Turf Talk Newsletter – 27 October, 2026

Gimme A Nother wins the Gr 1 E.P. Taylor (From TBA (Images kind courtesy of Cindy Dulay))

The Mauritzfontein Stud-homebred Gimmeagreenlight mare Gimme A Nother has drawn pole position for the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf and that barrier draw would normally be ideal for her, although as discussed in this article the large field and tightness of the track will likely make the draw less cushy than it was in her last start.

The Graham Motion-trained six-year-old was drawn in pole last time out when winning the Gr 1 E.P, Taylor Stakes over a mile and two furlongs at Woodbine, which was her fourth win on the trot, including two Gr 2s, a Gr 3 and a Gr 1, although the field size for that race was just eight runners.

Her win before that in the Gr 2 Beverley Dee Stakes at Colonial Downs was over the same distance as the Breeders Cup i.e. a mile and three sixteenths, which is about 1900m, and she found a nice handy position in that nine horse field, despite jumping from draw seven.

She has good gatespeed and early pace and the pole position draw will ideally allow her to just sit from the off and hopefully claim the box seat behind whoever sets the pace.

She has a renowned kick.

In her Turffontein days she could afford to sit for a long time in the straight before using that acceleration.

The style she had become used to proved a bit problematic when first arriving in America, because the straights are shorter and she could not afford to take her time.

Motion thus transformed her into a handy type.

She will ridden by John Velazquez, who is the second most prolific winner of Breeders Cup races in history behind John Smith.

Velazquez has 22 wins at the iconic meeting, including three wins in the Breeders Cup Filly And Mare turf.

The first problem is that the field is a large one, 15 horses, bigger than she has been facing in North America. This means she will likely have to do some work to hold her position and it also means she might be at the mercy of the pace.

That is unless she leads herself, which she is capable of and which might not be a bad idea.

If she is stuck behind a slow pace the outside horses will likely sweep around the final turn, or even earlier, and see her being shuffled back with little room to manoeuvre.

Another question though is whether Gimme A Nother is good enough to face the European horses, who have dominated this race over the years.

The Andrew Balding-trained Blue Point four-year-old filly Blue Bolt has won nine of her 12 starts, including four Gr 1s, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old Starspangledbanner filly Precise has won six of 13 starts, including four Gr 1s.

However, both Blue Bolt and Precise have drawn wide in barrier positions of 12 and 11 respectively. The Keeneland turf course is just over 1400m in circumference, so is very tight and the Filly and Mare Turf  will include two bends, so it will not be easy for widely drawn horses.

Kathynmarissa leads the American challenge and this Gr 1 winner has drawn well in five.

Lush Lips has won a Gr 1 over this course and distance and was a short-head second in a Gr 1 over a mile at this track last time out, but she does have a very wide draw.

Blue Bolt is the general favourite at 5/2 with Precise 7/2, Kathynmarissa 5/1, Gimme A Nother 10/1 and Lush Lips, Stellify and Red Letter 12/1.

The Breeders Cup is this Friday and Saturday and the Filly And Mare Turf is to be run at 21H04 SA Time on Saturday.

Sarah Whitelaw

Gelykfontein Stud has long been part of the fabric of the South African thoroughbred industry.

In 1934, JC Van Der Walt (whose son Schalk currently manages the farm) began breeding thoroughbreds.

Gelykfontein sold their first yearlings at Newmarket, with one yearling being leased and the other fetching 150 guineas. Schalk, who was born in 1948, took over the farm following his father’s death.

Since that time, Gelykfontein has produced its share of high-class performers. The farm has produced winners of the Metropolitan, Guineas, Merchants, to name a few.

The farm was named Gelykfontein as the homestead stretches on land which is flat and level, with Gelykfontein taking its name from the Afrikaans word gelyk. (In Afrikaans, the word gelyk translates to equal, level, even, or alike in English, depending on the context).

Currently, Gelykfontein stands the blue blooded Wild Coast, winner of the 2020 G2 World Sports Betting Guineas over a field which included Golden Ducat, Sachdev, and Frosted Gold.

By late champion sire Trippi and out of dual Equus Champion Beach Beautty, Wild Coast is a full-brother to G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Amanzimtoti and half-brother to the remarkable Beach Bomb (by Lancaster Bomber). The latter won both the 2023 G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and 2024 G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes before going on to enjoy plenty of success in North America.

