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Little Distorted Slated for Spectacular Bid

Purchased privately following an impressive victory in his career debut, Little Distorted is scheduled to make his first start for Silverton Hill and trainer Darrin Miller in the Jan. 1 Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Park.

Kauai Katie is Star of Old Hat, GP Derby Day

Kauai Katie is the biggest name of a loaded stakes day at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1. She'll contest the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) while sophomore males duke it out in the Gulfstream Park Derby and Spectacular Bid.

Merit Man Goes from BC to Spectacular Bid

Bruce Chandler, Robert McKee and partners' Merit Man will be the horse to beat in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes for newly-turned 3-year-olds on the Gulfstream Park New Year's Day card.

No More U.S. Lion Hearts After Current 2YOs

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Know More, who won the Best Pal Stakes in his debut, is another promising 2-year-old sired by Lion Heart, who now resides in Turkey.

History Precedes I'll Have Another's Injury

I'll Have Another's defection from the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and his bid for the Triple Crown isn't the first time a Derby/Preakness winner failed to make the gate due to an injury.

Racing Analysis: To Go Long...Think Fast

Triple Crown winners during the 'Golden Age' all began their 3-year-old campaigns in sprints.

Five Questions: David Cordish

The Cordish Co. plans to build a 4,750-machine slots parlor the Arundel Mills Mall near Laurel Park in Maryland. The company has also submitted a bid for the Maryland Jockey Club tracks.

Kentucky Breeder/Owner Boone Dies

Hilary J. Boone Jr., a successful breeder/owner, died in his sleep at his Wimbledon Farm near Lexington.

Spectaculardynasty Dead

Spectaculardynasty, one of the last remaining sons at stud of the great champion Spectacular Bid, died May 31 of a heart attack.

Past Ky Derby Winners: Fusaichi Pegasus

2000 Kentucky Derby Winner Fusaichi Pegasus was the first favorite to win the race since Spectacular Bid in 1979. Today, he stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud.

Tin Cup Chalice Poised for Triple Title

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

A family full of consistent winners, albeit not terribly flashy, is propelling Tin Cup Chalice toward a shot at the Big Apple Triple, a series for New York-breds that offers a $250,000 to the horse that sweeps it. The son of Crusader Sword is out of the female family that produce Silky Sullivan.

Desormeaux Takes Belmont's State-Bred Stakes

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux powered Majesty Stud's Dr. V's Magic to three-length victory in the $75,000 Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile to complete a sweep of the Belmont Park stakes races Sunday.

Contessa Eyes Sunday's Spectacular Bid, Cupecoy's Joy

New York-breds thunder into the spotlight Sunday at Belmont Park with another renewal of the New York Stallion Stakes' Spectacular Bid and Cupecoy's Joy Divisions, and trainer Gary Contessa will take a shot at winning both races.

Chesapeake Farm, Original Home to Street Sense, Relocates

Drew Nardiello's Chesapeake Farm, known for raising 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense, has relocated to Wimbledon Farm.

Maryland Grants Franklin Exercise Rider's License

Ron Franklin's exercise rider's license has been restored, but he must wait six months for a decision on his jockey's license.

Buffalo Man Prevails in Spectacular Bid

Buffalo Man kicked off his 3-year-old season successfully at Gulfstream Park Sunday, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and prevailing by one length in the $77,750 Spectacular Bid.

Hall of Fame Trainer Bud Delp Dies

Hall of Fame trainer Grover G. "Bud" Delp, conditioner of the three-time champion Spectacular Bid, died Friday night at his Ellicott City home due to cancer. He was 74.

Odds-On Favorites Are Good Bet in Derby

Giacomo's shocking win at 50-1 odds in the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) served as a reminder that any horse can win on Derby day. Combined with the fact that only two favored horses (Fusaichi Pegasus and Smarty Jones) have won the Derby in the past 25 years, bettors may think betting on favorites in the race is futile. However, a quick look at history shows that some favorites are almost a sure bet.

Bud Delp, Ronny Franklin Look Back on 'The Bid'

Trainer Grover "Bud" Delp and jockey Ron Franklin looked back on the silver anniversary of Spectacular Bid's victory in the 1979 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Sunday afternoon.

Seasoning and Experience Have Not Lost Their Hold on the Kentucky Derby

In the past few years, much discussion has centered around the chances of a "lightly-raced horse" winning the Kentucky Derby. But in fact, the talk has not come to much fruition. Truth holds eternal, and although there are exceptions to every rule, the truth is that it still takes seasoning and experience to win the Kentucky Derby the vast majority of the time.

On This Day...

March 24, 1979
Spectacular Bid in the Flamingo Stakes

On This Day...

March 6, 1979
Spectacular Bid in the Florida Derby

Trainer Stunned as Unfurl The Flag Equals 'Bid's Mark

Trainer David Bernstein admitted he was stunned when Unfurl The Flag equaled Spectacular Bid's 1980 Santa Anita track record of 1:20 for seven furlongs Saturday when he won an optional claiming race by 4 ½ lengths under jockey Mike Smith.

Wynn Dot Comma Looms Favorite in Spectacular Bid

Martin Cherry's stakes-winner Wynn Dot Comma has been installed as the 9-5 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds set to contest the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Saturday.

Cherokee Spook Likely for Spectacular Bid

The sorting-out process for the best 3-year-olds begins in earnest Saturday with the Spectacular Bid (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, and trainer Mark Hennig will have decisions to make with Cherokee Spook and Notorious Rogue over the next week.

Shoeless

By Ray Paulick -- Shoemaker served as a spiritual leader and confidant to a new generation of riders.

Same Goal

By Graeme Beaton -- We're all after that one horse that will show them who's best! The dream of that "Big One" keeps us going.

Spectacular Bid: How Good a Stallion?

Although deceased Spectacular Bid closed out his career away from all the glamour he experienced early on in Central Kentucky, the four-time champion might have accomplished enough in some categories to be given a passing grade as a stallion.

Final Bid

By Ron Franklin -- It was Feb. 4, 1978, the first race of my career. Race 4. No. 4. I won by four lengths. My big horse at the time was Tiger Castle. Wow, he could really run.

The One and Only Bid; Thanks for the Memories

By Steve Haskin -- People are always asking me who is the greatest horse I have ever seen. I tell them that in my opinion, Secretariat and Damascus had the most incredible 3-year-old campaigns, and Dr. Fager, in 1968, was the greatest horse who ever set foot on an American racetrack. But over the course of an entire career, at ages 2, 3, and 4, Spectacular Bid was the greatest horse I have ever seen.

Derby Winner, Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid Dead

Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid, whom trainer Bud Delp called "the greatest horse ever to look through a bridle," died Monday at Milfer Farm in New York.

Bare Necessities Finds Lap of Luxury in Indy Oaks

Bare Necessities scored a convincing win in Friday night's $300,000 Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. III) at Hoosier Park.

Still Budding

Grover "Bud" Delp has made his own way in the Thoroughbred business. His path--from Maryland, to stardom, to the New Orleans-Chicago circuit, and back to Maryland--has led him to racing's pinnacle: the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Buddy Delp Looking Forward to Induction

Five weeks before his 70th birthday, Laurel-based trainer Buddy Delp prepares for one of the biggest days in his legendary career. On August 5, he will be inducted into Thoroughbred Racing's Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, New York.

Here and There

Bits and Pieces From Around the Industry