Chrome Sweet Chrome
With trainer Art Sherman announcing his retirement last month, the recent announcement of the Secretariat Vox Populi winner, and ballots for the Eclipse Awards nearly ready to be sent out, they have all combined to trigger memories of two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, one of the most popular horses of our time who provided a whirlwind of emotions during and after his career. ~ Steve Haskin
Chrome Sweet Chrome
By Steve Haskin
On Friday, December 10, Art Sherman saddled his final runner. The 84-year-old trainer, who has been in racing for nearly 70 years, announced his retirement in November. Sherman will be remembered for his masterful job with California Chrome, getting this little-known California-bred , who was the result of a mating between an $8,000 claiming mare and a $2,500 stallion, to win the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and the hearts of a nation and eventually the world.
With the voting for this year’s Eclipse Awards getting closer, I couldn’t help but think of Sherman, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, but wound up exercising horses in California and traveling cross-county on a train with the great Swaps to the 1955 Kentucky Derby at the age of 18, sleeping in the straw next to the colt. I also had to think of California Chrome’s owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn who were just as unlikely to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness as their horse, being two ordinary working stiffs from Yuba City California and Topaz Lake, Nevada, who, as Coburn said, put “so much blood, sweat, and tears and savings into this horse,” turning down million-dollar offers for the colt before the Derby. Together they wrote one of racing’s great Cinderella stories.
So, what does that have to do with the Eclipse Awards? Even in a world obsessed with statistics, which often take precedence over singular achievements far more profound than numbers, it is inconceivable that neither Sherman or Martin and Coburn were even named finalists for an Eclipse Award as trainer and owner in 2014 even though California Chrome was named Horse of the Year by a huge margin. That oversight was repeated two years later (with Coburn no longer a co-owner) when Chrome captured his second Horse of the Year title.
In 2014, Sherman was able to get this unlikely hero to win stakes in January, March, and April, then win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and a grade I stakes on Nov. 29. With help from his son and assistant Alan, he actually got California Chrome to win stakes from Dec. 22, 2013 to Nov. 29, 2014, including four Grade I’s and a Grade II and two Triple Crown events, and nearly pulling off the Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which Chrome was beaten only two necks, despite having had only one prep race since the Belmont Stakes. And he got nothing out of that prep race, while having to fly cross-country to Philadelphia and back to California.
Following the Classic, California Chrome captured the Hollywood Derby on grass, becoming only the second Kentucky Derby winner in history to win a grade I stakes on grass that same year. The other horse to accomplish that feat was Secretariat.
So, why was Sherman not even a finalist for leading trainer in the Eclipse Award voting, and why wasn’t Martin and Perry not a finalist in either the owner or breeder category? Once again, Eclipse voters went by statistics to come up with their three finalists, ignoring the exceptional individual accomplishments that actually made a major impact on the sport.
Did voters snub Martin and Coburn because of the latter’s unfortunate comments on national TV following the Belmont Stakes that caused a furor throughout the sports world? While Coburn, who was a minority owner in the colt, was attacked mercilessly on social media, few people saw his generosity with the fans, as he interacted with them, posing for photos and signing autographs. Watching him with the fans who cheered him outside the walking ring at Parx Racing before the Pennsylvania Derby, you would never guess this was a person who had been vilified so severely for his actions when a camera was shoved into his face immediately after the race at a time when he was emotionally vulnerable.
As for Sherman, there are times when statistics can be superseded by a single extraordinary feat of great national importance if one wishes to step out of the box once in a while. And has there been a better representative for racing than Sherman at a time when racing needed all the wit, wisdom, and conviviality that he provided all year. One meeting with Sherman and you felt as if you’ve known him all your life. He was the uncle you wanted to invite over for Thanksgiving. Those qualities normally do not equate to being named a finalist for an Eclipse Award, but his masterful job with California Chrome certainly did.
All three of these men authored one of the great fairy tales in racing history that was born on Feb. 18, 2011 at Harris Farms near Coalinga, California. That was when Love the Chase gave birth to her colt by Lucky Pulpit. But it was not an easy birth. The mare had lacerated the wall of her uterus and could not be re-bred that year. She was bright and active and outwardly unaffected by the ordeal, but she and her foal had to remain confined to the stall for an extended period of time while the mare was treated and recovering. As a result, the foal wasn’t able to be out with the others to socialize and run around, so he became more focused on people than he was on horses and developed an amiable personality that continued throughout his career and as a stallion.
Several days prior to the birth, Coburn had a dream the foal would be a big chestnut colt with four white socks and a big blaze face. When he went to see the newborn foal for the first time, his wife Carolyn walked over to the stall, took a look inside, and couldn’t believe what she saw. She told her husband to come take a look. There before him was the colt in his dreams. Coburn became convinced his deceased sister was the colt’s guardian angel and would guide him every step of his journey. He continued to believe that, and as a result he felt Chrome was invincible.
When California Chrome left his dam and went out on his own and later began training, he impressed Harris Farms trainer Per Antonsen.
“He always had a lot of class,” he said. “He was very precocious and very forward and never missed a beat. He was a sound horse; never had a temperature, never got sick, and never had a pimple on him the whole time he was here. He enjoyed training and I told the owners, ‘You’re going to have a lot of fun with this one.’”
Art and Alan Sherman began training the colt immediately after his arrival from Harris Farms. One morning at Hollywood Park, Alan, still not realizing what he had after only a few three-furlong breezes, was looking for a horse to work a half-mile in company with California Chrome. That would help him determine how fast and competitive the colt was. He found out that Eoin Harty was working one of his best 2-year-olds, on whom he was high, and was also looking to test him in company.
Harty went to the frontside to watch the work, while Alan remained on the backside, watching from the trainer’s stand. Harty was feeling good about the matchup, getting to breeze his colt with an obscurely bred Cal-bred. He felt that was the perfect scenario to make his colt look good and boost his confidence against a likely inferior opponent.
“I had Iggy Puglisi up on my colt, and when I heard Alan was looking for someone to work with his horse, I said, ‘Good, we’ll beat the tar out of this Cal-bred,” Harty said.
But what Harty saw was not what he expected. His colt worked well, but this other colt dominated his horse.
“After the work I said to Alan, ‘I don’t know what you’ve got there, but that is a very good colt,’”Harty recalled. “I’ve been around a lot of good 2-year-olds with Bob Baffert and then on my own and when you see something that catches your eye early on it really stands out. And that was an eye-catching work by that colt. As a trainer, when your good 2-year-old is outworked, it’s a terrible feeling, especially when he’s outworked by a Cal-bred trained by a low-profile trainer.”
Alan added, “Eoin was pretty high on his colt and Chrome just dusted him. I saw that and went, ‘Oh, damn, what have we got here?’”
The fun that Per Antonsen told Martin and Coburn they were going to have with the colt started early on and continued right up to the Kentucky Derby, which was an experience Coburn, Martin, and Art and Alan Sherman will never forget. The loquacious Coburn by then was one of the most recognizable figures in the sport, with his large white mustache and cowboy hat, and the spokesman for the colt, who had rattled off impressive victories in the California Cup Derby, San Felipe Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby.
Following the San Felipe, Martin and Coburn turned down a multi-million-dollar offer for half interest in the colt. When they received an offer of eight figures following the Santa Anita Derby, Coburn’s response was, “Last week, my answer was ‘no,’ and this week, my answer is ‘hell, no.”
California Chrome went on to score another easy victory in the Kentucky Derby. After the race, Martin was so proud to be able to share this moment with his 83-year-old mother Catherine, who was driven to Kentucky from Michigan by his brother. He stood by the rail and helped her into a wheel chair, then walked behind her as she was wheeled across the track to the winner’s circle. He tried hard to fight back the tears that were welling up and attempted to speak, but no words would come out. All he could do was shake his head and say with a quavering voice, “I have to go after my mom.”
Alan Sherman was trying to come to terms with his own emotions as he led California Chrome back to the barn area following the winner’s circle ceremonies, thinking about how special this was for his father after so many years of training mostly nondescript horses. He was breathing heavily walking on the track as the cheers from the crowd rained down on him and the colt. The wall of noise that engulfed him was drowned out by the thoughts and feelings swirling around in his head, as he tried to comprehend everything that had happened not only on this day, but over the past couple of months.
“It’s awesome,” he said, only able to get several short exclamatory phrases out at a time. “I can’t believe it; unbelievable… I’m at a loss for words… I’m just so excited… It’s amazing… This is so great. I can’t even imagine how my father feels right now.”
Art, after arriving in Kentucky, had gone to visit the grave of his beloved Swaps located behind the Kentucky Derby Museum to say a little prayer that California Chrome could become another Swaps. Several days later, at age 77, he became the oldest trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. He had found his Swaps.
Overwhelmed by the experience, he said as he was led to the interview room by four Louisville police officers, “This is pretty cool. I’ve never had a police escort before. You think about it, that you’re going to get lucky one day, but maybe it’s all fate somehow. I’m a big believer in fate.”
As Coburn said following the race, “Art Sherman has come full circle, from exercise rider of a California-bred that won the Kentucky Derby to training a California-bred that won the Kentucky Derby.” How could Sherman not believe in fate, which apparently has no timetable? After all, it only took 59 years for him to come full circle,
Yes, it truly was a time for California Dreamin.’ For Steve Coburn, his dream prior to the colt’s birth had become a prophecy; the ultimate fairy tale. For Perry Martin, his dream was to be able to share this experience with his mother. For Art Sherman, his dream had been guided by fate and the memory of Swaps and sleeping in the straw next to the horse on a cross-country train ride nearly six decades earlier. And while on the subject of fate, California’s Chrome’s broodmare sire Not For Love’s third dam is Intriguing, a daughter of Swaps. By being inbred to Intriguing through the great filly Numbered Account, it means that California Chrome is inbred to Swaps.
Art Sherman summed up the day and the experience best when he said, “I think of all my friends who have died and I’m so thankful that I’m here. I still have a lot of friends at the racetrack and I’ve been around a long time. But I’m still the same old Art Sherman…except I won the Kentucky Derby.”
When California Chrome triumphed two weeks later in the Preakness and approached the gates of the pantheon, it was evident that racing had undergone a brief, but dramatic change. This was not a time for bluebloods, but for blue collars. Not a time for nobility, but a couple of working stiffs whose stable name was Dumb Ass Partners. The silver spoons that fed racing’s giants for most of the 20th century were for now plated with chrome.
California Chrome’s career would go on to take many twists and turns, taking him all over the world, starting with a second-place finish in the 2015 Dubai World Cup and a stay in England, where he trained for months, but failed to make the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot due to a foot bruise. This was followed by Martin’s and Coburn’s breakup and the horse running under the name California Chrome LLC . Then came a resounding victory in the 2016 Dubai World Cup and a second Horse of the Year title before the colt’s retirement to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky and being shuttled to Chile for two years. Finally, in 2019, Chrome was sold to the JS Company of Japan, where he now resides at the Arrrow Stud in Hokkaido, with the stipulation that he be returned to the United States at the conclusion of his breeding career.
The story he has left and his legacy will be remembered for many years.
He is the only Kentucky Derby winner in history to be voted Horse of the Year at age 5 or older. That makes him a throwback, as not even the tough iron horses of the past who ran well past their 3-year-old year have accomplished that.
He also is the first Kentucky Derby winner to win multiple stakes after the age of 4 since Citation, who did not race at all at 4, and was dominated by Noor at age 5, but kept in training at age 6 in an attempt to become racing’s first millionaire.
He was the first horse to be voted Horse of the Year in non-consecutive years since John Henry in 1981 and ’84 and the first non-gelding in history to accomplish it (based on the nationally recognized Daily Racing Form/Morning Telegraph poll).
He is the only horse to win the Vox Populi Award twice.
He became first California-bred to win the Kentucky Derby in 52 years.
As mentioned earlier, he is the only Kentucky Derby winner along with Secretariat to win a Grade 1 stakes on grass.
He is the only horse ever to win or place in two Breeders’ Cup Classics and two Dubai World Cups. (In his two placings in the Breeders’ Cup Classic he was beaten a total of three-quarters of a length).
His five victories in million-dollar races are second only to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and he is the only Kentucky Derby winner to win two million-dollar races at age 5.
Finally, a feat that may never be duplicated is winning two legs of the Triple Crown and then winning six stakes as a 5-year-old.