Wild Coast’s remarkable dam Beach Beauty, Broodmare Of The Year in 2023-2024, has produced six black type horses thus far.

In 2022, G1 King’s Bishop Stakes winner Visionaire joined the Gelykfontein stallion band, while champion sprinter Rebel King was another stallion to call the farm home in recent years.

The farm’s success, however, has not been restricted to thoroughbreds. Schalk Van Der Walt made history when he became the first farmer in the Karoo to breed Nguni cattle.Schalk believes that the smaller the animal are, but with good constitution, the better they cope on the Karoo veld.

Gelykfontein continues to offer high-class drafts at sales rings around South Africa. A fine example of this is the Kommetdieding filly out of Limpopo River, who sold to Sean Tarry Racing for R425 000 at the 2026 National Yearling Sale.

Schalk described the well bred filly (she hails from the same female line as Epsom classic winners Lammtarra, Snow Bride and Pour Moi) as a “very classy, racy filly who was very correct and deep bodied.”

Schalk has described the racing industry as a passion he was born with and clearly this passion shows no sign of abating.

Trust has a fine turn of foot and the Hong Kong tracks should suit him (JC Photos)  

A top three-year-old from last year’s South African crop has a chance of competing in this season’s Hong Classic four-year-old series, which carries massive stakes prizes.

The former Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans-winning Heavenly Blue gelding Trust has begun his training on the racing-mad island, where he is being trained by Mark Newnham.

Hong Kong have an enviable model in that there is no  three-year-old classic series and instead the classic events are for four-year-olds, including the island’s most prestigious local event, The Hong Derby, which is to be run over 2000m on 21 March, 2027.

The two other events in the series are the Hong Kong Classic Mile, to be run on January 31, and the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m, to be run on 28 February.

The first two events have had a HK$1 million increase in total stakes to HK$14 million and the Derby has had a HK$2 million increase to HK$28 million.

So at current exchange rates those three races are worth the equivalent of R29.82 million for the first two and R59,64 million for the Derby!

All three of the races are run on the Sha Tin turf.

An interesting aspect of the four-year-old Classic series is the races do not have Group status and are classified as restricted races for four-year-olds.

Luke Ferraris famously won the Classic Mile two seasons ago with the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish (Flying Artie). My Wish was only rated 79 at the time.

My Wish was second in both the Classic and the Derby and one fascinating point is the Derby was won that season by a horse called Cape Ferrat, whose career record reads 13 runs and only one win, that win being of Hong Kong’s most prestigious local race, the Hong Derby, which carried a stake that year of HK$26 million.

So Trust will certainly not be outclassed in his bid for Hong Kong four-year-old classic series glory.

Australian Mark Newnham, who has quickly risen to be a leading trainer in Hong Kong, followed his Classic Mile win in 2025 by winning the Hong Kong Derby in 2026 with Sacred Ibis (O’Reilly).

Trust will thus be in good hands.

Trust will also be keeping his original name and is owned by partners called the Chef’s Table syndicate, who had success with the South African-bred Silvano gelding Chefano. The latter was known in South Africa as Vacquero and won twice before finishing third in the Dingaans. In Hong Kong he won a Gr 3 and was runner up in a Gr 1, accumulating stakes earnings of HK$7,766,800.

Trust won twice in seven starts in SA, including the Gr 2 Dingaans over 1600m. He was never out of the first three. In Gr 3 events he had one second and two thirds and he was third in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas and a short-head second in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m.

He has been accorded an opening rating of 84 and should also be perfectly suited to the classic series as he has the speed for a mile and will stay 2000m.

Trust has been mainly swimming and trotting since starting his training regime on 28 September, but he has had three gallops too on the Sha Tin All Weather track. Judging by the times of the gallops he must have had two gallops over 500m and one over 1000m.

Trust was bred by the Tawny Syndicate and raced in South Africa by one of its founding members Larry Nestadt along with two other members who often race Tawny Syndicate-bred horses, Lindsay Ralphs and Gary Player.

The breeders as well as South African racing fans will be following this good looking and classy horse with interest.

Khaya Stables Star Groom Campaign returns for the Cape Summer Festival of Racing, with cash incentives for grooms across all Graded and Listed races.

