Secretariat.com

In an era of great horses, not many are that familiar with Linda’s Chief, but he was a big name in his time and on the 50th anniversary of his clash with an up and coming young horse named Secretariat in the 1972 Sanford Stakes it is the perfect time to tell his story…

This column is about one simple word that in the world of horse racing isn’t that simple, but is used way too often. This is my take on it, which may wind up making it even more complicated than it already is. But it is something we’ll open for conversation and debate…

Call this part potpourri of Saratoga, part invitation, part travelogue, and part history. Whether you have been there many times, just a few times, or never, it is hoped this will get you in the mood. Remember, come July and August all roads lead to the Spa…

When Tawny Port runs in Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes, in which he will attempt to put his name among the leading 3-year-olds, I will be thinking of a very special horse who once carried those same silks of John Fort in the Kentucky Derby more than 20 years ago, just as Tawny Port did this year…

We all know that America’s two biggest hopes for Horse of the Year are on a collision course for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, in what could be one of the most memorable events in years. But is that the race for which both are best suited? Right now I believe the answer is no, and shuts out two other horses who would have made for a true “race of the century”…

The rich Belmont Derby and Oaks may have overshadowed the Suburban Stakes run earlier on the card, but this year’s renewal and its first three finishers provided a look back at the names that once made this one of the sport’s most important races…

t was 60 years ago on July 4th that “The Giant Killer” was born when Allen Jerkens stunned the racing world by upsetting the great Kelso in the Suburban Handicap with his recent acquisition Beau Purple, the first of numerous Jack Dreyfus-owned horses under the name Hobeau Farm who would upset so many champions and future Hall of Famers. And then came the coup de grace in 1973 when Jerkens did the unthinkable by defeating Secretariat twice with Onion and Prove Out…

This column is about obsession, a love of horses and capturing them on film, and a bonding with my daughter that would manifest itself years later with her words…

This column, reprinted from several years ago and updated and expanded, is for me. Because of its extreme length I don’t expect many to make it to the end and my father’s magnificent letter from the South Pacific and I am fine with that. Not only is it a much-needed cathartic experience, it needs to be in print once again, whether anyone reads all of it or not. My father deserves it. It is more about the writing of the column than the reading and for my daughter to have. To those who do read it through, you will find that in order to write it I had to strip all the layers off and reveal things about myself that I normally would never do. It is the only way I can do justice to a remarkable man…

You’re not going to find any inspiring back stories this week. Instead we provide a potpourri of subjects, including a brief look at the Belmont, an overview of the star-studded weekend, racing’s newest potential superstar, a look back in history, and some pedigree tidbits. So there is a little something for everyone…