ARCADIA, Calif. - Among the amazing things that have happened more than once in the last 65 years are the following:
Man walks on the moon.
U.S. men's hockey team wins Olympic gold medal.
Miniature poodle takes Westminster Kennel Club Best-in-Show.
Then there is the list of even more amazing occurrences, things that have happened only once during the same span of time:
Halley's Comet sighted from Earth.
Actor elected to the White House.
California-bred mare wins Eclipse Award.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When a horse is good, he is eligible to win any kind of race, and there is no question Mongoose is racing in his best form. He recorded his fourth consecutive victory Saturday in the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, while in 11 previous starts he had won twice.
The 20,393 on hand were mildly surprised, for they sent off Mongoose at 6-1, though he ran coupled as an entry with Ubiquity, who won the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in his last start.
There will be a bit of discomfort in the ballroom at the Eclipse Awards a week from Monday, when three European horses who made only one start each in the United States are likely to be crowned as North American racing champions. There will be even more discomfort if the owner of one of them uses his acceptance speech to push for his nutty suggestion to turn the Breeders' Cup into the Ryder Cup.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In the fall of 1957, Hall of Fame horseman Preston Burch suffered a heart attack and his son Elliott, his assistant, was named to take over the large stable, which was headed by the Brookmeade Farm stable of Isabel Dodge Sloane.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Martin Panza, the racing secretary at Hollywood Park, awoke one night not too long ago to the whisper of disembodied voice, floating somewhere in the darkened corners of his bedroom: "Martin. Maaaaartin. If you build it, they will come."
ARCADIA, Calif. - The La Canada Stakes was created 27 years ago to lure champion Chris Evert west from New York for a winter campaign at Santa Anita.
It worked, even though the Hall of Fame filly was required to carry 128 pounds, based upon her 1974 earnings of $551,063. Her trainer, Joe Trovato, was not coy.
"I'd rather carry the 128 than give back the half million," he said one morning as he watched Chris Evert gallop by.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Traditionally, who is by Mr. Prospector out of undefeated Personal Ensign, is a Grade 1 stakes winner at the distance and is training well for Shug McGaughey. That's why he can win Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap at nine furlongs.
Mongoose, coming off three consecutive victories at three different tracks, appears to be improving with every appearance. He has the speed to stay out of trouble in a large field, and that's why he can win the Donn.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ever since he arrived in the United States from Venezuela to launch his career as a jockey, Eibar Coa has displayed great talent coupled with a great propensity for getting himself into trouble. Both sides of Coa have been conspicuous at Gulfstream Park this winter.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - This is the time of the year when all your geese are swans was how Sir Victor Sassoon put it. He was talking about 3-year-olds as prospects for the spring classics, and some of his geese did indeed turn out the right way, winning the Epsom Derby twice.