*The blessings of a champion are many...* A blessed Sunday to - TopicsExpress



          

*The blessings of a champion are many...* A blessed Sunday to everyone and I do hope that all of you are enjoying the weekend. Its nearly over folks, nearly time again for the long week ahead. Remember to always live, love, laugh and count your blessings for life truly is all in what you make of it. That said, its time! Yes, time once more for another dose of racing history and the story of another fine champion of the Sport Of Kings. So with no further delays, please by all means feel free to read, comment, like, share and ENJOY the Horse Racing Legacy Historical Tidbit for September 14, 2014: Lonesome Glory (1988—February 25, 2002) was a chestnut American Thoroughbred racehorse gelding by Transworld (by Prince John) and the mare Stronghold (by Green Dancer) who is most well known as the steeplechaser who won the title of American Champion Steeplechase Horse on five recorded occasions (1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999). Lonesome Glory was a tall, rangy horse with a white blaze, bred in Kentucky by Walter M. Jeffords (passed away in 1990 and left his horses to his wife, Kay). He was originally intended for a career in show-jumping but proved temperamentally unsuitable and so was switched to racing. He was conditioned for racing by Bruce Miller and ridden in most of his races by Blythe Miller, his trainer’s daughter. Lonesome would begin his racing career as a 3 year old in 1991 with a win in a minor race out of 4 starts. At 4, he would post victories in 5 of 7 starts before being sent across the Atlantic to contest the Sport of Kings Challenge (a hurdle race over 5 ½ furlongs at Cheltenham in England. He would begin the race as the outsider at 20/1 odds, but would surprise all that doubted him, staying on strongly in the closing stages to win by a head. After the race, Lonesome Glory and his rider were given an enthusiastic reception by British fans. Miller would explain that “there were a lot of people around clapping and cheering…I was a little bit stunned.” The win would make headlines in the British press and it would be the first victory by an American-trained horse in a British National Hunt race. At the end of the year Lonesome Glory would be voted America’s Champion Steeplechaser for the first time at the Eclipse Awards. In 1993, Lonesome Glory would post victories in 3 races and win his 2nd Eclipse Award. On October 16 at Belmont Park he contested the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase. Ridden again by Blythe Miller, he defeated the odds-on favorite Highland Park who was partnered by the British Champion jockey Richard Dunwoody. At the age of 6 in 1994, he would achieve his biggest win yet, when he contested the Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina and defeated the champion Mistico by a head. His most successful season would come in 1995, when he would win six starts. On November 12 he claimed his second Colonial Cup and then in December he returned to England for the Crowngap Handicap Chase at Sandown. He faced three of his rivals including Remittance Man. He would take the lead at the last fence and draw clear to win by a comfortable 11 lengths. His performances would earn him his 3rd Eclipse Award. He remained in England under the care of Charlie Brooks to be aimed at a start in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. After a disappointing 4th place finish in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park in January, it was discovered that he had suffered a muscle injury which would end his British campaign. He would only make 3 starts the remainder of that year before returning to form in 1997. In April, running on Lasix for the first time, Lonesome Glory would post a victory in the Carolina Cup. Blythe Miller explained afterward, “all I had to do was steer him.” That autumn, he would add a 3rd Colonial Cup, picking up a $250,000 bonus for the two wins. His successes would bring him another championship, equaling the record of four titles set by Flatterer between 1983-1986. As a 10 year old, he would win another 3 starts and in 1999 he would post his 2nd victory in the Carolina Cup before concluding his career with a win in The Royal Chase at Keeneland. This accomplishment would earn him his 5th Champion Steeplechaser award. Lonesome Glory would retire from racing at the end of his 1999 campaign to live the rest of his life at his owner’s farm. On February 25, 2002, after being injured in a paddock accident, Lonesome Glory died. He is buried on the grounds of the National Steeplechase Museum at Camden, where a bronze statue is erected in his honor. Lonesome Glory was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2005, the honor coming posthumously. The Lonesome Glory Hurdle Stakes are contested each year at Belmont Park in honor of this stellar champion. Career record of 42:23-5-5 with earnings of $1,223,669. Photo Credits: sporthorse-data Photo Copyright: c. 1995 Barbara Livingston. All Rights Reserved. *All copyright and credits for the posted photos of Lonesome Glory go solely to the photographer who took each of the separate pictures. All rights are therein reserved.* Lonesome Glory...Forever Loved, Forever Remembered and Always A Champion!!
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 19:12:12 +0000

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