The University Press of Kentucky will publish a new book by Peter Lee on Spectacular Bid in Fall 2019. The book chronicles the life of one of the most underrated racehorses in history, as well as the horse’s colorful cast of characters.
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At Keystone Racetrack in Philadelphia on November 11, 1978, Spectacular Bid wrapped up an outstanding two-year-old season with a dominating victory in the Heritage Stakes. Continue reading “40 Years Ago: Spectacular Bid Wins the Heritage Stakes”
Ron Franklin died this week, and the world didn’t notice.
The former jockey of Spectacular Bid, one of the greatest horses who ever lived, was 58 years old, the victim of lung cancer. At the time of his death, he was still serving a suspension by the Maryland Racing Commission for various incidents involving cocaine. But 39 years ago, at the tender age of 19, he was on top of the horse racing world, having won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on board Bid.
Continue reading “Ron Franklin, 1959-2018”