1 - 1969: Tuesdee Testa, 27, became the first female
jockey to win a race at a major American Thoroughbred track when she won the third race at Santa
Anita Park aboard Buz On.
1991: Pat Day, 37, became the sixth rider in history whose
mounts earned $100 million when he rode Wild Sierra to a second-place finish in the first race at
Oaklawn Park.
2 - On this day in
1887, the American Trotting Association was founded in Detroit, MI.
1940: Beaten by a nose in both the 1937 and 1938 Santa Anita Handicaps, Seabiscuit
finally won the Big 'Cap in his final race. He retired the then-leading money-winning horse in the
world.
1966: Kelso, Horse of the Year 1960-64, ran his last race, finishing fourth at Hialeah
Park.
3 - 1966: Ogden Phipps' Buckpasser won the Flamingo Stakes
by a nose, under the guidance of Bill Shoemaker. The colt was such a prohibitive favorite among
the field of nine that the race was declared a non-wagering contest and was dubbed "The Chicken
Flamingo."
1985: Bill Shoemaker became the first jockey in history to win $100 million in purses
after he won the Santa Anita Handicap aboard Lord at War (ARG).
1993: Russell Baze had his 4,000th career win, with Frank Musso, at Golden Gate
Fields.
4 - Today in 1791, Vermont, the 14th state, was admitted
to the union on this day. Why is this significant to a horse website, you ask? Because the Morgan
horse is the state animal. Now do you get it?
5 - 1988: Carl Gambardella had his 5,000th career winner, aboard John's
Goldenapple, at Suffolk Downs.
6 1965: Jockey Earlie Fires rode his first winner, Carnation Kid, at Oaklawn
Park. By year's end, Fires had amassed nearly $600,000 in purse earnings to earn the title of champion
apprentice jockey.1988: Julie Krone became the winningest female jockey in racing history when
she won the 1,205th race of her career riding a filly named Squawter in the ninth race at Aqueduct
Racetrack.
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8 1987: Carrying 126 pounds, Zany Tactics set the world record for six
furlongs, 1:06 4/5, at Turf Paradise. On Feb. 21, 1993, his time was equaled by Honor the Hero,
also at Turf Paradise.
9 - In 1799, Congress contracted with Simeon North of Berlin, CT for 500 horse
pistols, costing the government $6.50 each. Horse pistols were large pistols that used to be carried
by horsemen.1977: Seattle Slew made his three-year-old debut, at Hialeah. He won a seven-furlong
race in 1:20 3/5, breaking the track record.
10 1808: Diomed, the winner of the inaugural Epsom Derby
in 1780, died in Virginia at age 31. He had been imported to the U.S. 10 years earlier and subsequently
became an influential sire.
1993: At age 41, jockey Eddie Delahoussaye had his 5,000th career winner, aboard Ackler in the
fifth race at Santa Anita Park. He was the 14th rider in North American Thoroughbred racing to reach
that plateau.
11 - 1943: After siring 350 foals that won over $3 million, 26-year-old
Man o' War was retired from stud duty.
12 - On this day in 1935, Parimutuel betting became a reality as horse race
bets were legalized in the state of Nebraska. There are still U.S. states where horse racing, betting
or other forms of legalized gambling still 'nag' legislatures, despite the fact that other states
have been participating in these activities for decades.
1966: In the last race of his 40-year career, John Longden won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap
at Santa Anita Park, aboard George Royal. He retired with a then-record number of victories, 6,032.
13 2000: According to the ESPN Sports Poll, consumer interest in Thoroughbred
racing increased by 3.1 percent among people 18 and older during the previous two years.
2003: Jockey Ron Warren Jr. registered his 3,000th career win aboard Tin and Tonic in the seventh
race at Golden Gate Fields.
14 Today in 1969, less than one month
after winning her first horse race, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman jockey to win at Aqueduct
Race Course in New York. She rode the thoroughbred Brave Galaxy to victory.
1941: Merrick died at age 38, establishing the longevity record for a Thoroughbred.
1976: Bill Shoemaker won his 7,000th career victory, aboard Charlie Whittingham-trained Royal
Derby II, in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park.
