Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Old Timer — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:30:51 GMT

Great piece Steve. It was super hearing the tales from these "old timers". Even I am not that old to have seen Swaps. (Although I did get to see Carry Back; Kelso; and Beau Purple as a boy in NY. I even saw old Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons once, well after his training days were over.) Best wishes to CC in the big race.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Delrene — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 03:58:07 GMT

Thanks for letting us eavesdrop on this wonderful conversation. What a special treat. Wonderful people and California Chrome is the real deal for sure. Feel so lucky to have seen his last four races up close and personal at the racetrack.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Cynthia Holt — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:56:57 GMT

You struck a goldvein when you mined this story, Steve. I loved every sentence of it. One of the wonderful things about California Chrome's ascent is that it has thrust Swaps and his often over-looked accomplishments back into the spotlight. For those of us who often find ourselves pining for racing's glorious past, it is gratifying to know that, through the likes of Art Sherman and Dave Erb, the past is always with us. I hope that dinner in Saratoga will happen, and I would give a bunch to be a fly on the wall if it does. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing us this front porch visit. I could have stayed in the swing forever.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

El Basilisco (Uruguay) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:45:48 GMT

Beautiful column,Steve! Memories coming from the own words of two America's turf living legends, combined the need of racing fans to know about their history, with the natur emotion

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

secretation — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 17:04:08 GMT

What a treasure this interview is! And what a horse Swaps was. I've always wondered what would have happened if he had completed an attempt at the Triple Crown. Nashua was a great horse, but might he have been relegated to an Alydar role if Swaps had stayed back east? Until he rode Spectacular Bid, Bill Shoemaker said Swaps was the best he'd ever ridden. I'm pulling heavily for California Chrome because of the Swaps connection. Art Sherman is obviously a very astute horseman and I'm sure he'll give CC the best chance at making his own history. If we had to lose Shared Belief and Indianapolis, I'm glad we have this wonderful story to follow along the Derby Trail.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Pedigree Ann — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:14:24 GMT

Eliza - this quote answers part of your question -

"I’ve been training here at Los Alamitos. It’s a real nice all loam dirt track like we used to have years ago."

Nice all loam track. Not a sandy mix that turns into concrete when it takes moisture. Or can be 'sealed' to keep it from getting deep and muddy.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Jermon — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 06:12:13 GMT

Perhaps because of his youthful enthusiasm, Shoemaker was pretty vocal in his pediction of the outcome of the 1955 Derby. He kept saying if Swaps did not win he would eat his hat, which he didn't have to do. It was the most vocal I recall him being. His enthusiasm may have been tempered by what happened later that year.

When Swaps lost his match race against Nashua, it wasn't necessarily because Nashua was the better horse. No, it was because Eddie Arcaro, the master, the sly old fox, outsmarted his much younger rival. When the gates popped open it was Arcaro who came out whooping and hollering and sending Nashua to the front, which took every one by surprise. It was supposd to be the other way around. The Shoe laid back a length and half, or so. Nashua, having been allowed to run well within himself had enough left to sustain his advantage when set down in the drive to the wire.

Perhaps in an act of atonement, Arcaro took Shoemaker under his wing when he moved his tack to New York. Apparently, he tutored him in more than the fine points of race riding. There was an incident when they disappeared for three days. Not even their agents knew where they were. It was later uncovered that they had been to Havana, which at the time it was wide open. It was doubtful that had gone to assess the difference in racing between the island and the mainland.

I'll be rooting for you Art. Not only are we both originally from Brooklyn, we share the same birth date.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Jermon — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 05:22:50 GMT

peck farm

I assume the bad press you refer to is in reference to Ellsworth's breeding operation. As I recall, it was reported he had something like 400 brood mares turned out in several states and Mexico. When some of them were found to be doing poorly he was cited for animal neglect. When discussing the failure of the breeding operation, he claimed it was because he had over bred to Khaled. Was it because of that or poor pre-natal care?

Although his breeding operation may have been a failure overall, he did breed some darn good horses after Swaps and Candy Spots. Two that I recall doing very well in the upper tier of racing were Olden Times and The Scoundrel, neither of which was sired by Khaled. He sold the latter to some european for half a million dollars, which was a tidy sum of money back then. That and the purses won were enough to keep Ellsworth out of the poor house.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

sysonby — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:38:07 GMT

Fabulous, thanks Steve

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

BelmontBarb — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:09:08 GMT

Steve,

Beautiful. Touching. Sensitive. Emotional. Extraordinary.

This brings recollection of a few whom "slept in the hay", watching their colt or filly making sure they did not hurt themselves or someone else attempt to do it in the middle of the night. It is when the trainer was the night-watchman and the guardian of his upmost interest and ever present.

This story is about a trip through history that has gently moved through time outwitting technology of the new thoroughbred world; it is one that is beyond explanation and a blessing for Art Sherman, California Chrome and Dave Erb for they are already in the "Winners Circle". They represent the the core and the spirit of racing. (What a documentary this would make "Spirit of Racing",The story of Art Sherman and California Chrome and Dave Erb - or "Sleeping in the Hay").

