Looking Back

10 years ago: October 2016

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

The West Virginia Breeders Classics celebrated its 30th anniversary, and writer Vinnie Perrone did a deep dive on the winners, races and history of the event. The creation of Sam Huff, a West Virginia-bred NFL Hall of Famer who drew inspiration from the first Maryland Million, with administrator Carol Holden by his side, the WVBC "showcases horses sired or bred in West Virginia, revives local rivalries, and stirs the masses anew."

25 years ago: October 2001

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

The 23rd Pennsylvania Derby-G3, with its purse boosted to $500,000, attracted the previous year's 2-year-old champion, Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1 winner Macho Uno. Making only his second start of the year, the gray son of Holy Bull, racing for breeder Frank Stronach and trainer Joe Orseno, won easily over the filly Unbridled Elaine.

50 Years Ago: October 1976

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

Virginia school teacher Helen Wallace bred and owned top 2-year-old Maryland-bred filly Debby's Turn, already the winner of five stakes and more than $100,000.

75 years ago: October 1951

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

Walter A. "Jack" Edgar, the new president of the Maryland Horse Breeders' Association, had a profile done on his Woodlawn Farm. ". . . out of the shipbuilding business less than five years ago, [he] bought himself a beautiful old farm near Ellicott City in Howard County, restored it, stocked it with blooded horses and Hereford cattle, and has been having a hell of a fine time ever since."

10 Years Ago: September 2016

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

California-based trainer Keith Desormeaux made a last-minute decision to enter Preakness winner Exaggerator in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth. The race then made history as it was the first time the top three Kentucky Derby finishers made their way to the Jersey shore, as second-place Exaggerator joined winner Nyquist and third-place Gun Runner.

25 Years Ago: September 2001

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

"Maybe it was the oppressive heat and humidity . . perhaps the nearly two-month layoff. . . or possibly the grind of the Triple Crown. But 3-year-old division leader Point Given was running out of gas in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Handicap with about an eighth of a mile still to go. The romp that the record crowd of 47,127 expected to see from the odds-on favorite wasn't materializing." But the Bob Baffert trainee, known around the barn as the "Big Red Train," dug in and pulled out the half-length victory.

50 Years Ago: September 1976

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Staff

Baltimore Orioles owner Jerry Hoffberger waited more than 10 years to score a home run on the racetrack. It came when 3-year-old homebred gelding Plute became Hoffberger's first stakes winner on the flat when capturing the $20,000 Loch Raven Stakes at Timonium.

75 Years Ago: September 1951

Details: Published: October 2026; Written by Ali Cetinok

All Thoroughbreds owned by Three Cousins Farm and partners were to be sold at the Maryland Fall Sales in October in Timonium. Considered the highlight were the two chestnut fillies, one a yearling, the other a weanling, by The Rhymer out of Pompey mare Roman Matron. They were full-sisters to stakes winner Tuscany and half-sisters to the brilliant juvenile filly Princess Lygia. Mrs. Sam M. Pistorio owned a half-interest in these with the farm.

10 years ago: October 2016

25 years ago: October 2001

50 Years Ago: October 1976

75 years ago: October 1951

10 Years Ago: September 2016

25 Years Ago: September 2001

50 Years Ago: September 1976

75 Years Ago: September 1951

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