On DVD or VHS: Picture above shows SKIP AWAY victorious in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic
Complete televised broadcast of the entire 1997 BREEDERS' CUP - MINUS all commercials from Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California.
The track is fast and the turf is firm, and when we say fast, we mean FAST, as in so fast that on this day, five different Breeders' Cup record times are shattered, while another is tied! But although this was an event filled with great performances, this day most of all belonged to SKIP AWAY, breaking CIGAR's Classic record and establishing himself as the 1997, "King of the Gallopers".
1) JUVENILE FILLIES - Classy COUNTESS DIANA is facing some good ones, including BEAUTIFUL PLEASURE, the future 1999 Distaff winner. Also included are CAREER COLLECTION, PRIMALY, VIVID ANGEL and NANCY'S GLITTER. But COUNTESS DIANA leaves them all in her dust, whopping them by eight open lengths, the widest margin in Juvenile Filly history, and setting a new record for this event in 1:42:0!
2) SPRINT - Talk about deja vu all over again! For the second straight year, JEANINE SAHADI and COREY NAKATANI join forces with a dead closer, as comes out of the clouds in an amazing stretch run, catching the speed and stopping the clock at 1:08:0, setting another Breeders' Cup record! Caught by surprise were fillies TRACK GAL and EXOTIC WOOD, along with tough guys HESABULL, SUNSHINE, RICHTER SCALE and MEN'S EXECUTIVE.
3) DISTAFF - JEWEL PRINCESS is here to defend her title, and making matters worse for her competition, she also is coupled with speedy stable mate SHARP CAT. They must face the BILL MOTT entry of AJINA and ESCENA, future 1998 Distaff winner, along with HIDDEN LAKE.
4) TURF - European star SPINNING WORLD barely missed in this event in 1996 and intends to correct that mistake. To do that, he must face the royally-bred GERI, along with DECORATED HERO, LUCKY COIN, HELMSMAN and WILD EVENT, who has yet to taste defeat on grass with five straight wins. He succeeds, doing it in a stunning 1:32:3 to tie the course record and the Breeders' Cup Mile record!
5) JUVENILE COLTS - FAVORITE TRICK is the newest, "next Secretariat" on the block, with a stunning record of seven wins without a loss! With ridiculous ease, he makes it eight straight, stopping the clock in 1:41:2 for another Breeders' Cup record time! Among his victims are 'S LEGACY, NATIONALORE, GRAND SLAM SOUVENIR COPY and TIME LIMIT.
6) TURF - European immortal SINGSPIEL, the only horse in history to win the Japan Gold Cup and the Dubai World Cup, had to scratch days before the race. Without him here, the other stars, such as Canadian champ CHIEF BEARHART, BUCK'S BOY, 1995 Arlington Million winner AWAD, BORGIA, FLAG DOWN and VAL'S PRINCE all have a chance. But CHIEF BEARHART destroys them in 2:23:4 - you guessed it, another Breeders' Cup record!
7) CLASSIC - Can SKIP AWAY finally prove that he's truly one of the modern great ones? You bet, winning by a wide margin in the Breeders' Cup record time of 1:59:0! Among his victims are DEPUTY COMMANDER, DOWTY, 1997 winner TOUCH GOLD and BEHRENS.
Highlights include DENNIS BYRNE sweeping the two-year-old events with COUNTESS DIANA and FAVORITE TRICK, along with two riding wins by MIKE SMITH. In addition, another report on COREY NAKATANI, overcoming the loss of his father added to the murder of his sister, along with the latest news on how whips are being made less painful for horses, the incredible accomplishments of SINGSPIEL, and how CIGAR is still remembered fondly, despite embarrassing his connections by becoming a dud as a stud!
FOR A DETAILED CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF ALL 7 RACES SHOWN IN THIS FEATURE, INCLUDING THE NAMES OF ALL THE HORSES IN EACH FIELD - JUST REQUEST A COPY AND A COMPILATION SHEET ALONG WITH THE 1,2,3 FINISHERS WILL BE E-MAILED TO YOU.
3 Hours and 29 Minutes.
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