In the days leading up to the 77th Santa Anita Handicap, the race seemed to generate a throwback feel well before the horses even stepped onto the track.

Word on the street was that three major names were linked to this renewal of California’s greatest horse race. First was Game On Dude, one of only four horses to capture the Big ‘Cap twice. Next came Mucho Macho Man, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park the previous autumn. And rounding out the trio was Will Take Charge, the 2013 champion 3-Year-old male and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up.

On Wednesday, March 5, all of them were confirmed for the Big ’Cap. When I learned this, excitement overtook me. I had to see what would unfold over that 1 ¼ miles.

Game On Dude (Eclipse Sportswire)

Fast forward to Saturday, March 8. My parents and I arrived at Santa Anita and took our seats in the Club House well before the Big ’Cap was slated to begin. Later in the day, the eight horses competing in the day’s main event emerged from the tunnel. As post time drew closer, the Big Cap’s prestige and storied history could be felt all across Santa Anita’s legendary Art Deco grandstand. It was simply electrifying.

Soon after, the horses took their place in the starting gate, standing in the area where legends like Cougar II, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, and John Henry were stationed before writing their names in Big ’Cap history. I temporarily moved to another location myself, getting as close as I could to the rail. This was the Big ‘Cap, and I wanted to be near the action.

Finally, the bell rang and the gates opened. The runners began settling into their early positions as they traveled through the stretch for the first time. Before long, Game On Dude took control of the pace as he sought to rebound from a fifth-place run in the San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8.

Going down the backstretch, Game On Dude continued leading as Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge pursued him. Watching from along the rail, my eyes followed the horses. This was my first Big ’Cap in person, and I wanted to see every second of it.

A moment later, Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge caught up to Game On Dude. Trevor Denman announced to the crowd of more than 27,000 that this was the showdown we had been waiting for. But right after those words escaped from the PA system, it was as if Game On Dude had heard his cue. Suddenly, he began moving away from his rivals.

Mucho Macho Man could not keep up. Will Take Charge tried to mount a challenge. But in this particular episode of racing’s vaunted East-West rivalry, the local horse would let no one overtake him.

As Game On Dude and jockey Mike Smith raced toward the finish line, the huge crowd produced the most deafening roar I have ever heard. And it is a roar I am proud to have been a part of. I can only call it epic.

Above the plethora of cheers, Denman made note of what was transpiring. He told all of us that Game On Dude was going to write his way into the history books. And that was exactly what happened.

After 1 ¼ miles around the main track, Game On Dude made himself a Santa Anita legend by becoming the first horse to win the Big ’Cap three times. He did it in style, too. The final time for the race was 1:58.17, which bested the stakes record long held by Affirmed. Game On Dude did not just win the Big ’Cap; he owned it.

Victorious Game On Dude and Mike Smith (Eclipse Sportswire)

In the present day, I still remember being amazed at what I had just witnessed. I also remember talking about it with a parimutuel clerk after the nightcap, and he said that it was a good day to be a race fan.

When my parents and I discussed Game On Dude’s achievement later on at home, my dad said that we might never see that again. That could very well be true.

The Big ’Cap began back in 1935. Before Game On Dude, only John Henry (1981, 1982), Milwaukee Brew (2003, 2004) and Lava Man (2006, 2007) had won it more than once. Going by those facts, my parents and I were part of a once-in-a-lifetime moment on March 8, 2014. Looking back 10 years later, it really was an honor to be a part of racing history.