The history of horse racing is filled with rags-to-riches stories of jockeys, trainers, and horses that rise from humble beginnings to achieve success at the highest levels of the sport. Few such stories can compare with that of the remarkable gelding Lava Man, who went from claimer to Hall of Famer to dominate California horse racing for much of three unforgettable years.
Tag: Legends
Barbara Livingston: Renowned Photographer Devoted to Capturing Beauty of the Horse
Renowned photographer Barbara Livingston suspects Thoroughbreds view her as an “odd clicking person.” Humans would more likely describe her as a wonderful clicking person. Make no mistake, clicking sounds emanate from her almost constantly as she strives to record the magnificence of one horse after another, all the while brightening the dawn at racetracks across the country with her smile.
The Rivalry That Never Was: Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta
They are, without question, the two best fillies to race on dirt in this century. They most likely would both appear on a Top 10 list of North America’s all-time greatest fillies or mares. Their combined collection of wins includes such prestigious Grade 1 stakes as the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Preakness Stakes, Haskell Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Kentucky Oaks. They finished 1-2 in the balloting for 2009 Horse of the Years honors.
Coaltown: Citation’s Brilliant But Overshadowed Stablemate
During the glory days of the great Calumet Farm, the stable was filled with so many talented horses that when one went to the sidelines, even a Horse of the Year, a stablemate could step up and fill the void. Such was the case in 1949, when the legendary Citation was on the sidelines after an incredible campaign in 1948 that saw him win the Triple Crown, Horse of the Year, and 19 of his 20 races.
