“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.
Tag: Legends
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.
Nelson Bunker Hunt: An Oilman with an Eye for Racehorses
The silver market may have cost him an immense fortune, yet for about two decades Nelson Bunker Hunt struck gold in Thoroughbred racing. Hunt, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 88, was a son of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt, who became one of the world’s richest men through ownership of vast portions of the East Texas Oil Field.
Underappreciated Horse Racing Stars of the 1990s: Hansel, Lonesome Glory, and Thunder Gulch
As the world counted down to a new millennium, America’s oldest sport remained timeless in the face of the changing culture around it. The sport continued to celebrate its traditions, welcoming new names to the pantheon of champions that the 20th century had produced.
