The old year was full of opportunities to write and to share the stories of racing past and present that keep us all enthralled with the sport. I finished writing The Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown in mid-February, completed revisions and submitted the manuscript on April 26, and put the finishing touches on the book around Halloween. In addition to working on the story of the only sire and son to win the Triple Crown, I also had the great fortune to write for outlets like America’s Best Racing, the Racing Biz, and Twin Spires Edge.
From Whitmore to War Admiral, 2022 was a year full of Triple Crown winners, true crime stories, and a few chats with some familiar names.
America’s Best Racing
For ABR, I worked on a series called Triple Crown Turning Point, chronicling a turning point in the careers of the first eleven horses to win these three classic races. For each, that turning point looked different and, in one case, even had more than one.
| Sir Barton | Whirlaway | Secretariat |
| Gallant Fox | Count Fleet | Seattle Slew |
| Omaha | Assault | Affirmed |
| War Admiral | Citation |
In addition to that series, I was able to write profiles of such names as William Walker, Tom Pedull, and Dr. Blarney and I crafted a couple of book lists that I think you’ll enjoy.
The Racing Biz
For the third year, I was a part of Frank Vespe’s The Racing Biz, a website focused on the Mid-Atlantic racing scene. Not only was I able to craft another year of historical profiles for BackTracks, but I also was able to contribute some Preakness Day coverage, interviewed Gary Contessa and Nick Beaver (Bell Gable Stable), and wrote a follow-up on Jessica Paquette’s opening weeks at Parx.
| Soul of the Matter & Afternoon Deelites | The (Almost) Fabulous Fillies of the Preakness | Henry of Navarre |
| Safely Kept | Challedon | Jameela |
| Hill Prince | Rosemont | Fort Marcy |
| Lil E. Tee | Twixt | J. O. Tobin |
The Racing Biz’s coverage of the Mid-Atlantic region is second to none and I was thrilled to be a part of it, especially on Preakness Day. I enjoyed the chance to talk to both Gary Contessa and Jessica Paquette, two fantastic professionals who also happen to be passionate advocates for the sport.
| Jessica Paquette | Gary Contessa and Bell Gable Stable |
| Page McKenney | Kentucky Derby Memories |
| Maryland Sprint | Two Days in November (with Lauren Amberman) |
| Gallorette Stakes | Chick Lang |
TwinSpires Edge
For TwinSpires, I had the great fortune of working on three separate series, After the Racetrack, True Crime in Horse Racing, and the Science of Horse Racing. I also worked on a trio of articles on Secretariat in February. After the Racetrack profiled an Off-Track Thoroughbred of note, horses that exemplified exactly what this versatile breed can do once their racing careers are done.
| Whitmore | Beckham Bend | Underscore/Blueberry |
| Zivo | Kelso | Finnick the Fierce |
| Scorpiancer | Imperative | Mr. Meso |
| Betty’s Bambino | Chindi |
The series True Crime in Horse Racing looked at stories where the sport intersected with the criminal world. These incidents crisscross the country and the century, where kidnapping, arson, and more made headlines.
The Science of Horse Racing tackled topics like coat color, stride, the photo finish, and more. The goal was to explain each through the lens of scientific information, from the genetics of color to the physics of a jockey’s riding position.
| The Stride | Vision and Blinkers |
| Changing Leads | Psychology of a Racehorse |
| Photo Finish Camera | Track Surfaces |
| Coat of Many Colors | Why Do Jockeys Ride Like That? |
| Hooves and Horseshoes | Colic and Laminitis |
Finally, as we count down to the 50th anniversary of his immortal Triple Crown run, here is a look at Secretariat’s top 10 foals, broodmares, and performances. Whet your appetite for this year’s celebrations with these examinations of Big Red’s impact on the sport.
Looking Forward to 2023
Of course, the new year is focused on this beautiful book and its publication in early May. As we count down to the day that both the hardcover of Foxes and the softcover edition of Sir Barton are available, stay tuned to this blog for more on appearances, the names and faces you will find in Foxes, and more.
I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season in 2022. Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for being a part of my year. I look forward to sharing the many adventures 2023 will bring and hope to see you there along the way!
Happy New Year!