A Turcotte Tale of Two Races
Remembering Ron Turcotte on this first Belmont Stakes since his passing. Sometimes it is the small things that tell more about a person than his or her major accomplishments. This little-known story, which has been updated from an earlier column, should provide a deeper look into the core of Turcotte and give you a better idea of who he was behind the numerous accolades, celebrations, and cheering crowds.
A Turcotte Tale of Two Races
By Steve Haskin
On April 3, 1972, the front page headline in the Morning Telegraph read, “Head of the River Wins Everglades Stakes.” It looked as if the colt’s owner Rokeby Stable and trainer Elliott Burch had another top 3-year-old on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail to follow their champon Arts and Letters. What made this headline so significant was that it would be the final issue ever published of the Morning Telegraph, racing’s bible since 1897. So Head of the River had secured a very small niche in the journalistic history of racing.
Head of the River never did live up to his promise, but that’s not to say he didn’t play another small part in history of which most people are unaware. That small part was his participation in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on grass at Belmont Park 14 months later on June 9, 1973. It wasn’t about where he finished or who he ran against or anything regarding the running of the race.
It was all about who was named to ride him and when the race was run. You see, that insignificant allowance event was the race following Secretariat’s historic victory in the Belmont Stakes, in which he became racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and set a record that will last forever, while winning by an unfathomable 31 lengths. But what made this allowance race so interesting is that Head of the River was to be ridden by none other than Ron Turcotte, who had just piloted Big Red to his record-setting victory that still gives people goose bumps after 53 years.
So, why in the world would Turcotte, still on cloud nine and basking in the blinding limelight of his history-making victory, take the mount on any horse in the race following the Belmont Stakes?
It had been a long day, with the anticipation of history being made. Secretariat was feeling good all morning and it was obvious to everyone at the barn he was sitting on a monster performance. Turcotte, as was his custom, walked the track, probing it with a knife to measure its deepness and deciding where was the best part to be. The way Big Red ran, none of that was needed. The best part of the mile and a half oval was wherever he stepped. Yes, it was very fast, but he made it faster. Breakneck would be more appropriate. This may have been the only case ever where a horse sprinted a mile and a half.
Earlier in the afternoon, Turcotte had gotten a good feel of the surface, winning an allowance race on Spanish Riddle for trainer Lucien Laurin in the fifth race. Spanish Riddle was a fast horse either sprinting or going two turns, as indicated by his victory in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes and second in the Florida Derby. But he gained fame by becoming the first horse ever to be fitted with an artificial leg and hoof after suffering a catastrophic injury in 1973.
Turcotte also rode Secretariat’s stablemate Angle Light against Forego in an allowance race in the seventh race. Angle Light, as everyone knows, had shocked the world by upsetting Big Red in the Wood Memorial, after which it was learned that Secretariat had been hampered by a bad abscess in his mouth. Considering that Angle Light, who ran some big races at 3, was beaten 16, 21, and 22 lengths by Secrfetariat in the other races in which they competed, on this day he basically served as a reminder of the incredible heights to which the Meadow Stable colt had climbed since the Wood Memorial.
This was the race for which fans had waited decades. The anticipation had been building since Big Red’s electrifying Preakness victory, and a crowd of 67,605 showed up to witness history. According to Turcotte, attendance would have been higher had the race not been so widely publicized that many people, afraid of the traffic, elected to stay home.
Given the magnitude of the day’s events, why would Turcotte, with the overwhelming confidence he had in Big Red, decide to plummet from the highest of highs to the reality of racing in an insignificant allowance race less than 30 minutes after making history?
With a mount in the next race, jockey Ron Turcotte had little time to enjoy the winner’s circle celebration.
Imagine the reaction of the media, instead of pounding away on their typewriters to chronicle this epic event, having to wait for the last race to be run before they could get quotes from the rider of the Triple Crown winner, especially one as high-profile as Ron Turcotte.
As it turned out, Turcotte could have backed out of the mount but his integrity superseded all else.
“When they do the draw in the morning, you entered your horse, but you don’t know where they’re going to place it on the program,” Turcotte recalled. “After I found out it was going to be the race after the Belmont it never entered my mind to take off the mount. Sam Kanchugar, who ran the NYRA press office, was all over me, telling me, ‘You’re all clear, you can take off the mount.’ It was all OK’d by the stewards, but I just couldn’t do it to [Elliott]. I felt it was an obligation. I had given him the call, and a man is only as good as his word.”
