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The Racing Hall of Fame’s switch back to a plurality voting system produced four contemporary inductees for 2007, including trainer John Veitch and jockey Jose Santos. Champions Silver Charm and Mom’s Command will be the first ...
contemporary horses to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since Flawlessly and Skip Away were enshrined in 2004. No contemporary horses or individuals received enough votes in 2006 when the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame required a candidate to receive 75% of the vote for induction. This year, the museum’s executive committee reverted to the previous system that enshrines the finalist with the most votes in each of the four contemporary categories. The museum’s Historic Review committee also voted to induct four past greats, selecting jockey John Sellers, trainers Frank McCabe and Henry Forrest, and Swoon’s Son, a Chicago-based standout in the late 1950s. This Hall of Fame class of eight is the largest since nine members entered in 1978. Veitch, a finalist for contemporary trainer since 2003, trained Hall of Fame members Alydar and Davona Dale and champions Before Dawn, Our Mims, and Sunshine Forever. Veitch, 61, is the son of trainer Sylvester Veitch, a Hall of Fame inductee in 1977. “Those people that knew my father knew that he never really got excited about too much, never really showed too much emotion and I was really overwhelmed the day that he was inducted,” Veitch said. “He said that was the greatest day of his life, and that was the greatest day of my life, as well, to see my father so honored. Now for me to join him, it’s just an overwhelming honor.”
Santos, 46, guided Lemon Drop Kid to victory in the 1999 Belmont Stakes (G1) and won the ‘03 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) on Funny Cide. Santos led the nation in purse earnings four years in a row during the 1980s and was the Eclipse Award recipient as outstanding jockey in 1988.
“I don’t think I have the words to describe this,” Santos said. “I came to America in 1984 with $2,000 in my pocket and a suitcase, and after [23] years, I’m being inducted in the Hall of Fame. It’s a great achievement.”
Silver Charm is the only horse to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). A $16,500 yearling purchase who earned nearly $7-million, Silver Charm also won the 1997 Preakness Stakes (G1) and came three-quarters of a length short of the Triple Crown with a second-place finish to Touch Gold in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Source www.thoroughbredtimes.com |
