Turfway compiles list of its Top 50
horses
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration that
begins with the opening of the fall meet on Wednesday, Turfway Park has launched
an interactive project highlighting 50 accomplished horses that have raced at
the track since it opened in 1959.
The Top 50 Horses list was compiled by former local turf writers Jack Hicks
and Jack Murray, current Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Richard Skinner,
track historian Dr. James Claypool, track president Robert Elliston, track
announcer Mike Battaglia and Turfway’s racing secretary, Rick Leigh.
The project team chose but did not rank its Top 10 horses and then ranked the
remaining 40. Fans are invited to weigh in by rating the team’s top 10 or
arguing for their own picks. All 50 horses’ career stats, the poll, and the
related blog, Turfway Talkback, are available at
Among the team’s Top 10 are Alysheba and Point Given, both voted Horse of the
Year, and Marfa, the first Jim Beam S. (now Lane’s End S. [G2]) winner to bring
national attention to Turfway’s Kentucky Derby (G1) prep.
Fans also are invited to contribute memories of horses that would comprise a
different kind of “top” list for Turfway: hard-knocking, blue-collar horses
whose fan base is mostly local or regional. The undisputed king of that list is
likely Perennial, who made 216 starts before retiring in 1982 at age 15. Of his
46 wins, 31 came at Turfway (then Latonia).
The track’s website also offers a nine-minute video about the history of
Turfway and links to other video memories posted at YouTube. Fans are invited to
reminisce about their experiences at the track, also via Turfway Talkback.