So instead of rejoicing and soaking in all the pandemonium and being surrounded by hordes of media after his history-making ride, here was Turcotte rushing back to the jocks’ room, slipping out of the Meadow Stable silks and putting on the Rokeby Stable silks to ride in an allowance race. With Belmont Park still reverberating from the spectacle they had just witnessed, Turcotte calmly walked to the paddock with the other riders and admitted he didn’t pay much attention to the people gathered around the walking ring, as he was now totally focused in on Head of the River.
There was an episode of “The Honeymooners,” where Ralph wins an award as the safest bus driver. Norton offers to drive to the ceremony at City Hall to avoid something fateful happening, but Ralph insists on driving, and of course gets into an accident.
Well, life came close to imitating art when Head of the River stepped in a hole on the grass course at the half-mile pole and stumbled, going to his knees. “That was the only time I regretted taking the mount, when the horse hit that hole,” Turcotte said.
A very rare pairing of original pari-mutuel tickets representing Ron Turcotte’s Belmont Stakes mounts on Secretariat (race 8) and Head of the River (race 9).
As it turned out, Head of the River tired badly after his incident, finishing a well-beaten fifth at odds of 9-2. Ironically, the horse who was outside him at the time and who would finish second at 12-1 was named Big Red L. The winner, Tree of Knowledge, an up-and-coming son of Dr. Fager, went on to win the Hollywood Gold Cup.
After his close call, Turcotte was finally confronted by several media members to get their long-awaited post-race interview, and after that, a throng of jubilant fans seeking autographs.
“After the races, people were waiting for me in the parking lot to sign their programs and stuff like that,” Turcotte said. “I wound up signing for an hour or more.”
So ended the most memorable day of Turcotte’s life on the racetrack. When one reads about the historic 1973 Belmont Stakes and the career of Ron Turcotte, you likely won’t find any mention of the final race on the card that day, But in many ways that allowance race told as much, or more, about Turcotte than even his victories aboard the great Secretariat and what both of them accomplished on that historic day.
Most jockeys in his position would never have ridden the race after the Belmont and deprive themselves of basking in arguably the brightest spotlight in the history of the sport. But to Turcotte, there was one thing that took precedence over everything else – his word.
Photos courtesy of Secretariat.com archive collection and NYRA/Coglianese Photo.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Why wasn’t Golden Tempo wearing the Phipps silks and cap?
He is co-owned by St. Elias Stable and ran in their colors this time.
Oh!For a split second during the race I saw the red cap and thought he was losing ground.lol
Thanks for the reply
You’re welcome!
I thought FOX did a fantastic job, and Kurt Menifee has a natural way of heading the broadcast….I prefer Mig to Bailey, Richie just has a way about him that pleases my viewing palate….that was the best coverage since Jack Whittaker…Charlie Canty….Frank Wright….back in the days, of greatness….
(Charlsie!…my spell check strikes again!..)..
Nysos ran a very good Met Mile—now five, he came out of the 2021 crop that featured Forever Young, Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Mindframe, Dornoch—-a truly great crop, the 2026 crop is just not strong—Golden Tempo is a true ten furlong racehorse, he reminds me of Unbridled, as he is always the best finisher….I don’t know how he will fare against older horses, but I know he is a ten furlong horse!..
Final time for yesterday’s Belmont was 2:03.49.
Golden Tempo Derby BSF 95.
Napoleon Solo Preakness BSF 96.
Golden Tempo Belmont BSF 97.
We should be seeing an over-flow field in the Travers. Nobody should be scared off by these slowpokes. No offense.
Golden Tempo rules the roost. The track was playing for speed all day long. Until the Belmont Stakes which was run at a moderate pace. The track announcer even commented on it during the running of the race. But Golden Tempo and Commandment were both able to close.
Commandment was caught wide around the far turn. Real wide. He ran a terrific race. So much for the theory that he couldn’t get a mile and a quarter.
I wonder if that brief rain had anything to do with the pace? It was raining while they were loading into the gate and seemed to stop as they were running the race.
Jose Ortiz did have mud all over his face.
I mentioned 5 weeks ago that HT shuld have no problem winning the Belmont…and so it was!
Commandment ran a great race!
Renegade ran OK but this distance seems a little far for him, might need to shorten him up.
