The longest-running racetrack in California, Bay Meadows, will close on May 11th after its last 70 day meet. It was founded in1934, so has had a 74 year run! It's an historically significant track for many, many reasons. It's innovative founder, William P. Kyne, introduced the ideas of pari-mutuel betting and the Daily Double, and implemented the technologies of the all-enclosed starter gate, the totalizer board, and the photo-finish camera, all Bay Meadows firsts!
Famous horses ran here, including
Majestic Prince and
Native Diver who broke their maidens at Bay Meadows.
Determine and
Charismatic used Bay Meadows as preps for theier Kentucky Derby wins. And other regular famous horses included
Seabiscuit, Citation, Round Table, John Henry, Noor, Coal Town, Cigar, Lost in the Fog, and
Secretariat's best girl,
Lady's Secret! Famous jockeys included Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay, Jr. and, of course, Russell Baze who just won his 10,000th race there!
A sad thing about it's history is that the groundwater contains poisonous environmental hazards, including petrochemical hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, and pesticides.
I hope Californians enjoy their last meet at this famous track. And I hope they open another in the area which they have discussed and planned.
Here's the king, Cigar! He is alive and well and voguing at the Kentucky Horse Park! He won multiple Eclipse Horse of the Year Awards and was number 1 in lifetime earnings until Curlin surpassed him (with the larger modern day purses) in 2008. And now his amazing record of 16 straight victories is tied by the lovely lady, Zenyatta. I almost cried when I see this big boy! Among the relatives Violet shares with him are Turn-To, Princequillo, Count Fleet and War Admiral. Hailee even shares in a little of Cigar through her almost blind Kentucky-Derby-winning relative, Bubbling Over! Rock on herd!
