Racing History Blog

Regret: The Hall of Fame filly who beat the boys and brought national acclaim to the Kentucky Derby

More than a century after her landmark victory in the Kentucky Derby, Hall of Famer remains one of only three fillies to win the Run for the Roses

By Brien Bouyea
Hall of Fame and Communications Director
The great filly Regret’s legacy was established through a sparkling record of defeating her male counterparts with dramatic flair in some of America’s most prestigious races. Beating the boys, however, was only part of Regret’s fascinating story. Along with leaving the best colts of her generation in the dust, Regret’s landmark victory in the 1915 Kentucky Derby entrenched the race as an American institution.

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Citation's crowning achievement

Seventy-five years ago, the Calumet Farm legend became America’s eighth Triple Crown winner en route to immortal status

By Brien Bouyea
Hall of Fame and Communications Director
In the 1940s, baseball and horse racing could both make a rightful claim as America’s greatest pastime. When writers of the era partook in their quarrels about the best of the best — the iconic dynasties of the respective sports — the discussions inevitably turned to the New York Yankees and Calumet Farm. The Bronx Bombers won four World Series titles during the decade and featured future Hall of Famers such as Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto. Calumet, meanwhile, dominated to the tune of 10 Triple Crown race victories in the 1940s. The farm’s embarrassment of riches included four winners of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and two Triple Crown champions — Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948.

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Leonard Jerome: A New York titan

Leonard Jerome was a monumental figure in American society and thoroughbred racing who spearheaded the creation of three iconic New York tracks in the 19th century

By Brien Bouyea
Hall of Fame and Communications Director 
Leonard Jerome’s imprint on American thoroughbred racing in the 19^th century — specifically on the prominent and prestigious New York scene — was enormous. Known as the “King of Wall Street,” Jerome was a flamboyant stock speculator, financier, and patron of the arts who became a powerful figure in the thoroughbred game as the driving force behind the conception of three major racetracks in the New York City area. One of those tracks, the iconic Jerome Park, introduced the classic Belmont Stakes.

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Sunny Jim: A beloved great of the game

James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons won 13 Triple Crown races en route to becoming one of the most respected and beloved trainers in American racing history

By Brien Bouyea
Hall of Fame and Communications Director 
It had the audacity to rain throughout the afternoon James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons retired from thoroughbred racing after a 78-year association and love affair with the sport. The rain, however, mattered little on this day. Nothing was going to dampen the celebration that took place on June 15, 1963, at Aqueduct. A life’s work was complete, an enduring legacy was assured, and it was time to pay homage to one of the most esteemed individuals in the history of American thoroughbred racing. A crowd of 48,160 disregarded the raindrops and gathered at Aqueduct to honor the grand old man of racing, the 88-year-old legend, Mr. Fitz.

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