We who love this sport realize that horses are embedded in our soul from childhood, whether through equine heroes such as The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, and Misty of Chincoteague or TV stars like Trigger, Silver, and even Mister Ed
How many children have hopped aboard their rocking horse and built up speed until they felt as if they were airborne. They no longer were sitting atop a piece of wood, but atop Secretariat or Seattle Slew, imagining what it would be like to ride or even own or train such swift and noble steeds.
Art Sherman, Steve Coburn, and Perry Martin started off with a cheap rocking horse hoping to get a few thrills and saw it come to life, turning into a beloved superstar who would take them on an unforgettable ride.
Sherman is now retired with a lifetime of special memories and Perry Martin is working on a book about Chrome’s adventures titled California Chrome – Our Story scheduled for release in 2022 (and available for pre-publication purchase in January at Secretariat.com).
All we can hope for now is that California Chrome has a good and productive life in Japan and that some day we can be reunited with him at Old Friends or another home. He no longer will look like the Chrome we remembered on the racetrack or at Taylor Made Farm, but at least we will be able to see those flashy markings and reminisce about his brilliant career, his burnished coat that shined like copper in the sunlight, and the amiable way he welcomed visitors. But most of all we will remember all the joy he brought to so many.
Photos courtesy of Juan Ignacio Bozello, Eclipse Sportswire, Harris Farms, Joe Ulrich, and Courtney Stone
There will be no column next week because of Christmas, but I want to take this time to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and to remind you to watch Vox Populi Award winner Hot Rod Charlie make his next start in the San Antonio Stakes, December 26 before targeting the Dubai World Cup in March. ~ SH
‘..embedded in our souls’. True for me of horses of fact & fiction~love all but some take a special hold of my heart. California Chrome is one~wish him & his equine family (saw Hope’s Love once) ever the best. He’ll always be magnificent~emblazoned with copper sunshine. ‘Love looks not with the eyes but with the heart.’ Endless thanks (truly) for your gracious, heartfelt writings on beautiful, princely Medina Spirit~courageous, honest &, just want to testify, ever loved.
Condolences to the family and friends of Billy Turner.
He had courageously battled pancreatic cancer for some time.
Many in the industry and sport (and fans) rallied around Mr. Turner with donations tp pay for his hospice care.
Positive news from Belmont Park/NYRA and a trial use of sensors that monitor the horse’s stride.
“According to Palmer, there have already been several instances in which the data has provided trainers with crucial information about a developing issue reflected in a horse’s stride, leading to treatments that likely prevented a breakdown. In each of those cases, the problem was not obvious and apparent to anyone involved with the horse and was detected by StrideMASTER’s breakthrough technology.”
This is one of the things i do………for my “bad signs”………NOW it means something?
One thing people still don’t get……..a leg is not broken , until it is broken. This narrative, that a bad ankle or bad knee causes breakdowns……..is very misleading ………believe it or not, a horse feeling really good breaks down many times…….a horse with a hurt knee will protect itself, and not perform……
Of course no one on here will know this……..
Take a stick…….bend it……you will hear it crack……..the faster you go, the more the bone stress……………that is why many of these dumb studies try to show pre existing injuries cause breakdowns,…….they lack common sense………
Why do you think horses win by 3……then come back and lose by 15?…………..a broken bone?
Thank you for this piece on Art Sherman and California Chrome. I was fortunate to be able to see Chrome in May 2018 at Taylor Made and even got to feed him a carrot.
On another note (since I wasn’t able to respond to your Facebook post on Billy Turner’s passing and Seattle Slew), reading that post reminded me of my older sister Marion, who recently passed. In the 50s she was my inspiration for appreciating horse racing. Her all time favorite was Seattle Slew. Since she was the only one in my family who followed horses, I will miss arguing and sometimes agreeing with her derby choices and her opinions of the sports all time greats.
I do enjoy reading your columns and the responses here.
I forgot to add Happy New Year to all.
Saw him March 2018 in private visit.
During my visit, Chrome kept acting up with his groom while he was trying to bring him out of his stall for paddock time. I didn’t know that private visits could be arranged.
Chrome was calm for us. Also,his handler,Liam was nice. When one knows individuals,can be arranged. Same also w/ Unbridled Song several years ago as well.
Steve Billy Turner passed….trained the first undefeated Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, who missed the Kentucky Derby break, and weaved his way to the front from inside—and won for fun…fought with the owners, about bringing him west, after the Belmont, and was right–he lost by 16 lengths—they fired him after that…..replacement trainer ended up training 4 1/2 furlong races, at Los Al….but Doug Peterson had him good for his final race–the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup, one of the greatest losses in Horse Race history—RIP Billy Turner.
Owners were a disgrace!
DISGRACE?……….LOL………
Yeah! Pushing horse after he prevailed in TC-racing 3 weeks later. Crazy!
Not to forget, prior to the Swaps Stakes, Slew was repeatedly sedated for an Xerox advertisement as well as being sedated during the flight to California. One can only imagine how that impacted on the colt’s performance.
Agreed! Had zero clue regarding managing a horse.
Nah. I was there that day at Hollypark. Give J.O. Tobin the credit….he won the race in 1:58 and change which was a tick off off the world record at that time.
Meaning owners knew zero regarding Slew. Mr. Turner possessed real skills.
amazing……….
I was there, too….packed like sardines, 68K….hot! JO Tobin was magnificent looking, nearly black, ran lights out ..Slew being saddled in the tunnel, didn’t go in the post parade, they let him do his own thing, and he ran flat, the whole way around there, beat 16 lengths…..then coming back to a standing ovation, from the classy crowd!
Yep, it was hot and muggy if I remember….always remember Harry Henson’s iconic race call….
Popping back in to express my condolences to Billy, who from everything I read, was a true gentleman. He handled Slew brilliantly -and probably never got the credit he deserved because Slew was just not well thought of post-Secretariat. Slew is my all-time favorite horse, outside of Man o’War,
The Taylors made a very unfortunate mistake, shipping Slew out West after the TC, and then ultimately firing (along with the Hills) Turner. Terribly bad decision. I will never criticize them beyond that, however, because they loved Slew like nothing else – and they took care of him for the last years of his life when he needed them.
I’m glad Billy isn’t suffering anymore. RIP
Owners had no clue. Advanced age and back problems Slew-in need of pensioning earlier. Made their share of errors.
Sad news. My sympathy to his family and friends.
yes
If the records at the time of the BC Sprint are correct. Sprint. JW and Dr. Schivel were undefeated for their combined 6 career starts over 6F. Five of which were in graded stakes. Aloha West won only a MSW from his 3 starts over the distance.
Given Aloha West’s 6F resume. He had to be a top-class sprinter to win the BC Sprint, against the winner of a combined 5 graded stakes over the distance. To be the best one has to beat the best. And that’s exactly what Aloha West did.
To win a G1 sprint against that caliber of competition has to represent something above ordinary. The disdain to which Aloha West is being subjected is wrong, very wrong. The patience that went into the development of this is champion needs to be properly acknowledge and rewarded. The owners of Aloha West must be wondering if their charge is chopped liver.
If a talented horse can win impressively against overmatched opponents and is in the argument for Champion Sprinter. What’s the point of having the Breeder Cup featuring the best in the represented divisions?
Does the Malibu carry more weight than the BC Sprint? The Factor recorded a NTR of 1:06.98 for 6F when breaking his maiden. Subject to correction there hasn’t benen a 1:06+ time for 6F since. That must have been a bigger WOW! moment than Flightline’s ridiculously easy win in the Malibu. The Factor returned in the 7F San Vicente to win in 1:20.34. That time remains the fastest for the stakes on dirt. In consecutive starts The Factor established record. But we have never seen anything horse like Flightline before.
When Secretariat set the WR for 12F in the Belmont. Public reaction must have been. ‘WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE’ Two races later Secretariat was defeated by Onion the most unlikely opponent to do same.
Arrogate disappeared from the 2016 Tavers Field en-route to destroying the 37-year-old 10F track record at Saratoga. Who did Arrogate leave in his wake? Certainly not the like of Baby Yoda. The list included the KD Runner-up/Preakness & Haskell winner; Belmont & A K Derby winner; Belmont runner up & Tampa Bay Derby winner; Curlin winner; KD 3rd place finisher/Risen Star & LA Derby winner and Jim Dandy winner. But we have never seen anything horse like Flightline before.
Some of us find it difficult to go nuclear over Flightline’s performance because we have witness similar performances before and against more formidable opponents. A colt that makes a start every 3 or 4 months whilst enjoying judicious placements must be allowed to face the best before being crown king of the turf.
The Factor,s maiden 1:06 4/5 was run over the Santa Anita dirt, that had replaced the synthetic Pro Ride surface, and it was the first day they had raced over the new surface…Same card Twirling Candy won Malibu by a nose, in 1:19 4/5, it was opening day—many, myself included—hoped the track would throw out those track records, the 1:20 track record of Spectacular Bid was eclipsed, a 5 length win over Flying Paster that had stood over 30 years. Hot Rod Charlie lost by a nostril, and he was coming back I doubt he has been eclipsed as most popular horse—my personal favorite horse is Express Train, when he loses he’s still my favorite.
Another reason you won’t see Flightline replace Hot Rod Charlie as the Vox Populai horse is Hot Rod RUNS, and Flightline doesn’t. John Sadler says he will be America’s horse, that he won an historic Malibu—historic horses do historic things–there’s this race coming up, with Knicks Go and Life Is Good—and Flightline is being mothballed again? Could you imagine if the Pegasus had Flightline, with those two? I know he just raced, and it was spectacular—he won easily, but they can’t make a race five weeks later? Would have been something! I saw Spectacular Bid, he ran 30 times….seemed like he was always spectacular—please don’t tell me about “America’s Horse”, if you’re plan is for a seven race career!
Aloha West could win the Eclipse–if he does, I wonder if he’ll be the first Eclipse winner who broke his maiden as a five year old.
Wishing everyone a happy, prosperous and safe New Year!
Good Day Coldfacts
Your reference to the poem Desiderata, written by Max Ehrmann in 1927, are certainly words to live by. It’s been years since I last read the entire poem, it was quite refreshing. Thanks for sharing.
BTW, my current top Derby contender is Rattle N Roll. He looked like the 2nd coming of Gunnevera, with that huge closing effort in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Due to an abscess in his hoof, RNR has not worked since that race. However, per Kenny McPeek, “he’s doing fine, just galloping but not ready to work”.
Good luck Facts.
Gosh, Bill. No words from you for The Master of Misspelling about his post this morning taking the Master in Waiting to task for typographical errors? Seems that you didn’t learn much from your reading of “Desiderata.”
Are you able to recall this exchange, beginning with my jocular reply to a typo-filled post by Coldfacts?:
EddieF says:
December 26, 2021 at 8:28 am
It’s nice to see a race named for one of my all-time favorites, Fun Runner. His greatest victory was the Beeders Cup Vlasic where he beat Irrigate, Collectable, and East Coast. Without question he’s the best son ever of Randy Cide.
Bill Dawson says:
December 26, 2021 at 5:52 pm
EddieF
Ridiculing others for inadvertently mis-spelling a word (Fun/Gun) shows poor form on your part. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, “don’t give up your day job, you’ll never make it as a standup comic”. I’d venture to say Coldfacts has forgotten more than you’ll ever know about horse racing in general, and breeding in particular.
Did you scroll back and read my comments to Bill?
LOL.
Everyone makes “typos” now and then, so what? Time to move on and put your juvenile comments to rest.
BTW, have you ever considered teaming up with Pro Vet and do a comedy act together. The only question; who will be the clown and who will be the straight man. I vote you for the clown, you certainly act like one. 🙂
I’d rather be a clown than a humorless hypocrite who hasn’t learned anything meaningful about the joy of life in 8 or 9 decades of it.
Boom!
BUST is more like it.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you.
Give it up EddieF, you’re just not that funny.
You win. I’m gone.
He likes Coldcuts……….so what?………you are not smart enough to put down others
I’m with you on this one………do they know? Coldcuts is from another country?…..5th grade education?……..they in a different country, would make mistakes too…………these guys think they know alot………..
Coldcuts’ spelling mistakes are the least of his problems…….it is the nonsensical content……..
It is ok to act this way because Haskin likes him……….he agrees with everything he says………..
“…these guys think they know alot…” – funny line.
Thanks……no one understands the humor i use………Old bill hates me because i called his fav horse an 877 lb horse………i was using humor to make a point about how he had a problem keeping weight on……..
He gets mad…………
But trolling him for not calling out his buddy?……..weak……..
Eddie and M reiva……are like DARRELL AND THE OTHER DARRELL………one make a stupid joke……and the other replies “SNAP”…….
