Quote:
Originally Posted by OTM Al
I'm not saying it was true, but that it was a strong east coast point of view.
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In 2012 or 1920?
It is true that in 1920 there was more wealth in New York than any other city. A lot of owners and buyers of top class horses lived there. Chicago was also strong in that regard...and for the period when racing was struggling badly because of anti-gambling reforms -- Cuba was strong.
A lot of good horses in the mid to late 1910's had been bought up by Cuban owners. Racing was going well in Havana. The Cuban Government was also buying up our race horses in a project to breed their army horses during these times when betting reforms helped create a favorable market for buying horses.
That said, Kentucky has always been very prominent in the thoroughbred racing world. Organized racing had been established in Lexington well before the cival war. The Louisville Jockey Club was formed in 1875 (the first year the Kentucky Derby was run) and Latonia was formed in 1883 about ten miles from present day Turfway Park.
From pretty much the existence of these tracks through present day -- they have featured some of the greatest horses, fields, and races in history.
I don't think even the stuffiest of New York City elite would have ever considered it "bush" racing. The vast majority of those owners really wanted to win events like the Kentucky Derby...especially by the 1920's. A few of the very best trainers at Churchill Downs around the turn of the century were blacks. A former slave had trained a Kentucky Derby winner and was the owner-trainer of a Kentucky Oaks winner. He also won a few training titles at Churchill Downs.