Race Coast is delighted to announce the continuation of its partnership with Khaya Stables, with the Khaya Stables Star Groom Campaign returning for the 2026/27 Cape Feature Season, commencing on 1 November 2026.

The initiative recognises and rewards the invaluable contribution made by grooms to the South African horseracing industry, acknowledging the dedication, hard work and care that goes into preparing thoroughbreds for competition.

Often working behind the scenes, grooms play an essential role in the success of every racing stable. From the early morning routines to the care and preparation of horses on race day, their commitment is fundamental to the sport.

Through the continued generosity and support of Khaya Stables, these individuals will once again have the opportunity to receive meaningful financial rewards for their efforts.

The campaign will run from 1 November 2026 to 27 February 2027, covering 36 Graded and Listed races during the Cape Feature Season at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Grooms responsible for the first five horses past the post in each qualifying race will receive the following cash incentives:

1st place: R5,000
2nd place: R2,000
3rd place: R1,500
4th place: R1,000
5th place: R500
The campaign forms part of a longstanding relationship between Race Coast and Khaya Stables, whose continued involvement in Western Cape racing reflects a commitment not only to the sport itself, but also to the people who contribute to its success.

Khaya Stables will also continue its sponsorship of the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, further strengthening its association with one of the Western Cape’s established feature races.

Dean Sawarjith, Chief Operating Officer of Race Coast, commented, “We are extremely grateful to Khaya Stables for their continued support of this initiative. Grooms are such an important part of our industry, and while the horses, jockeys and trainers are often in the spotlight, there is an enormous amount of work that happens behind the scenes.

The Star Groom Campaign is a wonderful way of recognising that contribution and putting something meaningful directly into the hands of the people who work tirelessly to care for our horses.

It is particularly rewarding to have a partner like Khaya Stables that understands the importance of giving back to the people within the sport, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements throughout the season.”

As the Western Cape prepares for another exciting summer of racing, the initiative serves as a reminder that behind every successful racehorse is a dedicated team of people whose contribution deserves to be celebrated.

Mente Et Manu has been tipped to win the headliner (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The final meeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in 2026 is held today. Racing returns to the popular country course in January between the L’Ormarins Kings Plate and the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met. The action at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this summer should be as memorable as always. The last few memories of the year at the country course could be made by Mente Et Manu and Sabre Wing in races 4 and 5 respectively.

Mente Et Manu runs in the headliner on the card. A Class 3 over 1400m. It is an intriguing event with some above average rivals, which he certainly is. However, with race fitness and good form at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he could have the tools to add win No 5 to his CV.

Justin Snaith has his form in good heart. Richard Fourie is riding like a man on a mission. That combination helps his cause too. Three of his four career wins have come at this course. The long striding son of Lancaster Bomber seems most comfortable around the tight turns.

This will be his third run after a mini break during the height of winter (which hardly dawned in Cape Town). He returned with a decent attempt when beaten half a length by Voorloopertjie over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. His last start was flat and obviously below his best but still not disgraced when 4,35 lengths behind the tough Three Tigers over this course and distance. With some of his rivals pointing towards this type of level in the coming months, he simply looks the most ready. The small field could pose an issue of a genuine pace but he seems versatile enough. Fourie can place him handy from gate No 6 and if something takes a keen hold, he could drop in and run at them where he seems most effective. The widest gate could be a blessing because Fourie will have options.

Hero’s Journey is a hugely interesting runner bringing some excellent three-year-old form into the picture and he is rated as the main danger. He won three starts back when he lead from start to finish. He followed up at his next run when he finished second behind Aquae Calidae in the Grade 3 Langermann over 1500m at this course. Aquae Calidae is rated as one of the best three-year-old males in the country in what is proving to be a very exciting crop. Although no match for the winner, he was 2,25 lengths behind which is far from disgraced. Given a three-month break, his return was behind Grade 1 runner-up and his stable companion, Rich Man’s World. Less than a length behind over 1250m at this course over a distance which suited Rich Man’s World was a superb effort. He probably is not far off the best of his generation which would make him of interest at this level.

Kabelo Matsunyane takes the ride for Vaughan Marshall. Marshall has been quiet for the season so far but his runners last week took a good step forward and he looks to be coming to life with the big features on the horizon.