Pletcher had the favorite in both the KY Derby and the Belmont…hmmm… people sure love TP ….win, lose or draw, they love their boy Todd…
*Meant GT
So happy for Golden Tempo wow and Cherie great ambassador for our sport so happy to not have to hear the owner who insists on naming the coldest horse names ever emerging market etc as Belmont winners can’t he with all of his money come up with like able names ps congrats to Nysos ,Book ‘Em Danno and Nitrogen on great wins too !!
I know what you mean, Nick. The other day, the owner you refer to had a winner named Portfolio Duration. Is it possible to be any less poetic? Ugh!
I did not bet on Golden Tempo, but after I read about his female lineage….I could not help but root for the horse….I really hope they continue racing him…
Golden Tempo proved today he is the ”real deal”.
Congratulations to Cheri and all the connections.
Did anyone else see that rainbow behind him after the race?
Totally missed that. Would love to have seen it.
Ms B, rhe Kentucky Derby Facebook page has the photo.
I did see it on the telecast. It added to the magic of the day.
If I were a betting person I would have won the Exacta…but not the Trifecta.
Unfortunately I was unable to watch the Belmont live, as it was NOT shown on broadcast television. How disappointing.
What a delightful outcome! Golden Tempo proved his Derby win was no fluke, and Commandment, my pick, ran a fine race as well.
Two out of the last four Belmonts have been won by women trainers! How ’bout that!
His derby win was never a fluke to those if us who had him in the derby…why would snybody thinknit was a fluke? Hmmm….
Some sportswriters seemed to think he won the Derby only because of the pace, though I didn’t agree.
Me either arl8ngton fan.
It’s funny how hirseracing is covered by the press……many times we’ve seen the trainer that surely will win runs third eg, so instrad if 1st post race interview w winning trainer they interview the trainer of the third place horse…GT is not trained by the darling trainer so of course its a fluke… only now its been 2 flukes in a row…meanwhile, Renegade has yet to win beyond 9 furlongs and is 0 for 2 at 1.25 miles….also, the lack of pace hutts GT but not Renegade even thought their running style is nearly ifentical…glad you n lynda didn’t buy in to it…
Very happy for GT and connections: didn’t get fast pace and still won. Only cashed $1 version of exacta; $55 payout is very nice; wish I had bet a bit more!
Can’t wait for Travers!!!
I suspected Golden Tempo might win again — and he did! So pleased for Cherie, Jose, the Violas, the Lows, even Mike Repole! Commandment showed his class, as did Renegade (the one-two-three finishers were my top picks). Englishman blew away his field in the Woody Stephens in super fast time; the same can be said of Nysos. Some really brilliant performances.
Steve, I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Monday.
Nice call, Ms Blacktype!!
Thanks, biggy! I only wish I could see what Golden Tempo looks like when he’s NOT covered with mud.
LOL
Shivers during todays Belmont- GT is something special. He didn’t mind the slow pace and still polished off the rest with seemingly little effort. Loved it! Now just a wee bit annoyed he wasn’t in the Preakness.
Saratoga is playing very fast today. In the Woody Stephens, I keyed Englishman and Crude Velocity on top with four underneath and hit the Superfecta for $258.00.
The final time for 7 furlongs was 1:20 and change.
Next up is the Met Mile.
Bill,
Nice superfecta win there !!! And in the Manhattan your old buddy DETERMINISTIC ran gutsy super race for the win. Nysos powerhouse win !!! See his next race as the Whitney. Him and. Englishman super performances !!!
Thanks,, DTS
You have a great memory.
Golden Tempo proved his the best 3yr old in the country. Commandment (by Into Mischief) knocked me out of my superfecta wager. I broke about even for the day.
I wonder if Golden Tempo’s connections will point him to the BC Classic.
Congratulations, Bill!
steve … nice article.
many of us would a thought or some comments on todays race. did i miss anything from you?
Still kicking myself for leaving Napoleon Solo off my dance card in the Preakness (he was my first future bet for the Derby). I’ll try to make up for it in the Belmont with the Chief. The bet…..
$20 win on Chief Wallabee
$5 exacta key box with the Chief over/under Renegade, Emerging Market and Golden Tempo.
I don’t see a big price in the 3rd jewel of the crown unlike the first two. Good luck y’all.
The Hammond Bears or Indiana Bears? Whatever, both just sound wrong.