I don’t hate anyone pro vet, and just to be clear, you referred to Code of Honor as a “877 lb Pony”. Well guess what, that Pony has gone on to win six graded races, and finished 2nd in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. In 20 starts he’s compiled a record of 7 wins, 5 seconds and two thirds, with earnings at close to 3 million dollars.
That’s not too shabby for an 877 lb pony is it? 🙂
He knows nothing,yet he believes he hung the moon. Reminds me so much of Barbara Bowen-whom uses several names for goal of running point for one trainer 24/7. No joke! BTW, always liked COH very much as well a fan of Shug.
Notice?…….you never say where i’m wrong?……or debate anything?…….we know why…..
You’re wrong as you begin each day.
You left out i posted i always liked him……the comment was about him keeping weight on. Which was true…………why do you leave that part out?
Reply to provet: I just meant, it’s funny when someone who thinks he knows a lot, turns out not to. I can’t give a good example right now, but I’ve got vague recollections through the years, of such blowhards.
He believes he’s funny,also bright. He’s neither!
I try very hard to understand the perspectives of others. I consider same to be of paramount importance when replying to views and opinions submitted in this forum. Meaningful exchanges hinge on the understanding of the basis on which opinions are formed.
I consider myself an individual for which things should compute. The support for Hot Rod Charlie is something that just doesn’t compute for me. I have previously highlighted that there is no objective foundation for the level of support for the colt. Consequently, I have concluded his level of support is is driven by unbridled and misguided emotions. This was not an attempt to offend but I could arrive at no other conclusion.
On Saturday last the colt suffered the 10th defeat of its 13-race career. The fact that a colt that has been defeated in >75% of its starts, is so popular has me wondering if something is seriously wrong with me. There has to be! There is no way to either slice & dice or spin this colt’s record to match the level of support.
I guess greater effort is required on my part to adopt some of the teaching of poem “Desiderata”
Remember what peace there may be in silence.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Dor always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
EDIT:
For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
The old saying rings true. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.
I never said my opinion of winx……….I WAS not talking opinion…..it is the fact that they never gave her the chance that she earned………i am actually sticking up for the horse………..She never will not have an Asterisk. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THIS?………….you don’t know many say this?……….you know people say she never went to face the best…..the point was, you have to give the horse the chance…….your opinions, my opinions dont matter………she deserved to prove it
AUS is not the us or eng or france
“I never said my opinion of winx”
Name are considered proper nouns. Fists letter should be capitalized. As in Winx.
Said is the past and past participle of say
Say – utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction. This is a forum in which information and opinion are written.
Our gracious host is a brilliant writer. You do is blog a disservice with your incoherent language.
Hey pro, trainer you run point for daily will have an asterisk,no doubt!
i dont have a love of trainers…….i go on horses……….if Bob cheated, i would say it……..do you ever comment on anything smart?…..any knowledge about anything?
Could ask you the same question. However,your ‘hero worship’ is always on full display.
No………i post he is the greatest dirt trainer ever……………..truth………
Anyone who attacks your ‘hero’ you go full pit bull! Also,anyone anti drugs-you go nuts……… truth!!!!
i dont care about BOB…….i post truth……
Bob is your life.
“Jockey” opens this weekend…
Filmed at Turf Paradise, about the hard life of an aging rider, and most jockeys aren’t wealthy…..they filmed “Let It Ride” at TuP, too.
Let it Ride was filmed at Hialeah
Again, I stand corrected! A great movie! My late great Oregon State Humanities Professor, and Horse Racing friend Peter Copek used Let It Ride in a Film Comedy class he taught….
McKinnon worked solid Sunday, dull track…horse knows what’s up, and if he takes to dirt he will have had plenty of experience, looks like will be in the Sham.
A 5-horse field in the Sham! Heavy favorite will be Rockefeller, who struck oil in the Remsen against a mediocre field. There’s no reason based on pedigree that Mackinnon shouldn’t take to dirt. His 4.5f dirt debut was nothing more than a workout, so no conclusions can be drawn from it. But he’ll probably be overbet like Rockefeller. Oviatt Class comes from too far back to be reliable. Could the turf/AW colt Degree of Risk (12-1 ML) be the ticket?
Steve and all, I wanted to make a small revision regarding Flightline’s injury. Last evening I did some additional research on the accident and learned this:
In January 2020, Ingordo (blood stock agent who represented West Point Thoroughbreds in the purchase of Flightline) went to visit Flightline and other clients’ horses at Mayberry Farm in Ocala, Fla., an operation run by Jeanne Mayberry and her two daughters, April and Summer.
“I’m watching these sets train and saw lots of beautiful horses,” he said. “I’m waiting for the next set and I hear this big crash, a loud bang. The Tapit colt scared himself, something startled him. He had his tack on and was ready to go out, but caught his butt on a stall door latch. It was a pretty deep wound and took a long time to heal. You can see that scar back there. One of those fluke things that will happen”.
Yes……it happened………do you believe that is why he started so late?……was off so long?……..you probably have common sense, and know there must be more right?………i see no bad signs….its really a mystery………….
someone said he has an ankle……who was that poster……where did they hear that?
Thank you for your effort(s) to try putting words in my mouth and trying to tell me what I think.
You seem to think that I need your guidance, your expertise(?); that you are the parent and I am your child.
In response to your reply to me:
1. I do not need confirmation from you that “Yes, it happened”. My post was simply a correction to what I had posted way down in the thread as to how the accident happened. It was not a run in with a “fence” as was reported but rather with the stall gate.
2. Yes I do “think” that this accident most certainly was a set back for the colt while in training at Mayberry’s which in turn resulted in the change of plans for the colt to prep for the Derby.
3. Yes, I have common sense BUT I do not know or suspect that there is “more”.
One thing I do know is that we can wrap our horses in bubble wrap, put them in a padded stall with a 24 hour security camera and they will still find a way to get hurt.
You always talk about the presence or absence of “bad signs” yet you never elaborate on what those “bad signs” are and when a horse fails, you quickly announce “I told you so!”
I find the suggestion, which in some cases sounds more like a demand, that the colt’s connections ship him to the other side of the world to compete in the DWC as ridiculous.
If the game plan for Flightline (as mutually agreed on by his trainer, Mr. Sadler and connections (Hronis, Summer Wind, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Thoroughbreds) is to run in the Met Mile and in at least three other races in 2022 and a desire that the colt not be rushed off to the breeding shed and return in 2023, then I am all for that.
We cannot, as fans or horseplayers (which I am not), have it both ways. We cannot moan and groan and complain one minute that these colts (and fillies) should be given the opportunity to grow into and develop their full potential and race beyond 3 and moan and groan and complain when the connections plan to do just that results in fewer starts in the current year.
Mr. Sadler has described Flightline as his “Zenyatta”. The connections have expressed hopes that the colt will be the next “America’s Horse”. Best wishes that their dreams are fulfilled.
Me? I am just along for the ride.
Linda,obviously he’s an overblown narcissist.
You imply THIS IS WHY fLIGHTLINE WAS OFF, and why he is so lightly raced…………how long does a laceration take to heal?………..not that long……..
I know HORSES………. why was he off that long? After his 1st race?……..AN ISSUE!……the cut healed long ago………there is a reason. Then he ran again………had a hoof problem and won this race……….4 race plan?
Yet you dont think there is an issue………you somehow think i’m wrong knowing there is?
Why do you think i’m wrong? I posted because your post was way too simplistic…..this horse must have an issue………the trainer is smart…….never talk about issues…….only bad can come from that…..
Saying his issue was/is the laceration……..is simplistic, and not logical
Guy…..I didn’t read any offense to your OPINION, in her post…rather—it’s HOW you frame the question “…you probably have common sense, and know there must be more–right?”—-that’s a “trap” question, because if she does not agree with your presumption that he has some other issues, that have not been revealed….then she’s admitting to not having common sense, per your pre-loading the question, like that….it looked like a pretty nasty scar, to me, he began career in when…May? It seems logical to me, and Sadler did say he had a foot issue after his debut race, WHY do you think they’re hiding something?
Your cryptic “bad signs”….my “common sense” tells me THATS hiding something….right?
What do you mean?……why ask what does bad signs mean?…….there are many ……..you want me to list all bad signs horses show?………..not eating…….where they stand in the stall…..how they walk……their coat……..how they act……..how they run……….
Again…….who doesnt know there is an issue……….those guys argue everything……if people want to think the issue is his scar….fine…….believe what you want……listen to that opinion……..i know better
>Exellent read,Steve!! & Thank you~ Yes I was a HUge Chrome fan back then and still. Along with Gun Runner & Maxfield.
I Hope that You & Yours,Steve had a Great & Merry Christmass!!! & Have a Safe & Happy New Year!!!~ Enjoy the upcoming races…
Bill~
What a lovely story on Chrome and his connections. I did not know the story about Eoin Harty’s 2 year old and Chrome – thanks for telling that! Yes, Coburn got testy with a microphone shoved in his face and said something unfortunate, but he recanted and apologized. Has Baffert apologized to the industry for saying that ‘something is wrong’ with racing?
No, he hasn’t.
That is a BIG difference to me!
Anyone can get emotional, but it takes a big person to admit you said something out of line and apologize.
Good points! Many enjoy casting stones from glass houses.
A win in Dubal by Flightline….would include the winner’s purse, but—if you look at the race, in it’s 27, 28 race history, it usually has one top horse, sometimes no top horse…. a race like the Met Mile—especially a huge win, like Flightline produces, would be worth far more to the connections, in stud value, as well as historic value, PLEASE DON’T go to the middle east, with him! They took a historic Malibu, which is an important race to win, based on the horses who have won it….now go get The Met Mile, go get the important American races!
Matthew, I know next to nothing about stud value. I’m a racing fan and, as such, I want to see the best horses in the best races. You seem to be saying that there’s a choice between the DWC and the Met Mile — that racing in one precludes racing in the other. Are you saying that Flightline couldn’t race in March and again in June? For one thing, we’re really getting ahead of ourselves when we anticipate a year’s racing schedule. Flightline has raced just three times, and he hasn’t gone further than 7 furlongs. Sadler said that he wants four races from Flightline in 2022. Four? Over the course of a year, that would be a race every three months. Is that what top-class racing should look like? As for the DWC, it would be a full three months from the Malibu. Flightline COULD have a shorter race in between. If he proves himself around two turns in his next race, I see no good reason not to go for the winner’s share of a $12 million purse. The DWC isn’t a walkover for the best U.S.-trained horses, who have won only about half the time. Remember who beat California Chrome in 2015?
I’m content to take Flightline’s path one race at a time. I hope the next race is sooner rather than later.
The DWC is not a walkover for the best US trained horses? They win only half the time? You name Chrome, what were all of the other best US horses that were beaten? Seems like when the big favorite from US goes, they usually win, and win big….
I disagree, about the “importance” factor of winning in Dubai….you name WINNERS, well I SAID there’s usually one top horse, that wins….easy money big wins….HOW is that important, besides the big money?
You are correct that when the very best of U.S. horses go to the DWC, they usually win, except for Chrome in 2015 and West Coast in 2014 (he was even money, I think). So? Why shouldn’t they win? They should win ANY big race they enter, foreign or domestic. You seem to have ignored the excellent foreign-trained horses that have won the DWC. It’s a G1 race at 10f with a huge purse. The best horses SHOULD go there. If they don’t, that’s their problem, or rather their connections’ problem. Also, are you making the assumption that Flightline will go straight from the 7f Malibu to the 10f DWC? If that’s the scenario, I would be against it. But he’s a racehorse. He should race!
Best dirt racing is still in the US, some of the best US horses have won there, outside of Arrogate beating Gun Runner, and thats one race—those best US horses are not beating all that…the first Saudi Cup was a terrific field, but last year Jesus was 2nd choice!–why is it so important to you that Flightline go there, to race? Because those fields, top to bottom are not usually all that…so he crushes Jesus Team, would that satisfy you?
Tell me what major U.S. races for 3&up males are in the DWC time period. And tell me what U.S. races for 3&up males in the first half of the year have quality fields. The only race that CONSISTENTLY has quality fields is the BC Classic in November. I’d like to see the best U.S. horses go wherever the best races are.
And you don’t realize, Dubai has lessened some major US races! I guess I’m biased, because I saw some terrific Santa Anita Handicaps, before Dubai….The Donn, used to be major….before Dubai….you toss aside the Malibu, The Met Mile….because they aren’t as major as a race in Dubai, and yet that makes my point…..using US racetracks as training grounds for Dubai….
