Lucy Acton profiled Virginia breeder Bill Backer and his Smitten Farm.The famed advertising executive (the idea man behind such iconic slogans as “I’d like to buy the world a Coke,” “It’s Miller time” and “Soup is good food” had built up a solid broodmare band, many homebreds, on his 700-acre Middleburg farm.
Among his stars were Applause, winner of seven stakes and $362,437 and a stakes producer; Snit, his first homebred Grade 2 stakes winner; and multiple stakes winner Crab Grass.
Ann and Henry Stern’s Saluter won the Virginia Gold Cup for the sixth consecutive time. The “Timber Horse of the Decade” kept the decision in doubt while dropping out of contention for most of the 4 miles and 23 fences. Trainer/jockey Jack Fisher revved up the 10-year-old Virginia-bred by the final turn and the son of Maryland sire Salutely charged to the front in time to win by 4 lengths in 8:23.80, shattering his 1995 course record by more than three seconds.
Maryland legend Cigar was moved to the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park. The all-time leading Thoroughbred earner ($9,999,815) retired to stud after his 1996 season. Despite the best efforts of his veterinary team, Cigar was unable to impregnate a mare and was loaned to the Horse Park indefinitely, where he would participate three times daily in the Hall of Champions show.
After four attempts in the Maryland Hunt Cup (including two seconds), 11-year-old Welter Weight came out triumphant in the 103rd running. Winning was sweet for Armata Stable (the partnership of friends Perry Bolton and Ben Griswold IV). “It’s such a feat just to get in the race, much less to win it,” said Bolton. “This is the greatest single sporting event there is – because of the tradition – and I never thought I’d be on that [winner’s] wagon.”
Jockey Julie Krone, whose career was launched in the Mid-Atlantic in the early 1980s, made her final regional appearance on Maryland Spring Challenge Day at Pimlico, one day before hanging up her tack at Lone Star Park. “Physically, I’m just not up to it,” said the 35-year-old, who for some 19 years ranked among the outstanding athletes, male or female, in the country. “I don’t want to risk another serious injury and, at this point, there’s nothing left for me to prove.”
In 2000, Krone was the first woman inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame and went into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013. She returned in 2002, became the first woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race (2003 Juvenile Fillies aboard Halfbridled) and retired for good in 2004.
