Sharing with you my fascinating discoveries about Thoroughbred racing, sales, fashion, food, beverage, tips and more.
Much of the world is coming together the weekend with one common goal. People from all over the globe want their horse to race in the 150th Kentucky Derby. This Saturday, four races in three countries, offer a chance to Run For The Roses. We are united in our Derby desires.
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The Road to the Kentucky Derby is coming to an end. We are down to the final month and just six stakes to qualify for an opportunity to Run For The Roses. Kentucky Derby 149 is on the first Saturday in May. Before that can happen, the first Saturday in April, holds double the Derby, double the fun, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby.
4/1/23 features the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Race 14 posts at 6:40 PM ET. The $1 million dollar, GI stakes has a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles. Then, at 7:24 PM ET, Oaklawn Park hosts the GI Arkansas Derby. It is race 12, worth $1.25 million dollars and of the same distance. Finally, the European Road is also featuring the Cardinal Condition Stakes as well!
Photo caption: Forte edged out Loggins to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Forte is fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He will aim for the top in the Florida Derby!
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The 147th Road to The Kentucky Derby explodes this Saturday with a record four prep races on the same day! Prepare for swift changes to the KY Derby leaderboard as each race offers significant point value including the international spotlight and nomination pool. Read on to briefly examine each of these important preps. The doors of opportunity to enter the KY Derby are wide open!
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Come with me as I take a walk down memory lane. Pictured is a driving/walking path at the Lexington Cemetery, in Lexington, KY, where Spring is in bloom. There are some big Kentucky Derby prep races tomorrow, 4/2/16. While looking forward to those races I recalled some history about racing’s past.
Tomorrow brings the Florida Derby at 6:48 and the Spiral Stakes at 5:43 PM both EST. No owner has won the Florida Derby more than Calumet Farm located in Lexington, KY. Calumet won with Gen. Duke in 1957, Tim Tam in 1958, Forward Pass in 1968, Eastern Fleet in 1971 and Alydar in 1978. This farm was, for a long time, owned by the Maysville, KY born Lucille Parker Wright Markey. She lived from 1896 to 1982 and was a businesswoman and a philanthropist. She inherited Calumet from her late husband. Markey ran the farm for 30 years. She won the KY Derby 4 times during that career with horses including FL Derby winners Tim Tam and Forward Pass.
At the same cemetery, is the final resting place for John M. Gaver who lived from 1900 to 1982. He was the American Hall of Fame trainer for 73 stakes winning Thoroughbreds he managed at Brookdale Farm and Greentree Stable. In 1966 he received an Eclipse Award from the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. The KY portion of Greentree is now the great Gainesway Farm in Lexington. I bought into a partnership with Spruce Lane Pinhooking and we share ownership on one of our horses that is living at Gainesway!
On the same grounds, Hal Price Headley was laid to rest. Headley lived from 1888 to 1962. He is the founder of my very favorite and my home track, Keeneland! He was president of Keeneland Racetrack from 1935 to 1951. He was an owner and breeder, as well, at Beaumont Farm in Lexington,KY.
The next 3 horsemen all held important roles at Elmendorf Farm, Lexington KY. Charles Henry Berryman lived from 1867 to 1946. He managed Elmendorf when it was owned by James Ben Ali Haggin from 1897 to 1914. This farm was founded in 1874 and churned out fine race horses. Man o’ War’s sire, Fair Play, and dam, Mahubah, are buried at Elmendorf. Much of Elmendorf is owned by Clovelly, Normandy, Green Gates and Old Kenney Farms now. Elmendorf still holds part of a ruined mansion’s pillars where I attended a wedding reception once. Many Thoroughbreds are buried near the pillars. It is very pretty.
Before it was managed by Berryman, William Thomas Hughes operated Elmendorf Farm from 1862 to 1874. He inherited the farm from his father but he found himself in debt and was forced to sell the farm to Milton H. Sanford. Hughes was not always buried where he rests now, near his wife’s plot. He was buried in Richmond, KY for some time.
Hughes father, Thomas Hughes was the third owner at Elmendorf Farm. He bought the property from Carter Henry Harrison. He owned the farm from 1855 to 1862. He was first buried at the Hughes Farm but later moved to Lexington Cemetery. The Lexington Cemetery was established in 1849.
Across the street and over a few blocks is another cemetery. This is Calvary Cemetery created in 1874. It is not nearly as pretty but it is a peaceful place. I went looking just for Belle Brezing’s grave. The top says “Mother”. Her last name is spelled incorrectly on the stone. She is most famous for being an internationally known madam but she was an important figure in Thoroughbred racing too. She lived from 1859 to 1940.
I wrote more on the Lexington Cemetery and Belle Brezing in my other stories:
I hope you enjoyed my walk down memory lane. I am excited about the races tomorrow. The Florida Derby will be held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL. The inaugural race was in 1952. The 1 and 1/8 mile (9 furlong) dirt track will award a purse $1 million dollars. It is a Grade 1 stakes race. 8 horses including Nyquist and Mohaymen will compete for 100-40-20-10 KY Derby points, based on the finish of 1st thru 4th. The Spiral Stakes, 1st held in 1972, will be at Turfway park in Florence, KY. This race is the same length but has a synthetic track. It is a Grade III race with a purse of $500,000 dollars. 12 horses including Airoforce will try for 50-20-10-5 respective points. These are my favorites to win. Choose your picks wisely and if you can’t get to the track enjoy this lovely Spring. As always, thank you for following me on my web page, Facebook and Twitter.
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