INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In case anyone forgot, a good racehorse can come from anywhere. Anywhere, of course, being defined as not Kentucky, California, or New York.
Mine That Bird, the reigning Kentucky Derby winner, trained all last winter in New Mexico. Medaglia d'Oro, a Travers winner and sire of Rachel Alexandra, was raised in Montana. And if I'm not mistaken, the 2006 North American Horse of the Year came from a little corner of South America called Uruguay. That would be Invasor.
TUCSON, Ariz. - As Rachel Alexandra rocketed through Belmont's long stretch last Saturday, en route to another runaway victory and destroying records set by the immortal Ruffian 34 years ago, it became apparent that those watching might be seeing the greatest filly of all time.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When John Longden retired after 39 years in the saddle, in April 1966, the skids were pretty well greased for his training career. His primary patron, Canadian lumberman Frank McMahon, was behind Longden all the way. And if that wasn't enough, in July 1967 McMahon spent a world-record $250,000 for a yearling son of Raise a Native, named him Majestic Prince, and turned him over to Longden. Two years later, the colt won the Derby and the Preakness.
NEW YORK - Jess Jackson's announcement Wednesday that Rachel Alexandra will not run in the Breeders' Cup this year touched off a flurry of impassioned debate from disappointed fans who were salivating over a showdown between the two current stars of American racing.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Shug McGaughey used to look at the filly Treasure Trail every day and think to himself, "Oh well, at least she's sound." Or something like that.
Treasure Trail is a 3-year-old daughter of Pulpit who, beyond a decent effort in her debut last fall, never raised much more than a cloud of dust in three subsequent starts. McGaughey, a Hall of Famer and trainer of nine champions, said he tried everything he knew to find Treasure Trail's hole card, which is a lot.
NEW YORK - Wesley Ward's historic triumphs at Royal Ascot last week, when he won a pair of races including a Group 2 event with American-based juveniles, provided a fascinating snapshot of the state of 2-year-old racing both here and abroad.
NEW YORK - At 11:30 Thursday morning, Long Island horseplayers accustomed to watching the previous day's Belmont Park replays on Cablevision's Channel 74 instead were being shown the daily-double probables from Churchill Downs. Every combination was paying $9,999, because there was no money in the pool yet.
British racing commentator Zoey Bird said she was "all over Yeats like a rash." Wacky, mutton-chopped John McCririck confessed he was "privileged" to be in the presence of such a great Thoroughbred. My daughter Lorelei jumped up and down at the sight of Yeats winning his fourth straight Ascot Gold Cup and blew a small harmonica.
The big guy has that effect, even savored from afar.
The Triple Crown took its predictable toll on the promising young lads of 2009. Racing should be accustomed to the wreckage by now. Quality Road and I Want Revenge separated themselves as the two best to compete early in the East, but neither one even made it to the Kentucky Derby. Dunkirk, rated not too far behind those two, proved his worth with his second-place Belmont finish, and cracked a bone in the process. Old Fashioned is retired and Friesan Fire is in rehab, while Pioneerof the Nile and Papa Clem are getting well-deserved breaks.