Horseracing tie in: I discovered this news when noticing that Horseshoe Indy was the first track to have their scratches and changes up today.
Possible showers this afternoon at Saratoga.
Absolutely–the Bears belong in Chicago!
I did see some light rain falling during the opener at Saratoga.
Safe trips to everyone! Enjoy Belmont Day.
They’re still in Chicagoland – it’s like the Jets & Giants being in NJ
I didn’t want them to leave, but IL politicians do suck – my fellow Bears fans that live there were right. IL didn’t want the Bears, donk hope all those clowns get voted out of office, lol
Good thing they’re going to remain the Chicago Bears!
My handicapping says Power, Chief, and Golden can win.
Because of the track speed bias, I was trying to decide between Power and Chief.
But I’m so offended by every “expert” saying Golden’s derby was a fluke. And he has no chance here. That I made him my key.
50 Win/Place – Golden
10 ExBx – Golden with Power, Chief
5 Tri – Power, Chief with Power, Chief with Golden
Show ‘em you’re just getting started Golden.
Agree! GT ran a great race despite early trouble out of the gate….was7 lengths behind R all the way….started his drive on the far turn and passed every foe from behind including the Belmont Stakes favorite. To disregard his performance as a fluke sounds crazy! He’s royally bred, has a top 5 jockey and a trainer who has no problem winning G1 races.
I like the Chief and GT in a cold exacta box, as well as a box trifecta 3, 4, 9 as a backup:…good luck w your wagers….
2 flukes in a row?
Thanks Dominic. And haha.
HAHA!!! 👍
Will Peter Brant regret taking Gezora away from Chad Brown? Gezora finished last yesterday in first run for Bill Mott.
At the time of the Derby I had a lot of difficulty deciding whether to pick Renegade or Further Ado. I chose Renegade, but right up until the race was run I was afraid Further Ado might be better. He wasn’t but I spent a lot of time second-guessing myself. This weekend I’m happy to be able to cheer for both of them. In the Belmont I’m totally confident that Renegade is the best horse. Being the best horse doesn’t guarantee a win, but it helps a lot. Unlike in the Derby, I feel completely comfortable choosing him and I believe he will prevail. I like Commandment second and Golden Tempo third. As for the Matt Winn Stakes, I want Further Ado to redeem himself and I think he can. I’m not ready to write him off as a one-track horse–I think he can win away from Keeneland, and tomorrow would be a good time to prove it. This should be an excellent weekend of racing, and I’m looking forward to all the events.
I ex/tri boxed Chief Wallabee, Renegade, Emerging Market, after looking at the Derby replay—Emerging moved too early, and flattened, but his work pattern looks real good for this …I think he will sit 2nd, and pounce .
I am taking a stand against both Golden Tempo and Renegade:
Have futures bets on Powershift (20-1), can cash for $1,046; Emerging Market (7-1), can cash for $762; Growth Equity (12-1), can cash for $1,287 and Chief Wallabee (9-2), can cash for $303…also have exacta (6,7,8)(2,3,6,7,8)box…after Belmont, going to try on big race days to come (Haskell, Jim Dandy, Travers) to build up bankroll for Breeder’s Cup…year is going by very quickly!
I expect the two top finishers, in the Kentucky Derby, will prevail in the Belmont Stakes, only in reverse order.
I’ll play Golden Tempo and Renegade on top, in the first two slots, with Chief Wallabee, Growth Equity, Commandment and Emerging Market underneath in the 3rd and 4th slots. That is: 4,9/ 4,9/ 3,6,7,8/ 3,6,7,8.
Manny Franco and Flavien Prat have been hotter than $2.00 dollar pistols of late, so just for the hell of it, I’ll key those two on top in the first two slots, with the other mentioned colts underneath in the 3rd and 4th slots. That is: 6,7/ 6,7/ 3,4,8,9/ 3,4,8,9.
Both wagers are $1.00 dollar Superfecta wagers.
Bill,
I like your thinking but I think I am just going to “Key” Renegade on top only and put the others underneath. I think Renegade if he gets a better ride than he got in the KD he should beat them all as I feel he is the fastest of them.
I don’t want to influence you. You play them as you see it.
I do not see Powershift winning it as he is a Todd Pletcher frontrunner and Pletcher’s success with that type of running style going 1 1/4 mile is dismal The only possibility is track goes “sloppy” (which is a possibility) and he is a mud loving fool or he able to get away with ridiculously slow fractions on the front end. but I don’t see that happening.
