Corridor of Fame coach John Veitch, who raised the nice Alydar, died February 14 in Lexington, in line with his second cousin, Michael Veitch, and longtime good friend Bobby Penn. Veitch was 77 years previous.
In a profession spanning 1974-2003, Veitch has skilled 4 champions (Earlier than Daybreak, Davona Dale, Our Mims, and Sunshine Ceaselessly) and Alydar, who joined Davona Dale within the Corridor of Fame. Calumet Ranch native Alydar could also be greatest identified for his three daring second-place finishes within the 1978 Triple Crown Affirmed, however he is additionally received six #1 races, together with the 1978 Travers Stakes (G1). He completed because the main father of 1990.
Writer Ed Bowen, who first met Veitch whereas writing for BloodHorse within the Seventies, recalled Veitch’s “sportsmanship and constructive perspective”.
“He was right here (in Alydar) with this nice horse, however he was overwhelmed up too typically by Confirmed,” Bowen recalled. “And Alydar was such a superb horse… The day after he misplaced Belmont – confirmed to have completed the Triple Crown – Veitch was sitting on the foot of his Jaguar the following morning. Belmont ParkHe was consuming marshmallows of all the pieces and mentioned, “I believe I can nonetheless beat that horse.”
“He was resilient, he was a really achieved rider and he had a giant spark in him. He is acquired plenty of persona.”
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Son of Corridor of Fame coach Sylvester Veitch, Veitch has received 410 races in his profession, together with 76 ranked bets and 93 common bets. John Veitch was blessed in 2007.
“He was very, very, very proud that his father was inducted into the Corridor of Fame. It was a giant, large day in John’s life,” mentioned Michael Veitch, a historian on the Racing Museum and Corridor of Fame in Saratoga. Springs, New York
John Veitch was instrumental within the revitalization of the historic Calumet Farm, which had had a foul day. He skilled for the legendary Calumet from 1976-1982. Veitch additionally had a profitable tenure as a personal coach for an additional historic steady, Darby Dan.
“This has been the happiest time John hasn’t responded to a number of possessions,” Michael mentioned. “This was his era. I believe his using speaks for itself. It was Corridor of Fame.”
Veitch’s champions have ranged from a 2-year-old mare to a mature grass foal, as Eclipse Award winners embody Davona Dale, Our Mims, Earlier than Daybreak, and Sunshine Ceaselessly, who can be second within the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T). .
Calumet’s Davona Dale joins the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2), plus New York’s Acorn, Mom Goose, and Teaching Membership American Oaks (all G1), becoming a member of each the Filly Triple Crowns swept each previous and fashionable variations. .
Alydar beat Affirmed 3 times, most notably within the Champagne Stakes (G1) and Travers by disqualification. Alydar has additionally received the next Tier 1 races: Flamingo Stakes, Sapling Stakes, Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. He received the Whitney Stakes (W2) by 10 lengths, beating the older horses.
“You aren’t getting something from (You) Alydar and his encounters with Affirmed within the Triple Crown,” Veitch instructed Breeders’ Cup in 1988.
In 1985 Veitch received the Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) with Proud Fact for Darby Dan. He received the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) with Star Selection for Frances Genter in 1983. Along with Sunshine Ceaselessly, different nice Darby Dan runners included Florida Derby winner Brian’s Time and Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes (G1T) and Queen Elizabeth II Problem Cup (G2T) winner Loads of Grace.
Veitch instructed the Breeders’ Cup in 1988, “From a person racing standpoint, I’ve to assume that the[Breeders’ Cup]Basic was as a lot pleasure as I’ve ever skilled.” “It was nice. And for a person like Mr. Galbreath, who has undoubtedly carried out lots in racing, it was a giant thrill for him to win and it turned much more thrilling for me.”
Rogers Beasley, former vp of racing KeenelandHe described Veitch as a real gentleman who all the time behaved in a top-notch method.
“He was old style, not only for coaching, however for his kindness to everybody—all the time in a jacket and tie at races,” Beasley mentioned. “He was the product of a bygone period: a gentleman.”
After his coaching profession, Veitch turned chief officer of the Kentucky Horseracing Fee. She lastly left that function after her outcomes on the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Girls Basic (G1). Churchill DownsGrade 1 winner Life At Ten was allowed to compete, regardless of jockey John Velazquez’s considerations about how he warmed up earlier than the race in a nationally televised interview.
Life At Ten, who didn’t persevere in the course of the race and completed final because the prohibitive favorite, was not chosen for post-race testing.
The fee later claimed that Veitch had violated numerous rules and sanctioned him.
“He struggled with that. He felt he had made[a raw deal],” Penn mentioned.
Penn mentioned Veitch has a relaxed facet and might make folks snigger together with his humorousness. The 2 would hunt collectively. Penn arrived at Veitch’s house in Lexington on Tuesday and discovered that Veitch had handed away. Born in Lexington after which residing in Outdated Westbury, New York for many of his academic profession, Veitch remained in Kentucky after leaving KHRC.
Alongside Michael Veitch and his different prolonged household, John Veitch’s survivors embody a daughter, Shannon Veitch Storms, and a son, Jason Veitch.
Earlier than John got here his third spouse, Ellis Conway Veitch, who died in 2017. Michael Veitch mentioned he can be buried in a conspiracy in Saratoga Springs with Ellis Conway Veitch.
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