Legends

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“Who is it laughs at years that flow?

Who is it always gets the dough?

Whose only creed is go and go?

Exterminator.”

The above verse, part of a short poem titled “Old Bones,” was affectionately written by Guy McGee and published in the Daily Racing Form on June 22, 1922. Through the years, relatively few racehorses have inspired people to publish poetry in their honor, but then again, few horses have ever sparked the imagination of racing fans quite like Old Bones, the legendary Exterminator.

Breeders’ Cup Fantastic Finishes: Classic Duel of Derby Winners

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships headed into its fourth year of existence firmly established as a signature event to accompany the springtime Triple Crown, and in 1987 it returned to the track where it was launched in 1984, Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

Bold Ruler: A Star On and Off the Track

To truly understand the importance of Bold Ruler, it should be pointed out that he is best known for his accomplishments in the breeding shed rather than the racetrack.

As innocuous as that might seem, it actually speaks volumes because Bold Ruler enjoyed an exceptional career on the racetrack.

He won the 1957 Preakness Stakes. He was a consensus Horse of the Year choice in 1957 as well as the year’s top 3-year-old. In 1958, he was voted champion sprinter. He set or matched four track records.

Bill Shoemaker, Blue Ruler, 1954 Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Dominant at Del Mar: Bill Shoemaker’s Greatest Summer

On opening day of the 1954 Del Mar meet, a young rider named Bill Shoemaker was less than a month from turning 23 years old. Though still in the early chapter of what would become a storied career, the native Texan found himself the engineer of the most dominant run by any jockey that had ever competed at the seaside track.

Gun Runner, Whitney Stakes, Saratoga race Course, Eclipse Sportswire

A Tribute to One of Racing’s Great Families: The History of the Whitney Stakes

Stakes races like the Belmont or the Woodward stand as tributes to those who make significant contributions to horse racing, their names reflective of what those Pillars of the Turf have given the sport.

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