Wandering Eyes

Those old enough to have seen it may well go to the grave thinking they will never witness another race like it. Grundy vs Bustino, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, 26 July 1975. Fifty years ago, King George day was dubbed 'Diamond Day' owing to the generous sponsorship of De Beers, and that magnificent afternoon has not lost its sparkle in the intervening decades. The names of those two warriors remain forever entwined in history, along with their jockeys Pat Eddery and Joe Mercer, and trainers Peter Walwyn and Major Dick Hern. It was a race in which, though there was in the end one clear winner in the flaxen-haired Grundy, the two horses are remembered as equals, an inseparable double act. “I feel the elation that you normally feel with a winner,” said Hern, whose fielding of two pacemakers undoubtedly led to the significant lowering of the track record that day. Of Carlo Vittadini's winner, the wise men of Timeform were unequivocal in their assessment. A six-and-a-half-page essay devoted to the son of Great Nephew in Racehorses of 1975 began: “Look no further than Grundy for the racehorse of year. His was easily the most significant contribution to the racing year and the one that will surely be remembered longest by most.” For the Vittadini family, there were in fact two winners that day. The opening contest – the now-defunct but prestigious ladies' race – had been won by Franca Vittadini, the daughter of Carlo, riding Hard Day for Grundy's trainer Peter Walwyn. “Don't say it,” says Franca as she is reminded that half a century has passed since that momentous occasion. “The ladies' race used to be the first race of the day and I can tell you there were very, very mixed feelings when I passed the post. I said, 'Shit, now that I've won the Diamond Stakes, there's no chance that Grundy can win the King George.' But obviously it was great to win that race, because in those days they were giving diamonds to the winner. I've still got them all.” When she says “all”, Vittadini, one of the leading amateurs of the era who followed her father's love of breeding and race riding, is referring to her record four victories in the race. Diamonds truly are forever. Vittadini carefully stashed away her jewels and joined the watching party for the major event of the day. Grundy and Pat Eddery were taking on not just Bustino but also the great French mare Dahlia, the winner of the King George in the two previous years, and Star Appeal, who would go on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. There were two 500/1 shots in the field of 11, Highest and Kinglet, Hern's henchmen who would ensure a ferocious early pace aimed at playing to the strengths of the strong stayer Bustino. “It was an incredible day, really. Having won that, and then Grundy beating what was really a Major Hern plot: first, the five-furlong pacemaker, and then the miler. I mean, they really tried to kill him,” Vittadini remembers. Grundy wins the King George from Bustino | Gerry Cranham The resultant epic duel between two horses of such grit was ultimately their undoing. Bustino never raced again, having sustained a tendon injury for his efforts, and Grundy's subsequent – and final – performance in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York was but a whisper from a horse who had once roared. “The race killed them both, definitely,” says Vittadini. “I remember when they came in to the unsaddling enclosure, both of them were wobbling. They were like drunken ducks.” Timeform, too, made reference to the immediate aftermath: “Grundy stood stock still for an unusually long time on the course, head down, exhausted. He had had enough for the time being.” Looking back at the career of Grundy, who was bought for her father as a yearling by agent Keith Freeman for 11,000gns, Vittadini says, “We've a lot of funny memories with him because when we bought him, in those days, a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail was considered not a nice horse.” The Minstrel, winner of the Derby and King George two years later, did much, along with Grundy, to help the cause of flashy chestnuts. “But from the early days, Peter Walwyn was always very, very hot on him, saying he floated over the ground. And so he went through his two-year-old career, winning all his races. First time at Ascot, he wasn't favourite, because Peter had another one of the Freedmans' horses [No Alimony] in the race, if I remember right. “And then he went to Kempton, then to Doncaster for the Champagne Stakes. And then in torrential rain, he won the Dewhurst. He was a very, very good two-year-old, and firm ground, heavy ground, didn't make any difference. As usual, when they're good, they can run on any ground.” Vittadini refers to “a hiccup” before Grundy's intended three-year-old debut in the Greenham Stakes. “He was kicked in his face in the trotting ring and it was touch and go if we were going to run. Luckily, he just cracked the front bone of his face, just above the nostrils, and it didn't affect his breathing. But he missed few days and Peter wanted to run in the Greenham because in those days it was unusual to run straight in the Guineas.” She continues, “I think he was probably just short of a gallop, because he was beaten by Captain Lemos's grey horse, Mark Anthony. And then the Guineas was just a farce because the stable lads were striking and sitting in protest [at the start]. So they went in the stalls, and