Hit the link to see the sheets for DH and VG. VG's is also on the cover of our hardcopy product.

The difference wasn't in the figures VG was running for Bailey/Stevens vs. those for Solis, it was the net result due to ground loss. I fought very hard against Solis riding in the Derby, lost, and almost threw up when he went past us the first time not only last, but outside two horses with a five length gap in front of him. I put the binoculars down, and didn't even see him again until the eigth pole. VG got a much better number than RQ that day, and Solis was taken off.

Stevens rode in the Preakness, we were favored, and I fully expected to win, but RQ beat the hell out of us, on the merits. Gary rode back in the Belmont and though I am biased it was the greatest big race ride I have ever seen-- he split horses 3 times, and if he had gone around any one of them we would have lost.

But then Gary got hurt before the Travers, and I was unable to keep the owners (not Elliot) from putting Solis back up. Just as in the Derby we were the widest horse on both turns, and lost a photo despite running the best number-- if we had been inside one horse on either turn we would have won both the Travers and the Derby. But given the trip in the Belmont and the wide trip Behrens got when we beat him a nose in the Whitney the following year-- which got us an Eclipse-- I can't complain. Bailey rode in the Foster and Whitney.

I don't blame Solis for the BC loss-- we told him we didn't care how far back he was, we got a rail trip, and were only a length back at the eighth poll-- VG hung. He had been sick, and there was no time to get a prep race in him.

By the way, if you ever get a chance, check out Durkin's call in the 98 Belmont. Dave Johnson is a friend of mine and did the call for ABC, but Durkin's is the best call in history (of course, I'm a little biased).

"Twenty years in the making... it's going to be close... IT'S TOO CLOSE TOO CALL.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, this one is worth FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.

History...
in the waiting..."

I have watched that tape a couple of dozen times, and I still can't watch it sitting down. And I still don't think he got up.



TGJB