The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

ThoroGreats — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 08:04:50 GMT

Steve, wonderful story and thank you. Why not do a small addition on their summer/fall campaigns?

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Louisville Billyo — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:29:31 GMT

The weather on Kentucky Derby Day 1989 was frigid and spitting sleet. Pat Day had won the 5 previous races thus had a shot at the pick 6. Easy Goer received a passive and cowardly ride by Day.. never in contention to win.. His ride on Forty Niner in 1988 was also poorly done... even though I was a Risen Star fan.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Bevo24 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 01:49:34 GMT

Very good article & I enjoyed recalling this rivalry that involved not only the horses & their stables, but also the media, the NYRA, & of course the fans & the non-fans who were attracted to the rivalry. This was a grand time in horse racing history, and thanks for taking us back there.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

JorgeG — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 17:37:56 GMT

Don´t get me wrong, I really like the “Dozens” and all the articles leading to a certain event (Breeder´s Cup, etc), but this stories of the past for me are the most fascinating of the Haskin´s columns by far.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Cynthia Holt — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:22:51 GMT

Thank you for another great blast from the past, Steve. Please (please!) keep the stories coming.

I cannot remember a more angst-ridden Triple Crown campaign than the spring of 1989. You resurrected memories of the bitter bi-coastal sniping which surrounded the events, which sometimes turned nasty. Sunday Silence was an unbridled beauty with an almost wild way of working who looked as if he ran right out of the pages of our favorite childhood story books. As an aristocratic son of the adored Alydar, the elegant Easy Goer gained instant entry to my heart. I loved them both. However, I regret to this day that fate denied Charlie Whittingham the Triple Crown title which he so richly deserved.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Davids — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:17:31 GMT

Thanks for mentioning Awe Inspiring Steve, Slew O'Gold had such a promising stud career and then it just fizzled out.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Taxman — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:12:42 GMT

Sunday Silence won me over with his brillance leading up to his Derby win. Then was even happier after he beat Easy Goer in the Preakness and the Breeders Cup. Just before the 1994 Derby, I had the chance to see Easy Goer at Claiborne. I had the chance to lightly pet him on his nose and quietly told him that Sunday Silence was better than him, but thanked him for being a great horse. Great memories that will last forever!

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Steve Haskin — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 07:15:26 GMT

BelmontBarb, thank you very much. I really appreciate your kind and extremely eloquent words.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

BelmontBarb — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 04:41:27 GMT

Did I read correctly - that you, Steve, thought there was too little interest in your historical articles! No Way!! You just keep on and I (we) won/t stop reading them. They are "Awe-Inspiring" and open the doors not only to great memories and great moments but to the great"Sport of Kings". They are filled with accuracy of facts and anyone who does not know the game can learn and even hear the thunder of hooves and know its passion and understand yours...beautiful!

Complimente!

I have never missed a Belmont Stakes (physically at Belmont) and recall well this day - Sunday Silence tough and tempered and treacherous, Easy Goer persistent, prevalent, progressive and powerful ending in a perfect picture.

The industry needs a repeat of the past and its greatness - to be ignited by a flame that fires it up - Speed has become a major factor in breeding and as a result stamina lacks on grueling and tough routes ....there are many "outstanding" both newcomers and proven but "withstanding" is what is needed to be focused on and then..................we have a winner!

Thank you Steve - you are an inspiration to us all...makes us want to write!

Oh! Deltalady - what a wonderful piece! Thank you too!

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Pedigree Ann — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 01:45:29 GMT

I always believed that Easy Goer had to slow on turns of a one-mile track because he couldn't keep balanced with his long strides. Now I read he had bad ankles and that was the reason he was much better at Belmont than anywhere else. Not surprising - the big bulky types like Forego, Easy Goer, et. al., often have ankle trouble.

About Sunday Silence going to Japan..., His sire Halo, leading sire in 1983, had the reputation of siring ugly yearlings. Even back around 1990, yearling sales were more important to high-end Kentucky breeders than ability down the road.

And Sunday Silence's dam was a G2 SW bred by George Pope in California. Pope made an art-form of breeding champions from inexpensive stock, most of them including crosses of Pope's homebred stallion Hillary. In many cases, the horses he bred were the only ones of any lasting merit sired by the inexpensive outside stallions he used. Those uncommon names in the pedigree made the commercial Ky breeders queasy. If Hancock had not needed to sell or syndicate the horse in order to save his farm (the big change in tax laws in '87 was it? put a lot of farms in jeopardy), he probably would have stood the horse himself. But he did need to sell him and only the Japanese were buying.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

White Plains Eric — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:47:12 GMT

Imagine having a 3YO season like this - winner of the swale (fastest 7F time at gulfstream that year), gotham (steve noted the time), Wood Memorial, second in KY Derby, 2nd in Preakness, winner of the Belmont (2nd fastest time in history), whitney, travers, woodward, jockey club gold cup and then 2nd in BC classic - and only being the 2nd best 3YO??? Thanks for the post, Steve!

