The Kentucky Derby has come and gone – hopefully with your winner! Now we are awaiting the Preakness Stakes. To bide your time, here’s some trivia on past races. See how well you compete! And you’re off...
1. This horse was no secret when he won the Belmont Stakes in 1973. Not only did he capture the Triple Crown, he set a world record for one-and-a-half miles on dirt when he covered the distance in two minutes, 24 seconds. What was the name of this horse? Secretariat; Affirmed; Sham; Rambling Willie.
2. This horse was so impressive that his trainer, Buddy Delp, proclaimed, “He was the best horse to ever look through a bridle”. At age three, this gray son of Bold Bidder captured the 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but supposedly stepped on a safety pin, hurt his foot, and struggled to the finish line third in the Belmont Stakes. He also competed at age four, went nine for nine that year, and was so fearsome that no one even bothered to show up to try to beat him in the 1980 Woodward Stakes. Even though he was bought for $37,000, he went on to win over $2.7 million. Who was this awesome horse? Unbridled’s Song; Mr. Prospector; Cam’s Card Shark; Spectacular Bid.
3. At what California track was legendary jockey Johnny Longden’s last race? Hollywood Park; Santa Anita; Del Mar; Bay Meadows.
4. At which track did the great Secretariat race for the final time? Churchill Downs; Arlington Park; Woodbine; Belmont Park.
5. What is the term used to describe the stable area on a race track?
6. Genuine Risk was bumped in the stretch of the 1980 Preakness and lost her momentum. An inquiry was called, but the order of finish did not change. Who is the horse that bumped her and went on to victory? Spectacular Bis; Spend a Buck; Snow Chief; Codex.
7. Which of the three legs of the Triple Crown did Bold Ruler win in 1957? Preakness; Belmont; Kentucky Derby; none.
8. To what did Latonia Race Course have its name changed in 1986? Emerald Downs; The Downs at Albuquerque; Mountaineer Race Track; Turfway Park.
ANSWERS
1. Secretariat is considered by some to be the best race horse who ever graced the American tracks. In addition to capturing the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, he won 11 other stakes races in two seasons of racing. 2. Spectacular Bid finished his career a winner of 23 stakes races and 26 races overall from 30 lifetime starts. He was named Horse of the Year in 1980. 3. Santa Anita. Longden won the 1966 San Juan Capistrano Invitational aboard George Royal. 4. Woodbine. “Big Red” won the 1973 Canadian International before retiring. 5. The “Backside” is the correct answer. That is usually where the stable area is located at the track. 6. Codex is the horse who bumped Genuine Risk in the stretch and survived the inquiry. Angel Cordero, Jr., was the jockey on Codex. 7. Preakness. At Pimlico, Bold Ruler beat the Kentucky Derby winner, Iron Leige, and won the Preakness by two lengths. He finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, and third in the Belmont behind winner Gallant Man. 8. Latonia was rechristened as Turfway Park in 1986 after being sold.