- Details
-
June 30, 2020
-
Sean Clancy
“A day in the life…” That’s how Mike Stidham starts off the conversation while checking on one of his three venues Thursday morning. Stidham and his partner, Hilary Pridham, were at Monmouth Park, looking over 65 horses with assistant Ben Trask. Pick another day and they might be overseeing their 48 horses at Fair Hill Training Center. In a few weeks, they’ll be at Keeneland to see assistant TC Stuckey and their 10-horse brigade. After that, perhaps, Colonial Downs with a projected 20 for the Virginia meet.
- Details
-
June 29, 2020
-
Sean Clancy
“Sorry about yesterday, sometimes you get this thing so jammed up I don’t pay any attention to it.”
It was 5:53 Friday night, the Belmont Stakes loomed in 23 hours, 49 minutes and Barclay Tagg had unjammed his phone to call The Special. We had left a message Thursday and added a “missed call” Friday morning, another Friday afternoon and still another Friday evening.
- Details
-
June 23, 2020
-
Paul Halloran
It was early evening on Memorial Day in 1982 and Dr. J. David Richardson had just returned home from Churchill Downs, where, in pre-simulcasting days, he had to go into the racing office to watch the Met Mile from Belmont Park on a small, black-and-white TV. Conquistador Cielo ran off the screen, romping to a 7 ¼-length win while setting a track record of 1:33.
- Details
-
June 23, 2020
-
Tom Law
Schedule in advance, show up on time, come prepared and bring a list. That’s how we roll when Todd Pletcher agrees to take time out of his day for a visit to his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track every summer at Saratoga.
- Details
-
May 29, 2020
-
Tom Law
Mark Casse can handle the complexities of running his training operation out of multiple divisions. He’s done it for years, successfully enough to rank in the top seven in North America by earnings since 2011 and ninth by career earnings approaching the second half of 2020. (Originally published in May 23 edition of The 2020 Special)
- Details
-
May 29, 2020
-
Tom Law
Never doubt Ron Moquett’s ability to be the most hands-on horseman possible. (Editor's note: Originally published in May 2 edition of The 2020 Special)