then out of the stalls, and then in again, and then out again. And then they decided to jump on off in front of the stalls, Anyway, he was half-turned the other way and Pat [Eddery] was adamant that if he'd jumped from the stalls with the others he would have won the Guineas. But he was beaten by [fellow Italian-owned] Bolkonski, who went on and won the Sussex.” It is almost impossible to imagine a modern-day three-year-old lining up for the races which Grundy contested those 50 years ago. Perhaps only Sea The Stars comes close. Following defeats in the Greenham and 2,000 Guineas, Grundy then sailed through consecutive victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Irish Derby before lining up in the race that would come to define him and is still held high as the benchmark. “He was a hell of a horse,” says Vittadini. “I'm very lucky to have been around when he was there.” Her family was also blessed that year by two top-class homebred colts in Patch, also trained by Walwyn, who was beaten a nose in the Prix du Jockey Club, and Orange Bay, winner of the Derby Italiano and two years later beaten in a photo-finish for the King George by The Minstrel. “Oh, I tell you, we were going from Newmarket to Chantilly to the Curragh. It was just incredible,” she says. After Grundy's Derby win, an offer came from the Levy Board to buy him for £750,000 to stand the following year at the National Stud. “There weren't many offers in those days, not like now, but I think the Japanese and the National Stud wanted to buy him, and Daddy wanted to help the British breeders, so he went to the National Stud,” Vittadini recalls. Grundy, who sired the Oaks winner Bireme in his first crop, as well as Gold Cup winner Little Wolf, would eventually end up in Japan, at the JBBA Stallion Station in Shizunai, where he died in 1992. It was the colt's Derby victory that allowed Carlo Vittadini to buy Beech House Stud in Newmarket, which is now the base of the Shadwell stallions but which had famously once been home to the great Nearco and, at the time, had Derby winner St Paddy in residence. Franca Vittadini, a regular work rider in Henry Cecil's string of a morning, took over the management of the stud. “Louis Freedman owned the place, and he wanted to sell, so Noel Murless helped to get the deal done and we bought Beech House,” says Vittadini, who would later welcome the great stayer and Arc runner-up Ardross to the stallion roster. “Ardross just loved carrots and he would do anything for a carrot,” she recalls. “I was at the time riding out every day for Henry and Julie, so I knew him from the yard. He was such a gentleman.” Carlo Vittadini, who is remembered still with a race in his name at San Siro racecourse in Milan, died in October 2007 and his daughter has continued the management of the family stud near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Now 72, Franca Vittadini is every bit as active as she was in her riding days, and is also the longstanding Italian representative for Tattersalls and for the International Racing Bureau (IRB). Following some encouraging changes to the administration of Italian racing by the government's MASAF agency, she has also been appointed by Agriculture Minister Remo Chiodi to join the racing committee. “The ideas are there, we just have to realise them,” she says. “We're suggesting a lot of things, and Mr Chiodi is very keen to go a different way to help Italian racing, and try to save the group races. “The payments [of prize-money] was the biggest problem but that is now at 90 days, when it used to be six months, seven months, eight months. So it is improving.” As we speak, she has just returned from her morning work preparing her own and clients' yearlings for the forthcoming SGA Sale in Milan on September 20. Appropriately, she breeds and races horses under the name Grundy Bloodstock. Vittadini says, “You've got to try to keep busy, otherwise you get kicked out very easily.” It is an admirable work ethic from one who remains a tremendous asset to her country's racing and breeding industry, and who was there in the heart of it on one of the greatest race days of all time. The post Diamonds Are Forever: Franca Vittadini Remembers the Double Delights of Grundy’s Memorable King George Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thursday's Illinois Racing Board (IRB) meeting, at which 2025 race dates were awarded, yielded almost the exact same headline and summation of how the very same commission meeting unfolded last year: Illinois racing is still struggling to recover from the twin blows of the 2021 closure of Arlington International Racecourse and the inability of the state's two surviving Thoroughbred venues–Hawthorne Race Course and Fairmount Park (AKA FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing)–to follow through with building their proposed racinos that were legalized back in 2019. Yet while last year's IRB annual dates meeting was conducted with a noticeable tone of statewide optimism for the near future, this year's marathon 5 1/2-hour meeting Sept. 19 painted a hopeful outlook primarily only at Fairmount. That's because the Collinsville track's just-approved new ownership group, Accel Entertainment, asked for and received IRB permission to switch some November race dates into October this autumn so Fairmount (280 miles southwest of Hawthorne and just over the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri) can begin construction