NYRA Racing late 70s early 80s
 

That is the period when i got hooked. Used to go to Belmont and also Aqueduct almost every weekend by taking the LIRR out to Belmont or the Subway to Aqueduct from Manhattan. My favorite stables were Darby Dan with TL Rondinelli (spelling) and later John Veitch and also Paul Mellon's Rokeby stable. Loved alot of the horses mentioned in this thread. My first all time favorite was Pearl Necklace trained by Roger Laurin who used to battle an eclipse winning mare from Greentree Stable (forgot her name). ALso loved to see Forego run with all of the weight and come from way out of it vs. horses like Quiet Little Table and others. Loved Proud Truth and Pebbles at the Aqueduct Breeders Cup. All of the great Mellon horses with the last couple being Java Gold and Sea Hero. Hoist the Flag was my first favorite sire at that time. Jockeys like Angel, Eddie Maple, John Velasquez, Ron Turcotte and Steve Cauthen It seemed to me like the golden age of racing. The stars ran every few weeks and did not pass up races. Frank Whitely, Laz Barrera, Frank Martin, Alan Jerkins. Alydar vs. Affirmed along with Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid, etc.

I miss those days....

PSH

Thanks for correction (I had a senior moment)

Of course, Our Mims was Calumet !!

I can remember Great Contractor running in one of his early races - tall and lanky with blinkers on - - he had a really long stride - - He closed like a freight train but finished like 3rd or 4th on the outside

Turf racing has always been my fav

Guadalcanal ran in the Belmont in 2008 also ran a mile and a half before the Belmont- in a MSW at CD two weeks before.

Oddly enough, he actually ran Sunday at Churchill at 11F...

The only time I ever got to go to Hialeah was for Flamingo day the year Bull In The Heather was upset by Forever Whirl. Royal Mountain Inn won that day right before he started to get very good.

My father spent that whole trip trying to convince me and my brother that his lot attendant was the greatest Jai Alai player in Miami history.

I think Southern Sultan won at 1 1/2 miles in his start prior to the 1985 Belmont.

Louisiana Slew was owned by Louisiana oilman J.E. Jumonville, Jr. The Jumonvilles were known for blowing big money on horses with little talent - see Real Dare.

Wow. Very good. It was a maiden race at Delaware.

Joey? The greatest Jai Alai playing Jew of all time. Every Bubby and Zadie would talk him up around the condo pools, "Not only a terrific playah, but gorgeous. I wondah if he's married?"

I have a program here with Prod in it.

I remember when that race was called the Nijana. I like keeping old races named after horses. It somehow connects the sport to it's history. As lovely as Lake Placid and Lake George are, they really have nothing to do with racing.

How about this , TB Record Nov 6th 1976.
Article on Tex Sutton horse transport includes a pic of Foolish Pleasure "retired milionaire" debarking from his last flight.
The NY article by John Pricci featured My Juliet "Showing the Boys How it's Done" in the Vosburgh. My Juliet managed to finish ahead of 3 classic winners (Bold Forbes, Master Derby, Avatar) that year. The photo shows Anthony Black appearing to holding on for dear live as My Juliet crosses the wire in 1:21 4/5.

I used to shape up every Sunday in the early 80's, I remember working the windows like it was yesterday, Those were the good old days, That's when i got hooked also., I remember Plugged Nickle, Col Moran, Belladora, Danzig, Misty Galore, Love Sign etc

I remember the '70s, a bit, when they used to keep piling weight on Forego, but all Stop the Music could do was get closer. Did he ever beat Forego? How good was Stop the Music?

Memories.....

First trip to the track: Bold Forbes wins the 1976 Bay Shore in 1:20 4/5. Couldn't sleep the night before. Aqueduct actually looked regal to me. Also saw Revidere win the first "Ruffian" by 14 lengths and do her half sister proud.

Decided to go see this incredible apprentice named Steve Cauthen in the winter of 1977. Two days before I went, he won 5 races, the day before 4 races. The day after, 4 races plus the stakes on.....Illiterate!!! The day I went and bet him all 9 races.....0! Goose eggs!

1977 inagural Turf Classic: Johnny D defeats Majestic Light, Crow and Exceller to win the Eclipse award for outstanding turf horse one hour after Caesar's Wish beat Lakeville Miss to win the Demoiselle under Danny Wright. My dad's filly Bonnie Sixma goes off at 83-1 in the 9th race and becomes a TV star by balking at the gate. No hollywood ending here as she ran 11th of 12 under Bobby Greco. Or was it Mike Rujano? Or Tommy Wallis?

I was just remembering the day Affirmed and Alydat hooked up in the 1978 Travers, I was at the Jersey Shore watching Life's Hope beat Wise Philip and Father Hogan in the Haskell, which at that time was for older horses.

Wow, saw Bowl Game nip Native Courier, saw Great Neck nip Native Courier, saw The Liberal Member (WHO???) beat Bowl Game, saw Pearl Necklace beat Waya. Saw Waya beat Late Bloomer, who beat Terpsichorist. Had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Patches run 6 or 7 times without winning. Watched Dainty Dotsie beat What A Summer the day they honored Forego.....

And that was just 1976 through 1979! Great post. Just went and opened up my programs. Thanks.

plugged nickel....he sure had his moments...rockhill native.. general assembly vs the bid. ga ran one heck of a travers that year. man, those were the days. back when they showed races on saturdays. more channels now, less racing-ridiculous! jack whitaker with charlsea canty and jim mckay of course. great stuff. trillion; anyone remember her?

Rockhill Native was in the aforementioned shabby renewal of the Hopeful, won by J P Brother.

My first trip to the track was Beherns vs Victory Gallop in the Whitney...... I crushed the exacta.

That went without saying.