Hall of Fame

Hall of Famer Bobby Ussery, whose many accomplishments in the saddle included a victory aboard Proud Clarion in the 1967 Kentucky Derby, has passed away, it was reported Friday by the Gulfstream Park media team. He was 88. Gulfstream reported that Ussery, a native of Vian, Oklahoma, was in Florida at the time of his passing. His son, Robert Ussery Jr. told the Daily Racing Form that his father died earlier this week of congestive heart failure and was living in Hollywood, Florida, at the time. Sports Illustrated called Ussery's...

Edited Press Release Jockey Gary Boulanger, whose numerous career highlights include a Queen's Plate victory, has decided to call it a career. "It's the right time," Boulanger, 55, told Woodbine Communications. "I don't feel I have anything left to prove. I am so grateful to all the trainers, owners and my fellow riders for their support. Just like anyone who rides horses, there are many ups and downs, but you always find a way to persevere." A 2020 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, the native of Alberta enjoyed...

Fernando Toro, who was officially inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame Aug. 4, will be presented his Hall of Fame plaque and jacket in a special ceremony at Del Mar Saturday, Aug. 19. Toro, 82, a resident of Carlsbad, Calif., was unable to attend the traditional induction ceremony in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He will be recognized at Del Mar after the running of the GI Del Mar Oaks, a race Toro won twice during his career. Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. will present Toro...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Co-owner and co-breeder Steve Coburn was a quotable presence during California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)'s fine career and delivered again Friday when the California-bred was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Champions California Chrome, Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro), all in their first year of eligibility, joined jockey Corey Nakatani in the contemporary class of 2023. Fernando Toro was selected by the Historic Review Committee. Three people--the late John Hanes II, the late Leonard Jerome and Stella F. Thayer--were inducted as...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At the very least, Aug. 4 will always be a mighty important day in jockey Corey Nakatani's life. For good and bad reasons, but memorable nonetheless. Exactly, five years after he earned his final victory then suffered career-ending injuries in a spill at Del Mar, Nakatani will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame on Friday morning at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion. The event, which is open to the public, begins at 10:30 a.m. Nakatani, 52, is a member of the Class...

Bjorn Nielsen's star stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has become the third horse chosen by a public vote to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. This year, the public were invited to choose from a shortlist of five Long Distance legends shortlisted by the Hall of Fame's eight-strong independent judging panel and consisting of Ardross (GB), Le Moss (GB), Persian Punch (GB) and Yeats (Ire). More than 3,000 people voted online via the Hall of Fame website as well as through a special...

How to ride your way into the Hall of Fame? Impossible question. Nobody could reduce such a journey, the decades of endeavor and experience, to a single explanation, a single concept. In the case of Chris McCarron, however, you can actually reduce the answer to a single word, simply by asking a different question. That question is: why did you make seven trips to Washington to lobby for the HISA bill? And the single word, answering both questions? Cooperation. That's what he always sought from his mounts; and that's also...

Beloved Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) produced her last foal, a filly by War Front, on June 9 at Lane's End Farm. According to Zenyatta.com, the champion's co-owner Ann Holbrook (Moss), as well as Lane's End managers Todd Claunch and Jenn Laidlaw, were present for the successful foaling of the newborn, who sports a prominent blaze quite reminiscent of her dam's recognizable markings. The post also stated that this will be Zenyatta's last foal as the 19-year-old mare enters into retirement. The winner of 19 of 20 starts...

Hall of Fame basketball coach Denny Crum, who made a splash when purchasing a horse at the 2021 Keeneland November sale for $825,000, passed away Tuesday at the age of 86. Crum led Louisville to national championships in men's basketball in 1980 and 1986. His purchase, a colt named Strava (Into Mischief), went on to win two races for Crum, his partners, Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm, and trainer Dallas Stewart. "He's had horses off and on," Stewart said when asked about Crum's purchase of Strava. "He's got a...

Sir Michael Stoute has described himself as "very grateful" at being inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame where he will join fellow legendary trainers Vincent O'Brien and Henry Cecil. The 77-year-old has saddled more than 4,000 winners, with his six Derby winners at Epsom including Shergar in 1981 and Desert Crown last year. Derby-winning champion Sea The Stars will also be inducted along with Stoute at next weekend's Qipco Guineas meeting at Newmarket. Stoute said, "I am very flattered and most grateful to have been inducted...

Eight new members have been elected this year to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame class of 2023. Jockeys Corey Nakatani and Fernando Toro, via the Historic Review Committee, join racehorses Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), and Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) each in their first year of eligibility. Pillars of the Turf selections this year are John W. Hanes II, Leonard W. Jerome, and Stella F. Thayer. The late Arrogate, whose bankroll of $17,422,600 still ranks him as North America's wealthiest racehorse of all time, won...

It's been a memorable few months for trainer-turned-jockey-agent Kiaran McLaughlin, who joined in as guest on this week's TDN Writers' Room. He's been nominated to the Hall of Fame for the first time and, as the agent for Luis Saez, has his client lined up with many of the top horses in the sport.