Eddie, you say the ONLY consistently quality field is The Classic…don’t you understand, it didn’t used to be that way, here!
I do understand. I also understand that the past has passed. 😉
So, Bernardini and Ghostzapper are no good because that failed to run in Dubai? Obviously, the best dirt horse since Spectacular Bid is Thunder Snow? Thunder Snow, the only horse ‘ever’ to win the Dubai World Cup twice.
You are conflating gross prize money with greatness which is not the same. The Europeans won’t fly their best horses around the world. Flightline has the potential to emulate Frankel – these rare champion horses make the race not extravagant prize money.
Matthew has the ‘history’ of horse racing on his side. The best dirt races will always be run in the USA.
Davids, if that is what you inferred from my series of comments, I must have done a poor job of expressing myself.
Let’s make it simple. The connections of Flightline don’t consider the Dubai World Cup an important enough race to be on Flightline’s resume to risk such an endeavor. Furthermore, the connections believe a Met Mile win to be extremely important for the colt’s future at stud.
Most racing ‘old timers’ innately understand why Flightline’s connections are bypassing the Dubai World Cup for the more prestigious Met Mile. Stardom.
Count me as one who would love to see him race—here.
Dubai cuts out a big chunk of American racing…if they set up a $20 million dollar race in November, and cut a chunk out of the Breeders Cup, would you like THAT? Making American tracks training grounds, for mid east racing? A top horse races, say from March thru November…9 months….Dubai takes out 3 months…throw in Saidi Arabia—another month, or two….is that what you want? I don’t.
P.S. I think you’ll find that the 25-year history of the DWC has been far more “important” than the Malibu and the Met Mile during the same period, with winners such as Cigar, Silver Charm, Invasor, Curlin, Animal Kingdom, California Chrome, and Arrogate. And it’s at the classic distance of 10f.
Of those Dubai winners you listed….Cigar…Silver Charm….Curlin….Animal Kingdom…Arrogate—-all seemed less brilliant, after Dubai…..
Captain Steve was another, Bob Baffert confirmed the above himself.
I’m not sure why it matters in regard to the relative importance/quality of races that some DWC winners may have regressed after the race. Of course the rigors of travel may impact decisions to race abroad. As for Curlin, he won as many G1s after the DWC as he won before the DWC.
Yeah, he did….but he didn’t crush them, like his 4 3/4 Classic, or his 8 length Dubai win, he was not the same Curlin! A lot more than “some” came back lessor, in my opinion.
Cigar –
Won his first 2 starts after returning from Dubai. Lost his 3rd to Dare and Go a decent European import who had some ability as he won the Pacific Classic in 1:59+. Cigar won his 4th start. In his 5th he ran into the younger and talent Skip Away and had to settle for 2nd. In his final start he just got out run by 2 talented horses including record setting Preakness winner Lois Quatorize. He was an older horse by then with declining ‘T.
Cigar run of consecutive wins wasn’t going last forever. He was beaten by younger and talented opponents. His perceive decline has nothing to do with his trip to Dubai.
Curlin –
Won his first start after returning from Dubai. Lost his 2nd in his only attempt on turf. Won his next 2 starts and lost his 5th on the Synthetic surface at SA Park. His 2 losses from 5 starts were on turf and All Weather. His losses couldn’t be attributed to his trip to Dubai as he won a all his starts on dirt.
Unsupported assertions should be avoided.
Then don’t make them.
Cigar was an icon…….. pure and simple!
CF, Cigar’s ‘decline’ was Dubai and racing 10 races prior season. Are you ignoring FACT his last race-losing by a neck or so?
Also, he was carefully managed because of bad feet.
He took us on the ride of a lifetime!
Those “two year olds” of Bob’s you speak so highly of will be 4-year-olds on Saturday.
Yes!
The 2021 top Beyer #’s for two year olds were Shaaz (105) and Hopkins (104), same trainer (Bob) same race— Shaaz was IMPRESSIVE, catching Hopkins, who opened up at head of the stretch…..Shaaz looks like any kind!
Theyre 3 year olds
Way to keep the biased fans honest, Steve!
Oops!
Considering most on the comments below your article about California Chrome are about Flightline, I’d love to hear your thoughts on him.
Ran three times I’m guessing three or four more races Met Mile…Pacific Classic ( they like Del Mar) Classic thats all….
No one loves spacing more than me……..but if it is true that he is skipping those 2 middle east races……..waiting for met mile. then i can’t believe it………..The middle east races are months away…….there comes a time, when you are robbing the horse’s legacy, history……..the HORSE deserves his shot at the big purses. He deserves it………DON’T LET HIM BE AN ASTERISK.
wINX’S owners never let her prove it against the best……..she deserved her shot to prove it……..they robbed her……she will always be an asterisk……
This horse is being shockingly careful………I’M VERY CONSERVATIVE. I believe in this way more than others……..but this is ridiculous…..the met mile is in JULY…………he might not make the cup……..he is an asterisk if he doesnt…….
THE HORSE HAS EARNED HIS SHOT AT GREATNESS………….run in the middle east…..
Referring to Winx as ‘aserisk’. That says it all! lmao
Asterisk.
By his logic the greatest US turf horses, Round Table, Cougar II, Secretariat, John Henry, Lure, Wise Dan ALL deserve asterisks, because they, too didn’t go and beat the Euro turfers in Europe….Winx beat good Euro turfers, she just didn’t do it THERE.
Bravo!
I cannot speak to any on the list other than Wise Dan. There were sports writers, commentators and even some on the Hangin with Haskin blog on Blood Horse who chided the late Morton Fink and Charlie LaPriesti for not taking Wise Dan to race in Europe.
Yes, it does.
Highland Reel was no slouch. I doubt that either AP or Justify could have beaten him …
Especially Justify.
Winx with an asterisk? Spewed my unsweet ice tea upon reading that.
Unreal!
Yes……she will always have an Asterisk to many people……..this is not news, i didnt say my opinion. The POINT is…….she is subject to opinions………..she deserved to run against the best…….YOU think the best are in AUS……..others do not……
That is what will happen to Flightline……..Opinions………”he beat nothing” “he was over rated” etc………..
Could you name a few of those “many people”? As for leaving Australia to prove her international ranking…What stopped the top fillies and mares around the world from shipping to Australia to race against Winx?
“The world” have finally come to realize the prize money on offer in Australia and have attempted to win some of their plumb races, with somewhat limited success. Alternatively, Australian racehorses have been quite successful when attempting to win particularly major sprint races overseas.
The old adage that Australian breds are ‘easy beats’ is a fallacy lost decades ago.
Thank you.
David’s I’ve seen Aussie newspapers, the sport page is full of pictures of the races, its a Horse Racing country— VETS being a Debbie Downer, about Winx, about Flightline. A Met Mile meeting with Life Is Good sounds great, to me….after that Pacific Classic, or Whitney….sounds great, to me.
You’re correct Matthew. Racing in Australia is ingrained within the culture. Phar Lap put food on the table for thousands of families. Gunsynd had a top ten pop song written about him. An uncle of mine gave me an Australian Stud Book to study when I turned 7 and then quizzed me on it. Every corner store will have guys chatting about the races. Historic, Melbourne and Sydney races are shown live on commercial television – usually the whole card.
Racing in Australia is the lingua franca that joins the nation.
I agree with your speculation on race selection for Flightline. The connections want to make a statement whenever Flightline runs so that he makes “Front Page” news – this horse has that talent.
Seems I’ve picked up couple trolls.
They abound on these racing sites … seems like one person, saying the same thing, IMO
It is. lol
Other than the Winx silliness, I agree with you. But…first, we don’t know what’s next for the horse. Sadler ain’t sayin’, other than maybes. Second, the horse obviously has issues. He didn’t debut until April of his 3yo season. His next race was 4+ months later, then nearly 4 months to the Malibu. What horse racing doesn’t need is a breakdown of a superstar, or a budding superstar.
Correct! Hopefully issues are behind him,but who knows.
Flightline missed his two year old season and did not make his debut until April of his 3 year old season because he had an accident involving a fence as a high yearling. He has a scar on his right semitendinosus muscle (the area known as the rump and associated with the hamstrings). This muscle extends the hip, stifle and tarsus during weightbearing causing propulsion. When the limb is non-weightbearing, it flexes the stifle. The scar is an upside down y shape. The two branches of the y look to be 4-6 inches long each and the long branch or stem of the y about 8 inches in length. Hard to count the number of stitches from the photo of the scar but looks to be close to a 100. Trauma to this area is very, very painful and deep cuts to this area can take a long time to heal.
I saw him being saddled the scar is knarly! Not straight, it curves , looks like was deep.
It is probably a blessing in disguise, & I imagine the person who allowed the fencing to become THAT dangerous has been let go.
The other lay off was because of a stone bruise.
Thanks for the info, Lynda. Regarding the fence accident: It occurred in late 2019? According to Equibase, Flightline didn’t have his first public workout until January 23, 2021. Regarding the hoof bruise: There are many kinds of bruises, and many levels of seriousness. More than a year off of training for the first problem and 4+ months between the first two races presents questions that we can’t answer. Then….what about the nearly 4 months to the Malibu? What was the issue for that? And if Flightline doesn’t race again for a few months, what will the reason be for that?
There are many questions about Flightline that only the connections can answer. We’re left to wonder.
Eddie, I do not have an exact timeline on the life so far of this colt other than he was born in March 2018 at Summerwind Farm, sold at the Keenland Yearling Sale for $1 million to West Point Thoroughbreds in August of 2019. He was sent to Mayberry’s in Florida for training (to ride). In January 2020 is when he was injured. The injury was described as being “pretty deep and took a long time to heal. As I mentioned above I have seen a photo of the scar and described the size, complexity of the wound and a guess at the number of stiches that were involved and how long recovery from such a wound. It was definitely a setback in the training schedule for the colt at Mayberry’s. It was a nasty, ugly injury. It is not inconceivable to me that he would have his first public work a year later with Mr. Sadler. Keep in mind that most of these Thoroughbreds today go to a training center to be broke to ride, really no trainer comes to mind who breaks these horses and trains them up to race.
As to the stone bruise, you are correct. As a horse owner I know that there are different causes for a stone bruise and different levels of seriousness. A stone bruise can happen anywhere on the hoof wall or on the sole. Sometimes the bruise can abscess (which is what happened to Chrome in England).
I honestly do not think that there is anything nefarious going on here with the colt. The owners, which include the breeder, Summerwind, all think that this is a very special colt, with lots of potential and they have no desire to rush him off to the breeding shed. He is simply being managed very carefully with the owners having a lot to say about how his career is managed.
Additionally I have ready that his next race will be the Met Mile and three other potential starts (unnamed) in 2022 after that.
I wasn’t suggesting anything nefarious. It’s just that owners and trainers aren’t obligated to make public the details of their horses’ conditions. They have all sorts of reasons to keep info private. Bettors would like to know, of course.
Sadler said “nothing big”, has happenedto him….
Mr. Sadler said in an interview that the injury to his rump happened before Flightline came to him. It is very well documented that the incident happened at Mayberry’s. As to the stone bruise, that is a very, very common injury to all horses. I have two right now that have a stone bruise that were up close to the coronet band and are growing out which from that area, takes about a year.
Yes, it is true that some trainers and owners keep health conditions very close to the vest. I can recall one very high profile horse from a few years ago that the trainer gave two different explanations for a horse in his stable favoring a leg and the truth was actually a third explanation.
If the owners of a race horse have a long term goal of racing a colt or a filly past their three year old season which from what I have read the connections of Flightline want to do, then yes, the horse will be managed differently than one that run a handful of high profile races and is shooed off to the breeding shed at the end of the year.
Sadler said, and it makes sense to me—after his 2nd start they discussed Breeders Cup but no stakes experience precluded him from drawing in, had they had a full field, and they decided not to crank him up.
Grade 2 1:53 2/5….Gr2 1:44 4/5…..Gr1 1:24 2/5 (won by four)….Gr1 2:04 3/5 (impressive)……Gr1 1:21 1/5—–is going to get very high rating, horse broke last.
Flightline, was/is beyond compare. Easily the best horse in the USA, if not the world. Happy New Year, you bet!!
Indeed Davids…! He is a living hyperbole…!
Jackie’s Warrior is getting the title of best sprinter but the speedometers clearly say Flightline is way faster.
It would be even more thrilling to see the son of Tapit going longer … he had just three nice ‘warm-ups’ in 2021.
