Racing History Highlights – Mar 27-April 16

March 27, 1953: The ABC radio network announced it would broadcast a
series of major East Coast races, beginning April 4 and continuing
through Nov. 14.

March 27, 1997: A group of Thoroughbred organizations, including The
Jockey Club, Breeders?’ Cup Ltd., Keeneland Association and Oak Tree
Racing Association, announced it would undertake a joint planning
process to create a national coordination and marketing structure for
Thoroughbred racing.

March 29, 1917: Man o?’ War, who would go on to win 20 of his 21 career
starts, was foaled at Nursery Stud, Lexington, Ky.

March 29, 1938: In observance of Man o?’ War?’s 21st birthday, the
celebration was broadcast nationally via radio from Faraway Farm, where
he stood at stud.

March 29, 1969: Diane Crump became the first female jockey to win a
stakes race when she took the Spring Fiesta Cup at the Fair Grounds
aboard Easy Lime.

March 29, 1988: Jockey Pat Day won his 4,000th victory, aboard Ann?’s
Bid, in the ninth race at Oaklawn Park.

March 29, 1997: The $4 million Dubai World Cup was rescheduled for April
3 after torrential rainstorms hit Nad Al Sheba racecourse.

March 30, 1952: New York Governor Thomas Dewey signed a statute
transferring licensing authority from The Jockey Club to the New York
Racing Commission.

March 30, 1970: Secretariat was foaled at The Meadow, Doswell, Va.

March 30, 1985: Laffit Pincay Jr. became the second jockey in history to
surpass John Longden?’s record of 6,032 victories, riding Sovereignty to
victory in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park.

April 1, 1940: New York legalized parimutuel wagering and outlawed
book-makers at the state?’s racetracks.

April 1, 1998: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association officially
launched operations with the opening of its office in Lexington, Ky.

April 2, 1938: Future Triple Crown winner Whirlaway was foaled at
Calumet Farm, Lexington, Ky.

April 3, 1962: At the age of 46, jockey Eddie Arcaro announced his
retirement. He retired with 4,779 victories, including two Triple
Crowns, won with Whirlaway and Citation.

April 6, 1954: Two future champions, Bold Ruler and Round Table, were
foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.

April 7, 1973: In his second start as a 3-year-old, Secretariat won the
Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct as the 1-10 favorite. His time of 1:33 2-5 for
the mile equaled the track record for that distance.

April 7, 1979: Jockey Steve Cauthen made his first race in England a
winning one, with Marquee Universal (IRE) at Salisbury.

April 8, 1971: New York City Off-Track Betting opened for business. Two
branches were available to accept wagers: the Grand Central Terminal in
Manhattan and an outlet in Queens. Total handle, including telephone
betting, was $66,091.

April 8, 1991: Rider-turned-trainer Bill Shoemaker was paralyzed after
an automobile accident.

April 8, 2001: ?”Seabiscuit: An American Legend?”, by Laura Hillenbrand,
took over the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list for
nonfiction after just three weeks in the nation?’s bookstores.

April 9, 1962: Jockey Ron Turcotte rode his first winner, at Fort Erie
Racetrack.

April 10, 1969: I Double Dareya was ridden to victory by jockey Gilbert
Hernandez at Golden Gate Fields. Hernandez also happened to be the
horse?’s owner and trainer, giving him a triple win.

April 11, 1945: Future Triple Crown champion Citation was foaled at
Calumet Farm, Lexington, Ky.

April 12, 1948: After winning seven consecutive races, Citation lost the
Chesapeake Trial Stakes by a length to Saggy but rebounded to post 16
consecutive victories, including the Triple Crown.

April 12, 1969: Jockey Sandra Schleiffers, one of the first female
riders in America and a former member of the Sisters of St. Francis
convent in Clinton, Iowa, won her first career race at Turf Paradise.
Schleiffers subsequently became the first woman to be admitted to the
Jockeys?’ Guild.

April 13, 1872: The Louisiana Jockey Club held its inaugural meet at
Fair Grounds. The first race, a two-mile hurdle, was won by Templo.

April 14, 1936: The first Maryland race result ever decided by a
photo-finish camera took place at Havre de Grace in the second race, in
which a 7-1 shot, Alit, was declared the winner.

April 15, 1940: With the start of the racing season at Jamaica, New York
became the last major racing state to adopt electronic pari-mutuel
wagering, thus eliminating on-track bookmaking.

April 15, 1941: In preparation for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, Whirlaway
worked 1 1/8 miles in 1:52 at Keeneland.

April 15, 1943: With many of the country?’s young men joining in the war
effort, women exercise riders were first employed at Pimlico Racecourse.

April 16, 1995: At age 25, Kent Desormeaux became the youngest jockey to
reach the 3,000-win mark when he rode Maisonaire to victory at Santa
Anita Park.

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