The 2015 class to thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame!

This past Monday afternoon it was announced by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame the four inductees in class of 2015. In a ceremony to be held on Friday, August 7th at the Fasig-Tipton pavilion in Saratoga Springs, two human and two equine finalists will be enshrined. The late jockey Chris Antley, along with trainer King Leatherbury and horses; Lava Man and Xtra Heat will take their place in the Hall of Fame. It's a long awaited induction for one of the all time leading trainers in North America, a shining moment for one of my all time favorite jockeys and plaques in the Hall of Champions for two thoroughbreds who just liked to win.

I've written about in the past, how much I liked Chris Antley as a jockey. His career started in the mid 80's around the same time I got involved in the sport. He was one of the finest jockeys on the New York circuit winning nearly 3,500 races and 127 graded stakes including two Kentucky Derby victories. In 1987, he won 9 races in a single day at two different tracks and in 1989 won at least one race a day for 64 days straight. His star-crossed career had many up and down moments, but he'll always be remembered for what he did during the running of the 1999 Belmont Stakes. In mid stretch, his mount Charismatic (who was going for the Triple Crown) injured himself and was pulled up shortly after the finish line. That's where Antley got off his mount and held Charismatic's injured leg keeping him from having any more damage done to it, this saved his life. Unfortunately a year and a half later, his demons got the best of him and Chris was gone from a drug overdose. Nevertheless tho, the memories of his great race riding will be remembered this summer.

At age 82, it's been a long wait for one of the greatest trainers on the Maryland - Mid Atlantic circuit to have his place in racing's Hall of Fame. King Leatherbury has nearly 6,500 victories, placing his fourth on the all-time career list of trainers in North America. A fixture in Maryland, he has won 52 training titles there and two in Delaware in his fifty six year career. He was also leading North American trainer twice in the late seventies. This has been a honor, long time coming for this legend.

The other "gutsy" gelding beside Funny Cide, of the last decade came from California. That's where he did a lot of winning on the west coast during the 2000's. Lava Man wasn't much early in his career, but all that changed when he was claimed for 40,000 by trainer Doug O'Neil. He went on to win seven grade I races and is third all time list behind Best Pal and Tiznow as California bred horses. Lava Man was the first horse in a generation to win a grade I race on dirt and turf in the same year and is the only horse to win a North American grade I race on dirt, turf, and an artificial racing surface. He is the all-time leading earner among claimers and possibly the greatest claim in racing history.

One of the hardest hitting filly sprinters that I can remember, gets her place in racing mortality. Xtra Heat who won 26 of 35 career starts all racing less than a mile. She was no worst than second versus her own sex in 31 career starts with only one off the board race and that was going a route distance in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. She too was Mid Atlantic based and speed was her best asset giving her two separate six race winning streaks early in her career. Xtra Heat was definitely one of the best filly and mare sprinters the last fifteen years and paved the way for the creation of the Filly and Mare Breeder's Cup Sprint race which is part of the championship race events.

It's a nice quartet of new members to the Hall of Fame and I'll be looking forward to attending this year's induction to celebrate these great horseman and thoroughbred runners.