Saratoga 1985: A Year to Remember
The 1985 Saratoga meet may not have much importance to most people, but for me and my wife, and for racing in general, it was a landmark meet in many ways. However, even with plenty of racing history, the focus this week is on family, so call this one of my much-needed cathartic columns brought on by the lure of yet another siren call from that temptress up in the Adirondacks. ~ Steve Haskin
Saratoga 1985: A Year to Remember
By Steve Haskin
It was 40 years ago that we witnessed one of the most memorable Saratoga meets ever, not only from a racing standpoint, but personally as well.
This was the year racing got a glimpse of what was to come on a monumental scale, changing the course of history. But for my wife and I the Saratoga meet held far more importance, leaving us with everlasting memories.
Rather than summarize the chain of events, let’s set the stage by going back to 1981, my wife Joan’s third and final year as public relations coordinator for the New York Racing Association. Joan had written the first ever feature on a 17-year-old apprentice sensation named Richard Migliore, which led to a friendship with Migliore’s mother Jean and eventually with the entire Migliore family.
Richie would go on to win the Eclipse Award that year for top apprentice rider. Joan left NYRA in September when we moved to New Jersey, and three years later after working as director of communications for International Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., which would purchase Garden State Park during her tenure there, she gave birth to our daughter Mandy on July 28, 1984.
One year later we were invited to stay at Saratoga with the Migliores, who reserved a private room upstairs at the Wishing Well restaurant to celebrate Mandy’s first birthday. The next morning, we went to the backstretch where Richie’s fiancé Carmela, who was assistant to trainer Steve DiMauro, put Mandy up on her first horse, holding her tightly atop the back of the stable pony.
The biggest equine star up at Saratoga was that year’s Filly Triple Crown winner Mom’s Command, ridden by Suffolk Downs-based jockey Abby Fuller, daughter of the filly’s owner and breeder Peter Fuller. This was a historic accomplishment, as no female jockey had ever attained such glory on a national scale. And this was a filly who had won her career debut by a head at Rockingham Park at odds of 44-1, after which Fuller took over as her regular rider.
Not only had Fuller and Mom’s Command swept the one-mile Acorn Stakes, 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose Stakes, and 1 ½-mile Coaching Club American Oaks, following previous Filly Triple Crown winners and future Hall of Famers Dark Mirage, Shuvee, Chris Evert, Davona Dale, and Ruffian, she did it by leading every step of the way in each race, setting blazing fractions of :44 1/5 and 1:09 in the Acorn, :45 and 1:09 2/5 in the Mother Goose, and :46 1/5 and 1:10 3/5 in the CCA Oaks. To demonstrate how outrageous those fractions were, especially going 1 ½ miles, they were significantly faster than the fractions set in each of the Filly Triple Crown races won by Ruffian, who went in :49 and 1:13 2/5 in her CCA Oaks victory.
Mom’s Command with jockey Abby Fuller in the winner’s circle, a familiar sight during the 1985 racing season.
In addition, no one got close to Mom’s Command, whose margins were three lengths, 5 ½ lengths, and 2 ½ lengths, respectively. And to further demonstrate her versatility, from March 23 to July 6 of that year, Mom’s Command won stakes at six furlongs, seven furlongs, one mile, 1 1/16 miles, 1 1/8 miles, and 1 ½ miles, winning wire-to-wire each time and by margins ranging from 2 ½ lengths to 19 lengths, racing in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York.
In each race, she was ridden by Fuller, who was able to nurse her speed over every distance, leaving many of the nation’s top jockeys behind her.
So if there was one horse we wanted Mandy to meet it was Mom’s Command, who was getting ready to run in the Test Stakes as a prep for the prestigious Alabama at 1 ¼ miles. Dropping back to a sprint off a mile and a half would be no easy task. When we arrived at her barn she was out on the walking ring and I was able to get a few photos of her with Joan and Mandy in the foreground and a few close-ups of her attractive face and long thin blaze (title image).
This was another highlight of a memorable visit that began Mandy’s annual love affair with Saratoga and horses before it was interrupted by life in the form of such mundane things as high school, various activities, ballet recitals, plays, college, choirs, boys, traveling abroad, and other distractions that got her sidetracked from the world that had provided so many special moments growing up.
But there was always that first Saratoga meet, which helped build the foundation for my rather obsessive photo collection, in which Mandy had her picture taken with the likes of Secretariat, Affirmed, Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid, Forego, Cigar, John Henry, Damascus, Arts and Letters, Mr. Prospector, A.P. Indy, just to name a few, as well as a Who’s Who of the some of the greatest fillies of all time, the first being Mom’s Command.
