This is the definitive history of thoroughbred racing’s three premier events, which have never before been explored in such detail. This book gives the history of America’s classic races from the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867 through 2013, identifying which equine participants were truly worthy of lasting acclaim and which were one-hit wonders. Perhaps even more compelling are the stories of the men and women who rode, trained, owned, or bred classic winners, including their exploits on the turf and their triumphs and failures in arenas far removed from horse racing.

Richard Sowers has spent most of his professional career as a sports journalist and author. He lives in suburban Atlanta.

Richard Sowers
Format: softcover (8.5 x 11)
Pages: 528
Bibliographic Info: 101 photos, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7698-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1327-7
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments  vi
Foreword by Steve Haskin 1
Preface  2
Introduction  3
1867–1869: A Ruthless Beginning  9
1870–1879: Baltimore and Louisville Join the Party  12
1880–1889: A Select Few Rule the Classics  25
1890–1899: The Preakness Surfaces in Brooklyn  40
1900–1909: The Preakness Returns to Its Roots  53
1910–1919: East Meets West  69
1920–1929: “Three Big Events of the Year”  88
1930–1939: Five Belmonts for Belair  110
1940–1949: Streetcars and Superstars  132
1950–1959: The “Gray Ghost” Brings Turf to Television  157
1960–1969: Dramatic Duels and Controversy  184
1970–1979: Racing’s Greatest Decade  210
1980–1989: A Drought Begins  239
1990–1999: From Lukas to Baffert  273
2000–2009: Goodbye to Decades of Derby Logic  308
2010–2013: The Long Drought Continues  346
Appendix I: Resumes  363
Classic-Placed Horses    363
Classic-Placed Jockeys    375
Classic-Winning Trainers    388
Classic-Winning Owners    391
Classic-Winning Breeders    395
Classic-Winning Stallions    399
Classic-Winning Dams    403
Classic-Winning Broodmare Sires    407
Appendix II: A Racing Miscellany  411
Bibliography  462
Index  481

• “Recommended”—Booklist
• “Unusual in scope and coverage…recommended”—Choice
• “For reference or a thorough history on this famed sports topic…this work is the leading book in this field…unlikely to be surpassed…exhaustive and exceptionally detailed material”—Henry Berry