HARFORD. A Look Back At The Pioneering Jim McKay ASK RAY. By Ray Paulick. Celebrates

Transcription

1 A Look Back At The Pioneering Jim McKay By Ray Paulick Jim McKay was a pioneer, in so many ways. Born James Kenneth McManus in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 24, 1921, McKay (more about that name later) served with the U.S. Navy in World War II aboard minesweepers in the south Atlantic, clearing the path for safe travel along the South American coast. After the war, McKay got a job as a reporter for the Sunpapers of Baltimore. Within a year, on Oct. 30, 1947, he was recruited to be part of the city s first live television broadcast, interestingly enough from Pimlico Race Course, the track where he later hosted so many Preakness telecasts. Baltimore s pioneering TV station showed two races live. McKay honed his skills during the dawn of this new industry, hosting sports and variety shows in Baltimore. His first big break came in 1950 when he was lured to New York to host a show called The Real McKay (a spinoff from the popular phrase the real McCoy ). Jim McManus became Jim McKay at least on television. He never changed his name legally. That job opened new doors and built important relationships, including one with early television legend Arthur Godfrey, who gave McKay an important piece of advice: When you re looking into the camera, forget there may be millions watching. Talk to one person. That s why, whenever people saw Jim McKay on television, they thought he was talking to directly to them. Little did people know the real McKay was an assuming man, so naturally shy that it took him a year to cobble up the courage to ask Margaret Dempsey, a respected reporter at the Sunpapers, to go out on a date with him. They wed in 1948 and she became his guiding light. the president of ABC Sports, that would change his life forever. Arledge had an idea for a new weekly program, Wide World of Sports, and wanted McKay to host. For the next 37 years, every Saturday afternoon, McKay was, as the show s intro said, spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport: the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. The human drama of athletic competition. Each week, McKay was in some far-flung venue. One week, the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. The next it was Alpine skiing in Chile. Then the World Surfing Championships in Hawaii. Along the way, McKay became ABC s anchor for the Summer and Winter Olympics, his unflinching, marathon Continued on Page 4 HARFORD COUNTY Celebrates 30 years the Maryland Million! Maryland s Newof Center of Oppurtunity BARRY GLASSMAN, COUNTY EXECUTIVE In 1961, McKay got a phone call from Roone Arledge, ASK RAY QUESTION: Do you have a favorite Maryland-bred Thoroughbred? ANSWER: Some of my all-time favorite racing memories involve the great Cigar: the Belmont Park Breeders Cup, the first Dubai World Cup, Arlington Park s Citation Challenge all were amazing experiences. But Broad Brush is a not-too-distant second. What a tough horse he was! We salute one of our own J. William Boniface, the founder of Bonita Farm and a founding member of the Maryland Million. Barry Glassman, County Executive

2 Page 2 Stallion Spotlight Not For Love By Ray Paulick Sunrise doesn t last all morning A cloudburst doesn t last all day Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning It s not always going to be this grey --All Things Must Pass, George Harrison On the occasion of this 30th Jim McKay Maryland Million, there will be the inevitable lamenting that Not for Love, the most influential and successful sire in the history of this event, is no longer producing foals. The son of champion sire Mr. Prospector, Not for Love stood at Richard Golden s Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City. He was pensioned earlier this year at the age of 25. All things must pass, indeed. But before we write the final chapter in the book of Maryland s leading sire, let s remember there is still much glory ahead for Not for Love. His 2-year-old crop of 37 foals is just now revving up, and includes Maryland s Love for the estate of Howard M. Bender in the Lassie and Sea Are Seven for The Elkstone Group in the Nursery. Not for Love has 33 yearlings and 21 foals of 2015 to anticipate in the coming years. Based on his phenomenal lifetime statistics of 83 percent starters from foals, 66 percent winners from foals, 8 percent blacktype winners from foals, and average earnings per starter of $90,666, Not for Love is far from finished building his legacy. The chances are very good that he will add to his all-time leading list of 32 Maryland Million race winners, topped by Eighttofasttocatch, who gave Not for Love three of his six victories in the Classic. In addition to the aforementioned juvenile runners, Not for Love will be represented by Whisper Hill Farm s Can t Explain in the Ladies; R. Larry Johnson s Classy Coco and Diane Balsamo s Barrel of Love in the Turf; and in the Classic by Neal Berch s I m Mr. Blue, Catalyst Stable and partners Titan Alexander, Rebecca Davis Not Abroad, KMSN Stable s Fort Collins, and Hillwood Stable s Phlash Phelps (cross-entered in the Turf) That doesn t include the three Not for Love offspring in the starter stakes that bookend Saturday s 11-race card. Nor does it list the numerous Maryland Million runners produced by Not for Love mares (he s gained distinction as broodmare sire of Horse of the Year California Chrome). A good racehorse who began his career in New York campaigning for breeder Ogden Mills Phipps, Golden purchased Not for Love prior to his 5-year-old campaign in 1995, and he had no better success than did Phipps in getting a stakes win for the colt, who retired with six wins (all maiden and allowance victories) from 29 starts. Produced from the Northern Dancer mare Dance Number (winner of the Grade 1 Beldame and out of champion Numbered Account), Not for Love s female family represents five generations of the Phipps family s meticulously cultivated bloodlines. Sixth dam Baby League, bred by Col. Bradley, was produced from Marcel Boussac s imported La Troienne, one of the most influential broodmares in the Stud Book. Rather than lamenting the end of an era for one of the breed s most important stallions, let s celebrate all that he has done. PRS KO PUBLIC AFFAIRS Proud Supporter of Jim McKay Maryland Million Day!