on a temporary racino that it hopes to have operational before GI Kentucky Derby Day in 2025. By contrast, the ownership at Hawthorne Race Course, which has faced numerous delays and setbacks to the construction of its own racino, frustrated already-stressed Chicago horsemen by leading off its presentation at Thursday's meeting by having an attorney inform the IRB and everyone in attendance that no one from Hawthorne would publicly share any details of that track's racino development because of purported confidentiality issues related to the project. Tim Carey, Hawthorne's president and general manager, stuck to broad generalities when outlining the potential future of the racino, which he said has already absorbed “tens of millions” in investment money, yet sits uncompleted right near the racetrack, in some spots blocking traditional grandstand views of the races. “What I will say is that we remain steadfast in our efforts to completely redevelop Hawthorne and to revitalize Illinois horse racing. I believe the information that we've privately shared with the board is unquestionable evidence of that commitment and our continued progress in the effort,” Carey said. Both David McCaffrey, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA)'s executive director, and ITHA president Chris Block, decried Hawthorne's decision to keep the horse racing community in the dark about the racino. (It's worth noting that none of the eight IRB members present for the meeting questioned, challenged or spoke up about Hawthorne management's desire to stay publicly silent on such an important issue). Both ITHA leaders went on record as saying that Hawthorne's racing management team is great to work with, but that its racino leadership continues to exasperate horsemen. “The cooperation level that we have on the racing side is second to none, and those guys are to be commended,” McCaffrey said. “Whoever the hell's running the casino show, it's an outrage. They try to blindfold all of us, and not give us details on how to proceed with our businesses… “The racino side is abysmal,” McCaffrey continued. “To be blindfolded like this is inexcusable…. The racino side is killing us.” Block said Hawthorne's lack of direction on the future of the racino, which is supposed to eventually provide the main economic engine for purses at the Chicago-area track, is preventing the sport's stakeholders in Illinois from making plans about their livelihoods. “I need to let this board know that this racino [was] needed a long time ago,” Block said. “So every day that goes by, you can't appreciate the pressure that Dave and I are under, and the questions we get from horsemen, breeders, jockeys. I mean this is just endless on when this is going to happen.” As far as the awarding of dates is concerned, Fairmount was granted its requested 55 programs for 2025, a cut of seven race dates from what had been awarded for 2024. Hawthorne applied for 80 race dates, technically an increase of two over what had been awarded for 2024. But Hawthorne already received permission earlier this season to abandon a series of Saturday cards from mid-July onward, so the actual total of 2024 dates will be closer to around 64 programs when the current season ends Oct. 13. And that figure of 80 dates for 2025 comes with “an asterisk,” McCaffrey pointed out, referring to the likelihood that, just like this season, Hawthorne next year will not be able to sustain the three-days-a-week racing schedule that it proposes for portions of the 2025 Thoroughbred calendar. Fairmount will retain its two-day race weeks in 2025, with the season going from Apr. 22-Oct. 28, slicing a little bit of time off of the start and end of the meet compared to this year. Tuesday afternoons and Saturday nights will remain the race days. Hawthorne, which has tried to make a number of different post times and days of the week work for the past few years, will try adding Monday twilight racing to the mix in 2025. Hawthorne was granted dates from Mar. 20-July 3 (two days per week on Thursdays and Sundays, with Saturdays replacing Thursdays on the weeks of Triple Crown race simulcasts). Adding in a third date per week (Mondays) will start Aug. 4 and run through Nov. 3, with the racing days being Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays. Block did state that Hawthorne's willingness to extend the meet into early November will be helpful to horsemen. Hawthorne, in Stickney on the gritty southwest outskirts of Chicago, for decades had a decidedly blue-collar reputation on the Illinois circuit. But for the past three years it has been thrust into only-game-in-Chicago status after the devastating exodus of the more opulent and suburban Arlington, which was sold and has been razed, but has yet to be redeveloped. Although it was not explicitly stated at Thursday's IRB meeting, it appears as if Accel might be intending to go back to calling the first horse track in its gaming portfolio by its nearly century-old former name, Fairmount Park. Fairmount had been rebranded as FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing in 2020 when FanDuel took over as the track's owner. Accel bought the track in July, and the IRB approved the ownership change at Thursday's meeting. No one who spoke at the Sept. 19 meeting, including executives from Accel, referred to the racetrack as anything other than “Fairmount.” The only time the name “FanDuel” came up was when Accel executives confirmed