The San Pasqual on February 5 looks like a good opportunity to see him flying over 9 furlongs. Then, the Santa Anita Handicap, a month later, will be the next natural move… I just hope he stays healthy until then.
Hey, Nelson and Davids! Don’t you think that Flightline will get some consideration for the Eclipse? Dr. Schivel’s connections thought that a Malibu win would seal the sprint award in their favor. With the Malibu loss, Dr. S has no chance. Aloha West won the BC Sprint, and Jackie’s Warrior won the Pat Day Mile and the Jerkens (but was off the board in the BCS). Who do you like?
Hope you enjoyed a great holiday Eddie. As for brilliant Flightline, pro saw ‘bad signs’. lol
I did, Mike. I’m sure you did too! The only bad sign I’ve seen so far from Flightline is how he seems to enjoy embarrassing his opponents.
lol If requires fewer races (spaced) it’s okay by me.
stop lying………he looks perfect………ask matt what i said
Not lying. Ask Zany.
Flightline’s talent is so superior to all the other sprinters that it’s a walkover but I don’t believe in one race Champions. Two year old Horse of the Year awards are foolish in my opinion as well.
Hopefully, Flightline’s meteorite rise will continue next year. Comparison to the three great Ss of yesteryear would be a complement, let’s make this a New Year wish. Time will tell.
It’s certainly something to look forward to in the new year! To echo Nelson’s comment, Flightline’s first 2-turn race is greatly anticipated.
I’d like to see Flightline in the Met Mile first and Keeneland later but travel seems doubtful to me going by the trainer’s past history.
Sadler might think differently now. He’s never had one like Flightline.
The connections are way too clever/conservative to “lose their heads” now. Prestige, history are what is important, they won’t fluff it up. Retired, undefeated, with a string of tour de force performances is a rarity these days.
So what were Accelerate and Stellar Wind, chopped liver?
Sorry. I wasn’t as clear as I should have been. Sadler has never had a horse at this stage of a career as brilliant as Flightline. Accelerate and Stellar Wind did not begin their careers like Flightline has. As for Chopped Liver, I’m not familiar with his record. 😉
(BTW, that’s a winking emoji, not a rolling eyes emoji)
Good point Davids. Can see Flightline in Met Mile. Tailor made fit for him.
He took Accelerate to Churchill Downs….
See my reply above to Lynda on Dec 28.
Not a chance, only one stakes win….would he be favored against Jackie’s Warrior? He’d be heavily favored, but Jackie’s had a better year
I wasn’t saying that Flightline would win the Eclipse. I merely posed a question about consideration. BTW, the last Eclipse winner to lose the BC Sprint was Lost in the Fog in 2005, and he was 8 for 8 until then. JW won one G1 sprint, same as Aloha West, Dr Schivel, and Flightline. I just don’t think JW is a clear favorite.
If I had a vote it would be Schivel.
There were some ‘happy campers’ at the trophy presentation. How often does Pegasus reappear in equine pose? With a horse this valuable limited appearances on the racetrack are inevitable. Unfortunately, travel, even interstate, would appear somewhat doubtful as well.
Let’s hope Flightline makes an appearance at the Keeneland in November, 2022.
He was breathtaking. It would be interesting if he gets nominated as one of three Sprint champion candidates. A real toss-up for the voters.
He won’t get a nomination! The BC one/two and Jackie’s Warrior will get the noms.
Agreed!
For the fans of the progenies of Tiznow. There is an interesting progeny of the 2times BCC winner entered in the inaugural
running of the Fun Runner Stakes. Waita Minute Hayse a name more suited to a standard bred, doesn’t appear to have the
speed necessary to be competitive with the Asmussen and Cox entrants. Consequently, my finding the colt interesting might just be driven by my longshot hunter MO.
My longshot hunter MO aside. This colt’s profile makes for interesting reading. His sire Tiznow needs no introduction. However, his Storm Cat dam Surprises Welcomed, was an expensive purchase. She who was sold on 2 occasions for $3,000,000 & $2,500,000. She returned only $75K of her purchase price. Her dam Welcome Surprise was by Seeking The Gold out of Weekend Suprise by Secretariat. It wouldn’t be stretch to state that there is whole lot of blue blood in Waita Minute Hayse’s immediate dam line
The records reflect a DOB of May 20th for Waita Minute Hayse. In comparison, the ML favorite Epicenter has a DOB of January 28th. Waita Minute Hayse is considered a late foal and one to be handled with caution. But his race record reflects caution be gone. See Below
Debut – 9/4/2021; 5F – Finished 5th by 11 1/4L
2nd Start – 9/16/2021 (14 days); 8F – Won by 2L
3rd Start – 10/10/2021 (24 days) 8 1/2F Bourbon Stakes (Turf) – Finished last of 14 beaten by 46L
4th Start – 11/6/2021 – (27 days) 6 1/2F – Won by a HD
5th Start – 11/20/2021 – (14 days) 8 1/2F Won by 2 1/2L (DQ to 2nd)
The above is hardly the script for May 20th foal. The colt has already made 3 starts at 8F & longer; two starts with a 14-day turn-around and a longest period between starts of 27 days. He will enter the Gun Runner 36 days between starts. The longest of his short career.
This colt does have talent. How much is to be determined. But what is more evident is his toughness. If his ill-advised start in the Bourbon is ignored. He has been in the the mix in all other starts.
Tinnow’s first major winner was Folklore who won 3 graded stakes including the Breder Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was produced from a Storm Cat mare. Can the Tiznow/Storm Cat cross produce another stakes winner in Waita Minute Hayse? Who knows! Waita Minute Hayse appears to be a tough colt with ability and more importantly has a milage advantage.
Being a May foal shouldn’t be a disadvantage. When May foals are good, they seem to have an advantage. Lookin At Lucky, Authentic, Mine That Bird, Pioneerof The Nile, Country House, Maximum Security, Code Of Honor are May foals.
At an ML of 8/1 this colt could surprise if he is good enough. His demanding 5 race career could have fueled serious improvement in the 36 days he hasn’t made a start.
It’s nice to see a race named for one of my all-time favorites, Fun Runner. His greatest victory was the Beeders Cup Vlasic where he beat Irrigate, Collectable, and East Coast. Without question he’s the best son ever of Randy Cide.
You are giving Dave Barry a run for his money, Eddie. (I just read his year end “summary” at wapo.com). I laughed just as hard at this.
Thanks, Ms B. Dave Barry is the best. I had to read his Year in Review with multiple breaks for fear of a gelastic seizure.
EddieF
Ridiculing others for inadvertently mis-spelling a word (Fun/Gun) shows poor form on your part. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, “don’t give up your day job, you’ll never make it as a standup comic”. I’d venture to say Coldfacts has forgotten more than you’ll ever know about horse racing in general, and breeding in particular.
Shame on you, BILL DAWSON…for ridiculing Coldfacts’ memory loss. And you owe Ms Blacktype an apology, too.
EddieF
Why do I owe Ms Blacktype an apology, because she thinks you’re comical and I don’t? Get real.
Tell you what Bill,will gladly trade what little I know-compared to Coldfacts, considering WHO I know in racing and for all my amazing travels/adventures as well as my career. Trust me, I prevail hands down!
lol
Hi Mike Relva
What you’ve stated could very well be true, however, just to be clear, my post was submitted to EddieF. He gives Coldfacts a blast at every opportunity, even for mis-spelling a word or two. I’ve been following Coldfacts for years, and the one main thing I’ve noticed, he has a strong command of the English language. In addition, he has been known to pick a big longshot every now and then. BTW, you stated, “considering WHO I know in racing”, do you happen to know Rattle N Roll’s connections?
He hasn’t had a recorded work since his impressive win in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, I’m curious to know why.
As it stands now, R N R is my top contender on the Road To The Kentucky Derby.
Have a nice day Mike
CF NEVER acknowledges error,in case you never noticed. He stated Knicks Go couldn’t get 10F prior to Breeders Classic. Stated KG could. Do you believe he owned it? Not a chance. Eddie,on other hand doesn’t take himself too seriously,yet he’s bright. Btw, don’t know RNR connections,don’t even like trainer. On other hand,do know Coburn’s and flew to have dinner with them last yr and acquainted with owners daughter of The Tin Man,visited him many instances when flying to CA. Also, owner of Nobiz Like Showbiz/Hello Broadway. When I’ve visited many of these great horses,certainly haven’t been at mercy of dumb tour groups,entirely different playing field. Book it!
My god, you are an insufferable blowhard and name-dropper. Is there a topic you can’t segue into a story about one of your horsie visits?
Hi Clownshill! Perhaps you could as well,if not on HRN 24/7 shilling for Bob with your dumb name and 50 ‘spare’ names which you deploy. Betting if Mr. Haskin were moderating there you would be history very long time ago. Sad Barb!
Incredible. You posted without a horsie visit story. I know that was hard for you, so congrats.
I can’t imagine being so insecure as to turn every topic into an opportunity to brag about your “private showings” and turning your nose up at those who partake in “dumb tour groups.” You poor, insignificant little man.
lmao! Look in mirror ‘Jim’.
Better scurry back to other site to run point for your idol. Btw, what about pro vet? Any lectures for him being an “insignificant little man” for his daily bragging? Sure!
Speaking from a one trick troll who cares zero about horses,rather spending waking hrs pining away for one trainer. lol
When was the last time you thought about Battle of Britain?
Answer: NEVER! She’s a crazed individual who cares zero regarding horses.
Lovely article about a horse that took us all along for the ride. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for us at the time. I hope his stud career in Japan is the one he wouldn’t have here, and I look forward to seeing him return after.
I love a big blaze….with those purple blinkers and the big nose bandage, I never really noticed he had the blaze!
Your column brought it all back to me. He and Team Sherman and the owners took us on such a wonderful amazing journey. So many of us stay in touch through some
of the Facebook groups that are devoted to Chrome and Chrome’s babies.
Beautiful read Mr. Haskin. I have so many photos of Chrome and whenever he raced in Ca. I was there. Went to see his early am workouts. Owned a lot of purple clothing and some green wraps too. He represented so much to the racing world and I will love him forever.
Hopefully when he returns to . I’ll still be on this earth to go visit him. Cried like a baby at his BC at Santa Anita when he and Shared Belief ( another favorite). Didn’t prevail. Having met Mr. Sherman. I could not agree more. He deserves to be an Eclipse award winning trainer. If Mr. Martin is writing a book I sure hope they make a movie. It is a tale that needs to be told……. Many thanks for all your excellent reporting and writing. Definitely a devoted fan of Chrome. He will never ever be forgotten. He’s right there with Zenyatta for me. ❤️
3 favs- Chrome, Zen,Cigar. Saw all 3.
Just some year end trivia. Nelson’s comment below California Chrome reversed the old saying about horses with four white socks.
“One white foot, buy him.
Two white feet, try him.
Three white feet, be on the sly.
Four white feet, pass him by.”
and a comment way down about a bob tail horse brought this song to mind. There is also a saying that on a rainy day,beton the grey. is raining.
First racehorse film ever (1878 – filmed by Eadweard Muybridge) featured in this music video “The Camp Town Races (written by Stephen Foster).
The horse is either “Mahomet,” owned by Leland Stanford; ridden by G. Domm, cantering at an 8-minute gait over the Palo Alto track, 17th June 1878 or “Sallie Gardner,” a chestnut mareSallie was Stanford owned by Leland Stanford; ridden by G. Domm, running at a 1:40 gait over the Palo Alto track, 19th June 1878. He filmed both horses.
The still images would indicate that the horse is Sallie Gardner.
The mare was bred by Arthur Towles in Tennessee in 1872 and owned by Leland Stanford (industrialist, politician and one of the Big 5 who funded and built the Transcontinental Railroad).
Sallie was by a Thoroughbred stallion named Vandal out of a TB mare named Charlotte Thompson (bred in TN). Notable horses in Sallie’s pedigree include Whalebone, Eclipse, Irish Birdcatcher.
Produced:
1879 F. b. Eleanor by Electioneer (trotter)
1880 C. br. by Mohawk Chief
1882 C. b. Garland by Shannon
1883 C. ch. Gardey by Flood
1884 F. ch. Sallie G. by Flood
1886 F. ch. Amy Gardner by Flood
1888 C. b. Homer by Shannon
Barren in 1881, 85, 87, and died May 6, 1888.
In June of 1878, Leland Stanford invited fellow horsemen and curious reporters were gathered to Stanford’s sprawling Palo Alto Stock Farm in Northern California, where he bred and trained Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. They had been invited by Stanford to watch one of his horses gallop around the track.
