Legends

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Del Mar History: Victor Espinoza’s Unforgettable Seven-Win Day

When a jockey wins two races in a single afternoon, he’s enjoyed a successful day. Three wins signifies a banner afternoon and four is bound to generate buzz among racing fans and horseplayers.

But how about seven wins in a single day? Only on the rarest of occasions will a jockey embark on such a memorable win streak. During the first 69 years of racing at Del Mar in California, no jockey managed to win more than six races on a single card.

Open Mind: In a League With Legends

Since horse racing’s year-end Eclipse awards were inaugurated in 1971, only five fillies have achieved the difficult feat of being named champion both as a 2-year-old and as a 3-year-old.

In Their Own Words: Hendrickson, Zito Remember Birdstone’s Travers Victory

Courtesy of NYRA

Marylou Whitney, my wife, gave an unusual instruction to Edgar Prado before he rode Birdstone in the 2004 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. "Just get second," she told him.

Del Mar History: The ‘Other Arrogate’ and Longden’s World Record

Once upon a time, a long time ago, a horse named Arrogate entered the spotlight with a series of victories in prominent stakes races.

Wait a minute — “a long time ago?” Wasn’t Arrogate at the peak of his powers just a few years ago, winning such prestigious events as the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Pegasus World Cup?

Mom’s Command: A Modestly Bred Champion

Three-year-old males have the Triple Crown.

Three-year-old fillies have the Triple Tiara.

While the Triple Tiara may lack the notoriety of its counterpart for males and includes only New York races, it has attracted a long list of outstanding runners since its inception in 1959.

Initially, the series that includes the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks was called the Filly Triple Crown and then the NYRA or New York Filly Triple Crown before NYRA changed it to the Triple Tiara in 1987.

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