At the end of the 19th Century, Col. Edward Riley Bradley — a self-proclaimed gambler, bookmaker, and owner/manager of several casinos — was informed by his doctor that a more outdoor lifestyle might be beneficial to his health.
Trainers look for hope when they eyeball young horses. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas did not see much reason for optimism when he first laid his eyes on Lady’s Secret.
She lacked size and never would weigh much. She appeared to be anything but robust.
For the most part, the great American-based fillies and mares of the last few decades were stars who beat the boys in Triple Crown races or major Grade 1 stakes on dirt.
For the past 75-plus years, the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup have been proving grounds for a long list of Thoroughbred racing’s greatest champions.
Some horses, though, have transcended the sport’s most famous stages.
