Comments on: De Francis Dash – The Race That Wouldn’t Die http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/2009/10/23/de-francis-dash-the-race-that-wouldnt-die/ THE ODYSSEY OF A HORSE RACING ENTHUSIAST AND AMATEUR HANDICAPPER Fri, 18 May 2012 13:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: A Line in the Sand – Victory or Death for Maryland Racing? « THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/2009/10/23/de-francis-dash-the-race-that-wouldnt-die/#comment-6575 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:25:16 +0000 http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/?p=1680#comment-6575 [...] in particular should be sensitive to such occasions.  Recall that it was they who watched an army of Mayflower trucks cart off their precious football franchise, named in honor of the state’s proud thoroughbred racing and breeding tradition, to greener [...]

]]> By: Brian Appleton http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/2009/10/23/de-francis-dash-the-race-that-wouldnt-die/#comment-6080 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:45:59 +0000 http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/?p=1680#comment-6080 Indian Blessing is not going to the Breeders Cup, I’m so disapointed!

]]> By: Kevin Stafford http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/2009/10/23/de-francis-dash-the-race-that-wouldnt-die/#comment-6069 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:16:14 +0000 http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/?p=1680#comment-6069 Great points, SteveM! I almost mentioned the Laurel Futurity in this post as that list of previous winners coincides nicely with many of my favorite runners.

Even the Pimlico Special is no given from year to year. On the other hand, Maryland Million day “feels” like a Grade 1 day in some respects…just a shame we don’t have more Grade 1′s to sprinkle throughout the meets here.

Speaking of Barbaro – I was deeply upset to see the Barbaro Stakes not carded this year. One of my favorite “feel good” memories on that recently incepted race was watching Matz win with Chelokee the year after Barbaro’s tragic injury.

]]> By: Steve M. http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/2009/10/23/de-francis-dash-the-race-that-wouldnt-die/#comment-6068 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:12:34 +0000 http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/?p=1680#comment-6068 Kevin,
Totally agree that the decline of MD racing in recent years is disheartening given the rich history of the MD Jockey Club. While happy to see the Dash return, it used to headline multiple graded stakes races as part of Laurel’s “fall festival of racing.” The MJC stakes schedule is now in shambles.

A personal favorite was the discontinued Laurel Futurity. Formerly a G1, it dates to 1921 and includes many all-time greats among past winners: Count Fleet, Citation, Riva Ridge, Secretariat, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, Bet Twice. In recent years Tapit, Barbaro, and Cowboy Cal have won.

I was lucky enough to be there when Barbaro won the Futurity and impressed to this day with his tremendous talent. One of the great things about racing is its tie to history and the memories it constantly creates.

]]> By: Kevin Stafford http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/2009/10/23/de-francis-dash-the-race-that-wouldnt-die/#comment-6066 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:32:30 +0000 http://theaspiringhorseplayer.com/?p=1680#comment-6066 Wasn’t he retired? I thought I heard that earlier in the summer – like around June or July.

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