1985 Test Stakes Original Track Program.
On August 1, Mom’s Command went to the post as the 1-2 favorite in the Test for trainer Ned Allard, who has been a major fixture in New England for the past 55 years. No one could have predicted the significance this race would have. Breaking from post 2, she broke a bit slowly and was rushed up to go head and head with the speedy Majestic Folly, who she had handled pretty easily in the seven-furlong Comely Stakes. This time Majestic Folly held on tenaciously outside Mom’s Command as the two battled through fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5.
Coming off the Oaks, it seemed obvious that Mom’s Command was not as sharp dropping back to a sprint, especially with the Alabama being the main target. At the head of the stretch, Majestic Folly had a slight advantage when a light gray filly came charging up on the outside at odds of 10-1 and looked to be the strongest of the three, sticking her head in front at the eighth pole. She was making her 19th career start and running at her 11th different racetrack, with seven listed stakes to her credit, all at six furlongs. But when she had faced Mom’s Command in the Comely she was trounced by 11 lengths.
This time, however, she drew clear to upset Mom’s Command by two lengths in a sharp 1:21 3/5. But this would not be the last racing fans would hear of Lady’s Secret, who would go off as the favorite in 24 of her remaining 26 starts. The only two times she would not be favored was in the Met Mile and Woodward against the boys.
Of course we all know that Lady’s Secret would go on to become a legend, known as “The Iron Lady,” who in the next 15 months would win 14 major stakes, 11 of them Grade 1’s, and defeat colts in the Whitney and place against them in the Met Mile, Woodward, and Iselin Handicap, twice against Hall of Famer Precisionist.
After making 11 starts in 1986, nine of them Grade 1’s and twice battling with the big handsome future champion Precisionist, this pocket-sized ball of energy ran in all three races in NYRA’s Fall Filly Championship Series, winning the one-mile Maskette Stakes, the 1 1/8-mile Ruffian Handicap under 129 pounds, giving 20 pounds to the runner-up, and the 1 ¼-mile Beldame Stakes.
Despite already having run in 14 stakes that year against many of the best fillies and colts in the country, she went out with the proverbial bang by winning the 1 ¼-mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff to nail down Horse of the Year honors. She was retired the following year after becoming the leading money-winning filly of all time, and in 1992 was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Not only was Lady’s Secret’s legend born at that 1985 Saratoga meet, the same could be said about her up-and coming trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who first gained recognition in 1980 winning the Preakness with Codex. Lukas came to Saratoga having just won another Preakness with Tank’s Prospect, but had to retire him after suffering a severe injury during the running of the Belmont Stakes.
It was at Saratoga that year that Lukas first demonstrated the dominance he would have over the Sport of Kings for many years, in which he shattered almost every record and won an unheard of six consecutive Triple Crown races from 1994 to 1996. When the ’85 Saratoga meet was over, Lukas had won the Test and Ballerina with Lady’s Secret, the Saratoga Special and Sanford with Sovereign Don, the Adirondack with Nervous Baba, the Spinaway with Family Style, the King’s Bishop with Pancho Villa, and the Countess Jane Stakes with Let it Fly. By the end of the year Lukas’ yearly earnings had skyrocketed from $5.8 million in 1984 to $11.1 million in 1985 and he just kept adding to it as he changed the face of training in America.
In 1985, he also would win the first of three consecutive Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Trainer and his first of eight consecutive titles as Leading Stakes-Winning Trainer.
At that same Saratoga meet we witnessed the emergence of Secretariat as a major force in the breeding industry, with Big Red siring Lady’s Secret and the King’s Bishop winner Pancho Villa, and his daughter Six Crowns producing Travers winner Chief’s Crown. That was the beginning of Secretariat’s unprecedented domination of the sport through his daughters – mainly Weekend Surprise, Terlingua, and Secrettame and their sons A.P. Indy, Storm Cat, and Gone West, respectively.
So, although no one knew it at the time, a good deal of the sport’s history was born at that meet, between Lukas and his elite roster of assistants over the years and Secretariat and his daughters. And of course we had Lady’s Secret, who has had a major race at Santa Anita, a memorial garden, a street in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and a Monmouth Park café named after her.
Getting back to Mom’s Command, the Test proved to be an excellent prep for the Alabama, which she won, again setting fast fractions of :46 4/5 and 1:10 4/5 under Abby Fuller and drawing off to a four-length victory over Fran’s Valentine, winner of the Kentucky Oaks, Hollywood Oaks, and Santa Susana (now the Santa Anita Oaks), and second the following year to Lady’s Secret in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. With her Alabama victory she had won seven stakes that year at seven different distances from six furlongs to 1 ½ miles. That is an accomplishment I doubt will ever be equaled.
Mom’s Command dominates the 1985 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.
