The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Kim — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:53:36 GMT

It's not just Thoroughbreds. Tim Rooney is a Director of the United States Trotting Association and a 2009 inductee into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Briggs — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:42:46 GMT

I have a question. Why did tracks move to the parimutuel system? I still don't really understand the difference from a bookmaker. Also, I have a co-worker who wanted to know if the parimutuel system is easier to manipulate than bookmakers?? Thanks!!

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Peggie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:48:18 GMT

Having been a thoroughbred racing fan all my life, and attended many Derblys, and a Steeler fan all my adult life, I am aware of the connection between the two. However, did not know the details. I am now living in Colorado, but still am a loyal Burgher and a loyal "Stiller" fan Thank you for the info.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

jeffspaige@pgh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:57:22 GMT

wow.why are there very few great reads such as this? go steelers! great story I got a lot out of it.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

gammyp6 — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:23:07 GMT

Steelers and horse racing. Now that is my kind of combo. I grew up in Uniontown PA ( a 30 min drive away). I would watch the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium (I cried when it was torn down). Franco Harris was my big crush and I had an extensive collection of Turf magazines which I would read on the way to the game. I still have my magazines (I had to rebuild my collection after a flood) and I stil love the Steelers. Great article.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Liletee — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:03:17 GMT

A great story. Obviously a great handicapper and he did it all without the "aid" of Beyers.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Marylander — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:26:38 GMT

The Rooneys are not out of the thoroughbred business. They own mares who produce MD-bred foals at Shamrock. And while they might not own the stallions at their farm, there are currently several stallions standing at the farm. The most recent additions moved from Maryland Stallion Station. Note of irony: The manager of Shamrock Farm is Jim Steele.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Shamfan49 — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:53:50 GMT

A real horse racing super bowl! The Arizona Cardinals were founded in 1898 in Chicago and are the oldest continuously run professional American Football club in the United States. The current owner, Bill Bidwill is a son of Charles “Charley” Bidwill who bought the team in 1932. During World War II due to a player shortage the Cardinals merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers for one year and were called Card-Pitt or derisively ‘Carpet’. Charley Bidwill died in 1947 and his wife, Violet, took over management of the team. In 1951, Charley’s two adopted sons, Charles, Jr. (Stormy) and Bill were named as executives of the team. In 1960, Violet moved the Cardinals to St. Louis. When she died in 1962, Stormy and Bill became legal owners of the team, until Bill purchased it outright in 1972. Bill moved the team to Arizona in 1988.

In January of 1946, Charley Bidwill was named managing director of Chicago’s Hawthorne Race Course. Charley was also an owner of the old Sportsman’s Park, another Chicago area horse racing venue that doubled as a motor speedway. Sportsman’s Park merged with Hawthorne in 2002.

Not as colorful as Rooney’s 11 consecutive wins, but maybe there is more to the story than I was able to research at Wikipedia and Hawthorne's web site in a short time.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

sean — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:35:19 GMT

Great story ! Especially for an Irishman, like me ,who loves horseracing and football, but not necessarilly the Steelers. I think you should have a Rooney on Talking Horses.

Go Pats!

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

da3hoss — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:57:02 GMT

As a diehard Patriots fan I can only wish Mr. Rooney had kept all his money in racing!!! LOL, jus' kiddin'!

The Patriots have their own horse racing connection...Tiznow's second BC win was their inspiration for their first Super Bowl win. a greeat story if someone wants to tell it...

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

MDFANOFRACING — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:05:01 GMT

My grandfather had a small thoroughbred farm in Woodbine, MD back in the 70's. Ive driven past Shamrock Farm millions of times and never had a clue the Rooneys owned it. I thought i heard recently a horse (thoroughbred) bred there or racing for Shamrock Farm had done well in a race recently. Great old Maryland farm. In case your looking for story topis, haha, I think It would be cool to hear how Kevin Plank is doing with his restoration of Sagamore Farm. I was glad to hear someone bought it and is planning to raise horses there. So much history there. Lot's of the old Maryland farms are gone now and its nice to know someone is willing to bring some of that back.

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Amanda — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:28:58 GMT

Here we go, Steelers, here we go!

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Sue — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:38:00 GMT

Thanks for this story. I've always been a horseracing and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Never knew the two were so "connected".

re: The Legendary Football Team That Horse Racing Built

Abbie Knowles — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:35:34 GMT

i know nothing about American Football (little about football over here either except the PLAYERS ARE PAID TOO MUCH AND A LOT OF THE FANS ARE HOOLIGANS - STILL KEEPS THEM OFF OUR RACECOURSES I SUPPOSE!!! Of course i think the world of Mick Channon and other footballers who have decided racing is a better option!) but did enjoy this article.

I loved the story about Art Rooney (who sounds to have been a real character) and the Roman Catholic Priest!!!!!

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie