“Viva Canonero!” Returns with New YouTube Video
This is the story of one of the most amazing chapters in the annals of racing. It is also about a YouTube mini-documentary finally made public after 13 years, and the dream of one filmmaker to bring arguably the most remarkable and improbable racing story ever told to the big screen. But most of all it is about a horse, the likes of which has never been seen and surely will never be seen again. ~ Steve Haskin
“Viva Canonero!” Returns With New YouTube Video
By Steve Haskin
Nearly 20 years ago, Venezuelan-born filmmaker Salomon Gill of the Los Angeles-based Celestial Filmworks, embarked on a mission that quickly became his holy grail. That quest was to make a full-length motion picture about one of his country’s greatest heroes, the rags-to-riches Thoroughbred racehorse Canonero, who, because of a 1956 foal with the same name, went by the name Canonero II.
In my 58 years in racing, 56 of them professionally, the story of Canonero (as he shall be called in this column) remains the most incredible, implausible, and far-fetched tale of the Turf I have ever encountered, and if those three adjectives all mean the same it is because one alone doesn’t do the story justice.
Over the years it looked on several occasions as if Sal’s project would begin production. He wrote the screenplay, had some internationally famous actors and photographers and cinematographers lined up, and has had several interested investors, such as Netflix, but it just hasn’t come together. Yes, it’s been 13 years, but that is the same number of years it took the Oscar-winning “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” to make it to the big screen. As Canonero’s trainer Juan Arias said about defying the odds, “They could not hold back destiny.”
Let me jump in at this point and introduce myself to this story. A good deal of the content for the film was to be based on my extensive writings in the Daily Racing Form and Blood-Horse in which I told Canonero’s complete story through personal recollections, numerous interviews, rare videos, and many hours of research. It reached a point where I was to be a central character in the film supplying a narrative, with, believe it or not, my son-in-law, a longtime professional actor, playing me, as cringe-worthy as that sounds to me.
In 2012, with the movie still very much a possibility, Sal released a 17-minute promotional mini-documentary on CD to help generate interest. Watching it I realized just how talented a filmmaker Sal is, as the documentary was in my opinion extremely well done and gave me goosebumps. In it he interviewed me, Bill Nack, Ed Bowen, Bob Baffert, Cot Campbell, the connections of the horse, and many other first-hand observers, while capturing the magical tale of Canonero with beautiful imagery and never before seen film footage.
I obviously have no idea if this movie is ever going to be made, as funding is often a major obstacle, as is finding the right distributor. But I was reminded last week that the 1971 phenomenon that was Canonero is still very much alive after 54 years when Sal finally publicly released his mini-documentary on YouTube. Three of my biggest shocks in racing have been Canonero’s Kentucky Derby victory, his Preakness victory — in some ways more shocking than his Derby win, and his fairy tale-like comeback in the following year’s Stymie Handicap against Riva Ridge, which I wrote about in a column.
Well, as I just learned, Canonero continues to shock me more than five decades later. I went on YouTube to watch it again this week and couldn’t believe that in a little over a week it already had close to 30,000 views. My first thought was, “How is that possible?” I didn’t know there were more than 300 people who remember who Canonero is, or if they did recognize the name it was by now no more than a faint memory from the past. Could it be the magic of Canonero that once captured the heart and imagination of two continents still possesses the power of seduction? Could there actually be a market for this movie all these years later? I know Sal hasn’t given up and never will. As for the mini-documentary, it can be found on YouTube by searching under the name “Canonero” and “The People’s Horse” (View by Clicking Here).
This is a story that has been crying out to be told for over five decades; a story that no fiction writer could ever conceive. Obviously I cannot even come close to telling the entire story here, but I am hoping I can at least whet the appetite enough to inspire people unfamiliar with the story to watch the YouTube video, which I am sure will also transport those who are familiar with it to a special place in time and be able to see the images come to life.
It wasn’t until I became a feature writer for the Daily Racing Form in 1991 that I embarked on the written journey of Canonero, a horse whose story amazed me in 1971 and still amazes me today. As I kept gathering additional pieces to this incredible story, new revised features appeared in the DRF and then the Blood-Horse, where I was senior correspondent for 20 years. I was determined not to let the story of Canonero wither with the years.
With every word of this enthralling saga came visions of a movie or a book, even in the form of an animated film or children’s book. One of my constant goals as a writer has been to tell the fairy tale side of Thoroughbred racing; the stories that strip away our hardened exteriors and reach into the core of our soul to make the Sport of Kings a magical place that sustains its energy from the implausible truth.
In 2011 I was contacted by Salomon, who was intent on making a major motion picture about Canonero, based in good part on my writings, complete with an introductory documentary and a talented team of top actors and filmmakers. I was asked to be part of that team, as a consultant and, as mentioned earlier, an actual character in the movie. Needless to say I was flattered and overjoyed to hear that the story of Canonero was in such enthusiastic and skillful hands.
My latest column on Canonero at that time was actually a two-part story on Bloodhorse.com that can be read through their search engine. Just to summarize the first part of the story, it is about a crooked-legged horse by obscure parents, who was sold at Keeneland as a yearling for a paltry $1,200 to bloodstock agent Luis Navas (his was the only bid on the horse). He was then sold to Venezuelan businessman Pedro Baptista, who owned a plumbing and pipe manufacturing company. After arriving in Venezuela Canonero was sent to a young up-and-coming trainer named Juan Arias, who had grown up in the slums of Caracas and sought refuge at the racetrack. When Canonero arrived at his barn it was not exactly love at first sight. In addition to his crooked right leg that jutted out badly and was so noticeable it turned off interested American buyer Cot Campbell, the colt also had a split hoof and a bad case of worms, so bad Arias had to clean out his stomach every 30 days and put him on a special diet of seaweed from Australia.
That began arguably the most amazing journey in the annals of Thoroughbred racing, with Pedro Baptista actually attempting to sell Canonero in America as a 2-year-old. His failing business had forced him to sell 24 of his 48 horses, and after Canonero’s impressive maiden victory he sent him to Del Mar and ran him twice with the intent of finding a buyer. Despite finishing third and fifth, he drew interest from the great Charlie Whittingham, who wanted to buy him for one of his main clients Mary Jones. In what was to be the first of several blunders by Baptista, he neglected to send anyone who spoke English. Unable to get a firm price, Whittingham gave up and Canonero was returned to Venezuela, where an indignant Baptista told Arias, “Don’t worry we will win the Kentucky Derby with him.” Arias, not knowing much about the Derby, paid little attention.
After Canonero began his 3-year-old campaign, Baptista was in Florida in February and learned that Pimlico vice-president Chick Lang was in town. Back then you had to nominate to each Triple Crown race separately. One day, Lang received a phone call at the Miami Springs Villas near Hialeah from someone with a Spanish accent claiming to be the owner of a horse named Canonero. He asked him if he would nominate the colt to all three Triple Crown races. Lang never heard of the horse and thought it was John Finney and Larry Ensor of Fasig-Tipton playing a joke on him. When he told the caller he never heard of the horse, all Baptista, or more likely his interpreter, said was, “You will.”
When Lang realized it might not be a joke he wrote the name of the horse on the back of a cocktail napkin and was ready to put in the nominations when he was informed there was no record of the horse. Again believing someone was pulling his leg, he crumpled up the napkin and started to throw it in the trash, but decided to hold on to it just in case. A call to the Pimlico racing office the following day revealed there indeed was a horse named Canonero and Lang proceeded to submit the nominations.
By early March, Canonero had begun to demonstrate his remarkable versatility by winning at 1 ¼ miles at La Rinconada on March 7 and then winning back-to-back races at 6 ½ furlongs on March 21 and April 4.
During that time Baptista began telling people that his deceased mother appeared in his dream one night, telling him he was going to win the Kentucky Derby, certainly not a race for which someone from Venezuela would point a horse. But that vision provided additional inspiration to make it his goal, as preposterous as it was.
After Canonero stretched back out in distance on April 10 and finished third in a 1 1/8-mile handicap at La Rinconada, Baptista unleashed his bombshell on Arias, informing him that the colt was being shipped to America to run in the Kentucky Derby, which was only three weeks away. Baptista was so determined in his quest he overlooked the fact that Canonero had just been beaten at odds of 2-5 carrying a feathery 112 pounds and would have to pick up 14 pounds in the Derby,
When it was time to fly Canonero to the U.S, the flight had to return to Caracas due to mechanical failure. Put on another flight, this time one of the engines caught on fire and they again had to return. The only other plane they could find was a cargo plane filled with chickens and ducks, who made a racket the entire flight, no doubt unnerving the colt.
When Canonero finally arrived in Miami during an oppressive heat wave it was discovered the horse had no papers or blood work and had to remain on the plane. Someone close to Baptista even said that the horse had to be flown to Panama to wait for his papers to be in order. Whether or not that was factual, Canonero eventually was allowed to disembark, but without any blood work he had to remain in quarantine for three days while his tests were sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland, during which time he lost over 70 pounds in the sweltering heat. But his problems weren’t over. Baptista, whose business was still suffering, had not sent enough money to pay for a flight from Miami to Louisville, so Canonero was put on a run-down horse trailer and vanned the 900 miles to Churchill Downs, a trip that took 20 hours.
Then came the final indignity. Neither Arias nor groom Juan Quintero could speak English and when they arrived at the Churchill Downs stable gate no one there had any clue who the horse or the trainer was and refused them entrance until the matter was resolved. Once things were finally worked out, the journey from hell was over and Canonero was bedded down. The colt was a physical mess with every one of his ribs showing. It was one week to the Kentucky Derby. The only future book at that time was the Caliente book in Tijuana, Mexico, and having to come up with odds for this unknown South American horse, they made him an outrageous 500-1.
What happened over the next tumultuous and almost comedic week is told in part in the YouTube documentary and in Part 1 of my Bloodhorse story, as Canonero became the laughing stock of the backstretch, as was his seemingly unconventional and eccentric trainer, who insisted he had a spiritual connection to the horse and would go into Canonero’s stall each morning and actually talk in his ear, asking the horse if he felt like training that day. When Canonero finally informed his trainer he was ready for a workout, he went a half-mile in a snail-like :53 4/5, bringing more snickers from the amused media and local horsemen.
What followed over the next few days were more mini-dramas that would come together to produce an epic tale of the Turf that defied all logic and conventional thinking. In one week, and continuing for the next five weeks, the ugly duckling who was considered a mockery and an equine buffoon after arriving in Kentucky would become a national hero in both South and North America, and the pride of Spanish-speaking people from both continents. Mothers in Venezuela were naming their newborn sons Canonero.
I will skip those remaining wild events of Derby week, including Canonero’s clandestine work in the dark on the morning of the Derby, and jump ahead to the scene later that afternoon as this harlequin of a horse decked out in all-brown silks rallied from 18th place with a spectacular move circling the entire field on the turn and came charging down the stretch to win by nearly four lengths.
Canonero II strides to the finish in the 1971 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The response from those watching live and on TV was the same: “Who is that horse?” Up in the press box the reporters who had mocked the horse all week stood there in disbelief after figuring out it was that same horse, apparently never noticing that he had put back most of the weight he had lost and his coat was flourishing by race day.
Among those in the press box was Chick Lang, and at first the name didn’t ring a bell. But as the winner was jogging back it finally hit him “like a bolt of lightning,” as he said. The horse whose name he had scribbled down on the back of a cocktail napkin and almost tossed in the trash had just won the Kentucky Derby. “Jesus Christ!” he shouted. “It’s the mystery horse. I can’t believe it, This is like a fairy tale.”
Also watching that day was Cot Campbell, who had turned him down as a yearling because of his crooked right leg that jutted out. As he recalled in the video, “He was launching this massive bid and was running past horses like they were tied to a tree. At the sixteenth pole when he hit the front I noticed a funny thing. There he was and he was still throwing that right leg out. That’s when I recognized him as the yearling I had turned down for $1,200.”
But before you think the indignities were over, Juan Arias was not allowed in the winner’s circle until one of his countrymen who spoke English explained to the security guards who he was. When he ran out to greet his horse he was in tears.
With Venezuela in celebration and people dancing in the streets of Caracas, Pedro Baptista, who was unable to attend the race due to business issues, quietly went with his father to pray at the grave of his mother, who had paid him that fateful visit in his dream.
That night Baptista threw a party for some 200 guests, while jockey Gustavo Avila was carried through the streets in Caracas and received a telegram from the president of Venezuela, which read in part, “This great victory will stimulate Venezuela’s progress in all its efforts.”
And this was merely a portion of what is chronicled in Part 1. The story of Canonero was far from over, as more adventures and misadventures would follow at Pimlico and Belmont Park, where “The Caracas Cannonball,” as he became known, would draw a record crowd of 82,694, shattering the previous record of 67,961 who turned out two years earlier to see Majestic Prince attempt to become the first ever undefeated Triple Crown winner.
When Canonero died at Haras Tamanaco in 1981 after returning to Venezuela, having stood several years at Gainesway Farm, racing’s “Golden Decade” of the seventies was history, with Secretariat, Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Alydar, Ruffian, and Spectacular Bid all stamping their place in the record books. But few remembered that it was Canonero who helped usher in the decade by transcending the sport and paving the way for these media stars.
By the time of his death, the cries of “Viva Canonero!” that echoed throughout the racing world had faded to a whisper, and the horse who for five unforgettable weeks electrified the country had slipped quietly back into the obscurity from which he came.
Canonero’s Derby and Preakness trophies were given to La Rinconada Racetrack, but they were stolen. The statue of him that had been commissioned was never built as the country underwent a change by the late seventies due to misuse of oil wealth and political corruption.
As the years pass by and a new, younger core of high-tech racing fans emerge with little grasp of history, the name of Canonero drifts deeper into memory, as do his amazing feats. But after five decades and a short but powerful and emotional documentary, perhaps it is finally time to remember “The People’s Horse” Canonero and a special time in racing when the entire sport was set ablaze by a horse they called the “Caracas Cannonball.”
By the end, it is hoped you too will hear the cries of “Viva Canonero!” and a new generation of Canonero fans and admirers will be born. Sometimes, it takes talented and committed people like Salomon Gill, as well as the resurrection of an equine hero who united a country, to help move history up into the present and expose people to stories long forgotten.
Photos courtesy of Churchill Downs, Courier Journal/Bill Strode.
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.
Nysos pointed toward B.C. sprint or mile. Not a distance horse.
Mac selling Run Happy to s Korea is really sad with all of Mac’s money sure he could have made a deal with a small farm in New York etc he promoted Run Happy so much why not just geld him and donate him to Old Friends come on Mac do the right thing
Nic, too many owners treat their horses like interchangeable parts. RH could go many places in USA.
Makes me wonder how hard TACO’s tariffs are hurting Mack’s mattress business. Maybe he needs the cash.
I should have known.
Todd, my comment was for someone else.
Sorry Mike. I wasn’t responding to you. I have no problem with your comment.
Sorry Todd. Didn’t want to offend you, comment intended for individual above.
Regarding article on Paco Lopez, your deal is always landing on the wrong side.
I’ve seen John Shirreffs in a sport jacket but yesterday it looked like he wore a suit—he held Baeza’s head, in the paddock….horse was hot…..this horse has upside—John is GAGA! But you won’t find him, in the winners circle—John stays out of those pictures…
A quality trainer.
Happy for Baeza in the PA Derby! But I wonder what happened with Gosger? I think he finished 6th.
Seemed like he coildn’t beat the inside speed to the turn w/o going 6-8 wide…even then he was never a serious threat…
Lots of horses don’t like Parx….Gosger, Barnes, the Cotillion favorites—all floundered….Baeza—late foal and head case, is on the improve… a true ten furlong type..
Barnes ran 4th of 10 horses at 1-9 odds. Maybe he didn’t like Parx. That Santa Anita Derby run obviously took something out of him.
$3.2million doesn’t buy what it used to.
Maybe 6-furlongs was too short for him. Does he go back on the shelf again or come back in about a month? Maybe he puts in an appearance at Del Mar during the Breeders Cup festivities in six weeks.
Tommy,
I respectively disagree with you on Barnes as I think he ran a “Great” race and I hope it wakes BB up on what this horse can be. I said earlier this year in this column that INTO MISCHIEF horses are short on stamina on the front end and would be be utilized better as mid pack to closer in distance races in the likes of 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 mile in the examples of Sovereignty and Tappan Street. What we learned yesterday with Barnes is that he can be rated and visually he looked to be running the fastest in the stretch. If I was BB I would really considered him for the BCC (yes seriously). Hey what is the worst that can happen is he loses. If he can’t get Gafflione services put Mike Smith on him and tell him to ride him like he rode Zenyatta….. last to first. Barnes will improve after this race !!!
You actually think Barnes ran great?
Absolutely!!!
Then, Chrome ran outstanding in the Classic.
Mike,
How you feel about Chrome is fine with me but my comments on this was strictly about Barnes. I guess you can say from a betting stand point it wasn’t a good race but from a racing style and the way he ran to me was most important.
1. Shows he can be rated.
2. He got dirt in his face and didn’t stop.
3. He got to the stretch and was making ground with every step on the leaders.
Remember this was only a six furlong race and frontrunners wouldn’t be backing up like in a longer race with a pace they were going.
I think you are right about Barnes at a distance.
Before the race, Bob B. said he was trying to figure him out. It was the public who made him 1-9.
And Magnitude might be a closer…? What a great day of racing that was.
$ 3.2 mil purchase. Lol
Run Happy sold to South Korea.
Sad news.
Yes this is sad news and hope it is not his death knell … Dortmund, Menifee, Preservationist .
Beyond sad
Nic,
Totally agree !!!
Just seven for the $500k Lukas Classic next Saturday at Churchill. It’s about time for Disarm to step up again. Disarm will be going third race off of a 3-month break. He will have to beat McPeek’s Mystik Dan & Rattle N Roll.
That will be closing weekend for Churchill. Keeneland will open the following week with more meaningful racing. At least as far as possible Breeders Cup horses goes. No offense.
I’m tempted to wait for Keeneland. We’ll see.
I’m surprised how many short fields there have been at Churchill during this meet. At least on the Saturdays that I play.
I’d consider playing Aqueduct next Saturday if it wasn’t for the hippity-hopping around different channels. I got tired of that nonsense during Saratoga.
Just watch it live on Youtube.
Great story. Since I was born in 77 I really enjoy these stories about horses that came before my time.
I love it when someone new comments and uses the words “before my time.” I’d love to see more of that. Its great to reminisce but its also great once in while to hear from someone learning something they didn’t know.
Steve, you’ve written many interesting columns over the years, but this one on Canonero II is one of my favorites. Whenever Canonero II is mentioned, I’m all ears. You left no stone unturned when digging up the facts of this fascinating horse and the cast of characters surrounding him.
Thank you for the heads up of Salomon Gill’s video. I really enjoyed watching it and was impressed with the skillful touch that Salomon gives to this project. It’s a teaser indeed for the main attraction which is the 2-hour film that Salomon is working on. I wish him all the luck in getting this project completed and into distribution. I feel that it would be well worth waiting for.
Viva Canonero!
Thank you Dewey. And this was only a part of the story. There is more to Part 1 and a Iot more great stories in Part 2.
I went to BloodHorse and dug up Parts 1 and 2. I remember reading them back in 2011. You had written about Canonero II on the 40th anniversary of his Derby and Preakness accomplishments. Good stuff, Steve.
Ancient Title was a big. robust bay son of Gummo, he ran 7 furlongs on seven occasions, winning all seven times, many of them stretch battles where he refused to be passed…his last race—age eight—was a 6 fur tune-up, and he went 1:08 and change….good, fast horse…..they named a race after him—but they changed the race name to “Santa Anita Sprint Championship”—mewonders why?….
Thank you for bringing up so many great 70s memories and one the 70s greatest Ancient Title ! Good news unlike so many others he’s honored at the Santa Anita /arcadia walk of fame so he lives on forever ! Ancient title strub series wins in ‘74 will always be part of my personal favorite horse racing memories ! Thanks again Matthew !!
When I Santa Anita parted ways without Tree Association….they changed the “Oak Leaf” to “Chandelier”…”Goodwood” to “Awesome Again” (Frank Stronach’s horse) they changed The Norfolk, too….they changed :The Lady’s Secret ” to “Zenyatta”. (sheesh!)….but the Ancient Title to….”Sprint Championship”?….perplexing….and just wrong..
(Parter ways with OAK TREE)
Doesn’t change the great memories I hope you still get to go to the great race place it looks as beautiful as ever and all the memories will come flying back best 1970s wishes my friend cougar Susan’s girl ack ack ancient title stardust Mel royal owl crystal water Bicker etc !
Just watched the video — everyone looks so young! Makes me wonder if there’s any footage of the horse from Derby week that’s not included here. (And I sincerely hope the film makers tone down the music, especially during the races. They’re dramatic enough with violins and crashing cymbals.) Predictably, I cried.
My across the street neighbor bet a $10 ticket on the field in the 1971 Kentucky Derby. Cannonero II won enough money for me to purchase all my textbooks and school supplies for my sophomore year of college. Still to this day, that was the only bet placed in my name on the Kentucky Derby. I love the Derby but I don’t bet. The race means too much to me. Harold Brickey lived across the street from my parents for 30 years and as luck would have it, Mr. B. was attending the race in 1971. If I remember correctly my Derby horse was Dike. Mr. B. was supposed to bet on Dike to win and instead bet the field. That was a strange Derby.
I just loved that film and your column. For one thing, it was a treat to see you speaking on camera! And the story was beautifully told, with a majestic musical score to boot.
Canonero’s Derby was the first I ever saw; I was eight years old. What an electrifying introduction to the race!
I appreciated that you explained how he got his name. One anecdote I read years ago said that as he crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs, a reporter looked down at his racing program in shock and said, “Canonero II? Who the hell was Canonero I?”
The other anecdote I read, and based on how you described Mr. Baptista’s involvement with the horse I’m doubting now whether this is true, claimed that he was barely following the doings in Kentucky as he thought his horse didn’t have a chance. Reportedly, when someone called him to tell him his horse won, he said “That’s a sick joke!” and hung up on the caller.
Everyone asked who he was. What you mentioned about Baptista is in part 1 of my bloodhorse story.
Thanks! I will look up your part 1 again.
Terrific story Steve! I could not help but think of Mine That Bird and his rags to riches story. I’m from El Paso, Sunland Park was Bird’s home track, and we were all so proud of him, like Canonero’s countrymen were of him. Viva la Underdog!
Steve, I remember the shock of that Derby (which I watched on TV) when this unheard of colt came from nowhere to win the race. I also have a vague memory of the struggle Arias had to get to the winner’s circle, and was all on board in Canonero’s quest for the Triple Crown that year. (The Sports Illustrated cover after the Belmont, with the headline “Canonero should not have run,” is burned into my visual cortex). I had no idea you had been so involved in telling Canonero’s tale over the years, but it shouldn’t really be such a surprise: you’ve been EVERYWHERE in racing since the late 1960s.
I would love to see the story come to light in either a film or TV production. Maybe someone should get in touch with Ken Burns.
Wouldn’t that be awesome…if the only recourse was to do a full length documentary. I mention the SI editorial in my part 2 story on bloodhorse.
I will check it out. Thanks!
Great theater Steve. Cananero 2 really lit the flame. The crowd sizes at the racetracks were great back then. Although I was only 7, my dad mentioned he won the Derby. You’re my #1 author, Mister! I’ve never read more words from anybody else in my life! But your writing is so much more than just words. As Dick Vitale would say, It’s “feeling”, baby!
I really appreciate that Tom , thank you very much.
What an amazing story about perseverance! Uplifting and made my day. Would watch this story in a Hollywood theater.
I believe Canonero ran in the 1970 Del Mar Futurity, won that year by the filly June Darling….
In watching the video, it was striking to note how many of those sharing memories of Canonero are no longer with us. Those of us who experienced all or part of the golden age of racing are getting up there, and I wonder if anyone will know or care just a few decades from now. It would be great if the feature film were made and captured that time and place.
Well, that was uplifting. Lol
You and Baffert excepted, thankfully.
I love how you always tell the story behind the story, without you we wouldn’t know of the trials behind greatness. You bring the story to life, thank you
Steve, this is a story that absolutely needs a bigger audience! I see why it is a passion project. Canonero II’s story could do for Venezuela what “Encanto” did for Colombia: it is a story that allows people from all over the world to see a different side of those places. The political fortunes of a country do not always reflect the hearts of its people – and almost never their horses’!
We have seen a lot of coverage about stars from other sports getting involved in horse racing. This project could be a fantastic one to “pitch” (sue me) to professional baseball players from Venezuela! As a group, they seem so happy to have safe and comfortable lives here in the USA, playing a game they’re passionate about and for which they are grateful. They also seem to love their country, and to long for it. Maybe this is something one or more of them would be interested in funding. A rags to riches folk hero with a comeback story resonates with almost everyone, doesn’t it?!
That is a great post Katy. Thank you. If you email me at sehaskin@aol.com I will respond to your opening sentence, which is much appreciated.
Steve, gracias, tu relato es fantastico..!!
Gracias Fernando
Whenever I see a Deacon post—Im pleased….he was around, at Hollywood Park—the western track that hosted so many eastern horses, with their close proximity to LAX…..Deacon daw them all, and his stories about them never fail to raise my heart! I, too was there, in the 70s….but Deacon gotta see the 60s…Dr Fager in The Californian, over 13 locals, and Native Diver, two horses of similar headstrong natures…..I got to see most of the big eastern horses, of the 70s…but not Secretariat, Forego, Alydar…..or Ruffian..
But those long hot days, at Hollywood Park—not the Art Deco masterpiece, of Santa Anita—but to the horsemen Hollywood Park was the place! I took many a track bus from Santa Ana to Inglewood, I started going as a tall 16 year old, I loved that track—-
Thank you Matthew, I truly appreciate another kindred spirit.
My dad got me into horse racing. IMO. it is still the greatest sport there is.
Very few remember the brilliant Forli. He came up from Argentina.
Purchased by Arthur Hancock, of Sunday Silence fame.
I saw Forli win the Coronado Handicap in track record time. (1967) I believe.
He sired Forego, an all time great. I believe he wong the Argentine Triplr Crown.
I remember most of these old time greats.
Dotted Swiss, Clandestine, How Now, Terry’s Secret, Hillsdale, Windy Sands, Mr. Consistentcy, First Landing, Admiral’s Voyage, Seaneen, Winonly, Real Good Deal, Native Diver,
Bagdad, Olden Times, Silver Spoon, a personal favorite. She was trained by Robert Wheeler a friend of my dad.
The 3 best race horses in my opinion were Spectacular Bid, Dr. Fager & Secretariat.
and then Swaps,
Best jockeys IMO were Bill Shoemaker & Bill Hartack & then Eddie Arcaro & Laffit Pincay. When Hollywood Park closed it really broke my heart. Lots of great memories there.
Way back in the day I made my first bet. I had a paper route where I made $20 a month. If anyone remembers what a paper route is :).
I asked my dad to bet the $10 on a filly named Paris Pike to place. It was the feature race of the day. She finished 2nd & I got back around $85, I thought I had hit the mother lode with that. I think a horse named Geechie Lou was favorite in the race,
Beginners luck at its best.
Yeah Matthew we could share some great stories.
Deacon I made $56/month delivering the Register, every day folding and delivering—then the (dreaded) COLLECTING, at month’s end—always 3 or 4 “deadbeats”, I had to keep trying to get the $2.75 from (the paperboy pais for all of his papers,)….one time my dad went to the post office and filed a “Freedom of Information” paper, to get a gut’s forwarding address….and he drove me 20 miles, to the giy—I said “Collecting for the. Register”—he looked over my shoulder at my dad, in the car—and I got my $2.75!!!….
My first wager—thru my dad—was $2/place, on a Quarter Horse named “Mr Mars Bar”—I had used Tom Ainslee’s “handicap system”, taken from a book of his I checked out at the library—Mr Mars Bar WON, but I only got the place price…learning my first hard fact about Horse Racing—if you like a horse BET TO WIN!….
Steve I saw Canonero II work in between races, at Santa Anita…before shipping east and defeating Riva Ridge, in a battle of Derby Winners….Canonero “honked”, as he breathed, very loud (I saw,Loud at Santa Anita also!)……
Steve—I have another point—it’s about POINTS, for The Derby ….I believe the 2yo big races NEED FAR MORE POINTS! Because….traditional training up to The Kentucky Derby used to be RACING AT TWO, in stakes races….then getting put away over Winter, and brought back in early Spring, for the GRINDING Triple Crown races—today they are in a big points battle, starting in January, every race of huge importance….and I can see that has greatly affected recent Derby Winners…..those without 2yo “bottom”, that won roses….do not persevere…..because they had no bottom! So what does Racing do? They suggest to make ONLY the Breeders Cup Juvenile a points race, as things are now—there’s practically nothing, points-wise, for the 2yo stakes, making the 3yo season top-heavy, on points races–horses peaking TOO EARLY, horses not getting g any 2yo bottom/experience, and less actual time AWAY from the training grind—no break…..I know Im on the smaller side, on this issue….I think that is too bad..
Canonero displays all the heart and capabilities Thoroughbreds possess. Can’t help but feel sorry for the horse, all he went through and his relatively short life, but the memories he left are huge. Canonero’s story also unfortunately reminds us of all the magic we’ve lost.
Steve,
What a wonderful story and nobody can tell it better than you. This is truly a rags to riches story like no other and to think to what this poor horse went through to just to get to the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby is just amazing. I remember Canonero but never knew the story behind it. Thank you for sharing it and keeping the memory of him alive !!!
You are the BEST !!!!
Thanks very much.
Increible story.🤩🤩
Gracias Roberto.