There was a raging debate at the time, both among horsemen and the general public, involving the gait of a galloping horse. Some, like Stanford, believed in “unsupported transit”, or to put it plainly, that during the gallop the horse has all four hooves are in the air simultaneously. the majority fell under the opinion that a horse must have at least one foot on the ground at all times to support locomotion.
So Stanford set out to prove his theory. He needed a way to capture the very moment, undetectable to the naked eye, when a galloping horse goes completely airborne. He needed a photograph. Which led him to Eadweard Muybridge.
Sallie was Stanford’s prized mare and was chosen for the experiment.
The photos were spliced together to create the world’s first true motion picture, “Sallie Gardner at a Gallop”. It was a victory for science, art and Stanford, who as legend has it, had $25,000 riding on his bold belief.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdZliSDhgXY
Wow, that was some history lesson. Thank you Lynda.
Muybridge would be well know by students of photography, painting, and film. Extremely influential.
Steve
Another great article on Chrome bringing tears of pride for all involved and love of this horse! Thank you and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Hi Steve! It’s been a long while since I’ve read one of your stories and this was, as usual, fantastic! You are a class act. Zenyatta will always be my favorite, but what a blast I had following California Chrome’s racing career. I got to see him race a few times and had so much fun. I remember one time, I was trying to get a picture of his name plate as he walked by me into the saddling area. He just kept looking right into my big old camera when I needed him to look straight ahead, as I had planned. I got some great mug shots of him, even if I didn’t get his name plate. He was such a ham. Art Sherman got a kick out of the fans oohing and aahing over his rock star. It was a great time following Chromeo’s career and I look forward to the day he comes back here to the states. Thanks for writing about Chrome and his connections. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. ~Gloria
A long while? Where have you been? LOL. Thank you Gloria, hope you stick around. Thanks for your Chrome memories and Merry Christmas,
Wonderful column, Steve! Chrome was the first horse I followed from pre-Derby until his retirement. I still remember Trevor’s call as he won the Santa Anita Derby (something like “and the hopes of California will be going to Louisville!!”). I was beyond excited when he won not only the Derby but all is the other races to follow! There has never been another horse like him for me. I hope Art Sherman actually got all of the retirement cards that were sent to Los Al.
Thanks Sandy
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year everyone!
Same to you Lynda.
Thank you Steve, for a wonderful article about a very special horse and his special people. Happy holidays to you ad your family. May 2022 be good to you.
Thank you Dawn. Same to you
I’m wondering if Steve was deciding whether to title this “Chrome Sweet Chrome” or “Chrome Is Where the Heart Is.”
I like yours better
LOL. You can save it for when Chrome returns to the U.S.
Thats where Chrome Sweet Chrome really fits
No, yours (Steve) is way better! Shorter and stronger! One if your best titles, and you have some clever ones! The Haskin column title is the latter day Peb cover!
Love the Peb reference. Thank you. And I do love the short heads better,
Thank you Steve for the informative article on a great racehorse. As it turned out both Perry Martin and Steve Coburn weren’t so “dumb ass” after all.
As for Art Sherman – Santa Anita is going to honoring him Sunday on their opening day card….as should be.
Finally, do you remember the human nasal strips or purple band-aids fans wore across their noses in honor of ‘The People’s Horse’?
Yes, John, I remember them. The nasal strips actually became popular in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup at GP.
Los Al gave out Chrome dolls, I still have mine….has the nasal strip!
Thanks so much for this. He is my second favorite horse in my lifetime and the first would be Secretariat.
LOVE your stories and writing. You could make sweeper instructions interesting!
LOL. That’s very kind of you, Sharon. Thank you very much.
Steve, when California Chrome and Art Sherman were dazzling the racing fraternity it sent you back to the days of childhood fantasy. The good guy wins the heart of fair maiden. “Kentucky” the movie was reborn again and the world seem safe. It was such a pity that California Chrome didn’t win the Belmont Stakes there wouldn’t have been a dry eye to be seen. Fairytales don’t always come true, unfortunately.
I’m hoping for Moderna booster shot before Christmas. Fingers crossed – common Santa!!
A beautiful piece to fit fit the mood, Steve. Once more, Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year.
Thanks very much, David and Happy Holidays to you and yours. I can see a kinder Walter Brennan playing Art Sherman. The racing gods apparently wee waiting a year so they had Pletcher throw in a 40-1 no hoper and have him draw next to Chrome to disrupt any Triple Crown plans
Michael Keaton was excellent in “Dopesick” or possibly Tom Hanks, they could play Art Sherman.
Brooklyn-born Richard Dreyfuss and Harvey Keitel could play Art Sherman, but not simultaneously. Los Angeles native Dustin Hoffman wouldn’t need a screen test either.
Robert Duvall would be my pick.
One of the greats of all time. But he’d probably be too old to play a late-70s Art Sherman….even if they started filming today.
Don’t forget Alan Sherman, who got all macho about Dortmund who was fitted with blinkers, for the final Breeders Cup prep race, he said “Good luck with that, cuz we’re sending!” And both horses came back blowing…Dustin Hoffman as Art, Tom Cruise as Alan!…..Bob B could be played by the guy who played him in “50-1”, he got Bob down pat!
…not to forget, Victor Espinoza as himself. Cameo performance.
Victor the showman! Dyed hair GOLD, and brought home $50 Early Pioneer, in yhe Hollywood Gold Cup!.
LOL, Tom Cruise as Alan, now that is a stretch (no reflection on Alan).
Jason Alexander. Paul Giamatti.
Paul would be good.
Tom Cruise, because of the “Bring it ON” , when they outfitted blinkers on Dortman …he ran the Awesome Again, like it was The Classic ….also Tom is short….
Robert Duvall is still acting and starring in movies. “Twelve Mighty Orphans”, 2021 release is now airing on Starz. He certainly does not look his age and with magic of make-up I think he could easily play Art Sherman. He certainly has the acting range to play Mr Sherman. Some of these older actors are timeless. A Clint Eastwood (91) just starred in a movie and did his own riding. Too, I think Robert Duvall (he was born in California) resembles Mr. Sherman.
Harvey Keitel resembles Mr. Sherman but his screen roles have mostly been characters have that have a tough guy persona. Admittedly I have watched only a handful of his movies.
Richard Dreyfuss is closest in age to Mr Sherman when he was training Chrome and physically he too could pass for Mr Sherman. Most of the movies with Richard Dreyfuss that I have watched were from earlier in his career/ I did watch “What About Bob” because it was filmed in my hometown in Virginia and thought ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus” was excellent.
Chris Cooper who played in “Seabiscuit” is another possibility.
Anyway this is all subjective, is it not, kind of like the greatest of all time racehorse. LOL.
No, no, think box office returns. We need ‘star’ billing. Lol.
Costner is too tall and too young, LOL.
Just to let everyone know, after Thursday morning I wont be able to respond to comments, as I’ll be away until Tuesday and there wont be any internet where I’ll be most of the time. So any comments or questions, please put them in before Thursday morning. I will repeat this tomorrow. Thanks.
Happy holidays to you, Steve. Hope you have a great getaway in the Amazon.
Thanks Eddie, Im looking forward to my first Christmas in Bolivia. I’ll bring you back a shrunken head. You can use it is as an ornament next year. Merry Christmas.
Thank gawd! With an ending like that, “50 to 1” would have grossed only $800k instead of the $1 million it actually took in. 😉
Oops! I thought I was replying to the movie thread. [hand in face emoji]
Anyway, I appreciate the thoughtful gift.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Steve! Have a good trip.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you
Steve, don’t forget to pack your mackintosh, umbrella, and galoshes. They are predicting 6 hours straight of heavy rain at La Paz on Christmas Day. Felix Navidad!!
I never trust the La Paz weather forecasts
Good idea!! Ha ha Well, Santa brought me the Moderna vaccine for Christmas and I must say, be careful what you wish for. Lol. Mind you, a mild fever with aches and pain is not going to stop me. The more you move around, the better you feel.
What a treat! My favorite turf writer reminiscing about my favorite racehorse.
A couple of Hall of Famers. Thanks, Steve.
Thanks so much, Rommy. I really appreciate it. If you read my initial comments on Chrome from Derby Dozen just below you’ll appreciate I mention his RF. Lol
Merry Christmas Mr. Haskin!
Thanks Mike, same to you
Thanks so much for this wonderful holiday gift! Chrome was such an honest racehorse. His wins were stirring
and his losses forgivable. No offense, well maybe a little, but to me Chrome’s brilliance surpassed that of the two
Triple Crown winners that followed. Like so many horses, Pharoah and Justify outclassed their human connections.
These are my first comments on California Chrome on the Derby Dozen, which I wrote on Feb. 3, 2014. Thought you would like to see my first impressions of him. I needed all this space so I put him in Knocking on the Door this week and then ranked him in the Top 12 the following week even though he had never faced open company. A few weeks later after the San Felipe he vaulted to No. 1 and never left.
“I have not seen a 3-year-old this year more impressive than this colt. I watched all his races and loved everything I saw, especially the visual improvement in his last two starts – whether they were against Cal-breds or not. First off, forget about him being a Cal-bred. In the Cal Cup Derby he demolished a top-class horse in Tamarando, who had won a grade I and placed in two others and is one of the most consistent horses in the country and an explosive stretch runner.
In that race, California Chrome was caught looking to his left at the break and stumbled slightly, breaking awkwardly and bearing out and bumping with the outside horse. After going a bit wide into the first turn, he settled beautifully in third, and then at the five-sixteenths pole he unleashed an impressive turn of foot all on his own without being asked even slightly. He inhaled the leaders in a flash and cruised to the lead with Victor Espinoza already looking back several times, then changed leads smoothly and on cue and drew off on his own. This horse is so smooth and has such a long fluid stride and levels off so beautifully he is a joy to watch. Tamarando made his typical late run, drawing 3 1/4 lengths clear of the pack, but could not make a dent in California Chrome’s lead. C.C. covered his fourth quarter, going from two lengths back to 5 1/2 in front in :24 1/5 before cruising home, throwing his ears around, in :06 2/5.
In his previous start, the King Glorious, you couldn’t have asked a horse to run any straighter down the stretch. He accelerates on his own at the right time, nearing the head of the stretch, and for a long-striding horse his lead changes are so smooth you can barely see him do it.
As for his two prior defeats, in the Del Mar Futurity he got shuffled back around the turn and was stuck in traffic with nowhere to go, losing valuable ground. In the stretch, he again was in tight quarters and the way he threw his head out so abruptly, he had to have gotten hit across the face with the whip of the jock inside him. He still was beaten only two lengths by Tamarando.
In the Golden State Juvenile, he broke from the rail and leaped in the air at the start, dropping back to last. He then got very rank and quickly passed horses, getting as close as third. He had his head up in the air turning for home and never really leveled off until it was way too late. This time, he was beaten three lengths.
Earlier on, in his last race before getting Lasix, the 5 1/2-furlong Willard Proctor Memorial at Hollywood Park, he got caught up in a three-horse speed duel through a torrid opening quarter in :22 flat and that is not his style at all.
This horse has already won at 4 1/2 furlongs, 5 1/2 furlongs, seven furlongs, and 1 1/16 miles and runs like he’s just getting started. His sire, Lucky Pulpit, is by Pulpit, out of a Cozzene mare, and what I love the most about his pedigree is that his dam is inbred (Rasmussen Factor) to the great Numbered Account (a daughter of Buckpasser) through her daughter Dance Number and son Polish Numbers. And his third dam is by English Derby and Washington D.C. International winner Sir Ivor.
I may be getting too high on this colt, and am drawn to him because he’s run eight times already and is trained by an old-school trainer in Art Sherman, but I do love everything about him and can’t wait to see him face many of California’s top Derby contenders in the San Felipe.”
You were definitely not too high on him as Chrome proved in short order. For myself, he was my Derby horse from the first moment I saw a covered race; the King Glorious. Like you, I was extremely impressed with his smooth stride and nearly invisible lead changes as well as the fact he was nearly always in position to make his explosive move coming off the final turn. In fact, I saw Chrome race “in person” only once, at the 2016 Breeder’s Cup. I splurged for a seat in the elevated venue at the quarter pole and to this day am convinced the race was lost by Victor when he didn’t give Chrome his cue at the usual spot. Instead, he sat waiting for Arrogate, looking over his shoulder to the left and right multiple times, each time slightly shifting his balance while Chrome’s ears flicked back and forth asking for the okay to turn on the jets. I’m not denigrating Arrogate’s talent, but Chrome deserved to be a BCC champ that day nearly pulling off something no horse managed to do in that year’s BC, winning wire to wire on dirt when the track was favoring those coming from behind.
