SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Will this be the year for a Triple Crown?
During my childhood, one of my favorite things was to watch horse racing with my grandfather.
We affectionately called him “Bumpy,” and he was very good at picking winners. He loved going to a place called OTB, which is short for off-track betting.
He also enjoyed visits to regional tracks down in New York, including Yonkers, Aqueduct, Belmont and others.
Horse racing, that’s one passion my grandfather passed down to me.
But, I haven’t been able to do much celebrating these days because the last time horse racing had a Triple Crown winner I wasn’t even six years old.
I couldn’t point to Bowie, Texas, on a map. I couldn’t string together complete sentences to write a story. I couldn’t even tie my own sneakers.
Belmont Park, located in Elmont, N.Y., has become the place for broken dreams, sullen spirits and bettors pulling out their hair. Elmont is also the home of former Dallas Cowboy and NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde.
This weekend, the Belmont Stakes will run with a 5:50 p.m. Central Daylight Time post time. You can watch the event on your local NBC affiliate or online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
The track announcer is Larry Collmus, although my grandfather’s favorite was Fred Capossela, and his unique call became part of comedian Robert Klein’s routine in 1974.
Secretariat (with jockey Ron Turcotte aboard) holds the course record with a dazzling time of 2 minutes, 24 seconds during the 1973 event.
The field has been set for the race, with American Pharoah attempting to become the latest horse with a chance to win the coveted Triple Crown.
American Pharoah, with trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza, has been installed as the favorite at 2-3 odds.
Other possibilities to win, and break everyone’s hearts, are Frosted (6-1), Materiality (13-2), Mubtaahij (14-1) and Madefromlucky (16-1). The long shot is Frammento at 40-1. Those odds were as of Friday morning, courtesy Odds Shark.
Can American Pharoah pull it off? Read more of this column in the weekend Bowie News.
American Pharoah. (Courtesy photo by Coady Photography)
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.
The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.
To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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