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16 -
17 - 1973: In his three-year-old debut, Secretariat
won the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct by 4 ½ lengths.
2000: Trainer Hubert “Sonny” Hine, trainer of 1998 Horse of the Year Skip
Away, passed away after a long illness at age 69.
18 2001: Zippy Chippy beat a Standardbred horse named PaddyÂ’s Lady at
Freehold Raceway. Because the race was an exhibition, Zippy Chippy officially maintained his record
of 89 starts without a victory.
19 1942: The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States was formed,
with John C. Clark as president.
1949: Jockey Bill Shoemaker rode his first career race, at Golden Gate Fields. He finished fifth,
aboard Waxahachie, in an eight-horse field.
20 1932: Phar Lap, legendary champion racehorse of Australia, won his
only start in North America, the Agua Caliente Handicap at Agua Caliente Racecourse in Mexico. His
time for the 1 ¼-mile race was 2:02 4/5, a track record. The six-year-old Phar Lap died one month
later and the cause of his death remains a mystery. During his four years of racing in Australia,
Phar Lap won 36 of 50 starts.
1969: Less than two months after she became the first woman to ride in a parimutuel race in America,
Diane Crump rode her first winner at Gulfstream Park.
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23 1927: Future Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox was foaled at Claiborne
Farm, Paris, Ky.
24 1851: California's first organized race for Thoroughbreds took place at
the Pioneer Course in San Francisco. The city's residents added a purse of $250 to the sweepstakes,
which was set at $15 each for the three competitors. T. K. Battelle's colt Boston won.1932: Omaha,
the only Triple Crown winner to be sired by another Triple Crown winner (Gallant Fox), was foaled
at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.
1940: Future Triple Crown winner Count Fleet was foaled at Stoner Creek Stud, Paris, Ky.
1941: Upset, the only horse ever to defeat Man o' War, died at age 24.
1953: A program for nationwide televising of 10 of the richest races being run in New York and
Delaware, was announced. NBC and ABC provided network coverage for the Saturday broadcasts, which
were scheduled for April 18-June 20.
1997: Assicurazioni Generali, the lead underwriter on the congenital infertility insurance on
Horse of the Year Cigar, agreed to pay the $25 million claim filed by owners Allen Paulson and Coolmore
Stud. Coolmore received $18.75 million and Paulson got $6.25 million, representing the parties'
respective 75% and 25% ownership interests.
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26 1943: Future Triple Crown winner Assault was foaled at King Ranch, Kingsville,
Texas1966: Jockey Eddie Maple won his first career race, at Ascot Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
1992: Henryk de Kwiatkowski purchased Calumet Farm for $17 million at auction. He paid an additional
$210,000 for the Calumet name.
27 1953: The ABC radio network announced it would broadcast a series of
major East Coast races, beginning April 4 and continuing through Nov. 14.
1997: A group of Thoroughbred organizations, including The Jockey Club, Breeders' Cup Ltd., Keeneland
Association and Oak Tree Racing Association, announced it would undertake a joint planning process
to create a national coordination and marketing structure for Thoroughbred racing.
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29 Man o' War, the famous American
race horse, was foaled on this day in 1917.1938: In observance of Man o' War's 21st birthday,
the celebration was broadcast nationally via radio from Faraway Farm, where he stood at stud.
1969: Diane Crump became the first female jockey to win a stakes race when she took the Spring
Fiesta Cup at the Fair Grounds aboard Easy Lime.
1988: Jockey Pat Day won his 4,000th victory, aboard Ann's Bid, in the ninth race at Oaklawn
Park
1997: The $4 million Dubai World Cup was rescheduled for April 3 after torrential rainstorms
hit Nad Al Sheba racecourse .
30 Secretariat, who went on to win the Triple Crown of horse racing in
1973, was foaled on this day in 1970. 1970: Secretariat was foaled at The Meadow, Doswell, Va.
1952: New York Governor Thomas Dewey signed a statute transferring licensing authority from The
Jockey Club to the New York Racing Commission.
1985: Laffit Pincay Jr. became the second jockey in history to surpass John Longden's record
of 6,032 victories, riding Sovereignty to victory in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park.
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