1988

[Secretariat Forever]

Just watching some of my favorite races on youtube. Risen Star's Belmont was by far one that always gives me chills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhqFUQtaWkI

Crazy that until the next year father and son owned the two fastest Belmonts and both did it in pretty similar style. Whenever people bring up the topic of best horses to run in all 3 TC races and win 2, I always see horses like Point Given, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Sunday Silence, etc...

But to be honest, I think Risen Star gets kind of forgotten about. This horse was good and seemed to be getting better as that year went on. And it's really too bad he had to be retired after the Belmont. Anyone else agree?

[raven]

i second that..!!!

[Valiant-Nature]

I was there. His trip in the Derby is the only thing that prevented him from winning the Triple Crown. He was that talented. Yes, he gets forgotten a lot of the time, but on the list of "best horse to not win the TC", he is seldom listed very high, but should be near the top.

[middleground]

The '88 Derby was one those rare runnings that actually had several talented horses in the field--a lot of them don't even one.

[regret15]

I think you are right, Risen Star does get overlooked. He did his sire proud. It is sad that he had to be retired so soon. I watch the TC races every year (someday I will be there!), haven't missed one in years--missed a lot of family things---and I was so excited to see a son of Secretariat run! After Secretariat went to stud, I kept an eagle eye out for his sons and daughters racing.

Middleground--I have a b/w photograph of your namesake--taken at King Ranch 1953, I think, by my mother when she was on a class trip to Mexico. The group stopped at King Ranch, as part of the trip. All she wrote on the photograph was "racehorse King Ranch 1953". She had no idea that five years later she would have a daughter that would fall in love with racing at age eight. She could never remember the name of the horse, I sent a copy of the photo to King Ranch with all the info and they were able to identify him for me.

[ROCKFISH]

I saw Risen Star's first race at LAD.

To say he was "unknown" at the time would be an understatement because Dave Rodman (racecaller) called him as "RISE n Star."

[Secretariat Forever]

What makes his win so interesting and I guess you could say more impressive is everything that happened leading up to the race. Swelling and an ankle injury 10 days before the race, the swelling reappearing just hours before the race, having only 1 work between the Preakness and Belmont, which was a fast 3/8's. Delahoussaye was quoted saying he might be even better than Secretariat.

Running him in the Belmont with a slight ankle injury and swelling was probably what ended up forcing his retirement. But still makes the fact that he won and how he won very impressive.

[Slewbopper]

'88 was a very nice crop of 3 yos. Winning Colors, Forty Niner, Risen Star, Seeking The Gold, Not sure, but wasn't Private Terms the Derby fave?

[afleetphil]

Risen Star was a very very good race horse. His Belmont was impressive. Risen Star is right up there with Afleet Alex as two of the best to have won two thirds of the crown. Alot of Secretariat's domination can be seen in Risen Star.

[Secretariat Forever]

'88 was a very nice crop of 3 yos. Winning Colors, Forty Niner, Risen Star, Seeking The Gold, Not sure, but wasn't Private Terms the Derby fave?

yes he was

[Slewbopper]

Of course in '88 we had the Woody (49er) and Dwayne (WC) show in the Preakness. Woody tarnished his legacy forever by proclaiming he would go after Winning Colors with 49er to make sure she didn't win even if it meant his horse lost. He did exactly that and they both were cooked. Risen Star would have won the race inspite of his horsesh/t.

[Valiant-Nature]

Of course in '88 we had the Woody (49er) and Dwayne (WC) show in the Preakness. Woody tarnished his legacy forever by proclaiming he would go after Winning Colors with 49er to make sure she didn't win even if it meant his horse lost. He did exactly that and they both were cooked. Risen Star would have won the race inspite of his horsesh/t.

Shame on the jock as well (Day?) He put that filly into the 4th row by the hotdog vendor, and cooked FN's chances. But that was old school. That kind of stuff went on a lot more back then than it does now. Trainers had a bit more power in the grand scheme of things as well, vs. today's trainers vs. owners.