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Steve Haskin — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:06:21 GMT

Txhorsefan, thank you very much for those kind words. They are greatly appreciated. I enjoy doing the historical features for reactions such as yours, whether they are from people who recall those days and appreciate the memories or people like yourself who were not following racing and are able to envision what it was like.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Melissa P — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:03:27 GMT

We were lucky enough to be at the 1989 Derby (even though we endured the worst weather in the history of the event). We had also been to both Claiborne to visit Secretariat and to Stone Farm to look at stallions for potential matings for our mare. We saw Halo in his muzzle and Arthur Hancock was walking around welcoming visitors. I had been such an Alydar fan, that I'd previously settled on Easy Goer as my Derby horse. But when I saw Arthur mingling with everyone it somehow came to me that Sunday Silence would win. I was so convinced that I blurted something to that effect out. Arthur smiled at me, winked, and said he sure hoped so. I told him I was certain. Sure am happy Sunday didn't make a bigger fool of me than I already had!

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

txhorsefan — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:45:00 GMT

Hard to believe it has been 25 years, but at that time I was a much too busy mom trying to start a business and not paying attention to horse racing at all. Because I was out of touch on racing back then, I truly relish the stories you tell us with all the back ground materials from your treasured memories or your research - either way, the end product of your article is so wonderful and something to be savored. Please don't think seriously about abandoning the historical stories - you are the main source for the knowledge of the past. Sure there are statistics you can look up on equibase, or other places but there isn't much heart in statistics and you bring these stories to life with a great deal of heart. For which I am always grateful. Thank you!

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

derbylin — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:42:01 GMT

A correction is in order. Zev was listed as brown but Black Gold was black. War Emblem listed as dr brown..

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

derbylin — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:30:30 GMT

Jermon;

I based my comment mainly on one that was made in a story about No Nay Never. His owners said there were "no bay hairs" on the animal but he is still listed as dkbay. Also, back in the day, Zev and Black Gold won back to back derbies and were listed as black. But according to the standard, they probably were not.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Racingfan — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:51:19 GMT

Looking forward to the Silver Charm story Steve! Thanks for responding!

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

CatJ — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:31:12 GMT

I love the way you tell a story, Steve. I have always said the name "Sunday Silence" was my favorite thoroughbred race horse name ever.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Ranagulzion — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:57:07 GMT

Oh, I forgot to mention Mucho Macho Man vs Will Take Charge. Thats gonna be one to savour. The "Macho Man" looks invinceable but Will Take Charge is coming red hot to recoup losses. There'll be no separating these two and the track record is under threat.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Ranagulzion — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:53:02 GMT

There are a few budding rivalries going on this year, namely: Honor Code vs Cairo Prince, Wildcat Red vs General a Rod and Samraat vs Uncle Sigh. Interesting. Maybe you're on to something here Steve.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Jermon — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:49:41 GMT

derbylin:

"The TB registry is so reluctant to list a horse as black nowadays."

Upon what do you base that statement? Perhaps there's been a change of which I am not aware.

To my knowledge, which goes back to the 1940's, a seemingly black horse is not truly considered black unless it's muzzle hairs are black also. If not it is registered as a dark bay.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

ThoroGreats — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:46:32 GMT

Interesting to see and hear what Pat Day said about it. Very insightful. www.youtube.com/watch

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

smarie — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 03:32:24 GMT

I remember all the hype and excitement regarding Easy Goer coming up to the '89 Kentucky Derby. I had to work that day and I assumed when I got home and checked, I would see that Easy Goer had won the race. I was very surprised to learn that Sunday Silence, a colt I had heard almost nothing about had won. I was screaming as loud as anyone watching these two colts duel in the Preakness and after this race I became a dedicated Sunday Silence fan. I was disappointed after his defeat in the Belmont Stakes, but elated when he won the Breeders Cup Classic. I was looking forward to watching him race and win as a 4 year old, but injury forced his retirement way too early. I was looking forward to seeing his offspring grow and race, but American breeders had blinders on when it came to this horse and he went to Japan. And we all know what a tremendous impact he made as a stallion there. Fortunately, his son Hat Trick is in this country and there may be others. I love Sunday Silence. He was the underdog that nobody wanted and he turned into a tremendous racehorse and an incredible sire. You can't mention Sunday Silence without someone mentioning Easy Goer. These two will be forever linked because of their rivalry in 1989. Thank you for this article, Mr. Haskin.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Windolin — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 01:43:28 GMT

Easy Goer was my favorite that year. I had a tendency for many years to pick my favorite out of the post parade. There was just something about Easy Goer that I liked. Read his bio and did not realize that he died so young. He did leave a legacy though that still impacts thoroughbreds today. Love the behind the scenes stories, Steve. I think we sometimes forget that the owners, the trainers and the jockeys are real everyday people. And there is always a story or two about the horses.

re: The Selling of the 1989 Triple Crown

Steve Haskin — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 23:46:32 GMT

Racingfan, I have a ton of behind the scenes stuff on Silver Charm. One of these days I'll write about the amazing way Baffert got him and that entire Triple Crown journey with Touch Gold, Captain Bodgit, and Free House. What a year that was.