Michael Blowen glanced at the 1977 Sports Illustrated cover of Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew when it arrived in the mail and immediately discarded it. A horse on the cover of such a prominent magazine? “I thought thinking of them as athletes was absurd,” he said. Blowen, then a writer for the Boston Globe, accompanied Bob Taylor, one of his editors, to Suffolk Downs seven years later. The visit to the Massachusetts track was life-changing.
Tag: Legends
Brilliant Women in U.S. Horse Racing History
Although horse racing remains a largely male-dominated world, women continue to break down barriers as jockeys, trainers, owners, and breeders. Here are a few notable women who played a role in shaping the sport of kings in the United States. Laska Durnell — In 1904, Durnell became the first woman to own a Kentucky Derby starter and winner with Elwood. Elwood was the first Derby runner owned by a woman and also the first bred by a woman, Mrs. J.B. Prather.
Racing’s Unforgettable Rivalries: Sunday Silence and Easy Goer
Advancements in airline travel had an amazingly profound impact on everyday life in this country. It brought the eastern and western shores closer together, and created business opportunities that would have seemed ridiculous a century ago. Trans-continental flights allowed professional franchises to expand into the Golden State of California in the late 1950s and it wasn’t too long before East-West rivalries sprang up, involving teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
Meadow Stable’s True Hero: Riva Ridge
You should not believe everything you see in a sports movie. In Hollywood, the truth often gets twisted to enhance a story line. Contrary to what was depicted in the movie “Rudy,” Notre Dame coach Dan Devine was not against practice squad player Daniel Ruettiger appearing in a game. He was the one who came up with the idea.