3 Page 3 A Program of Dreams By Cindy Deubler The Maryland Million was a dream for legendary television broadcaster Jim McKay, who was spurred to action after attending the first running of the Breeders Cup in The idea of the Maryland Million came to me not necessarily as a broadcaster, he said at a nationally attended press conference a year before the inaugural event, but more as a Thoroughbred breeder, as a husband of an owner, and as a loyal Marylander. I had been thinking for some time about an exciting and dramatic event that might bring recognition and attention to Maryland, while at the same time galvanizing the people of Maryland with a great event in which they can take pride. I m hoping the Maryland Million can serve this very important purpose. FARM FOR S E FOR ALL OF YOUR FARM RELATED REAL ESTATE NEEDS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA or DELAWARE, Please reach out to: A. John Price Patterson Price Real Estate Land & Farm Properties Cell (302) FARM The first Maryland Million held in 1986 was an overwhelming hit, launched dozens of similar programs around the country, and 30 years later, remains one of the marquee events on Maryland s racing calendar. Surrounded by a team of Maryland industry leaders in 1985, McKay launched a program specifically for progeny conceived in the state by eligible Maryland stallions. Nine stakes races, worth a total of $1 million in purse money the Maryland Million made up the nucleus of the program. The races were sponsored by major corporations, including Anheuser-Busch Brewery in the Budweiser Maryland Classic. The entire first card was televised on national television when ESPN aired four races live and five on tape. Total handle the first year topped $2.6 million, the second highest in Laurel s 75-year history. Maryland Million Day is a showcase of stallions in the state. In the first year the world s greatest stallion Northern Dancer, who stood at Windfields Farm in Chesapeake City, had two winners: Classic-winning Herat, from the barn of Eclipse Award-winning owner John Franks and Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg; and Ryland Group Maryland Turf winner Glow, owned by Sonia Rogers and trained by Hall of Famer Woody Stephens. Maryland s roster of solid stallions was well represented on the first card with winners by the likes of Smarten, Restless Native, Wise Exchange and King s Bishop. The program has also been a launching pad for new stallions, a tradition that started in 1986 when Salutely s first crop of 2-year-olds yielded Business Express Maryland Nursery winner First Patriot. Among others over the decades whose records were enhanced by first-year Maryland Million winners were Thirty Eight Paces (1987, Thirty Eight Go Go), Allen s Prospect (1990, Ameri Allen and Xray), Norquestor (1994, Sam s Quest), Polish Numbers (1995, Count On Numbers), Partner s Hero (2002, Object of Virtue), Lion Hearted (2004, Hear Us Roar) and, last year, Street Magician, whose daughter My Magician won the Lassie. Maryland Million is a day of state pride and of dreams precisely as McKay envisioned. PRS About For advertising inquiries please call Emily at Ray Paulick - Publisher ray@paulickreport.com Emily Alberti - Director of Advertising emily@paulickreport.com Scott Jagow - Editor-in-Chief scott@paulickreport.com Natalie Voss - Features Writer natalie@paulickreport.com Emily White - Weekend Editor emilywhite@paulickreport.com Pattersonpricefarmsandestates.com COPYRIGHT 2015, BLENHEIM PUBLISHING LLC

