Veteran duo of Leatherbury, Ben's Cat still going strong
Mar 14, 2015 1:04:23 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Mar 14, 2015 1:04:23 GMT -5
For the Ladies! Hope the old guys win a few this year
Veteran duo of Leatherbury, Ben's Cat still going strong
Briset
Though snow remains a prominent part of the landscape, there are sure signs of spring in the Maryland air. King Leatherbury is closing in on another birthday, his 82nd, at the end of March, and multiple Grade 3-winning multimillionaire Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat) has returned to the legendary Mid-Atlantic trainer's barn.
Now age nine, Ben's Cat has won 28 of 45 starts, 23 of them in stakes, and more than $2.3 million in purses since 2010, after a pelvic fracture as a juvenile delayed his debut.
"He's an unbelievable horse. An amazing, unbelievable horse," Leatherbury said. "Every rider that's ever ridden him has used those kinds of words. Amazing. He's been so consistent. They don't come around much, these kind."
The same can be said about Leatherbury. The Baltimore native is one of only five trainers to top 6,000 career wins, ranking fourth with 6,449 and counting behind Dale Baird (9,445), Steve Asmussen (6,985) and Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer (6,850). Leatherbury has one horse entered on Friday's program at Laurel Park.
"I feel young and I act young, and if it just wasn't for mirrors, I would think I was young," Leatherbury grinned. "I've been lucky. When I think about it, all the guys I started with are dead and gone. It's amazing. I've been very fortunate to last this long and my health has held up."
For the first time, Leatherbury's name appears on the ballot as one of 10 finalists for induction to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 will be announced April 20, with the ceremony taking place August 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
"I've had a lot of supporters out there and they've been around for a long time. Some of them are gone, like Chick Lang and those kinds of guys," Leatherbury noted. "It's finally come up, and I appreciate it. I certainly thank everyone that has supported me. It truly is an honor to be nominated."
Leatherbury began his career in 1959, winning his first race with Mister L at Sunshine Park. Educated at the University of Maryland, he spent his first two winters at the track now known as Tampa Bay Downs, but ultimately went home to stay.
"It wasn't a choice. It was almost that I had to because all my owners were in Maryland and my father had a farm in Maryland. He was a breeder and he kicked me off in the game," Leatherbury explained. "You get your roots in one place. It's funny. When I was in college, I hated Maryland weather in the winter. Even when the temperature wasn't real cold, it was a damp cold. I'm going from one building to another and I'm fussing about it and I'm saying, 'Boy, once I get out on my own, you'll never catch me in Maryland in the wintertime.' Of course, I've been here every year."
Though snow remains a prominent part of the landscape, there are sure signs of spring in the Maryland air. King Leatherbury is closing in on another birthday, his 82nd, at the end of March, and multiple Grade 3-winning multimillionaire Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat) has returned to the legendary Mid-Atlantic trainer's barn.
Now age nine, Ben's Cat has won 28 of 45 starts, 23 of them in stakes, and more than $2.3 million in purses since 2010, after a pelvic fracture as a juvenile delayed his debut.
"He's an unbelievable horse. An amazing, unbelievable horse," Leatherbury said. "Every rider that's ever ridden him has used those kinds of words. Amazing. He's been so consistent. They don't come around much, these kind."
The same can be said about Leatherbury. The Baltimore native is one of only five trainers to top 6,000 career wins, ranking fourth with 6,449 and counting behind Dale Baird (9,445), Steve Asmussen (6,985) and Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer (6,850). Leatherbury has one horse entered on Friday's program at Laurel Park.
"I feel young and I act young, and if it just wasn't for mirrors, I would think I was young," Leatherbury grinned. "I've been lucky. When I think about it, all the guys I started with are dead and gone. It's amazing. I've been very fortunate to last this long and my health has held up."
For the first time, Leatherbury's name appears on the ballot as one of 10 finalists for induction to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 will be announced April 20, with the ceremony taking place August 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
"I've had a lot of supporters out there and they've been around for a long time. Some of them are gone, like Chick Lang and those kinds of guys," Leatherbury noted. "It's finally come up, and I appreciate it. I certainly thank everyone that has supported me. It truly is an honor to be nominated."
Leatherbury began his career in 1959, winning his first race with Mister L at Sunshine Park. Educated at the University of Maryland, he spent his first two winters at the track now known as Tampa Bay Downs, but ultimately went home to stay.
"It wasn't a choice. It was almost that I had to because all my owners were in Maryland and my father had a farm in Maryland. He was a breeder and he kicked me off in the game," Leatherbury explained. "You get your roots in one place. It's funny. When I was in college, I hated Maryland weather in the winter. Even when the temperature wasn't real cold, it was a damp cold. I'm going from one building to another and I'm fussing about it and I'm saying, 'Boy, once I get out on my own, you'll never catch me in Maryland in the wintertime.' Of course, I've been here every year."
