There were selected from a list if nominees of other premiers in the sport.  The induction ceremony will be held on Monday, August 4 in a special ceremony in the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion.

The formula for greatness in racing is varied as much as recipes for spaghetti sauce. The better the tomatoes, the better the sauce, the better the horses, the better the potential to create something good, but to achieve greatness you have to know how and when to add what seasonings, whether to stir, boil or simmer and for how long. Do you work him fast, slow, often or hardly at all? Luck is a factor, skill is a necessity but the key ingredients are passion and unyielding dedication. To stand there on that podium and recognize that you are being acknowledged by your peers and fans, you are being inducted into The Hall of Fame is a highly emotional experience.

The time, the effort, the good times, the hard times and everyone who helped along the way become stirringly focused. The horses which got you there, gallop through the deepest recesses of your heart. In those moments, on the podium, an entire career is distilled into its purest essence.

If you are curious about what draws people to racing, come to the ceremony, listen to the speeches, and observe the guys in the blue blazers. They are the earlier installed Hall of Famers. 

Ron Turcotte of Secretariat fame will be there in his wheelchair. A racing accident left him paralyzed but even he, who will never walk again, would not trade where he once sat. It was 35 years ago when Secretariat won the Triple Crown, won the Belmont by a mind-boggling 31 lengths with Ron looking back over his shoulder. Ron, more than anyone knows about the best of times and the worst of times.  The fact that he comes back proves which resides foremost with him. I can think of no stronger example to display the resonating fulfillment this industry can provide.

Edgar Prado is the contemporary rider being inducted.  Barbaro will be very much alive in Edgar’s heart and in the hearts of all racing fans on this day.  Ismael “Milo” Valenzuela has hoped for this honor for a long time. Kelso, five-time Horse of the Year and accredited by many as the greatest racehorse of all-time, carried him to the winners’ circle in 22 stakes races. 

Carl Nafzger, the trainer of Street Sense, Banshee Breeze and Unbridled will accept a plaque.  He was almost retired but Street Sense kept him active and rewarded him with a two-year-old championship in 2006 and in 2007, gave him a second Kentucky Derby win. His first was with Unbridled in 1990.  “Winning the Derby was unreal but winning it for Mrs. Genter was just an impossible dream that happened.” said Carl after that Derby. Carl will be remembering the days of his one-horse stable, Las Profesoras (the teacher), taught him well.

For the horses we have, Inside Information the wonderful mare, bred by Ogden Mills Phipps.

She won 14 of 17 races in the mid-nineties and was the Eclipse Award winning older filly of 1995.

Manila, the great grass horse, he has been on the ballet for this honor 10 times and finally the Leroy Jolley trained horse and winner of $2,692,799 gains his deserved plaque.

Ancient Title, a gelding competed for seven seasons, he toted the weight and won the Whitney Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and numerous other stakes, and at the time of his retirement was 10th in career earnings.

Marilyn Lane, a freelance writer, has a lifelong association with horses. Her experience includes more than 20 years as an owner, trainer and breeder of thoroughbreds. She was an assistant trainer to Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg during Alysheba’s racing career. You can reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it