Wagering on Horse Races At Wood Memorial

[Shame About Ray]

Posted on 4/2/2008 9:34:29 PM
Wagering on Horse Races At Wood Memorial
By Greg Melikhov

The Wood Memorial was first run at old Jamaica Racetrack in 1925 when the purse was worth $7,600. The winner was long forgotten Backbone.

Five years later, the son of Sir Gallahad III made his 3-year-old debut in the race named for Jamaica president Eugene D. Wood and won by four lengths.

Gallant Fox was off and running to become the second of 11 Triple Crown winners. The big bay colt captured the Preakness eight days before taking the Kentucky Derby. In the mid-1930s the Preakness was moved to mid-May.

The ’30 Derby was the first in which a starting gate was used. Inspired by Gallant Fox’s winning ways in the Belmont, too, noted Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton coined the term Triple Crown.

The Wood was moved to Aqueduct in ’60 a year after the track was rebuilt and the Jamaica facility was shut down.

Twenty horses that ran in the race were victorious at Churchill Downs. Since ’75, five winners and two runners-up captured the Kentucky Derby.


Grab the rest of this article, plus previews, free picks and betting advice at Betus...