Thursday, 31 August 2017 16:18

The Woodward Stakes and a Plea to NYRA Management

By Joseph Raucci | Sports

This Saturday marks the sixty fourth running of the Woodward Stakes. Since its inception, no less than twenty-four times, the winner of this race has been named Horse of the Year. The race was first run at Belmont Park and was made a fixture here in 2006. Let's look at the origin of the race. 

William Woodward Sr. was the owner of Belair Stud, the fabled Maryland breeding grounds that produced two Triple Crown Champions. In 1930 Belair's Gallant Fox carrying the renowned white with red dotted silks was the first. Then it was his offspring Omaha's turn to take the crown in 1935. Mr. Woodward also bred the champion Nashua, who took the measure of the "California Comet" Swaps in the highly anticipated match race at Chicago's Washington Park in 1955. Woodward never had the chance to see Nashua run as he left the scene in the year 1953. Upon his death New York racing honored this horse racing legend by inaugurating the Woodward Stakes in 1954. 

Since then so many of the all-time great have won the race. Their names read like a walk

through the Hall of Fame. Sword Dancer took it home two years in a row in 1959 and 60. Then mighty Kelso took his turn. He put together three in a row in the early sixties. He was followed by the likes of Buckpasser and Damascus. Then In the mid-seventies it was Forego's turn. He matched Kelso's three-year string of victories. Seattle Slew and Affirmed both Triple Crown Champions took the prize in back to back years, 1978 and 79.

The 1980 version was a once in a lifetime happening. Spectacular Bid who ranks high in the stalls of immortality ran unopposed. In horse racing terms, this is known as a walkover. It is so rare that one must go back to 1948 and the great Citation to have seen another. 

The 1980's also saw Slew O' Gold capture the race twice. He was followed by none other than Alysheba and then Ogden Phipps Easy Goer in 1989. In the 1990's it was Skip Away, Cigar and Holy Bull. 

Are we getting the gist? This is one of America's greatest horse races.

The tradition continued into the twenty first century. Ghostzapper and Curlin took it in the first decade. Just eight years ago, none other than the tremendously talented filly Rachel Alexandra thrilled a packed house at the Spa, where she stunned her male counterparts. She went onto be named Horse of the Year, nothing new to the winner of this event.

Then we have the greats that chased the trophy and failed. Everyone's favorite Secretariat couldn't get the job done. Nor could his sire Bold Ruler. Despite losing the race, they were both named Horse of the Year. Add two more Woodward contestants to that growing list.

Owners and trainers alike knew that this was where championships were decided. This is why I implore those who are the decision makers for The New York Racing Association to highlight this masterpiece race and bring it back to the forefront of the sport.

Please consider raising the purse to the magical one-million-dollar mark. Also, lengthen it to the classic distance of one and one quarter miles. These two changes will give it the eminence that it deserves.

The Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a "Johnny come lately" by Woodward  standards, has become the race that many of the top ranked horses are pointed for during the late summer season.

If NYRA would make the adjustments that have been laid out here, the Classic would lose much of it's drawing power. The Major League owners clearly want to win at Saratoga. Give the race its rightful due and watch it flourish.

It is so very important to keep the history of the sport intact. Few races have more historical value than the Woodward Stakes. It is steeped in the grand tradition that endures to this day.

We can only hope that over the coming year that some serious thought is given to doing what is right for the many reasons that have been stated here.

I am sure that the late Mr. Woodward, Chairman of the Jockey Club, and forever recognized as a Pillar of the Turf by the Hall of Fame here on Union Avenue, would wholeheartedly agree.

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