that a partnership with the sportsbook would continue. Fairmount received IRB permission to change its scheduled Nov. 5, 9 and 12 dates this autumn to three Thursdays in October (17, 24 and 31) and to vacate the Nov. 16 program by means of adding extra races on other days. Closing day for 2024 will now be Nov. 2, dovetailing with the second day of the Breeders' Cup simulcast. The request was made to get a jump on racino construction. A temporary gaming facility will go up before the permanent one at a later date. Melissa Helton, the president and general manager at Fairmount, acknowledged “there's not a lot of horse experience” in the new ownership group, “so all of us have been helping out, [and] I think we're finally at that point where we're going to see slots.” Purses for 2025 at Fairmount are projected to be $5.5 million, Helton said. No corresponding 2025 purse figure for Hawthorne was stated at the meeting. Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Jim Watkins, who represents horsemen at Fairmount, told the IRB that his organization concurs with the new Fairmount regime on race dates and a vision for the future. Watkins said a contract is in place through the current year, and that a renewal is in the works that he believes will include keeping Fairmount open for off-season training. “I'm very confident that with the resources available to Accel, the new ownership, the backside is going to look a lot different” in 2025, Watkins said. The post Still Reeling from Arlington Closure, Illinois Racing Sees Fairmount Evolving as Source of Optimism appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Backside Learning Center (BLC)–an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families at Churchill Downs–will hold its annual fundraiser, “Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races Celebrating the BLC's 20th Anniversary”, at noon ET on Friday, Nov. 22 at the track's First Turn Club, the organization said via a Thursday release. All money raised through this annual event goes directly toward programming, resources and costs associated with the work of the BLC. Over its 20-year history, the BLC staff has grown from 2 to 18 with an annual budget over $1 million. With programs centered around educational support for both adults and youth, the BLC serves as a “home away from home” for the backside community. Click here for details about tickets, purchasing a table and more. The post Churchill Downs Backside Learning Center’s Annual Fundraiser Set For Nov. 22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sheila Rosenblum of Lady Sheila Stable, who co-owns the winner of the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes in 'TDN Rising Star' With the Angels (Omaha Beach), took home more black-type Sunday when Sacrosanct clobbered the field in the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes two races later at the Big A. The bay took a step forward after he broke his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths against New York-breds at Saratoga Aug. 21. Off as the 6-5 choice here, the colt made the lead, but he was followed closely by Buttah. The 2-year-old began to steadily extend his lead around the far turn, at the top of the lane he began to pour on the speed and the rest was accomplished in geared down fashion. “Both [With the Angels and Sacrosanct] are 2-for-2 now–they both broke their maidens in their first start and won a stakes in their second start,” said Shelia Rosenblum. “I think I've got one or two nice horses, and they are both pretty talented, I think. I know both sides of this game–they don't always win–but the good moments are exhilarating.” The winner's unraced dam is responsible for a yearling colt by Instagrand and she foaled Sacrosanct a full-brother Apr. 2. Vibrato was bred back to that same sire for next season. This is freshman sire Honest Mischief's (by Into Mischief) first black-type winner of his career. BERTRAM F. BONGARD S., $125,000, Belmont The Big A, 9-22, (S), 2yo, 7f, 1:24.35, ft. 1–SACROSANCT, 120, c, 2, by Honest Mischief 1st Dam: Vibrato, by Unbridled's Song 2nd Dam: Cuff Me, by Officer 3rd Dam: She'sgotgoldfever, by Gold Fever ($260,000 2yo '24 EASMAY). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Lady Sheila Stable, Net Birdie, LLC and Schwing Thoroughbreds; B-Burleson Farms, Mckenzie Bloodstock, & Sequel Thoroughbreds (NY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Manuel Franco. $68,750. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $118,250. 2–Buttah, 120, c, 2, Leofric–Salty Little Sis, by Chief Seattle. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Eddie F's Racing; B-Fedwell Farms (NY); T-Gary Sciacca. $25,000. 3–Pay the Juice, 120, c, 2, Omaha Beach–Out of Orbit, by Malibu Moon. ($230,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-August Dawn Farm; B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $15,000. Margins: 12, 1 3/4, 3. Odds: 1.25, 9.90, 5.20. Also Ran: Smilensaycheese, Manhattan Twist, Oath of Omerta, McDiesel. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. SACROSANCT dominates in the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes with @jockeyfranco up for @bradcoxracing! pic.twitter.com/76udPepdUQ — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) September 22, 2024 The post Sacrosanct Nets Lady Shelia Another Stakes Win, Hands Sire Honest Mischief His First appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article