The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced Jan. 18 that Tom Hammond, whose dynamic career of more than 50 years in broadcasting, television production, and numerous contributions to the Thoroughbred industry, will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence at the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards Dinner and Ceremony at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida Jan. 25.
Tag: Legends
How One Princess Reigned Supreme in the Sport of Kings: Princess Rooney
The career of Princess Rooney was not unlike a sandwich. Hold the laughter – it’s true. During her three seasons on the track, she packaged a thin layer of disappointment between two sensational winning streaks that stamped her as one of the greatest fillies to every grace the sport of kings. Bred in Kentucky by Ben and Tom Roach, Princess Rooney wasn’t exactly a hot commodity as a yearling. Her pedigree wasn’t the most fashionable; her sire, Verbatim, was a respectable though not outstanding racehorse and stallion, while her dam and damsire both were unraced.
Reflections on Hollywood Park’s Special Place in Horse Racing History
“It was a beautiful land where flowers bloomed, the flamingos basked in the sun and airplanes flew overhead. A land where horses became immortal, and jockeys became famous.” I wrote those words in December of 2013 on the final weekend of Hollywood Park Racetrack where I was absorbing the sadness of the end of an era.
Six Memorable Runnings of the Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes stands as the final Grade 1 race of the season, as well as a tremendous boost to opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park. Since its inception in 1952, the Malibu Stakes has crafted a reputation for being an interesting race filled with legendary performances and milestone moments. This has been especially true in recent years.