Nailed it!
Steve: Since I only kept “Derby Dozen” lists for myself and not the audience you have, I had no compunction about putting Chrome at No. 6 in late January. Looking back over the horses that year, there were so many good ones: Shared Belief, New Year’s Day (he’d already been retired at that point), Honor Code, Strong Mandate, Tapiture, Wicked Strong. Now that we’re seeing their babies, it’s good to reflect on their respective careers — especially since young sires are well noted for siring Derby winners.
Have a lovely holiday weekend!
To comment on my comment, I love to make lists and found this one at the top of my list for Jan. 27, 2014:
Completely Esoteric Horses That Matter
• Shared Belief
• Cairo Prince
• Honor Code
• Strong Mandate
• California Chrome
• Ride on Curlin
• Tamarando
• Constitution
Could the 2022 Derby winner be sired by a horse on this list? (Constitution, I’m looking at you!)
I bet Tamarando three times vs Chrome, and did cash a big wager in the Gr1 Del Mar Futurity ….but Chrome got WAY Better, horses improve, Chrome really did, he really improved, as a three year old…
Yes, they do! All three-year-olds are question marks before the Derby. That’s what makes the trail so exciting.
Steve you nailed it, about Chrome, best looking horse so far….and improving—and three year olds can improve by leaps and bounds, you noted Chrome, I recall Thunder Gulch, and Alysheba, as horses that really improved, and every year I look for the improving types….I have a soft spot for Cal and NY breds, we recently had a very good NY bred 3yo, who would’ve likely won the 2020 Derby, had it been run in May—-I’m giddy, this year, about Slow Down Andy, who has bigtime upside!
California Chrome was a standout as a 2 yr. old and transferred that form to be a better 3 yr. old. Cal Chrome had all the tools, tactical speed and when asked he took off like a rocket . He tan arrow straight in the stretch an took turns well. Victor Espinoza and Art Sherman were 2 good fits for this horse. His owners were quirky but CC did his talking on the racetrack. I will remember CC fondly and he will always be remembered by me as a KY Derby winner that I got at 30-1 in KDFW2.
Victir fit him like a glove, strong enough to send out of there, strong enough to get him back, smoothly…..something most riders have trouble doing.
“California Chrome was a standout as a 2 yr.”
Let’s see what do the cold facts reflect.
After winning 2nd time of asking. CC won over 4 1/2F.
In his 3rd start he was on the receiving end of a 7 1/2L shellacking in the Wilard Proctor a Black Type event. He was 6/1
He won the graduation stake (Black Type) in his 4th start at 7/1.
The Rel Mar Futurity was his 5th start in which he finished 6th @6/1.
He followed up with another 6th place finish as the 3rd choice in the betting in the Garden State Juvenile (Black Type)
He won the King Glorious impressively in his 7th start
In 7 start CC won3 times and was defeated 4 times. In his only graded stakes, he finished 6th. He finished off the board in 3 of his 7 starts.
Given the above cold facts. How can anyone objectively assert that CC was a standout as 2YO. Remove the King Glorious and he would have been average at best.
The undefeated Shared Belief was voted Champion 2yO without even contesting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Had Share Belief not had issues? CC’s story would have been totally different.
Thanks Steve for this “feel-good” piece for the Holidays ahead…!
California Chrome was literally a dream come true and Art Sherman was not only one of the dreamers but also a dedicated doer. Their names will be intertwined forever.
The beauty of the son of Lucky Pulpit makes him the epitome of a dream horse.
Who does not love a horse with four white stockings and a broad blaze? More so if that horse proves that anyone can dream big.
California Chrome reversed the old saying about horses with four white socks.
“One white foot, buy him.
Two white feet, try him.
Three white feet, be on the sly.
Four white feet, pass him by.”
Of course stockings do not determine ability or strength but you may find curious that there are only three Hall of fame (flat runner) horses with four white feet; the very first inductees Lexington and Salvator, and another great Californian named Tiznow.
But enough about beautiful white marks … this is about the legacy of a magnificent homebred who became one of the most popular race horses this century and about the people who made his feats possible…
It seems like everything has been written and said about the Chrome but I am Looking forward to reading Perry Martin’s book next year. I hope that California Chrome’s story is told in a nice movie as well…
After all, drama is not lacking during California Chrome’s racing career. I still remember that awful laceration he suffered in his right foot in the Belmont Stakes.
California Chrome galloping at Newmarket Yard would be a beautiful scene for a movie.
Winning the Dubai World cup with his saddle slipped was another bump he overcame like a true champion.
But the future Hall of Fame Champion could not pull through a distressed right knee in his last race. It was the 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes when the Chromies were expecting that their Darling would be able to defeat Arrogate in their second battle. A less than perfect ride was blamed for California Chrome’s falling half a length behind Arrogate in the BC Classic four months earlier.
That unlucky farewell did not hamper his reputation… California Chrome had done enough to earn a place in the History Books. The adoration was intact.
It is the same devotion that made me savor the wins of his daughters Cilla in the Prioress and California Angel in the Jesamine Stakes.
I also flashed on Midnight Chrome in the Remsen Stakes and gave me joy to see him finishing third as the longest shot in the field.
January 28 next year will mark exactly 5 years since California Chrome’s final race. Then the beautiful chestnut will be inducted into the Hall of Fame; and all of us the Chromies will feel as if we were riding him into the Pantheon of Horse Racing.
Thanks again Steve for your seminal work at Secretariat.com.
I wish you and your family very happy holidays and a healthful 2022.
Thank you Nelson for sharing your thoughts. Judging from the responses it shows how much people loved this horse. As for a movie, I’m just not sure how you would end it.
I think it would have a sad ending with him going to Japan, but mixing hints of the positives and successes of his progeny abroad with wondering if he’s happy there. It would have to have a sequel of course 🙂
Good point, Steve. But remember that a feature film doesn’t have to be historically accurate in all respects. For example, there was a movie about a horse named Mine That Bird and they had him win the Kentucky Derby…of all races!!! Can you imagine that? ….Hold on…I’m getting a tap on the shoulder….What?…Oh my! Well, never mind.
Imagine if they ended the movie with his 4 year old campaign. Might have lost a little impact. I hear thy were thnking of it but backed off when Wayne Lukas literally begged them not to do it.
Best scene in the movie was when Skip boards the elevator, to call it a night, with Bob B at the mic, talking about how that 2007 Derby had horses coming from all over, even New Mexico…which got a big laugh!
Sheesh, I meant CHIP!
And 2008!
The ending could be an actual video of Chrome in Japan playing with his feline friend, a calico cat or taking his groom’s hat off land playing with it like he did with Mr. Sherman.
Frankel had four white feet. Merry Christmas, Nelson.
And with his big white mark resembling a heart in his forehead he was a pure joy to watch…
Thanks for your constructive posts!
Merry Christmas to you Davids.
I think you like him. 🙂
(Don’t forget to root for the Chicago White Sox next season.)
How I wish I could write like you, Steve. This article is so beautifully written and your description of Chrome and Art Sherman has always been mine…Thank you for this article to remind people of the greatness in Chrome and how wonderfully inspiring he was for so many…and still is. He stole many hearts when he first showed up with that “look at me” attitude , his copper beauty and the intelligent look in his eye. For me , he had the best trainer any horse could have, actually the whole crew surrounding and caring for Chrome were perfect for him. I loved the hands on Art and Alan gave their beautiful horse and when he grabbed my heart even before the Kentucky Derby, I was hooked..I recognized his”love to run” attitude and went along for the ride. Still on that ride with his offspring now and seeing that some are carrying his great attitrbutes and beauty. One day, as you say, I hope I see him retired at Old Friends. That will be a happy place for him to live out his life being loved and still having people to visit him with cookies….Merry Christmas to you and your family…
Thank you very much, Lynne. Who says you cant write like me? Merry Christmas.
In case anyone (nobody here, of course!) thinks that Art Sherman just got lucky like Cam Gambolati and Bennie Woolley, it should be noted that he won 15 graded stakes prior to Chrome, including four G1 wins by four different horses. Three times before Chrome he was in the top 10 for wins, and once he broke the top 25 for earnings. G1 Hollywood Derby winning Haimish Hy was purchased as a yearling by Mr. Sherman for $10k. He claimed Siren Lure for $50k and won several listed stakes before taking three straight graded stakes including the G1 Triple Bend. He was a damn good trainer for many years before Chrome came along. Sunday’s celebration at Santa Anita should be quite a time!
Agree Eddie. Sherman had real deal w/ Chrome. At Derby when he prevailed.
No fluke, for sure.
Yes Eddie… the upcoming celebration of Art Sherman this Sunday will be heartwarming.
I would say that every bit of his far-reaching experience served him to develop a masterpiece called California Chrome …
Merry Christmas and a prosperous new Year EddieF…!
Same to you, Nelson.
Another great story Steve, thank you!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thanks Bruce. Merry Christmas
I can remember watching CC in the King Glorious going around the far turn going, “Wow, gonna keep an eye on this guy!” It was a great year watching Shared Belief, as well. Thank you, Steve, for all the times you continue to keep all of these great memories alive and telling them from the heart. I was upset as well after the Belmont especially after learning that Chrome got clipped out of the gate by a horse that shouldn’t have even been in the race. I can understand Colburn’s emotions. Surely, this is a movie in the making?
I walked back to the barn with Art behind Chrome and the back of his leg was pretty gashed. And youre right that horse had no business in the race. Pletcher normally doesnt run horses like that in big races.
I remember vividly Chrome being lead back to the barn after the Belmont. There was audio and I knew from the sound of his hoofbeats how badly that leg was hurting him. He was dripping with sweat and his head was hanging low. Your description of Chrome after giving everything he had in that race was hear breaking. Oh the tears I cried the rest of the evening as we all waited to hear how serious the injury was. Mr. Sherman said later that the suspensory tendon came within a hair of being cut.
To see this beautiful horse who loved the crowds and always knew where the camera was (like Secretariat) to look so defeated is an image that will stay with me always.
D Wayne Lukas….Todd Pletcher….. Chad Brown….Richard Mandella…..four big names, in American Horse Racing—the best—–Art Sherman had one shot, and he trained up a better horse than those four ever did.
Thank you so much for this article, Steve. I believe Art Sherman belongs in the Hall of Fame. I know it’s a longshot that he would be elected to the Hall, but he deserves it for the reasons you so eloquently stated above, and more. The Hall should not be only for trainers with big stables full of expensive horses that pile up the money won. It also should be for trainers with small barns who are able to do a masterful job if fate brings them a truly great horse. Art’s career is actually quite remarkable. In between Swaps and Chrome, Art had a very respectable riding career and an equally respectable training career. When Chrome came along, Art was the classiest of ambassadors for the sport. He is the epitome of everything that is good about Thoroughbred horse racing. Even in our deeply troubled and cynical times, surely there is room in this sport to honor the kind of greatness that Art represents.
Thank you once again, Steve, for a wonderful from the heart tribute to a racehorse of our hearts. For me, one of the major highlights, a true measure of his good temperament, was the Dubai World cup that he won with his girth slid back to his hips! Any ‘normal’ horse would have pitched a fit.
I feel so fortunate to have witnessed the careers of Z, Chrome, and that Derby winner extraordinaire, Mine That Bird and to get to read your wonderful articles, articulating the highs and lows of racing. Horse crazy all my life, but not much of a race follower, other than the triple crown, until the internet and the tragedy of Barbaro.
Thank you for this Steve. I will never ever forget that race in Dubai. I won’t forget either the sadness when he was not able to run at Ascot. They tried at least and he seemed to love it over there. There are few trainers and owners here in the states that send their horses overseas to race. I recall in Dubai some questioned could he carry the weight assigned. No he didn’t win the Triple Crown but he did much more.
And Happy Holidays to you, too, Steve. You bring us a gift each week (or thereabouts) with your column, so thank you. Hope 2022 is actually a happy new year and a better one for all of us, human and equine.
Thank you very much Amy. I really appreciate it. And let’s all hope for that
A wonderful piece, Steve. Thank you so much!