[Slewbopper]

Shame on the jock as well (Day?) He put that filly into the 4th row by the hotdog vendor, and cooked FN's chances. But that was old school. That kind of stuff went on a lot more back then than it does now. Trainers had a bit more power in the grand scheme of things as well, vs. today's trainers vs. owners.

That may have been before Pat became God's jockey. I was so happy when he retired. IIRC 49er was a Claibourne horse. I would be interested to see if Woody the Butcher ever won a meaningful race after his nonsense in the Preakness

[Valiant-Nature]

That may have been before Pat became God's jockey. I was so happy when he retired. IIRC 49er was a Claibourne horse. I would be interested to see if Woody the Butcher ever won a meaningful race after his nonsense in the Preakness

Great question. He won the Haskel and travers that same year of course, but outside of that I really wonder.

I liked Woody however, if for no other reason than he conditioned Swale, one of my all-time favorite racehorses.

[middleground]

Middleground--I have a b/w photograph of your namesake--taken at King Ranch 1953, I think, by my mother when she was on a class trip to Mexico. The group stopped at King Ranch, as part of the trip. All she wrote on the photograph was "racehorse King Ranch 1953". She had no idea that five years later she would have a daughter that would fall in love with racing at age eight. She could never remember the name of the horse, I sent a copy of the photo to King Ranch with all the info and they were able to identify him for me.

That's a great story!

[Slewbopper]

I liked Woody however, if for no other reason than he conditioned Swale, one of my all-time favorite racehorses.

Swale was Woody's second stringer behind Devil's Bag in '84.

What a great name. Swale is an anageram for "a slew".

Slew...wet ground
Swale..a hollow or depression especially one in wet marshy ground

[LeeAnne151]

Out here in the Pacific Northwest a slough is more than wet ground. They are a secondary channel often found alongside big rivers. They are sort of like canals that run alongside the bigger rivers like the Columbia and Willamette. The word is spelled slough but pronounced slew.

I also agree that Risen Star doesn't get enough respect, that was a tough crop.

[swale]

Swale was Woody's second stringer behind Devil's Bag in '84.

What a great name. Swale is an anageram for "a slew".

Slew...wet ground
Swale..a hollow or depression especially one in wet marshy ground

I wholeheartedly support this post.

-Swale-

[Apollo]

Hated the '88 Belmont. Had a huge bet on the winning time of the race over 2:27. Bally's put up that time prop. It looked like a ridiculous gaffe since only 1 or 2 Belmonts had been run faster.

I jumped on the number as soon as I saw it and they moved it a fifth, then others followed. It went up a full second to 2:28. Instead of buying back and trying for a middle I stuck with the theoretical advantage. For nearly a week I considered it money in my pocket. I'll never forget how numbed I was down the stretch when I realized it was an all but certain loser.

[affirmed79]

I lpved RS so much. I really got to know him well, as i used to go to Louie Roussel's barn all the time and take photos of him and all of Louie's horses. I remember when he hurt his ankle, it was like a wake at the barn. Everyone was so somber, Louie and Ronnie Lamarque were so afraid that RS wouldn;t run in the La. Derby. It was big news here at the F.G. But he did run and win easily and went on to capture the LEX STAKES at KEENELAND and then went on to the derby. I was at the derby when he ran 3rd. Was a tremendous disapointment to me, my sister and my mother who also went to that derby. I know Louie and Ronnie, the singing automobile owner, were really disappointed and almost took Eddie D. off of RS. but they kept him on, and they went on to win the derby and Preakness. I saw RS at Airdrie Stud, too. I believe that;s where he was. Berenten Jones Farm and i 've also seen his grave. They wanted RS to be buried at the F.G., but Louie decided not to bury him here and buried him in KY. I have so many photos, programs, and collectibles on RS. I have a darling black and gold button and 2 t-shirts with ''Doing the Derby'' on it and RS's photo. I had a grand time back then when he ran. He's one of the best F.G. horses, ever. In FG'S HOF. And the best son of Secretariat.