Perhaps the greatest tribute paid to her and her rider came from Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, who once said to Peter Fuller: “I love Mom’s Command and I love your daughter Abby, but I’m sick of looking at both of their rear ends.”
It is apparent by now that Saratoga 1985 will always hold a special place in my heart, as well as in the hearts of Joan and Mandy, right up there with my first visit in 1968 and photographing my first horse, the great Dr. Fager, with my newly purchased Kodak Instamatic camera as he walked by me in the rain before working out; and Joan and I getting engaged there in 1979 when she was working at NYRA and we broke the news to her family at, yes, the Wishing Well.
Of course there were all our (almost) annual trips to Saratoga with Mandy after 1985, especially when Allen Jerkens took her up on his pony with him; her riding Monarchos’ pony Mouse through the backstretch of the Oklahoma training track when she was 17; staying with trainer Kenny McPeek, who put Mandy to work carrying blankets and equipment to his barn across the street from his home on Fifth Avenue; celebrating her 32nd birthday at the Hall of Springs Banquet Facility; being there at my induction into the Hall of Fame that same visit; and finally the horses, feeding or petting Classic winners Rachel Alexandra, Funny Cide, Mine That Bird, Monarchos, Lemon Drop Kid, and Summer Bird.
Mandy Haskin and champion Lady’s Secret
I often look back at some of the photos from that ’85 Saratoga meet of Mandy’s birthday party at the Wishing Well; Richie holding her in her diapers, well before he and Carmela had four children of their own; Mandy sitting on Carmela’s pony; and of course meeting Mom’s Command. As a postscript, one of my all-time favorite photos is of Mandy out in the field at Fares Farm playing with Lady’s Secret, who came right up to her and began nuzzling against her as she burst out laughing.
Of the horses who ran at that Saratoga meet, Cozzene would win the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Life’s Magic would win the Distaff, Storm Cat would be beaten a nose in the Juvenile, Family Style and Steal a Kiss would finish second and third in the Juvenile Fillies, Lady’s Secret would finish second in the Distaff, Mt. Livermore would finish third in the Sprint, and Turkoman and Chief’s Crown would finish third and fourth in the Classic. Wayne Lukas would finish first and second in the Distaff and Juvenile Fillies.
As for the major players of this story, Mom’s Command was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007, for some reason 15 years after Lady’s Secret, and only six months after her death at age 25. Lady’s Secret died in 2003 at age 21 from complications giving birth to her 12th foal. Wayne Lukas died this past June at age 89, a year after winning his seventh Preakness. His absence has created a massive void on the Oklahoma training track where he was a fixture for four decades. Secretariat died of laminitis in 1989 at age 19, but not before his son Risen Star won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes the year before, the latter by 14 ¾ lengths.
In 2018 Mandy brought her 1 ½-year-old son Theo to Saratoga, where he, too, sat on his first horse at the invitation of the outrider, for which I am still being castigated by Mandy for reckless endangerment. I guess I have to plead guilty as a repeat offender, even if our first offense was 40 years ago. Theo also got to pet his first Travers winner, Code of Honor.
Recently, when Theo, now 7, was asked by Mandy and his father Wes where he would like to go on vacation before school starts he surprisingly said Saratoga. So, the last weekend of the meet, Theo will return to the equine version of The Magic Kingdom, while his 3-year-old sister Lily will make her Spa debut. They of course will be staying right on the Oklahoma training track, as we have done for the past 12 years, with the Freedbergs, who by the way bred Ohio Derby, Sanford, and Bay Shore winner Mo Plex, who takes on Sovereignty in Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes. But Lily will not be following in the footsteps of her mommy and brother by sitting on her first horse at Saratoga even if the occasion arises. I am not that much of a glutton for punishment and am not willing to incur Mandy’s wrath once again. Besides, knowing Lily, she would try to ride the pony on her own.
To summarize this wondrous journey Joan and I have been on for 46 years, it was only appropriate that two of our most special memories of Saratoga occurred at a restaurant called the Wishing Well, whether it was announcing our engagement or celebrating our daughter’s first birthday 40 years ago.
To pretty much quote Dr. Seuss, “Sometimes, when I see my grandchildren make small discoveries of their own, I wish I were a child.”
Saratoga has always been about discoveries and wishes, but I know when I see Theo and Lily discover the magic of Saratoga together I won’t have to wish I were a child. The child in me will emerge instantly. As Joan and Mandy, and even Theo and Lily, will tell you, it doesn’t have far to go.
Photos courtesy of Steve Haskin, Bob Coglianese/New York Racing Association.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Awww, Steve. What glorious memories you have been able to share with your family. I am so jealous.
