On DVD or VHS: Picture above is of NASHUA - 1954 Hopeful Stakes winner.

 

 

The HOPEFUL STAKES 1953-1987...33 RACES IN THEIR ENTIRETY - FROM START TO FINISH...taken DIRECTLY from track film archives...an extremely rare feature!

The Tradition of Thoroughbred racing is synonymous with the history of Saratoga Springs, site of the oldest continually operated Thoroughbred track in the nation. The annual meet brings thousands of people each summer to this small city located at the foot of the  Adirondack Mountains. August has long been the month when the activity peaks and the city bursts with action and one of the main racing attractions held is the prestigious Hopeful Stakes (Gr. I). Historic Saratoga has become famous for its plethora of two-year-old races, including numerous high-class maiden and allowance races and a series of stakes races...but the country's most famous Two-year-old test is the Hopeful, which made its debut in 1903.
 

Usually run the last Saturday in August or the first Saturday in September, the Hopeful Stakes has a meaning to its name; it is the first time two-year-olds are asked to go longer than six furlongs in a stakes event. Its name also nicely captured the state of the owners that they are, "hopeful", that they have colts of classic possibilities. The quality of the field is borne out by the fact that fourteen hopeful winners have gone to win the Belmont Stakes through the years.

This EXTREMELY rare race compilation features the 1952-1987 HOPEFUL STAKES (except for four missing years: 1956, 1957. 1962 and 1965) 33 RACES ALL IN THEIR ENTIRETY FROM START TO FINISH! Please note: 1952-1969 (has no sound and is in B&W), 1970-1972 (has sound and is in B&W), 1973-1987 (has sound and is in color) and 1976 (has no sound but is in color).
 

Some interesting Hopeful facts are that it was run at Belmont Park (the Widener Course) in 1943-1945; was not run in 1911-1912; was run at 6 furlongs prior to 1925...6-1/2 furlongs from 1925-1993 and at 7 furlongs since 1994; was run in two different divisions in 1974 and 1975; ROCKHILL NATIVE finished first in 1979 but was disqualified and placed sixth; and in 2000, there was a dead-heat between YANAGUSKA and CITY ZIP.
 

A sampling of Hopeful winners and participants who went on to greatness include: NASHUA, NEEDLES, FIRST LANDING, HAIL TO REASON, JAIPUR, SIR GAYLORD, BOLD LAD, NATIVE CHARGER, WHAT A PLEASURE, EXCLUSIVE NATIVE, REVIEWER, IRISH CASTLE, PROUDEST ROMAN, PASS CATCHER, SECRETARIAT, FLIGHT TO GLORY, STOP THE MUSIC, FOOLISH PLEASURE, VALID APPEAL, AFFIRMED, ALYDAR, DARBY CREEK ROAD, REGAL AND ROYAL, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ROCKHILL NATIVE, WELL DECORATED, COPELAN, SLEWPY, SWALE, CHIEF'S CROWN, CUTLASS REALITY and GULCH. You'll hear the actual call of many of the races, some by Fred Caposella - the voice of racing.
 

The romance and elegance of an era past are re-visited each summer in and the Hopeful Stakes is one of its marquee two-year-old events.

 

A truly remarkable vintage collection of racing history that you won't find anywhere else can be yours...a tour-de-force of non-stop action - 33 races in all!

 

AS AN ADDED BONUS...a segment is included after the main feature of , the 1954 Hopeful winner, with vintage film footage of him when he ruled supreme. Also shown is at 30-years-old retired at Spendthrift Farm with his long-time groom, Clem Brooks.
 

FOR A DETAILED CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF ALL 33 RACES FEATURED IN THIS RACE COMPILATION, JUST REQUEST A COPY AND A COMPILATION SHEET ALONG WITH THE 1,2,3 FINISHERS WILL BE E-MAILED TO YOU.

 

 

 

60 Minutes.

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