New York
The last time I covered the Belmont Stakes Smarty Jones was going for the Triple Crown and the whole nation seemed interested. Robert Yates, who covers Oaklawn Park and thoroughbred racing for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and I flew into LaGuardia and checked into our hotel, which was about 15 miles from Belmont. Robert insisted I [...]
Preakness
Of all the events I’ve ever covered, and there have been many, the Preakness is one I don’t really care to cover again. The track itself is old and in a tough neighborhood and the press box is too small, too cramped and needs a serious overhaul, starting with electrical outlets. It can be a [...]
Showdown in the Press Box
In the past I’ve written about my friend Bill Handleman, who died last year. This week I wrote about table H in the Kentucky Derby press box. This is what my friend Tom Luicci wrote this week: By Tom Luicci / Published 05.03.2011 @ 4:13 am The horse racing world lost three of its favorite turf-writing [...]
Derby Days
If I’ve told this story, forgive me, but it is one of my favorites from the Kentucky Derby. It was 1996 and by then Robert Yates, Tom Luicci, Bill Handleman, Jerry Izenberg, Bob Summers and yours truly were regulars at table H in the old Churchill Downs press box. We would have many visitors, but [...]
Second Derby
My second Kentucky Derby was 1983 and that time was because Sunny’s Halo had won the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby and was the second favorite to win the run for the roses. The entry of Slew O’ Gold and Balboa Native were favored as an entry, but only by a nickel on the [...]
First Kentucky Derby
I guess I have a little Derby fever of my own. The Arkansas Derby brought it on. I won’t be attending the Kentucky Derby, and that’s OK; I got to cover 25 and have some great memories. My first was in 1982. Rex Nelson, who worked at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette then, and I drove to [...]