One other thing I know Saratoga is playing fast right now but I think the Ortiz brothers should take note of Kent Desormeaux ride last weekend on Om N Joy.
Thanks for the reply, DTS, and good luck with bets tomorrow.
BTW, I definitely agree that Renegade is the horse to bet.
Edit: Renegade is the horse to beat.
You were right both times.
LOL, Jiffy.
Nice reply.
Nice coverage, Bill! I’d only like to pick the winner. Although I agree Renegade is the most likely winner, I think Golden Tempo could do it again. If not GT, possibly Commandment. Good luck on all your bets!
Thanks, Ms Blacktype
Good luck to you as well.
Edit: My longshot superfecta wager should read, 6,8/ 6,8/ 3,4,7,9/ 3,4,7,9.
Prat is aboard Emerging Market, (not Commandment)
All week at Saratoga, like 90-95% of dirt races have been won by horses running 1st or 2nd early. It’s pretty crazy.
Manny Franco is on a hot streak. He usually cools off when the big boys come to town.
But he is riding well and holding his own so far at the Belmont Festival of Racing being held at Saratoga. As always, riding good horses for good trainers helps.
Steve,
Thanks for this piece on Ron Turcotte. Growing up on the west coast in the 70’s and my only access to horse racing were the west coast Daily Racing Form and 3 Los Angeles newspapers (LA Time, Herald Examiner & the Valley News ) did not know a lot about East Coast horse racing, which I felt at the time (and still a little bit today ) was very snobbish. Ron will always be known as the rider that took Secretariat to the Triple Crown (or should it be the other way around?) Anyway it is good to know he was a man of his word and great values that some athletes lack today.
Thanks for the insight.
I do like Chief Wallabee…I cannot ignore Renegade, who looks incredible out there, Todd has a monster!…
I turned on Fox1 for the first time in a while and was shocked to hear a voice that sounded a lot like Todd Schrupp involved in the broadcast.
It looks like he landed on his feet. First one out got a job. Some of the others might not be so lucky. Good luck to all of them.
I’m happy that this weekend’s action will be on Fox. Even if we will be hopping around a bit.
It looks like they are saving the inside lanes on both turf courses for the bigger contests on Friday and Saturday. Smart.
I will make just a couple of bets on Friday before diving in deep on Saturday.
I was feeling pretty good about Prom Queen bouncing back on Friday. But Chad Brown sounds extremely confident about Always a Runner.
I’m just as confused about the Belmont as I was about the Derby and Preakness. I should sit on my hands, but I’ll take a stab on one of the nine runners. Who? IDK yet.
But I do feel pretty good about some horses on the undercard.
Call me crazy. In fact, I should probably be fitted for a straight jacket. I’m going to take a stand against Crude Velocity at what I expect to be odds-on. Another one of my recipes for disaster? Maybe.
Steve, what a great memory of a man with integrity. I really enjoyed this story and Thank You for sharing with us.
Renegade showed his best in the Ark.
Golden showed his best in the Derb.
Emerging showed his best in the Loui.
Commandment showed his best in the Flo.
I think Chief shows his best in the Bel.
I just can’t move past his derby effort.
* Blocked/brake, blocked/brake, blocked/brake.
* Sideswiped mid stretch, knocks him off his correct lead.
* Yet somehow (and this is the clincher) still gallops out in front of the top 3 finishers/closers.
The gas tank is full on this horse. Hoping for 7/2 odds.
I’m just a fan.2$better.
Rooting for Golden Tempo!Think he’s better than must people give credit for.
Looking forward to the Woody Stephens.Solitude Dude could be an upset winner.
Opening Day, of the five day Belmont at Saratoga meet….I don’t think I ever saw Saratoga dirt track this fast ..1:21 2/5 and 1:47 3/5 so far today NY breds …
The Met Mile looks like the highlight of the weekend. This should be a good chance for Journalism to get his signature win, if he has improved from 3 to 4. Tough rail draw for Nysos, with a lot of other speed outside him.
I have to agree with you Todd. It’s too bad Nysos had to draw the rail I hope he gets a clean trip.
What class the man had. This story just underlines what I already believed.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love and respect Ron Turcotte any more, I feel more love for him. Great story!