Thinking about crowd roar as mentioned in comments here, I remember standing in the Mezzanine at Santa Anita on Derby Day in 2014. It was the first year that Santa Anita hosted live racing on Derby Day, as Hollywood Park had closed 5 months before (December, 2013). The place was packed, and everyone up there was glued to TV screens, of course, and when California Chrome started to widen his lead at the top of the stretch, the place CAME APART!! Only one other time have I experienced a crowd roar like that, and that was when Zenyatta won the Classic in 2009. And that Derby was run 2500 miles away with the screamers all watching on TV!!
I swear, even when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown the following year, under the same Santa Anita circumstances, it didn’t feel like that 80 year old grandstand was going to beak apart!
It was pretty amazing!!
Thank you Marjorie. If it was more than American Pharoah’s Belmont those stands really much have shook.
Thanks for sharing. Great story!
Chrome at mercy of many knocking his pedigree, however, many”blue blood” horses did nothing on track/shed. Of course, same individuals refuse to acknowledge.
A soon to be 25 year old, named Tiznow, home bred….sire and dam….
This piece Steve absolutely sent chills up my spine. When you mention Swaps (my dads favorite horse) in any of your writings I get goosebumps as well.
California Chrome is a true champion, he did everything asked of him & he did it in style.
He was truly a fan (myself included) favorite.
He was Native Diver, Lava Man & Game on Dude rolled into 1 horse.
Thanks for sharing this outstanding piece of writing with us. Art Sherman was a blessing to horse racing, he exemplified all the little guys in the business. California Chrome wasn’t Swaps on the racetrack but to Art Sherman he probably much more.
I must admit I have been a Chromie since he came on the scene.
Well maestro you out did yourself again.
Merry Christmas to you and family.
Thats very kind of you, Deacon. Thanks so much. Dont know if you read it but I did a column on Swaps a few years ago about getting his nameplate over his old stall at Spendthrift Farm. I was the only one who knew what stall he was in and sent Ned Toffey a photo I took of Swaps in his stall. So they knew where he was and got the nameplate made. Made me feel good.
That is cool!
That is so cool Steve. but darn, I think I missed that blog about Swaps. I remember my 1st horse race I ever saw was the 1955 Santa Anita Derby. MY dad had to work that Saturday but we got to the track late. He promised he would take me to see his favorite horse. He put me on his shoulders so I could see the race. Santa Anita was incredibly packed that day.
It was the 1st time I had ever been around that much excitement and cheering. Swaps was also very popular.
I will go to your archives and see if I can find that piece on Swaps.
Thank you
It seems that the recent trend of Derby winners is that they were sold at auction for big but not gigantic prices (between $300k and $500k), Medina Spirit notwithstanding. Prior to American Pharoah, the vast majority of Derby winners were homebreds or low- to moderate-priced purchases. I’m wondering if we’ll ever see a horse and connections win the Derby like we saw in 2014.
We, the racing public, were fortunate that Chrome was owned by Martin and Coburn. If he was owned by one of the large farms or a syndicate there is no chance we would have seen a 5 year old Chrome dazzle us on the racetrack. Too many times in the resent past have I wondered what any number of retired 3 or 4 year old’s would have accomplished as a 5,or dare I say it, a 6 year old. In this day and age only true sportsmen or sportswomen are willing to take the gamble that these owners did. Thanks Steve for reminding us of the greatness of Chrome.
Eloquent as always Mr. Haskin.
When Cigar retired, I stated to many that we would never see a sound champion stallion race at 4 and 5 again. I was quietly sad thinking I was right and seeing it happen. Then came Chrome, who harkened my childhood mind and my love for his doppelgänger The Pie from National Velvet. I pray I live long enough to see him when and if he comes back to the USA. In the meantime I pray his babies make those who gave up on him so soon regret their hasty move.
Saw Cigar several occasions,including 2 weeks prior of passing.
Thank you. Well that certainly applies to Chrome, but Alysheba didnt race at 5
What a lovely column, Steve. It made me happy to have Art Sherman celebrated. For me Art was as special as Chrome. I appreciate too the insight into Chrome’s owners and the rough time Chrome’s dam had after the delivery. Chrome personified The Dream and its attainability for so many. For me, it was also a celebration of possibility — that a modest (to be kind) sire and dam just might produce a champion, that a senior trainer might, as was said, “come full circle” and all the rest. Pure romance. As appealing as The Black Stallion. And during these tough times (my province is starting to shut down over Omicron), I spend time reflecting on the moments of pure, unadulterated pleasure and enchantment in my life. And Chrome and Art are right up there. Thanks for doing your magic, Steve.
Thank you Abigail. Art was as nice a person as I’ve ever met in racing. What a great representative of the sport. He was 100 percent genuine.
Thank you very much Steve for letting people know how VERY speical Chrome was(as is)…..I NEVER had so much fun as 2016 when he just won almost everything…didn’t matter — off the pace — on front-end whatever you wanted he would do it.. that’s what Champions do..when he won the Dubai World Cup from the 11th post I lost my voce screaming(amazing the neighbour didn’t call the police)
You were always a supporter – thanks for that….we “Chromies” appreciate that(Ms Chenery was a Chrome – she admitted that)
Happy Holidays to you adnd your family
Happy Holidays Linda.
Thank you so much Steve for honoring Mr. Sherman on the occasion of his retirement. I was hoping that you would do a column on him and like magic it appeared. Some of us are hoping that someday both Mr. Sherman and California Chrome will be honored with be placed in the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
The story of Mr. Sherman and California Chrome and Mr. Coeburn and Mr. Martin is one for the ages. Horse racing fans and people who love horses years from now will read about their story, watch videos of his races and hopefully they will feel and experience what we did.
“Home Sweet Chrome”, love the title.
Wishing you and your lovely family and grandson and everyone who comments on here a Very Merry Christmas, a joyous Holiday Season and a Happy, safe and health New Year.
Thank you Lynda and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Chrome is a lock first ballot Hall of Famer
Thank you Steve for this early Christmas present!
Thank you for putting into perspective what a remarkable horse California Chrome was and is compared to his contemporaries. Highlighting what an utter disgrace it was for him to have been so plainly dismissed…but in hindsight, perhaps it was for the best that he was ignored for so long in this wrong-side-up sport today because he got to show his greatness on the track as befitting a racehorse before retiring to the breeding shed. Perhaps one day an offspring or grand-offspring of his will grace these shores with the brilliance and tenacity he showed.
Happy holidays, Steve, and my best to you and your family.
Thank you Morgan, and Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Thank you Steve for another great I want to say story but it’s really a documentary. I’m sure you would of been a great history teacher. The 1st time I saw Chrome was the last day of Hollywood Park in the King Glorious. I was more interested in it being the last day and Stauffer’s last call but was also treated Chome’s coming out party for me. What a ride. I still have some Breathe Rite strips. Can you imagine 57 year old railbird walking around with a strip on his nose. LOL There’s one thing about this sport I love is that it promotes longevity. I think Woody Stephens said it best ” When you got a 2 year old Danzig in the barn you have a reason to get up in the morning. Let alone Dreams do come true here!
Thank you Derek, I love your reference to it being more of a documentary. I never thought of it that way. Funny, I’ve always imagined what it would be like to be a history teacher. Unfortunately most kids today have no interest in history and that applies to racing, too. I have seen these street interviews where young people have no idea what the Civil War and Revolutionary War were or how they were different from each other. When I write about racing history, the only response is from racing fans who were around in those days. I never hear from young people.
I also love the saying, “No one with a 2-year-old ever committed suicide”
I’ll have to remember that one. True history is taught with all the emotions of the human condition and you always have been able to do just that. have a great holiday with your family and friends!
Thank you Derek and same to you and yours.
Many thanks for another great column, Steve, with background info we never knew. Certainly Chrome ranks as one of the handsomest Thoroughbreds to appear on the track.
My two favorite moments of Chrome were watching the saddle slip in the Dubai Cup, knowing this small impediment wouldn’t keep him from victory. Also, the footage of happy Chrome in his paddock after he returned from Chile reminded us of the astounding beauty of Thoroughbreds and why we love them so. Certainly the two saddest moments were his defeat in the Belmont and learning the dreadful news he was on his way to Japan. Mr. Sherman deserves all the accolades; I wish him the best as he steps away from the track.
The best of holidays to you and your family, Steve. Your writings continue to be a great gift to us all!
Thank you Nancy, thats very kind of you. Happy Holidays.
And Chrome keeps on inspiring. Through the efforts of one of the online Chromies’ groups and the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare group we were able to rescue one of his daughters from a pretty dismal situation and she will have a good life back in the states. All because of the impact of one horse
What a treat to read this wonderful piece about a wonderful horse, California Chrome. He proved his greatness over and over. True, he could not beat that speed freak Arrogate in the 2017 Breeders Cup Classic, but he did everything else. Art Sherman has won his place in history, too. And about time Chrome was inducted into the Hall of Fame!
After Dubai, Arro was done.
Arrogate was an amazing horse. I only wish Victor would have given Chrome a better chance to win by moving on him earlier and not sitting motionless and letting Arrogate get close to him and play cat and mouse sitting right behind him. Not to take anything away from Arrogate and he might very well have won anyway, but I kept urging Victor to move and try and put some distance between them because Chrome’s strength was not his closing kick.
Agreed!
That to me was Chrome’s most heart breaking loss. I was yelling at Victor (watching on TV) “what are you doing??”. I agree Arrogate was so strong and so fast at stage of his career that he probably would have won anyway.
I was doing the same thing at the TV….”Move!!”
I was right there with all of you — although Arrogate’s win was a truly great performance. On the other hand, Chrome kept it going for four years instead of a mere seven months. Just proves the futility of comparing the greats, whether they face each other or not. Happy holidays to all, and I hope none of you have to hoist your Xmas tree with guy wires like we just did.
I’m surprised that three intelligent people don’t know that they must get right in front of the TV screen — no more than 3 inches away — and scream AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE. I read that Samsung and TVG are developing technology that will allow you to speak directly to the jockey of your choice, but it probably won’t be ready until after the 2022 Triple Crown. Also, the price tag is expected to be in the area of $4,500,000.
I’m not sure what you were all watching in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2017 but it wasn’t California Chrome and Arrogate that was the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2016.
Espinosa was showboating which cost California Chrome the race, he made it so easy for Smith.
What a great story about a great horse. There was so much I didn’t know, such as the details of Chrome’s birth and the early workout with the Harty colt (a dramatic movie scene for sure!), and all of those sentences beginning with “He was the first horse to…” and “He was the only horse to…” With regard to the questions about the Eclipse awards for trainer and owners, my guess is that the awards are about the body of work throughout the year rather than the accomplishments of a single horse. After all, neither trainer nor owners won any stakes race that year other than with Chrome. But perhaps Mr. Martin’s forthcoming book will be turned into the first movie about a horse to win an Oscar.
Looking forward for reading book.
Glad to have enlightened people with a little more back story. I’m not saying the owner and trainer should have won the Eclipse Award, but sometimes its good to step out of the box and go by impact on the sport and at least have one of them as a finalist rather than go only by stats on all three finalists. Just my opinion. We have had trainers and owners before who were finalists who did outstanding jobs with a Horse of the Year, such as John Shirreffs with Zenyatta and Michael Cooper and Cecilia Straub Rubens with Tiznow just to name two
Steve,
What an eye opening column. It takes a fresh look at CC’s accomplishments and turns them into a more-than-interesting yarn. Thanks again for showing the connection between now and 70 years ago.
Thank you Jo Anne, I tried to take a fresh look at what what made Chrome so special.
Steve, if opening day is the present you open after Christmas, this column is the one you open before Christmas, bravo…..
I was fortunate to have my huevos rancheros, watching Chrome, and the Sherman’s, in their silver Chrome jackets, right outside the window! Talked with Art many times, he has the common touch, indeed he has….at old Los Al, “Home of the Chrome”, which was on the marquee for a few years….I was not able to see him run there, before standing room crowd, going ten wide both turns, probably doing too much…..but that horse gave, and gave…..I listened on the radio, to his Belmont…there were spontaneous chants and cheers for Chrome, in New York, but he could not get the Triple Crown…..Art told me it wasn’t because of stamina issues, the horse was tired, and they knew it. ..Chrome wasn’t long—he wasn’t big—he wasn’t blessed with breeding, which was obscure, even for a Cal bred …Art told me that story, about Coburn thinking they had something special, right out of the foaling barn….well he (Coburn) was right, maybe he was too hot under the collar, on Belmont day— but he was right, its way harder, today, to win the Triple Crown….and then it was accomplished twice…..Chrome was real good, if not greay…..
Bravo Mr. Haskin! Chrome holds special place for me.
Thanks Matthew and Mike.