Did You Know...

Tweet that today in racing history marks the following?

In 1894, Aqueduct Racetrack opened its doors for the first time. It was rebuilt in 1959 and the winter inner track was opened in 1975. Hall of Famer Cigar won the first two races of his magical sixteen race win streak at Aqueduct. Fittingly, it is today's date that Curlin will try and upend Cigar's bankroll record this afternoon in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. It is also the site of the first and only triple dead heat for win in a stakes race. In the 1944 running of the Carter Handicap, Brownie, Bossuet, and Wait A Bit hit the finish line at the same time. (see also a new blog of the same name Triple Dead Heat I have started to follow and the picture of the feat in the men's bathroom of the Grey Gelding in Saratoga!)

Also on today's date in 1924, in the second his three specially staged international races, the French colt Epinard was defeated by a nose to Ladkin at Aqueduct where a crowd in excess of 40,000 (!!) were on hand for the race. What are the chances a quarter of that shows up for today's terrific card at Belmont, weather permitting.

And finally, in 1947, Armed, then the world's leading money-winning thoroughbred (see a pattern here?) met 1946 Kentucky Derby winner Assault in the first $100K winner-take-all match race, held at Belmont Park. Armed earned an easy 8 length victory over an ailing Assault and went on to win 1947 HOY honors.

Why I am no means the history expert in these parts, I found the links to Cigar and Aqueduct interesting with today's race and his record in jeopardy on a date already steeped in racing history. For real history reporting, check out Colin's Ghost, who has a nice entry up on today's Jockey Club Gold Cup race.