I’m looking for any angle to give me a reason to back one of the horses in the Belmont.
On numbers, they all look about the same.
Golden Tempo and Growth Equity both still have rising numbers patterns.
Not a single horse entered in the race has a decent Tomlinson Rating for the distance.
Vitruvian Man, Commandment, and Golden Tempo are particularly bad.
Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market have number patterns that are heading straight down.
Chad Brown has three horses entered. He has never won the Belmont. Both of his Triple Crown wins were in the Preakness.
Renegade is the oldest horse with a January birthday. “The Chief”, Commandment, and Golden Tempo share February birthdays. Oddly, the three Chad Brown entrants were all born in April along with Vitruvian Man. Powershift is a late foal in May.
“The Chief” was my Derby horse and ran pretty well despite trouble to finish a non-threatening 4th. I’d play him back if he wasn’t such a low price(3-1). Same with Renegade(2-1).
If you add both the early and late Timeform pace ratings, Emerging Market and Commandment lead with a 196. Powershift checks in at 195.
Emerging Market and “The Chief” have 3 works over the Saratoga training track since raced. Powershift and Renegade each have two.
Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado won the Belmont at Saratoga last year. 3-1 seems low.
Digging deep for an angle. Not in love with any of them.
Hopefully, Steve Haskin can clarify the situation.
I too, like Chief Wallabee…if all go I expect better than 3-1…
Steve, your column just shows how much times have changed. Last races usually feature maidens or claimers, not horses who’d already won, or were to win, major stakes races. Ron Turcotte was truly a class act not to take off his mount. That the placement of most races wasn’t determined days before was a new wrinkle to me, too. And so sad about the Telly. I presume there are copies in the Library of Congress, but It’s still very hard to find in online archives.
Thanks for another treat Mr. Peabody!
Cool
Tree of Knowledge mention
! He was a star on the west coast in 1974 winning the Hollywood Gold Cup love the 103 pounds he carried the race after Secretariat run for immorality ! Thanks Steve hadn’t thought of tree of knowledge in eons
I think the attendance number for the 1973 Belmont reflects changes in society and the media. They were probably mostly racing fans who went to the track regularly and knew what they were doing. Now, people want to be part of the big event and be seen there. Probably many racing fans stay away from amatuer day. Turcotte’s explanation of the attendance number reminded me of the Yogi quote: “No one goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” And only 9 races on the card. Just another day.
I think that you are 100% correct.
What a heartening story! Thank you for sharing this, Steve. Ron Turcotte was a class act.
Those tickets were WORTH saving! The skips today–if you try to save them the ink wears off, those old tickets seemed “engraved”….I remember attending The Tillamook Fair, way up the coast of Oregon…an outstanding town, with a wooden blimp hanger that housed old war planes, the horses ran on a tiny 1/2 mile track, with a deep muddy far turn, that horses would slow down racing over it …they had those old ticket machines, and the only wager amount was $3….so it you wanted to bet $30 you needed ten….
My late Mom’s numbers were 2&6….and how could you not include a horse named “Big Red”, with Ronnie’s Head of the River?…
But oh what a race, on CBS that day…I had received a tape recorder, on my birthday, which I loved …I recorded us watching that Belmont…when Chic Anderson said “it’s almost a match race”, you hear Mom saying “a MATCH race!” … we’re all calling my brother Pete, when we see how far Secretariat leads….a 25 year Triple Crown drought, during a time of an unpopular war, and a failed presidency—a hero emerges, in equine form!
My brother Pete drew comics, at age 14….he drew one of Brezhnev congratulating Nixon, for the victory of…..”Proletariat”!….53 years ago …like yesterday, I remember Big Red….
What a wonderful post, Mathew. Wish I’d had a place like that Oregon track to go to when I was a kid. And a nice tie-in to Big Red.
There was a spot, at the far turn that was deep mud…the horses came to an abrupt slowdown, spinner ng their legs! After the final race (purses were $700 DOLLARS—They had “pig and model T Ford races, each contestant grabbed a pig and held it while driving their old cars around the track and then putting the pug on a corral ..first one to corral three pigs WON, and the place was packed …
Mathew,
I was actually a pig box holder one day after the races in Tillamook.
It was a blast. Oh the Memories!
David
Purses were between $900 and $1100, but they had the lead pony and guy wearing the big red coat…tiny purses, but they kept the tradition…