Horse Racing Hall of Fame gets seven new members
As seven of the greatest horses were inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, it was a spectacular event organized at the newly redesigned Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga. Those who became part of this great event included the jockeys Randy Romero and Don Pierce, the famous trainer Michael Buster Millerick and the racer thoroughbreds Point Given, Azeri, Harry Bassett and Best Pal.
Point Given, Romero, Best Pal and Azeri were elected as contemporaries while Don Pierce and Millerick were selected by the historical committee. The Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens in his address to the audience asked them what it takes to get to the Hall of Fame? According to him greatness cannot be judged on the basis of a single moment or just one performance. On the contrary, it is the struggle spanned over many performances. He added that successful people are never satisfied and they keep on striving for more.
On this occasion, Best Pal’s owner Larry Mabbee delivered the most emotional speech in which he mentioned his late parents John and Betty Mabbee and that how much they loved their horses and how glad they would have been to see Best Pal becoming a member of the Hall of Fame.
Randy Romero
He raced from 1973 to 1999, finally gaining entry into the Hall of Fame after remaining on the ballot eight times. He has a credit list of 4,294 wins and has earned over $ 75.2 million. He is widely remembered for his victories in the mares Go for Wand and the invincible Personal Ensign, winners of the Breeders’ Cup races. Both these mares also have been on the list of Hall of Fame.
Don Pierce
Don Pierce served as the jockey of 3546 winner racehorses during his 30 year long racing career.
Michael Buster Millerick
Michael Buster Millerick is most popularly known as the trainer of the horse Native Diver.
Point Given
She was trained by Hall of Famer trainer Bob Baffert. She has won 9 out of 13 races, has finished in the third place thrice and earned up to $ 5.6 million. Collier, who is also an associate of the Point Given’s owner, the late Prince Ahmed bin Salman, has been stated in a magazine as saying that racing champions come and go but those who become members of the Hall of Fame endure. Presently, Point Given has her habitat at Three Chimney’s Farm in Midway, Kentucky.
Azeri
Azeri is a female horse owned by Allen E. Paulson Living Trust. She has taken part in 24 races altogether of which it has won 17 while turned out to be the runner up in 4 races. Azeri has earned a total of $ 4,079,820 as well as achieved many titles and honors during the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. She was the winner of Horse of the Year award and was the Champion Older Female in these years. Michael Paulson, Azeri’s campaigner says being nominated for the Hall of Fame is a great honor for her. Azeri gave up racing in December 2004 and began her breeding career at Hill N’Dale Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. She is currently living at a breeding farm in Japan to whom she was sold in 2009.
Harry Bassett
Harry Bassett is the winner of Belmont Stakes Grade I and the Travers Stakes Grade I during the year 1871.
Best Pal
Winning 18 out of 47 races and earning a total of $ 5.6 million, Best Pal has raced for seven years altogether. He managed to finish second place in 11 races while third in 4 races. Best Pal’s late owner couple, John and Betty Mabee was one of the most respected and influential in the history of California racing.
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