Every year at this time I think of one of my favorite horses – Fourstardave. This guy was amazing as he won races at Saratoga for eight straight years from 1987-1994. He had exactly 100 starts in his career. He was indeed a blue-collar gelding.
He is indeed – One of my all-time favorites.
Bob rides JJ Hernandez, out west….but he still wants Prat first—he got up on Brant—who looked very good—and after winning the Triple Bend with JJ—Bob wanted Prat—and Nysos nearly got stuck on the inside, in fact—had Miramahdi not been trained by Bob….mewonders if JJ might have come offtherail a bit, and block them….I think Nysos will win The Pacific Classic, over Journalism—and Sovereignty will take The Travers, over Magnitude, Gosger,, Goal Oriented and Baeza—Ever since The Belmont I have called Sovereignty #1 three year old and #1 PERIOD (even older..)…Grumpy doesn’t like anyone calling Baeza “goog”…well ok I will call Baeza VERY good, four straight triple digit Beyers good..
Looks like 3 possible HOY scenarios. If Sovereignty wins the Travers, it’s already in the books. If not, Nysos could make it interesting by romping in Pacific Classic and BC Classic, beating Sovereignty in the latter. Least likely is possibility of Journalism winning those two.
Todd, if Mindframe were to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic which is extremely possible how could he not be Horse of the Year – undefeated.
Matthew, did you notice how diminutive Brent looked on video, and in photographs.
Anyone know the story behind the naming of the winning horse Lovesick Blues? It’s a song with a long history, a hit but later covered and I like one of the later versions alot.
I thought it was the race of the weekend, a 7 yo gelding beating three or four highly favored younger graded winners and winning his first Gr. 1 in the Bing Crosby by almost 2 lengths going away. Lovesick Blues wins the Bing Crosby, for a song and a few hundred grand.
Two horses ran well, but they were on a different coast.
Nysos stretched out very easily and Brant just cruised first out.
Two horse to look forward too.
Congratulations to Sovereignty, Robbie, Mr Mott and Godophin.
Baeza put on a good run.
I thought Sovereignty didn’t have his usual power today and still won easily. Tired of the praise and excuses for Baeza, who couldn’t sustain his run in the stretch.
I’m looking and looking…for the excuses, for Baeza that you’re “tired of”….don’t see sny—actually the “excuse” comes from YOU, Sovereignty was not at his best? I guess you’re also tired, of the “praise”, for Baeza? Well he was ten in front of the rest, and one length back of Sovereignty….oh, yeah, but Sovereignty had an excuse, we don’t want to praise Baeza!…
Suddenly you’ve become a researcher. I had the impression he was given excuses for every race, like he lost focus, I think I was right. Will having focus make him run fast enough? I don’t think so but you seem to. Getting second isn’t winning but you just tried hard to spin it, beating 3rd by 10 lengths.
Sovereignty wasn’t at his best, meaning all the more reason Baeza should have won it. You think he was at his best? This wasn’t as good a win as the previous two, but it was still a win.
I haven’t said anything about Baeza until now, I think he’s overrated, in a word. Argue against me all you want, that’s my opinion, you give yours enough.
You can argue and spin all you want, as usual, trying to win a war of words using dots and capital letters. He lost, he was predicted to win by many, why I don’t know, he’s never won a thing. Getting second isn’t winning, you’re trying to say losing by one length is winning, that’s what losers say, He’s been over praised since the Derby, somebody had to get 3rd. He can’t sustain a run in the stretch. It was a slow race, the other closers weren’t going to catch him.
The winner doesn’t need an
excuse (missing a word).
Saratoga is so speed bias at present that the Sovereignty team had to adapt to win which forced compromises. I hope the track is fairer by the time the Travers is run.
Disco, never have I had illusions regarding Baeza,although cautiously picked him yesterday. However, Barnes and others were already anointed Derby winners by Jan. Barnes is by FAR bigger disappointment than Baeza without question.
I didn’t mean to include that last paragraph, I wrote it and revised above it, forgot to delete it. I don’t like to offend fans, I know he has them.
Always enjoy your comments Disco. Biggest problems Baeza has are Journalism and Sov. Also, thanks recently for your info on Maine. Last month Freeport was great!
Glad you enjoyed Maine, it’s a varied place.
First two days in Freeport-60s for high.
Baeza will prevail.
Calandagan (Gleneagles X Calanyana by Sinndar) and racing under the colors of the Aga Khan has won the King Edward Cup.
He goes back to Secretariat through his sire’s dam.
Lynda, nice win by Calandagan but what on earth the Coolmore team were doing in the race was odd to say the least. No doubt some red faces back at the barn.
Don’t forget Glorious Goodwood starting next Tuesday, always a highlight of English summer racing.