"It's a whole new ballgame now, they don't make horses like that"...NO, they don't ~ (re:post by Eliza)and that of course draws and deserves much attention. I don't know how many of these fragile beauties today could jump off the back of a cattle truck without injury. Bone structure is very much different as is muscle mass; and breeding is much different. It has become a science instead of "natural instinct". We have "producers" taking credit of making fine and (hopefully) durable equine with amazing speed factors even if they lack the stamina. This is the main reason why the thoroughbred formation, appearance and endurance has changed. We seek the perfection but continue to fail in the area of success of a dominant delivery along the trails of tracks. Trainers have production lines, Rx's and egos; breeders are in business; owners are pre-occupied with winner circles and prestige and stories like this are few.

These men are the backbone of racing, teachers in the thoroughbred world, tough and durable and deserving of every respect. They hold the "stamina" we need to regain in every aspect of racing.

Thanks Steve and everyone~

thrilled to be "Hangin with Haskin'"

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Zinn — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 00:56:30 GMT

That was absolutely fantastic. I could listen to these guys for twenty more pages. Do an encore please..

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Dr. Marty — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 22:08:51 GMT

Marilyn Lane is such a great help for anything that boosts racing—like this wonderful column. Thanks to both of you.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

peck farm — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 20:17:33 GMT

I worked for Ellsworth and Tenney and was the "new"trainer when Tenney retired.I won races with Rex's horses that Mesch had trained and I had galloped. They did not have money problems. The bad press for these two one-of-a-kind HORSEMEN is what breaks my heart. We sat at Santa Anita one day with Bill Christine from the Times to have him write the truth in the newspaper about all the lies and bad publicity. He listened, he took notes; he never published it. It broke Mesch and Rex's heart.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

trackjack — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 19:27:23 GMT

Thanks Steve and Marilyn Lane for setting this up. Another "nuts and bolts" interview putting us inside the training and running of these beautiful creatures.

Agree with Eliza on Art's remarks about the bone structure being different. They bred a much stouter horse back then.

Really enjoyed Dave's story of Mr. Hugh Fontaine and the camera guy. What a visual! Thanks again!

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Aluminaut — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 18:41:09 GMT

Steve, what a great report. When was the Golden Age of racing? Is the Sword still in the stone? Maybe the time of Camelot ever-present as long as there are promising horses in the barn and field.

Bloodhorse, how about sending Steve to Los Alamitos before he goes to Churchill? Would be a heck of a story.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

ballou62 — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 17:49:28 GMT

The story about Swaps brought back many pleasant memories. I was 15 years old at the time. On opening

day at CD, Swaps was entered in a 6 furlong prep race.

He won by a wide margin and continued to work. I was sitting well past the finish line. To this day I have never seen such power flash by me. Caveat, I never saw Secretariat in the flesh. Luckily, a seat in a third floor box at the sixteenth pole became available for the derby. I bet the princely sum of $2 on his nose. They didn't check ids in days. Swaps put Nashua away at the

top of the stretch. What a great day!

If it wasn't for his troublesome foot, I believe he would be up there in the same stratosphere as Secretariat.

Presently, I volunteer at the Kentucky Derby Museum. I pass his grave often and it always gives me a happy memory and smile.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Gollykeeper — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 17:30:09 GMT

This interview was pure gold, or maybe Chrome would be a better word. :-) Like Warlaine said, I wished it would never end. Thank you!

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Jean in Chicago — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 17:25:22 GMT

I'm also very glad Saratoga War Horse got a mention. (Please look it up and donate!)

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Warlaine — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 14:30:54 GMT

Thanks isn't good enough for this article. I selfishly wished it would never end. What great gems of history past. The mane,bone structure and Mr.Mesh, and of course Swaps.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Eliza — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:21:03 GMT

Sherman, you wrote "It’s a whole new ballgame now, and they don’t make horses like that." I would be fascinated to have more specifics on this. These days horses are more delicate and have more catastrophic injuries than ever before. WHY IS THIS SO? What would be the purpose of breeding horses to be less sturdy? Speed is great, but not when it risks horses' health and safety.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

The Deacon — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 08:27:49 GMT

Wonderful dialogued here, priceless..............thank you to all folks involved in putting this together.

I will never grow tired reading about Swaps and the stories surrounding him.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

prudofrompuertorico — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 03:36:18 GMT

WOW !!!!! What a story.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Racingfan — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 02:42:53 GMT

So awesome! Thank you for this! I LOVE hearing about the old days!

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Dr Drunkinbum — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 02:37:00 GMT

Fabulous. I was mezmerized. It would be great to have more of these types of dialogues here. I had already started becoming a fan of California Chrome after going back and watching his replays and reading more about the connections, the story, and realizing that the lineage of the horse is something to celebrate and root for also. It's all just really special, and a horse, and trainer, and owners that will be easy to root for. Thank you Art and Dave and Marilyn and Bloodhorse for this special treat.

re: Art Sherman, Dave Erb "Swap" Stories

Windolin — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 02:17:52 GMT

Oh gosh Steve, this is just the best. I hope someone tells Mr Sherman that a whole lot of people on the East Coast supports him and California Chrome. Just have to love stories like this one. This is the heart warming side of racing..the back stories. I had tears in my eyes reading this.