4 Page 4 Did You Know? Million Day Trivia Maryland Million founder Jim McKay won a Maryland Million race. He was in the partnership that owned Sean s Ferrari, a son of Salutely bred by his wife Margaret who won the 1987 Nursery. Legendary stallion Northern Dancer, who stood at Windfields Farm in Chesapeake City, was the sire of three winners, plus a second and third-place finisher, from eight starters. His winners were Herat (Classic) and Glow (Turf) on the inaugural card, and filly Chapel of Dreams (Ladies) in The oldest winner of a Maryland Million race was La Reine s Terms (by Private Terms), victorious in the 2005 Turf at age 10. He was a repeat winner, having also won the Turf in Two future National Racing Hall of Famers, Safely Kept and Open Mind, contested the 1988 Lassie, and neither won. Beating the two champions was Ms. Gold Pole, a daughter of North Pole. The first winner of a Maryland Million race was a Canadian-bred. Sam-Son Farm s 2-year-old filly Smart Halo, a daughter of Windfields stallion Smarten, won the 1986 Lassie. The races aren t restricted to runners born in Maryland. A quarter of the winners were foaled in other states or Canada, with Pennsylvania-breds leading the way with 26 wins. The all-time richest runner to compete on a Maryland Million card was Awad (by Caveat), winner of the 1993 Turf. He retired with earnings of more than $3.2 million and later sired a Maryland Million winner (Let Me Be Frank). The Maryland Million has been a trend-setter. Twenty other states and Canada have special racing days modeled in part after the Maryland Million. Eleven Racing Hall of Fame jockeys have won Maryland Million races: Jerry Bailey, Kent Desormeaux, Julie Krone, Eddie Maple, Chris McCarron, Laffit Pincay Jr., Edgar Prado, Mike Smith, Jose Santos, Gary Stevens and Jorge Velasquez. The largest hand-blown crystal bowl ever produced by the famed Waterford company was the original Maryland Million trophy, which measures 14 inches. Smaller replicas of the specially designed and handcrafted bowl were presented to the winning owner, trainer and jockey until Maryland Million winners continue to take home Waterford crystal, but a different pattern, PRS today. Media Events Marketing Advertising Worldwide Continued from Page 1 coverage of the terror attacks at the 1972 Munich Games bringing him accolades from around the globe and earning him two of the 13 Emmy Awards he would win. Wide World of Sports brought McKay back to the racetrack for the Kentucky Derby and other major races. He loved the stories of the horses and the people around them. Borrowing a page from the inaugural Breeders Cup in 1984, McKay was the driving force behind the creation of the Maryland Million, a first-of-its kind day to celebrate the state s love affair with horses since copied by many others. It was only fitting that in the second Maryland Million in 1987, Sean s Ferrari a horse he and Margaret bred and named for their son won the Maryland Million Nursery. Laurel was where Jim McKay fell in love with horse racing at the age of 14, visiting the track with his father and betting a winner that paid a whopping $ He never missed the Maryland Million, attending each year from 1986 until McKay died on June 7, 2008, and was followed in death by Margaret 16 months later. He was a remarkable man in every sense of the word. PRS

5 Page 5 In Focus with The Racing Biz The Racing Biz is pleased to provide our partners at Maryland Million this In Focus guide to today s seven stakes. Our handicappers -- Ted Black, Gary Quill, and Frank Vespe -- provide their analysis of each of the big races, plus data and trends from the last 10 years, to give you the inside track to winning wagers. Good luck! RACE 4: MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT What to look for: Five of the race s last 10 winners were the post-time favorite, and all but D C Dancer in 2014 were one of the bettors top three selections... Median win odds are , median exacta payout $24.50 Every Sprint winner in the last 10 years had either made at least six starts during the season prior to Maryland Million day, or had won at least two races. Six met both criteria, including the last four winners. #3 Ben s Cat (3-5) - Grand old man of Maryland racing may be finally showing some signs of aging, but the fourtime defending Maryland-bred Horse of the Year still appears much better than this bunch. #5 D C Dancer (7-2) - Arrives as the defending champion of this event and looms the major threat to upend Ben s Cat and reward backers with a $10 mutuel at least if he does succeed. #6 It s a Bang (10-1) - 13 Nursery winner may have regained confidence with two earlier wins at Pimlico in the spring and does sport two wins in three starts at the distance over the track. RACE 6: MARYLAND MILLION NURSERY What to look for: Like the Lassie, the Maryland Million Nursery was shortened from seven furlongs to six for the 2009 edition...five favorites have won the Nursery in the last 10 years, and three other winners were among the top three wagering choices. Nine of the 10 Nursery winners entered with a victory in their immediate prior race. Median win price is , and median exacta price is $ #4 Flash McCaul (7-2): Promising early results for Friesan Fire progeny; this guy got left at the gate in his debut but was very professional in making his way to the finish line first #6 Captain Alex (4-1): Runner-up in Laurel Futurity at 19-1 in the slop had a strong gallop out but will need the early speed to set a fast pace so he can pounce on them late. #11 Sultry Encounter (8-1): Son of Outflanker seeks PICKS PROVIDED BY first career win in secnd start for connections who won this event last year; runner-up in debut here in August where winner (Jeezum Jim) came back to show in a stake at Delaware Park. RACE 7: MARYLAND MILLION LADIES What to look for: Bombs away -- take a swing here! The two longest-priced winners in the last 10 Maryland Millions -- Bear Access ( in 2014) and My Sweet Nenana ( in 2010) both came from this race, as did the top three exacta payouts... No favorites have won the last 10 runnings of the Ladies, and only two second choices have done so. Overall median win odds are , with a median exacta payout of $ #5 Dance With Gio (12-1): Smart claim for $20k out of most recent effort knowing this mare was eligible and competed in MD Million Ladies in 2013 (sixth) and 2012 (third), both times not having the cleanest of trips; like the recent 1 mile workout; could be the price horse you are looking for. #1 Magician s Vanity (9-2): Took 13 tries to get this 3-year-old daughter of Street Magician to the winner s circle, but she s taken to the Laurel lawn like a duck to water with two runner-up efforts while stepping up in class #6 Monster Sleeping (9-5): Makes third consecutive appearance in this event; won it in 2013 but couldn t repeat last year (fifth); seems to prefer a firm turf course, which helps her kick into high gear as the field turns for home. #7 Lionhearted Lady (8-1): There is one attribute lacking in this race: early speed, with the exception of this gal and #9 - Can t Explain (5-2); Lady is cross-entered in the Distaff; if she scratches from here, then go all-in on the #9 to go gate to wire. Continued on Page 6

