Duck Butter, a horse bred by Hobeau farm and named after an old groom who worked for Allen Jerkens, started it at Aqueduct back in December 1989. Trained by Bobby Lake, the 3-year-old ran in a $20,000 claimer with a new-to-New-York jockey aboard.
As far as we know, he's the only trainer ON EARTH to win races at 4 1/2 furlongs (at Charles Town) and 4 miles (in the Virginia Gold Cup) this year. Based in Virginia, English native Neil Morris is off to a great start to 2018 with Thoroughbreds of all types. He took some time to talk about his horses, his training philosophies and how he got here.
There is no shortage of intelligent people that can give you thorough, insightful analysis of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes from any angle imaginable. You’re not reading one of them. I’m the Haiku Handicapper.
He leads the 2018 National Steeplechase Associaton standings, less than two years after breaking his pelvis in a wicked fall at Belmont Park. The regular jockey of stakes horses Modem, Lyonnel and a few others for Elizabeth Voss and other trainers talks about his career and how he got here.
No lesson in recent steeplechase history would be complete without a look at one of the best ever – five-time champion Lonesome Glory. In the 1990s, nobody was better and his 1995 campaign was one of the best ever by an American steeplechaser.
I called Tom Law Tuesday afternoon to tell him when I was set to arrive in Louisville. He asked me what my plans were and if I planned on doing any writing. The answer was yes, if he meant by completing a 2,000-word research essay final due by Friday night that I had barely started. He mentioned writing an account of my first time at the Kentucky Derby. As he put it, “people love that stuff” and “they’d rather read that than a recap of (insert the name of one of 11 undercard stakes run Friday and Saturday).” So, here goes.