Thanks Davids for heads up.
I guess all trainers and jockeys just have a bad hair day, all I can come up with.
Going to be scorching here Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. High humidity, temperatures close to 100 with heat indexes 103 to 110 and hogh UV. Ugh.
Long range is for much cooler 80’s and some badly needed rain the first week of August.
This heat dome is expected to cover most of the South, Southeast, into Mid-West.
My home state of Virginia (hometown) getting some hecklacious thunderstorms.
Friends in South Georgia below the gnat line are really suffeting.
Thanks Lynda, I’m watching the Northern Hemisphere summers in trepidation of what might happen here in Melbourne during summer. Last summer we were lucky but your luck eventually runs out at some stage.
There are the Dandenong Ranges, about 22 miles east of the Melbourne CBD, that surround the city and, according to meteorologists, if those ranges were ever to catch fire as happened in Los Angeles then most of Melbourne would go up in flames.
Flying embers would descend on the densely populated eastern suburbs without mercy.
Sorry Hejazi didn’t win for you, Davids. I learned today that Lovesick Blues not only got his first grade 1 win, it was the first for his trainer (Librado Baracio) and breeder, Nick Alexander. It had been a long time for the jock, too.
Fingers crossed that the Ranges gets plenty of rain this spring for you and yours, Davids. So far we’ve avoided drought here in the New York Catskills, but if/when it happens, my century-old home (all wood inside and out) is surrounded by prime fire material — including a loaded woodshed less than 10 feet from the house. Potential disaster haunts us all.
I thought it looked like Saratoga was going through a bit of a drought the infield grass looked brown.
Ms Blacktype, your home sounds wonderful, just gorgeous. A dream home for many. Hopefully, you are never threatened by fire.
I live in an Art Deco residence which is nearly a century old as well and is heavily inlaid with wooden interiors and roof. It’s beautiful but a potential disaster to happen if embers were to hail down from the Dandenongs.
The last 2 weeks we’ve finally had some descent rain but no where near enough. Fingers crossed for everyone, everywhere.
Ooooh, I’ll have to record that. Enjoyed the stakes from the U.K. today — especially the Group 3 Valiant, the race where four fillies finished within head bobs of each other — longshot Cheshire Dancer prevailed over American Gal. Excellent warmup for the big races stateside. Sovereignty, Brant, and Nysos all hit their races out of the park. I managed to miss the Bing Crosby — but was thrilled that Lovesick Blues scored his first Grade 1 victory.
I was so disappointed Hejazi couldn’t hold on for the win in the Bing Crosby, his third Grade 1 placing.
Nice an unsung hero,older than rest of the field prevailed.
If Baeza should upset Sovereignty today I will give all the reasons why as part of Monday’s column. But the Jim Dandy and Haskell will only be a small part of the column just to recap the two races and the 3-year-old picture.
I’m intrigued by your comment, Steve, since I’ve been curious to see how Baeza will fare today. Whatever happens, I’ll look forward to Monday’s column!
John Shirreffs has put Baeza into the bridle, in his works….I expect they will be nearer the lead, maybe even sending….
Hey Matthew! Wishing you good luck! Thinking Baeza can grow into something special.
As suspected, the blinkers on Sandman was not successful. More often than not they are more a hindrance than a help.
Davids, Sandman is a big fan favorite.
Regardless if he wins or loses, his fans are loyal to the bone.
Every now and then an Ametica’s horse comes along who captures the adoration of the race viewing public.
In Sandman’s case, there is equal adoration of his percentage owner, Elliot.
We enjoy Elliot’s posts. I follow him on both X and FB.
There eas the cutest one yesterday of him introducing Sandman to his girlfriend.
Sometimes just having fun and loving it is the biggest winner of the day.
Yes Lynda, Sandman has such a sweet temperament it’s not surprising he is a fan favourite. He still appears very immature physically, so next year should be better for him and his fans.
Wow, does this bring back memories for me, too! We went to Saratoga then, and when Abbie was walking to the paddock, accompanied by guards, my husband yelled her name….she stopped, smiled, said “Hi Guys!” and went on get legged up……I’ll never forget those days ! Racing is such a wonderful sport …and its stars care not who you are, how much the purse is, how important that race is ……they just want to beat the others! It is so accessible, too …you can go from a horse-crazy kid from a small town to knowing the kings and queens of the sport personally. GREAT memories!
I sent your memory to Abby. All it takes is a “Hi guys” to leave a lasting memory.
Del Mar fourth tomorrow has some nice maidens….Doug has Civil Liberty, and two others, and Bob has a couole—there’s an Jonor A P…..Civil Liberty has good speed..
Bob has Brant…$3 million…Civil Liberty cost $160k…Doug likes him….
