Well, let me tell you, I remember that 1972 Kentucky Derby like it was yesterday. That horse, what was his name? Riva Ridge, that’s it! He was somethin’ else, that one. Won the whole durn thing, he did. 1972, that was the year, the 1972 Kentucky Derby.
That Riva Ridge, he was a fast one. Born in ’69, I think, which made him just a young’un in ’72. He won the Kentucky Derby, you know. And that other big race, the… the Belmont Stakes. Yeah, he won that one too that year, the 1972 Belmont Stakes. A real winner, that horse.
Now, there was another horse, too. A real famous one. Secretariat. Everyone talks about Secretariat. He was a good horse, too, I reckon. But in 1972, it was all about Riva Ridge. He was the big winner, the Kentucky Derby winner. You couldn’t find anyone bettin’ on Secretariat that year, no sir.
This Riva Ridge, he was a Thoroughbred, a real racehorse. Not like them plow horses we used to have back on the farm. He was bred to run, and run he did. Won a bunch of races, even when he was just two years old. Seven out of nine races, I heard someone say once. That’s a lot of winnin’.
That jockey, the fella who rode him, his name was Ron… Ron something. Turcotte, I believe it was. Ron Turcotte. He was a good rider, knew how to handle that Riva Ridge. They were a good team, those two. They won the Kentucky Derby together, remember? The 1972 Kentucky Derby winner, that’s what they were.
It was the 98th Kentucky Derby that year, can you imagine? 98th! They been runnin’ that race for a long time. And Riva Ridge, he was the one to beat ’em all in 1972. He was first, that horse. That’s the important thing, ain’t it? Bein’ first.
The horse that came in second, now I can’t rightly recall his name. No Le Hace, maybe? Something like that. Ridden by a fella named Phil…Phil Rubbicco, I think. And then there was that other one, Hold Your Peace. Ridden by Carlos Marquez. I don’t know much about them, though. All I know is Riva Ridge beat ’em.
- Riva Ridge – the big winner!
- No Le Hace – came in second, I guess.
- Hold Your Peace – third place.
- Some other horses I don’t recall.
They say Riva Ridge was a stablemate of Secretariat. Like they lived in the same barn or somethin’. Secretariat, he got real famous later on, but in 1972, Riva Ridge was the star. He was the one everyone was talkin’ about. He was the 1972 Kentucky Derby winner, after all.
The owner lady, her daddy died, and then they had to sell some of the horses. Something about taxes. She sold Secretariat for a whole lot of money. And Riva Ridge, too. They made a lot of money off those horses, I tell ya.
Riva Ridge, he was sired by Bold Ruler. I don’t know much about horse breedin’, but that sounds important. And his mama was Somethingroyal. Fancy names for a horse, ain’t it? But it’s all about the runnin’, and that horse could run. That’s why he won the 1972 Kentucky Derby, I reckon. He was just faster than all the others.
Secretariat, they gave him a fancy title. “Horse of the Year,” they called him. But that was later. In 1972, Riva Ridge was the one winnin’ the big races. He was the one everybody was cheerin’ for. He was the one that made history. Secretariat was just a baby then. He was born in March 30, I heard. But in 1972, it was all about Riva Ridge winning the Kentucky Derby and he was the 1972 Kentucky Derby winner. That’s what everyone remembers. That’s what matters.
Poor Eddie Sweat, the groom for Secretariat. He was a good man, took good care of that horse. He was a real hard worker, that Eddie, workin’ them stables day in and day out. But he died too young, only 59. Life ain’t fair sometimes, is it? And that Secretariat, he had to be put down. Got sick, I heard. Laminitis, they called it. Sounds awful. They say it’s real painful for the horses. He was 19, I think, when they put him down. October 4, 1989. A long time ago now, seems like another lifetime.
That 1972 Kentucky Derby, though, that was somethin’. That was a race to remember. And Riva Ridge, he was the horse to beat. He was the champion. The winner. Yep, that Riva Ridge, he was somethin’ special in 1972. The 1972 Kentucky Derby winner, that’s who he was.
