Training at cheap tracks in the 1970's

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

When did you meet Mom?

She got her trainers license right away and actually won a few races at age 18. She was smart and very handy around horses, but too much of a know-it-all to work for anyone for long. She thought she was Woody Stephens. She knows everything about horses and medicine, just ask her.

I got to know her better because of Viagtoni. The horse was a complete dog-biscuit. My buddy Mike Trivigno had the horse at Tampa and couldn't get it to run. In those days, Tampa was a junky track. Nothing like today.



I got the horse off of Mike and couldn't do anything with it either. I didn't like anything about the horse. I called him Macaroni. The horse was nuts and had no ability at all. I figured the horse would be a perfect match for your mother, so I recommend her "as a great fit for this horse" to the guy who owned him.


Tell me about Vigatoni's race for mom on July 4th? Geezers at Presque Isle Downs still occasionally talk about that race...

There was a huge crowd that day. She stretched the horse out to two-turns. The last time that horse ran two-turns, it tried to bolt at Tampa. It was eased and Mike wanted nothing more to do with the horse.

Commodore Downs was a bull-ring like Charles Town. Much tighter-turns than Tampa and your mother had a bug up that could barely stay on a professional horse.

Vigatoni was about 5 or 10 in front on the far turn at like 20/1 odds. He looked like he couldn't lose, but suddenly he bolted. He dumped the rider, ran around until he jumped over a fence, and ran straight back into his stall. By the time your mother got back to the barn, all she had to do was fasten the latch. I got back there before she did and said "Wow! Now that is impressive training!" He knew exactly which stall was his and went right in, unassisted.


Mike Trivigno, of Vigatoni fame, trained eventual Kentucky Derby winner Lil E Tee as a 2-year-old. Did you ever ask him anything about Lil E Tee?



They paid just $25,000 for Lil E Tee as an April 2-year-old at OBS. Mike knew he was probably going to lose the horse after he broke his maiden like a future superstar. The offer came fast.

Lil E Tee debuted in a hot maiden race at Calder. The top four finisher all won back next-time out. And the horse who finished 5th in that Calder debut race, was a Kentucky Derby starter the following year. When he improved big-time in his second start, the vultures had a perfect target.

The same year that Lil E Tee won the Kentucky Derby, Glenn Wismer won the Kentucky Oaks with Luv Me Luvmenot. He upset Mineshaft's dam, who was undefeated. And he beat the horse who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile fillies as well. It was neat, two of my best friends from Commodore Downs, and one of them trained the Oaks winner and the other had the Derby winner, and all in the same year.





Any other trainers from Commodore still around?

Quite a few that I recall. Steve Klesaris was at Commodore. Loren Cox. Gerald Bennett. Dale Baird ran there a lot and everywhere else. I can't believe some people say he belongs in the Hall of Fame, he ran a Livery stable. What a joke that would be.

Wismer came to Commodore from Canada. He had nothing at the time. I let him stay with your Grandma and Grandpa. He slept in the upstairs bedroom that used to be my bedroom. Your grandparents really liked him a lot, he was a hard worker and a good guy. He wasn't a cheater either.

Great all-around horsemen. Unfortunately, he's not very clever when it comes to all aspects of racing that involve common sense. Great guy. A+ horsemen, F- with everything that doesn't involve hands-on horsemenship.

You need to write a book. I will be in line when it comes out.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by jms62

You need to write a book. I will be in line when it comes out.

' a real know it all'

i love it!

[Alabama Stakes]

love the old jockeys in the PPs. Charlie Feagin....a blast from the past

[dellinger63]

Awesome stuff and I'd buy the book for sure.

Only story I have is when I went to the track with my Grandpa and he'd drop me back at home he'd say, "Tell your mom you went to the zoo. You're not lying, you saw animals." Must have been in deep shiat with my Grandma and why we went to the backside to see goats and ducks.

[pmayjr]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Any other trainers from Commodore still around?

Quite a few that I recall. Steve Klesaris was at Commodore. Loren Cox. Gerald Bennett. Dale Baird ran there a lot and everywhere else. I can't believe some people say he belongs in the Hall of Fame, he ran a Livery stable. What a joke that would be.

what is a Livery Stable?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by pmayjr

what is a Livery Stable?

Horse version of Enterprise Rental Car.

Actually more like Rent a Wreck

[Sightseek]

Awesome.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by pmayjr

what is a Livery Stable?

A place one would go to rent a horse, back in the day. I'd imagine they were as well treated as rental cars today...

So, probably used as slang to say stable full of nags

[tector]

Great stuff, Drugs!

[jnunan4759]

Great reading Doug and thanks for sharing that. Seeing those old PP's and $1500 claimers brought back memories. I haven't seen a good porn mustache in years.

[DevonshireHanover]

Thanks Doug awesome!!