Yes Matthew, I’m looking forward to Race 4 as well as the major Stakes races. Who do you like in the Bing Crosby? Nysos should fly in the San Diago.
David’s Intrepido is another fast colt, in that race four…I fancy a three year old, on the Binger–Smooth Cruisein—one of only three horses to finish in front of Journalism, he us a big longshot—and should be!
I’m hoping Hejazi wins just so he gets that Grade 1 to go to stud with, he is one of Bernardini’s lat chances to keep that sire line going.
Well Davids….Brant cost $3 million as a TWO YEAR OLD, meaning g they knew he was fast—1:02 3/5—-add on a 6 3/5 last 1/16, and you get 1:09 1/5zm—a superb debut, for the well built grey!….
Yes Matthew but how far will he run? I thought Civil Liberty was impressive for longer distances down the track as well.
Just FYI, AP Again – the HAP- is also trained by Doug
Steve, I often wonder if you truly enjoy writing these historical essays or whether they are a task you complete weekly because they give so many people such pleasure. On reading the above column you sense that this essay was pure pleasure to write. Weaving in the personal with the professional, along with inner thoughts.
Your essay exemplifies the spell Saratoga puts on visitors when arriving for the first or every time you are there. You made me yearn to be there now and to forget the present traumas surround our daily thoughts.
As much as I’m looking forward to the Jim Dandy on Saturday, Sunday morning here, it’s the historic Group 1, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday that interests me more.
It’s not the greatest field ever assembled for the ‘King George’ but the race is intriguing in itself on how the jockeys try to outmanoeuvre each other. The greatest roar will definitely come if Rebel’s Romance can pull it off.
Starting next Tuesday, until Saturday, it’s Glorious Goodwood in England. Another magical place to be to forget about the trials and tribulations of daily life.
Thanks again Steve, for all the pleasure that you bring.
Thanks David but the day I dont truly enjoy it and it becomes a task is the day I stop writing. I hope no one else has to wonder about that. I hope my enjoyment comes through in all my columns
It does, Steve, and you convey that enjoyment to your readers each and every time. Thank you for keeping our love of the ‘sport of kings’ alive.
For many years I and my good friend, Chet, would make our annual pilgrimage to the Spa, usually around Hall of Fame week. We enjoyed our visits, whether we won or lost, because Saratoga is such a magical place. Indeed, I do remember being there in 1985. For us New Englanders, Mom’s Command was a reason to celebrate one of our own for her outstanding achievements in winning the big races against the best of her class. We were so proud of her. Thanks for rekindling those memories.
Steve, I hope that day never comes. I know, and obviously I speak for many, my appreciation of US racing won’t be the same without hearing your voice. All the best.
Steve there is a Southern writer from South Carolina who I follow.
This post from him popped up this morning on FB:
“People with an itch to write often ask me, “What should I write about?” The old, true advice goes: “Write what you know.” It’s true. Bob Dylan said, ‘Tangled Up In Blue’ took me ten years to live and two years to write.” There you go.”
That is one of the things that make you such an exceptional writer Steve. You write what you know (Thoroughbreds and horse racing) and weave what you know with what you have experienced.
Thenk you very much for passing that on Lynda. I appreciate it. And please thank the writer for me . He is so right about writing what you know. That is where the passion lies
And thank you for the kind words
Speaking of Saratoga, Flavien Prat, Dylan Davis, and Manny Franco have been cold as ice the last 10 days. I’m planning on using Franco 3 times on Saturday and Davis once. Man, I must be crazy. Prat has fled to California. At least for the day. Franco and Davis left to carry on.
BTW, Chancer McPatrick won the Curlin Stakes under Irad Ortiz when Prat ended up on another Chad Brown horse. Chancer McPatrick had been very disappointing to me. Maybe he is back on track now. Or maybe that field wasn’t so good. We’ll see.
David, HAP bred 19 mares this year after 39 the last 2. I don’t think he can be saved at LE – he’s going to have micro crops running the next few years, and breeders aren’t going to remember that HAP was up against it in terms of numbers. If Romeo doesn’t return to the US after the ME season ends, it’s going to be rough sledding next year
Betsy, Honor A.P. needs Romeo and others to keep winning stakes races. Honor A.P. has a higher percentage of black type winners than Vekoma, Tiz the Law, and McKenzie which probably would surprise quite a few people.
More two year old winners is what we want Betsy.
He does….!
I think he’ll have a bigger book next year, but even if he continues to do well and has more promising babies, he’s still only going to have micro crops for 3 more years. Hoe is he going to overcome that numbers game?
