The race now known as the Dwyer began life in 1887, as the Brooklyn Derby. It was run at the Gravesend track in Brooklyn, a track that the Dwyer brothers, Phil and Mike, had helped to bring into existence in 1886. Phil and Mike were Brooklyn butchers, their shop at the corner of Atlantic and…
Bill Hirsch recognizes a legend when he sees one. He is, after all, the grandson of Hall of Fame trainer Max Hirsch, and the son of Hall of Fame trainer Buddy Hirsch. Among the horses they trained: Triple Crowner winner Assault, Gallant Bloom, Sarazen, and Canonero II. Max Hirsch trained three Kentucky Derby winners and…
A few weeks ago, Bill Mott sat in his office at Belmont Park and talked about his earliest racing memories, which centered on the weekly editions of The Blood-Horse that would arrive at his South Dakota home. “I’m trying to think of the filly that used to be on the cover,” he said. “She weighed…
Earlier today, I reported that the New York State Racing and Wagering Board’s Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident Database had inadvertently published that Giant Ryan had been euthanized on Saturday, the day that he was injured in the True North at Belmont Park. According to New York State Racing and Wagering Board spokesperson Lee Park,…
Last night on Twitter and Facebook, several people reported that, according to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board’s Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident Database, Giant Ryan, injured in Saturday’s True North at Belmont, had been euthanized. When I learned of the report, I checked the database, which indicated that Giant Ryan had…
I’ve spent much of the last 24 hours writing Belmont Stakes wrap-up posts: one for Forbes on the financial success of the day, one for BelmontStakes.com on what a Belmont without I’ll Have Another might have felt like, recaps of undercard stakes races and a feature on John Velazquez for Thoroughbred Times. I am blessed…
Once again, Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now has taken us from January to June, offering insight and analysis on every significant race on the road to and through the Triple Crown. Many, many thanks to him for all of his contributions, and I hope that he–and you–cash a big one. Good luck and safe trips…
This spring, I’ve had the unbelievable opportunity to dream plausibly about seeing two personal sporting milestones in person: the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals and a 12th Triple Crown winner. We know how the first one turned out. And now, the day before the second, I’m not so sure I want to see it.…
You can watch the race, including its troubled start and one of the horses—presumably the winner—getting rubbed afterwards, and then read the incredibly detailed account of the race in the next day’s New York Times. The amount of coverage the race the got, the number of column inches, boggles the mind of the contemporary reader.…
This weekend, 12 horses will take to the legendary Belmont oval to run in an historic stakes race, a race that dates back to the 19th century, a race in which horses will run, for one of the few times in their careers, if not the only time, a mile and a half. On Friday,…
Brooklyn Backstretch 