaha at the track or on the farm."

Steve Haskin gets Omaha. This superb article has meant so much to so many that love Omaha and Mort. Steve took the time to really listen and understand Omaha's life in Nebraska.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

TizAllie — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 11:38:08 GMT

Tiz a Myth. "Leave it to Omaha", though it can be found all over Internet, IS A MYTH. Please read the following letter (below) from the Chancellor's office of The University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Below is the section of the letter

that dealt with this myth.

Chancellor Christensen asked me to respond to your question regarding Triple Crown Winner, Omaha.

The one urban myth I can clear up is that he is not outside a UNO Culinary Arts Builiding, as we do not offer that major, nor is there a building of that name on the UNO campus land, nor has there ever been on the former Ak-Sar-Ben property since UNO has owned it. Interesting story, but completely untrue.

Thank you, however, for your inquiry. The research into your questions has been interesting.

Nancy D. Castilow

Asst. to the Chancellor

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

quarterhossgal — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 02:48:29 GMT

Steve...as a life long racing fan here in Omaha, Ne I can tell you that while Aksarben was open for racing OMAHA had a place of honor! I saw him shown between races at Aksarben and back then we would have crownds numbering 35,000-40,000 for the Cornhusker Handicap.

Jack VanBerg was one of the top trainers and Mike Smith and Garret Gomez were starting their careers.

Regular race goers would stop at his grave and give him a salute after he passed away. Local people were so proud to have a triple crown winner with the name of our city living in the state. When he passed away the flags across the state were lowered in his honor.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Jean in Chicago — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 23:55:01 GMT

Its so good to read that a horse spent the last years of his life with people who loved him. He looks wonderful in the pictures with Mr. Porter. Obviously very well taken care of.

Forgotten grave sites are sad, but as long as we have writers like you, Steve, to recall them, the horses stay alive in our hearts and minds. They are so much more than just names on lists. What a year that must have been with both Omaha and Discovery running!

Omaha may have lost the Princess of Wales Stakes and the Ascot Gold Cup in 1936, but the following year (1937) his full brother Flares won the Princess of Wales and the year after that the Ascot Gold Cup. Pretty impressive for the sons of Gallant Fox.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Love 'em all — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 20:13:18 GMT

"Give it to Omaha"

>He [Omaha] was buried in the racetrack’s Circle of Champions when he died in 1957 [1959] at the age of 27. In 1995 [1996], when the track closed, the land was taken over by the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and his grave is now next to a home economics and culinary arts building. When a cooking project fails, the unfortunate student is told to "Give it to Omaha" – in other words, throw it out the window.<

Source: belmontstakes.com/history/omaha

At this time, wish to thank Cindy Curran for all her help with the story of Omaha.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Pedigree Ann — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 15:41:30 GMT

You should know that I call myself a 'recovering perfectionist' and that I'm not always successful at the 'recovering' part. However, you would be surprised at the number of followers of US racing who have no idea that there was an English Triple Crown before the US version was concocted. One even wrote in blog-post that the Brits were imitating us with their Triple Crown!

By the way, I still contend that Sir Barton was not a Triple Crown winner, since the Preakness was a 9f handicap in his day, not unlike today's classic preps, but not a classic itself. During the years when it was run at a New York track, it wasn't even for 3yos only. Not until the mid/late-1920s did the Preakness became a 9.5f, scale-weight, high-purse race that consistently attracted top-class colts and fillies.

Oh, for everybody else, Omaha has descendents not just through the 3rd dam of Nijinsky (also family of The Minstrel, Royal Ski, Mac's Imp, Far North, Doubledogdare, Sean Avery, etc.). He was also the damsire of Summer Tan, top 2yo of 1954 who couldn't beat Nashua and Swaps at 3 in the classics, but won some top races at 4 - the Vosburgh (7f), the Pimlico Special (9.5f) and the Gallant Fox (13f). Summer Tan became quite a useful sire and became damsire of champions like Typecast, Proud Truth, and Top Knight. Not an unusual stallion to find further back on a good damline.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Arts and Letters — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 06:06:37 GMT

I've got a bunch of Blood Horse magazines from the 30s and 40s that I've been reading, and the articles about Omaha's English campaign made me desperately want to go back in time to see his Ascot Gold Cup.

And now, on with the reading. I've gotten to June 1941 and Alsab has just appeared on the scene. Interestingly, the biggest concerns of the year seemed to be the lack of filly races and worry about how race distances were too getting short. Ironic!

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Cindy Curran — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 05:41:34 GMT

Thank you so much, Steve, for letting me be a very, very small part of this article. I had my fifteen minutes of fame at work at Horsemen's Park today as everyone had read this and stopped by to chat with me about it.

One of the things every single one of them said was that no one writes about racing and people like you do, Steve. And, of course, I agree completely.

I had been trying to see Mort for about a year and a half and it never worked out. But the minute he heard "Bloodhorse" he wanted to do it. We had a great time talking about Omaha and I never wanted to leave him.

He agreed with me that his memories of Omaha are a treasure we can't lose, so we are going to do a video

very soon. I will keep you informed on it's progress.

Thanks again!!

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

TizAllie — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 05:22:19 GMT

Sysonby1902, thank you for the update on Sir Barton's monument.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

sysonby — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 04:34:55 GMT

As a native of Cincinnati, who was "raised" at River Downs, it was a jolt to see South Dakota mentioned...He held several track records for endurance races ( over 2 miles) around 1940...And since races like that simply weren't run any longer they became part of the permanent history of the track...tho the track itself turned out not to be permanent

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Paula Higgins — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 04:20:18 GMT

Another great story about a horse I knew little about. He looks like he was a real personality boy. Frankly, I am amazed more people don't get a chunk taken out of them when they work so closely with the horses. I am going to see if I can find a video on the Omaha/Quashed race. Thanks Steve and glad to see you back. Eblouissante is racing Saturday. Keeping my fingers crossed for her.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Old Bald Peg — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 02:54:27 GMT

Haskin, I don't bet, I don't buy yearlings (or pin hook), for me.. it's 'the lovin' of the game' as the old song goes. The breeding, the stories of them all... and the beauty of a breed that runs for the love of it. Always hoping (of course) there are no 'milkshakes' or syringes hidden behind the oats, hay and water.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Steve Haskin — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 01:18:09 GMT

Peg, you are too kind. You're making me blush. It's difficult for me to respond to that other than to tell you how much I appreciate it.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Old Bald Peg — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:31:48 GMT

PS,

yup..

and a sad day when Jamaica, Tropical Park, the Widener Chute and others closed. Time marches/trots on however LUCKILY we have you to keep the past alive.

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Old Bald Peg — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:29:31 GMT

Steve, I can't believe That Blood Horse Publishing isn't beating down your door to publish a book of these columns. You -are- a 21st century Hatton/Palmer

re: The Story of Mort and Omaha

Steve Haskin — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 22:27:38 GMT

Thanks, Peg, but I have no publisher, and certainly no agent. Maybe Ron Anderson is available.

Thank you, Fritz, great to hear from you. Time to get your brother back on the Derby trail. It's been too long.

And thanks to all the Omahans who shared their comments. Glad to have provided a little more background behind the monuments and markers. Sad day when Ak-Sar-Ben closed.