Hopefully AP Again will run well. Matt said Doug likes Civil Liberty – who is clearly fast; I hope he likes APA. I also hope he handles him much differently than Rank
Betsy, as they say, success breeds success. If Honor A.P. can more 2 year old black type in the upcoming months his crop will increase exponentially be assured on that.
I was just reading about Perry Ouzts, who is about set the record for career mounts. He has won over 7,500 races. Still winning. Did i mention he is 71? I’m nearly a decade younger and ease my way out of bed in the morning. Can’t imagine having the flexibility, strength, and desire to continue to do anything at that age, let alone riding a Thoroughbred.
Malcom-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osborne, Hulk Hogan, and Chuck Magione.
Condolences to the families and loved ones.
Time for the Grim Reaper to leave town.
Umberto Ascanio, Bobby Frankel’s long time assistant has passed away.
Condolences to his family and loved ones.
Lynda, the BBC’s Newshour had a wonderful tribute to Chuck Magione this morning.
Great piece Mr. Haskins,
I too have brought my family every Labor Day weekend for the last 26 years. I have spoken with you a few times on that weekend. I hope to see you and your family this year. All the best!
Thsnks. That would be great Eric. Hope to see you out there.
One of my most cherished memories is seeing Holy Bull win the 1994 Travers. My husband and I traveled to the Spa from Florida to see Holy Bull win. We knew he would! Ha ha. The Bull overcame the Wayne Lukas rabbit and then held off Concern to win by a neck. That town and track are made for memories! It was a special time at a special place.
One of the great races and great calls by Tom Durkin.. I have so many photos of Mandy and Holy Bull they were really buddies. My favorite is him nibbling her hair while she never flinched posing for the photo. He was all class.
That is SO cute, Steve. Mandy was, and is, fortunate to have those experiences. As for HB, I was absolutely in love with him. I am still. 😍
Roberta and Steve, so many of the horses mentioned in this piece had lovely personalities! Beyond Lady’s Secret and Holy Bull, both Monarchos and Cozzene remained barn darlings as stallions when I got to see them.
Steve,
I loved reading this!
Brought a memory of my childhood flooding back of a photo taken of me at age 3 or 4 sitting on my first pony named Champ. Fast forward 20 years later to a photo of my daughter Wendy sitting on a little black pony I bought for her at the same age.
The photo of Mandy with Lady’s Secret is my favorite of all your photos. It too reminds me of my daughter at that age and has blonde hair.
I can hear Mandy giggle and Lady’s Secret breathing as she gently sniffs Mandy. Horses just seem to know they are children!
So sweet of Theo to select the vacation at Saratoga. He has the same connection to horses that you have. They are in his blood for sure.
Your memories are a treasure that you, Joan and Mandy can share with Theo and Lily as they grow up.
Love too the closing quote from Dr Zeus.
Beautifully said Lynda. Thank you. I love the parallels you mentioned of you and your daughter. I also love that photo of Mandy and Lady’s Secret. For her to be out in the field with Lady’s Secret was so thrilling and so much fun to watch. She also grew up with Dahlia, getting up close with her on three different occasions over a span of 10 years.
Beautiful piece! It brings back some wonderful memories for me, too.
What a gift your articles are 🙏thanks so much Steve !
Lovely piece!
I am really so happy to know you have such wonderful memories and may you always share them with us.
Steve, what a beautiful piece! A love letter to family, friends, equine royalty, and a cathedral.
I hope that Lily sits on a horse before the end of their visit!
Thanks Katy. I think Mandy is softening her stance. I’ll even put a net under the pony.
I have come to believe that the horse bug can strike at any time, but it’s best to get hooked young. Independent seat! Pretty sure it’s a virus that some people can clear from their bodies, while others never do.
Have a great summer making more memories, Steve!
“Put a net under the pony”…I laughed.
And Mandy holding it 🙂
Laughed again.
You are so funny!
I really like Journalism, but his Beyer for the Haskell was 101. Could be TC hangover, but he doesn’t seem to be progressing. He’s a really good racehorse, but he needs to get faster if he is going to beat the best.
Todd, I’ve no doubt with a break he’s ready to roll.
Beyer schmeyer. Journalism’s Brisnet figures from the San Felipe to the Haskell: 104, 108, 102, 107, 108, 105. He earned a 105 after averaging 105.8 in his previous 5 races. That’s consistency at the highest level.
Yes he’s consistent and good, but the others are catching up. And the two times Sovereignty looked him in the eye he folded. It doesn’t please me to say that; i wanted Journalism to win those races. He’s very good; i was hoping he was going to be great.
I love them both. To be sure, Sovereignty has the edge so far over Journalism. But I’ll reserve full judgment until they meet on a fast track.