6 Page 6 In Focus with The Racing Biz Continued from Page 5 RACE 8: MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF What to look for: Class rules: Nine of 10 prior winners owned at least one stake win before netting the Distaff, and seven had won multiple stakes... Favorites have won five of the last 10 runnings, and second choices have won three. All 10 winners had made at least five prior starts during the season, and eight had at least one win, with the lone exceptions being multiple stakes winners.. Median win odds are , and the median exacta payout is $ #2 Classy Coco (10-1) -- Finicky filly has talent to defend title in what could be final career start. #1 Lionhearted Lady (3-1) -- Seven furlongs figures to hit Ham Smith trainee right between the eyes. #7 My Magician (12-1) Lassie winner s been running in tough luck -- completely stopped inside the eighth pole last out -- and has to catch a break soon right? RACE 9: MARYLAND MILLION TURF What to look for: The Turf was shortened from 1 1/8 miles to 1 mile for the 2013 running. Seven of the last 10 Turf winners owned at least one stake win prior to winning the Turf, and four of those had at least two prior stake wins... Eight of nine Turf winners made six or fewer starts during the season prior to Maryland Million day. And four of those nine winners had not won a single race during the season. Median win odds in the Turf are , and the median exacta payout has been $ #4 Phlash Phelps (7-2): Was cross-entered in the Classic, but goes here after starting his 4-year-old campaign with three consecutive victories on turf course at Pimlico and Laurel; sky s the limit for this son of Great Notion who should get a perfect stalking trip #5 Havelock (5-2): Hard-knocking, well-traveled 8-yearold is a multiple graded stakes winner on turf, makes first start at Laurel; toss that last race which was taken off the turf; 3rd race after a layoff is often the charm. #9 Barrel of Love (6-1): New York shipper makes Laurel turf debut after closing ground late in a six-furlong prep for today; rarely throws in a clunker as this 8-year-old has made a nice living racing on the grass though he is just 1 for 10 at this distance; a must use in your exotic wagers. RACE 10: MARYLAND MILLION CLASSIC What to look for: This race has been the property of now-retired Eighttofasttocatch the last few years, and he won as the favorite in 2011, 2013, and He s the only favorite in the last 10 years to win this race. Five of 10 winners were at least 5-1, and six of 10 were the third wagering choice or worse. Median win odds are , and median exact payout is $ #6 Not Abroad (6-1) - Showed some signs of life in his return to the races following a nearly three-year hiatus and that effort should enable him to take another step forward and notch his second victory in this event, this time at a generous price. #11 Talk Show Man (5-2) - Although his best efforts recently have been on the grass, he did deliver a solid performance in his most recent start on the main track nearly seven months ago and could prevail as the lukewarm favorite here. #3 Bullheaded Boy (5-1) - One of only two three-yearolds in the field, this Pletcher trainee is actually much better than his slate, and a two-turn race on the main track should be his ideal spot. PRS