Sabre Wing’s last run showed that she could be headed to feature race company. She runs in race 5 over 1400m. She pushed Over My Shoulder all the way to the line last time. Over My Shoulder is touted to be heading towards the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas in December and Sabre Wing ran her to 0,3 lengths. Granted, in receipt of 1,5kg, it was an admirable effort. Trainer Greg Ennion has been positive about this filly and that run would have had him assured that she is on the right track. Keagan de Melo takes the ride.

First Bloom must be her main threat. They have met before when Sabre Wing was two lengths ahead. There is 2kg in favour of First Bloom plus she could have extra improvement to come. First Bloom could have more to come as she steps up in trip though which gives Sabre Wing the vote of confidence.

Ennion has another above average three-year-old in race 2 over 1250m. De Melo takes the ride. The winner of the Grade 3 Winter Nursery last season showed his mettle on that occasion before some admirable efforts in defeat. He was rested between June and September so his first run back would have seen him a little rusty. His last start came at such a competitive level and he finished third, 3,4 lengths behind Oliver. This field will not be a pushover but he should have a top chance. Gold Dust is truly loving life at Michelle Rix and he has found himself in top form. He must be considered as well as Marcus Aurellius.

Tequilla Tango finally pulls a draw and that is key to him having his best shot of winning when he goes to post in race 1 over 1250m. Andrew Fortune takes the ride for Vaughan Marshall. Three runs back he finished fourth behind the unbeaten Viva Asterix over this course and distance before dreadful draws scuppered serious chances behind Swaziland and Bright Fate. He still managed to finish second and fifth. From gates No 13 and 10 to draw No 2, he just needs to maintain his runs from inconvenient positions to win.

Paradigm Shift could be the right horse in race 3 over 1600m. Her last start came over 1250m at this course from a wide gate of No 10. She has the kinder gate of No 4 and the extra trip should be a major asset. A repeat performance of her less than a length fourth behind Frozen Asset last time should see her go very close to winning. Oswald Noach is up for Lucinda Woodruff.

Andre Nel has a strong hand in races 6 and 7. Bourbon King and Andrew Fortune get on like a house on fire and they team up over 1600m. Ignoring his most recent performance which was without Fortune, he has some of the best form on offer.

Landseer gets the services of Muzi Yeni a race later in a seriously shallow event over 1600m. He was well beaten in his last run behind the promising Fog In Finland at this course over the same track and trip. The winner found the perfect race and she took advantage of the female weight concession. Landseer does mix his form so he is not the easiest to get on the right day but his penultimate effort saw him finish second behind Jet A One.

October Rush looks the best bet on the card when he runs in race 8 over 1600m. This is a hugely underwhelming maiden. His last start was his local debut when he finished second behind Legal Dancer who has form to Wreath Of Snow. Adding to the allure of October Rush, his trainer Dean Kannemeyer has his yard in excellent heart. Craig Zackey takes the ride. There is plenty in his favour.

Sabre Wing has been tipped to win Race 5 (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Brandon Bailey formguides and selections for Hollywoodbets Durbanville Wednesday

RACE 1

1 STITCHINTIME stayed on well for third behind ABOVE THE LAW on debut, with natural improvement expected from this well-bred gelding, he will go very close to winning from a good draw. 2 TEQUILA TANGO finished just over three lengths behind BRIGHT FATE on the 7th of October, he finally gets a good draw, watch for sharp improvement with top jockey Andrew Fortune in the saddle. 7 SNOW SNIPER improved nicely from his first run into his second run, the form of his last race has worked out well, he looks progressive, include him into all bets. 6 GREEN SENSATION looks best of the rest, he will be running on strongly late.

RACE 2

1 KELP FOREST quickened up smartly to win impressively at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 2nd of September. He was given three points in the ratings for that win, he will be given every chance again from a good draw. 4 GOLD DUST powered away from his field in good style on the 16th of September, he was given three points for his win last time, he will be switched off early, and he will be low flying at them late, watch him closely. 2 TAG AND RELEASE ran a much better race on the 4th of October. If he brings that run to the track again, he will be super competitive in this field. 3 MARCUS AURELIUS gets the blinkers fitted, this trip of 1250m will be on the short side, he will be doing his best work late.