Loved the ending of this piece. I think we who have loved racing from a young age always retain that connection to the child in us who still emerges whenever a special race happens, like Journalism’s win in the Haskell on Saturday. When I sat there in front of my screen, yelling “Come on, Journalism!”, I was connecting with the ten-year-old kid who got to see Secretariat run in the Arlington Invitational.
Your essay also got me thinking about the year 1985 and what it meant to me as a racing fan. No question, the highlight of the year for me was seeing Arlington’s “Miracle Million” in person with my cousin.
Thanks for sharing. That was great. Did you see the world series winning l Jayson Werth jumping up and down and screaming like a child after Dornoch’s big wins?
Oh my gosh, yes, I remember that!
Hi Steve
When I saw the photo of Mom’s Command in the Saratoga winner’s circle with Abbey Fuller wearing her dad’s silks, I couldn’t help but think of Fuller’s Dancer’s Image and his disappointing disqualification in the 1968 Kentucky Derby.
My understanding is that Peter Fuller was a class act and gave the first-place prize money won by Dancer’s Image in Bowie’s Governors Gold Cup to Coretta Scott King whose husband, Dr. Martin Luther King had been assassinated in Memphis two days earlier.
Each of your stories, Steve, evoke a glorious era in American horseracing and some forgotten periods of American history. For that, I am most grateful.
greg (Fan of Damascus)
That donation might have cost him the Derb y.
Wow, Steve, what an interesting take.
I hope that wasn’t the case, but even when I moved to Lexington from Toronto in 1977 there were racial undertones that raised their ugly head on occasion in the Commonwealth.
greg
Whoa. Just finished reading a little about that Derby and the lead-up/DQ/aftermath. I never knew the rest of the story beyond the DQ.
There is a great book by Milton C. Toby called “Dancer’s Image: the Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby”. Really a great read – recommended.
The conspiracy talks started way before Milt’s excellent tactical book . And they are quite believable.
Steve, I read your column in the morning, while enjoying my coffee. Nothing that happens to me today will top that.
Lol. Thank you very much Beth. But I do hope something comes along to top it.
Steve, you chose the year so very close to my heart. So many great races and horses but then I lost my father 10 days after the Travers. At 29 it was hard to deal with but this sport helped me with my grief. Not by masking it, by me remembering how Dad brought me in from a sandlot ballgame to watch the 64 Derby. I wonder if he realized then what he awakened in me. At the 85 Aqueduct Breeders Cup I wished he could of been there with me. The truth of it, the Proud Truth of it I realized He was!
Wow, that was powerful and moving, Derek. Thank you for digging deep and sharing that. My father, as I have written many times, was my biggest supporter when I started out as an assistant librarian at The Morning Telegraph. I lost him about a year later when I was only 24. I feel as if he’s been guiding me ever since.
Thanks to those who have commented. I appreciate them all and am happy you enjoyed this special trip down memory lane and the history surrounding it.
Steve- one word kept coming to mind when reading this beautiful tapestry of the giants born during that meet…fitting. As always, thank you for making my day.
Steve, your personal experiences are what always make your columns special. Remembering the horses allows us to revisit ourselves at different times in our lives. For me, 1985 was the year i waited at the stable gate of the newly minted Garden State Park, to hopefully be picked for a job. I got a job, started horwalking, then grooming. At Garden State, it was the year of Spend A Buck, where i watched him dominate their derby preps. He resided in the next barn over. My racing career and Garden State’s reign as a major track were short lived, but after 40 years, i remember it all so clearly.
Beautiful family memories woven through tails of equine greats. I hope you take the family to the Wishing Well and that the Migliore family joins you.
Again you’ve brought out so many memories of our connections to these magnificent thoroughbreds and my image of a five year old me and my first of many ponies then moving up to the horses he’d bring home to rehab and he was great at learning from the best.Of my daughter learning from him and being recipient of a few to have as a
Thank you again for an incredible story enough to bring back the memories of my involvement in a racing family and my daughters love of the many thoroughbreds in our families lives.
Thank you for the wonderful look back. It seems like it all happened yesterday.
What a sweet, wonderful remembrance, Steve! Last week’s column must have reminded you of Mom’s Command and Abby Fuller, who I now realize wasn’t a big part of that story — and naturally, that summer of 1985. I had been married only two years myself then. We were all so much younger then, but it seems the horses were much faster.
Love this. So much romance and history for you and your family at Saratoga…I have only been there once but know I’ll be back. The place is magical, and so are the tales that are spun there! Thanks for sharing such special memories.
Fabulous..moms command and the Fullers along with Ned Allard created a great trifecta. You’re fabulous to keep their memories alive
Hello Michael. Hope everything is going well.
Many of us are always grateful to you for sharing your wonderful memories with us. Thank you.