Breeders' Cup winner Concern and champion steeplechaser Tuscalee are the newest inductees into the Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.
The 2014 inductees had careers marked by significant milestones. Concern became the first Maryland-bred to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) when he captured the race in 1994, and was the first state-bred to earn $2 million in a single year. Tuscalee, a 2013 inductee into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is the all-time leading North American steeplechaser by number of wins and holds the record for most steeplechase wins in a single season.
This year's induction will be April 3 at the George Peabody Library in Baltimore during the Maryland Horse Breeders Association's annual awards dinner.
The two new Hall of Famers were campaigned their entire careers by their breeders. Robert E. Meyerhoff bred Concern, who is a son of Meyerhoff homebred and fellow MTHOF member Broad Brush. Tuscalee, by Tuscany, was campaigned for 10 years by breeder Alfred H. Smith.
Trainer Richard Small saddled Concern to a 7-7-11 record from 30 starts and earnings of $3,079,350. He won four graded stakes, including the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, after finishing third earlier that year in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Tuscalee was trained by Joe (Leiter) Aitcheson Sr., beginning as a juvenile. He made his first start at age 3 and competed through age 12. He won at least once every year (for 39 wins from 89 starts) and holds the record of 37 career jump wins. During his championship season in 1966, he won a record 10 jump races.
The inductees were selected by a committee of Maryland racing industry members coordinated by the MHBA and Maryland Racing Media Association.
More information available at mdthoroughbredhalloffame.com.