RACE 3

4 PARADIGM SHIFT improved nicely from her first run into her second run, she will love the step up in trip to 1600m, include her into all bets from a good draw. 2 GIMME PERFECT gets the blinkers fitted, her form of late is very good, she has a big winning chance from a neat draw. 3 SIGN OF SPRING was only beaten just over a length in her last start on the 14th of October, she will be cherry ripe for this race on Wednesday, watch her closely at a decent price. 6 SPIRIT OF LIFE has been rested for 74 days, in hope that she doesn’t need the run badly after a small break, she could sneak into the Quartet.

RACE 4

4 HERO’S JOURNEY ran a great race behind his stable companion (RICH MAN’S WORLD) on the 7th of October, he looks highly progressive, with some luck in running, he will go very close to winning. 5 POMP IT UP stayed on well to finish just over two lengths behind SOHO HEARTTHROB last time, the form of that race has worked out well, the drop in trip is key for this individual, he will run a big race here. 6 MENTE ET MANU never runs a bad race, his chances need to be respected at this level. 1 BOOGIEFIED has been rested for 162 days, ignore his last run, if he bounces back to his best form, he will be right there in the finish.

RACE 5

4 SABRE WING must have a big winning chance in this field, she ran a great race behind OVER MY SHOULDER on the 4th of October, the yard thinks highly of this filly, she will be very hard to beat from a good draw. 7 SOUTH OF FRANCE has been rested for 84 days, she was gutsy in the finish when beating GIN PALACE on the 5th of August, in hope that she doesn’t need the run badly after a small break, she will be competitive for the places. 5 HAMPSTEAD HEATH finished two lengths behind DREAM SEARCHER on the 6th of September. Her chances need to be respected at this level, watch her closely. 8 FIRST BLOOM could be anything, she won her maiden well on the 26th of September, she will run a big race here with no weight on her back.

RACE 6

1 SOSSUSVLEI won his maiden impressively at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 26th of September, the form of that race has worked out well, he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, he can absolutely win again from a good draw. 4 BOURBON KING was very disappointing on the 23rd of September, if he bounces back to his best form with top jockey Andrew Fortune in the saddle, he will go close to winning. 3 CATCH ME was well supported in the market when winning a good race on the 16th of September, he looks progressive, watch him closely from a neat draw. 6 HAVOC ran a great race from a bad draw last time; he should be right there amongst the places late.

RACE 7

6 WEHAVEASITUATION has run two lovely races in succession, she will be cherry ripe for this race on Wednesday, if the gaps open at the right time, she will be hard to beat. 3 OLD HARRY ROCKS has been rested for 80 days, he won his maiden well at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on the 9th of August, the blinkers stay on, even though this is a step up in class for him, he should be competitive for the places. 9 ELUSIVE GIFT ran a terrific race behind DEVIL A SAINT on the 4th of October, unfortunately the bad draw will make it tough for her, but she will be doing some good work late. 1 PACIFIC WATERS changed stables on the 6th of October, she has dropped in the ratings, and she steps up in trip, watch for sharp improvement.

RACE 8

5 OCTOBER RUSH must have a big winning chance in this field, he stayed on well for second behind LEGAL DANCER on the 26th of September, that was his first run back after a 3-month break, he will be much fitter going into this race, and he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, include him into all bets. 1 GIMME MORE APACHE has been rested for 74 days, he ran a much better race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 15th of August, the drop in trip is not ideal, but he will be staying on strongly late, watch him closely with top jockey Richard Fourie in the saddle. 4 THE MUFFIN MAN gets the blinkers fitted; he will be right there amongst the places stepping up in trip to 1600m. 8 PEACE SIGN looks best of the rest.

“… TIZNOW WINS IT FOR AMERICA!”, has become one of the most immortalised sentences in USA sports history and added to the legend of  commentator Tom Durkin, whose resonant voice could not have been more powerful at that iconic moment.

An article written by Steve Haskin for Bloodhorse captured the atmosphere of the run up to the Breeders Cup of 2001, which took place just 12 miles away from Ground Zero, and was the first international sporting events to take place in the USA after the shocking 9/11 events.

As it happened it has become part of American folklore that an American Horse Of The Year called Tiznow displayed rare courage in the Breeders Cup Classic to fight back and get up and he instantly became a beacon of hope for Americans trying to recover from the awful events.

Subsequently, he has become an enduring symbol of resilience.

Tiznow remains the only horse to have won the Breeders Cup Classic twice.

Both of his Breeders Cup Classic wins were voted the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s “Moment of the year”.

Tiznow was inducted into the Racing Hall Of Fame in 2009.