Veteran duo of Leatherbury, Ben's Cat still going strong
Briset
Though snow remains a prominent part of the landscape, there are sure signs of spring in the Maryland air. King Leatherbury is closing in on another birthday, his 82nd, at the end of March, and multiple Grade 3-winning multimillionaire Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat) has returned to the legendary Mid-Atlantic trainer's barn.
Now age nine, Ben's Cat has won 28 of 45 starts, 23 of them in stakes, and more than $2.3 million in purses since 2010, after a pelvic fracture as a juvenile delayed his debut.
"He's an unbelievable horse. An amazing, unbelievable horse," Leatherbury said. "Every rider that's ever ridden him has used those kinds of words. Amazing. He's been so consistent. They don't come around much, these kind."
The same can be said about Leatherbury. The Baltimore native is one of only five trainers to top 6,000 career wins, ranking fourth with 6,449 and counting behind Dale Baird (9,445), Steve Asmussen (6,985) and Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer (6,850). Leatherbury has one horse entered on Friday's program at Laurel Park.
"I feel young and I act young, and if it just wasn't for mirrors, I would think I was young," Leatherbury grinned. "I've been lucky. When I think about it, all the guys I started with are dead and gone. It's amazing. I've been very fortunate to last this long and my health has held up."
For the first time, Leatherbury's name appears on the ballot as one of 10 finalists for induction to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 will be announced April 20, with the ceremony taking place August 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
"I've had a lot of supporters out there and they've been around for a long time. Some of them are gone, like Chick Lang and those kinds of guys," Leatherbury noted. "It's finally come up, and I appreciate it. I certainly thank everyone that has supported me. It truly is an honor to be nominated."
Leatherbury began his career in 1959, winning his first race with Mister L at Sunshine Park. Educated at the University of Maryland, he spent his first two winters at the track now known as Tampa Bay Downs, but ultimately went home to stay.
"It wasn't a choice. It was almost that I had to because all my owners were in Maryland and my father had a farm in Maryland. He was a breeder and he kicked me off in the game," Leatherbury explained. "You get your roots in one place. It's funny. When I was in college, I hated Maryland weather in the winter. Even when the temperature wasn't real cold, it was a damp cold. I'm going from one building to another and I'm fussing about it and I'm saying, 'Boy, once I get out on my own, you'll never catch me in Maryland in the wintertime.' Of course, I've been here every year."
Though snow remains a prominent part of the landscape, there are sure signs of spring in the Maryland air. King Leatherbury is closing in on another birthday, his 82nd, at the end of March, and multiple Grade 3-winning multimillionaire Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat) has returned to the legendary Mid-Atlantic trainer's barn.
Now age nine, Ben's Cat has won 28 of 45 starts, 23 of them in stakes, and more than $2.3 million in purses since 2010, after a pelvic fracture as a juvenile delayed his debut.
"He's an unbelievable horse. An amazing, unbelievable horse," Leatherbury said. "Every rider that's ever ridden him has used those kinds of words. Amazing. He's been so consistent. They don't come around much, these kind."
The same can be said about Leatherbury. The Baltimore native is one of only five trainers to top 6,000 career wins, ranking fourth with 6,449 and counting behind Dale Baird (9,445), Steve Asmussen (6,985) and Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer (6,850). Leatherbury has one horse entered on Friday's program at Laurel Park.
"I feel young and I act young, and if it just wasn't for mirrors, I would think I was young," Leatherbury grinned. "I've been lucky. When I think about it, all the guys I started with are dead and gone. It's amazing. I've been very fortunate to last this long and my health has held up."
For the first time, Leatherbury's name appears on the ballot as one of 10 finalists for induction to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 will be announced April 20, with the ceremony taking place August 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
"I've had a lot of supporters out there and they've been around for a long time. Some of them are gone, like Chick Lang and those kinds of guys," Leatherbury noted. "It's finally come up, and I appreciate it. I certainly thank everyone that has supported me. It truly is an honor to be nominated."
Leatherbury began his career in 1959, winning his first race with Mister L at Sunshine Park. Educated at the University of Maryland, he spent his first two winters at the track now known as Tampa Bay Downs, but ultimately went home to stay.
"It wasn't a choice. It was almost that I had to because all my owners were in Maryland and my father had a farm in Maryland. He was a breeder and he kicked me off in the game," Leatherbury explained. "You get your roots in one place. It's funny. When I was in college, I hated Maryland weather in the winter. Even when the temperature wasn't real cold, it was a damp cold. I'm going from one building to another and I'm fussing about it and I'm saying, 'Boy, once I get out on my own, you'll never catch me in Maryland in the wintertime.' Of course, I've been here every year."
