NEW YORK - There were plenty of record-setting numbers that emerged from Breeders' Cup Day last Oct. 25 at Santa Anita, such as $2.68 million (highest pick six payoff), 4 (most victories by a trainer), and 0 (the millimeters between High Chaparral and Johar at the wire of the Turf). The most intriguing one, as 3-year-olds start the 2004 racing season, may be 0.87.
ARCADIA, Calif. - He was the road warrior of 2003. A four-legged travel poster. The horse for all regions.
Excessivepleasure climbed aboard no fewer than 14 cargo planes last season, tack bag packed and stamped for such exotic destinations as Des Moines, El Paso, and Oklahoma City. Never once did he complain about jet lag, leg room, in-flight service, or lost luggage. Plane went up, plane went down, and Excessivepleasure spilled out, ready to run.
How was business in the American racing industry in 2003? Figures released earlier this week cut both ways.
On the positive side, total parimutuel handle increased for the 10th straight year, a compelling statistic that belies the constant depiction in the general media that racing is a declining game. Betting on American races was an impressive $15.2 billion last year. That's a lot of exacta boxes.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A star may have been born on Sunday at Santa Anita, but the labor pains were considerable.
A.P. Adventure, still unclear on the concept, did very little right and still won the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel Stakes by nearly four lengths. It was not a pretty sight, until the very last part, when she leveled off for Alex Solis and put in a fabulous run of 50 yards or so.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The death of John Franks on New Year's Eve rekindled memories of many fine runners, from champion and Breeders' Cup winner Answer Lively to the grand mare Heatherten.
His horses ranged far and wide, always in the care of quality trainers and pitched at the proper level, which is why Franks led all North American owners in races won through six seasons during the stable's heyday in the 1980's.
NEW YORK - Island Fashion's impressive romp in the La Brea at Santa Anita Dec. 27 was the last of 2003's 101 Grade 1 stakes races in the United States. Looking only at those 101 races and their 102 victors (thanks to High Chapparal and Johar's lone Grade 1 dead heat of the year in the Breeders' Cup Turf), who were the year's biggest winners at the highest level of the sport?
ARCADIA, Calif. - For all the grand champions that Alex Harthill has handled during more than half a century as a Kentucky veterinarian - from Citation to Sunday Silence and a host of names in between - it was the ailing horse that toppled out of a Sallee van at Keeneland more than a year ago that has finally brought an end to Harthill's legendary career as a backstretch practitioner.
NEW YORK - The start of the Florida winter racing season, which since the demise of Hialeah has meant opening day at Gulfstream Park, is as joyous an occasion in the church of horseplaying as any of the traditional religious holidays that precede it. Especially for Easterners like this one, who give themselves a December freshening after Churchill closes and Aqueduct's action moves to the inner track, the Gulfstream opener is a time to start playing seriously again and to pay attention to racing that means something beyond the posted prices.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It has been 10 months now since Laffit Pincay pulled on white pants and let fly with one of his ferocious, take-no-prisoners rides. Ten months since fans had to deal with the thorny challenge of betting against a horse equipped with Pincay power. Ten months since the classiest act in the game plied his dangerous trade, defying time and inspiring awe.
It's been a long 10 months.