Did You Know...

Tweet It's time for my birthday month edition of DYK....and I have some doozies for y'all. I love October, the leaves changin', touch football games, cigars at night by the fire pit, Rocktober (AC/DC's coming!), Oktoberfest, Keeneland fall meet, pickin' apples in Niagara County, drinking spiked hot cider at the Bills game, and the best holiday of all in Halloween, ya just can't beat it, but I digress....so Did You Know....

- That 60 years ago today marked the death of the great Colonel Matt Winn (pictured), also known as "The Father of The Derby," he died at age 88 after being present for 75 straight runnings of the Kentucky Derby.

- That 20 years ago today (our TBA'er Post Parade will appreciate this one) parimutuel racing was revived in Texas for the first time since 1937. A meet was held at G. Rollie White Downs in Brady, TX (population 5,976). Andrew Beyer of Washington Post fame had this to say about the return, "It wasn't at a grand facility in Houston or Dallas. The first thoroughbred racing was conducted in the town of Brady, best known as the home of the world championship barbecue goat cook-off. Brady is so rural that signs at the local motel advise patrons, 'Do Not Clean Birds in the Room.' " Hilarious.

- That 30 years ago today one of the greatest races of all time took place at Belmont Park where Affirmed and Spectacular Bid (in his 3yo season) dueled in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Affirmed went on to Horse of the Year after defeating the Bid, who was named 3yo champion of 1979. Here's a look at one of the races of the decade....