Archive for the Stories Category

Belmont Stakes Memories

Of all the Triple Crown races, I’ve been to the Belmont Stakes more than any other.  And I’ve seen it all.  My first was in 1991 when I witnessed Hansel hold off Strike The Gold in deep stretch to win by a head, and complete the Preakness-Belmont double.  And this completed my personal double of witnessing the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in the same year.  The next year I saw A.P. Indy, with his notable head down running style, grind out a win over a hard-charging European horse.  Later that year A.P. Indy went on to win the Breeders Cup Classic, and was then retired to stud, where he went on to be a tremendous success, siring more than 140 Stakes winners.

In 1998 I returned to watch Real Quiet’s attempt to win the Triple Crown.  He went off the 4-5 favorite, and at the 1/8 pole he looked like a sure winner.  One furlong remained … one furlong to winning the Triple Crown and collecting a $5 million dollar bonus offered that year to any horse capable of winning the elusive Triple Crown. Read More >>

Triple Crown Memories

It’s absolutely amazing to say this, but the last Triple Crown winner was in 1978.  I was 17 years old when Affirmed beat Alydar to win the 1978 Belmont Stakes.  But, the story of these two great race horses is much more than just one race, or for that matter the Triple Crown.  For me personally, their story is intertwined with my lifelong devotion to the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. Read More >>