Tiznow did very well at stud, against the odds.

 

Read the article on the Breeders Cup of 2001 below:

Steve Haskin (Bloodhorse)

Driving over the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn on the morning of Sept. 15, there, off to my left, I could see the staggering aftermath of 9/11. It was all so unreal to witness the seemingly naked skyline of Lower Manhattan and the deathly shroud that still hung over it.

The Statue of Liberty, once nestled under the shadow of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, now stood under an ominous ashen cloud that stretched across New York Harbor all the way to New Jersey.

I was on my way to Belmont Park to see how this unfathomable catastrophe had affected the racetrack and the people who inhabited the backstretch.

At the Belmont stable gate, a sign was tucked into the window of the booth, showing the American flag, with the words “Pray For America.”

As I spoke to Buzzy Tenney, assistant to Shug McGaughey, Tiznow , who was stabled in their barn, walked down the shed with exercise rider Ramon Arciga aboard. The 2002 Horse of the Year had been unable to return home to California following his third-place finish in the Sept. 8 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) and Arciga had no idea when they would be allowed to leave.

This was the scene that played out at Belmont leading up to the Oct. 27 Breeders’ Cup.

Thoroughbred racing had always been confined to its own small world, safe and protected from the events that surround it. Individual stars have transcended the sport and reached out to touch mainstream America, but never before had the Sport of Kings been woven into the often-tattered fabric of history.

The Breeders’ Cup was being held 12 miles from Ground Zero, where some 3,000 Americans lost their lives. Breeders’ Cup day was surreal to say the least, as police dogs searched random automobiles entering the track parking lot; military personnel armed with assault rifles were stationed throughout Belmont, with snipers, positioned on the roof, observing the crowd with high-powered binoculars.

As for the actual racing itself, the day was turning into a nightmare for America, which had fallen in succession to the Irish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the English in the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). That was followed by a victory by the Arab-owned Fantastic Light, who ran for Godolphin. Finally, it was time for the Classic – America’s race.

But in the field were the Irish-trained superstar Galileo, the pride of Ballydoyle, and Godolphin’s runaway Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fra-I) winner Sakhee , both trying the dirt for the first time. Although he had won the previous year’s Classic, Tiznow had missed a good portion of the year due to back problems, and was coming into the Classic off two defeats in the fall.

But just like in 2000, it was Tiznow who was given the responsibility of defending America. Sakhee had picked off the American horses one by one on the turn, including Tiznow, and was about to storm home and deliver the coup de grace.

As the field approached the quarter pole, Albert the Great was trying to gut it out on the lead, with Tiznow right behind, but not threatening at this point. The all-too-familiar silks of Godolphin quickly emerged in the picture, as Sakhee came charging up on the outside to challenge. Tiznow seemed to be going nowhere between horses. After straightening into the stretch, Sakhee began to edge away—by a neck, then a half-length, and seemed on his way to certain victory.

Sakhee, with immortality a mere furlong away, reached back to deal the fatal blow. But then something happened; something racing fans had seen the year before. McCarron hit Tiznow once left-handed, and the colt gave one final desperate surge. Tiznow’s fire suddenly reignited, as if he were aware a European was again challenging America’s dominance on dirt, just as Giants’ Causeway had done the year before. He lunged forward and stuck his nose in front of Sakhee right on the wire as track announcer Tom Durkin bellowed, “Tiznow wins it for America!”

It was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had in racing. Tiznow became the first two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. And he did it by defeating the greatest international field ever assembled for a dirt race.

I look back at that incredible day and that incredible finish, and I never fail to get emotional. Shortly after the race, Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, who were struggling at the time, showed his team a video of Tiznow’s victory to demonstrate what true courage and determination could achieve. The Patriots didn’t lose another game that year and won the Super Bowl to begin one of football’s great dynasties.

Later that year, Tiznow’s trainer Jay Robbins received a Christmas card from Belichick, saying, “Thanks for the inspiration.”

Can the fighting spirit of a city and of a nation manifest itself in the form of a racehorse? All I know is that on this day, Tiznow came to exemplify the spirit of the Thoroughbred by refusing to be beaten. And those unforgettable words from Tom Durkin – “Tiznow wins it for America” – still remain frozen in time.

Click here to watch Tom Durkin recalling the 2001 Breeders Cup Classic