I worked for Jack Van Berg and if he never blamed Chris for the Belmont. Chris blamed himself more even though what cost them the race ultimately saved Sheba. Gone West stalled in front of them and Chris had to take up to keep Sheba from going down and Jack has said many times that even if that hadn't happened no one was going to beat Bet Twice that day. Bet Twice won by fourteen lengths, not a nose so it proves his point. Sheba went on to be Horse of the Year in '88
Guaranteed triple Crown winner, if not for McCarron and his fear of Alysheba. He never trusted the horse until his 4yr old season. What a shame! I Had Alysheba on my Arkansas license plate while in flight training at Little Rock AFB 87-88. Van Berg will tell you all about how McCarron is why Alysheba not a triple crown winner.
I remember each one of the horses that ran that day. I had always loved Alydar, so wanted his son to win, even @ 8-1. When he tripped towards the end, I remember a collective "noooo" echoing from everywhere..I couldn't watch any longer, thinking he may have hurt himself badly. The crowd roared, I looked up, and Sheba won! Then poor Demons.. Nothing worse than seeing the white trucks. I've lived in KY most of my life, and got to see this race, Secretariat's (my first) Affirmed and Seattle Slew.
Allysheba really did have a string of 2nd and 3rd place finishes coming into the 1987 Derby. But this race really catapulted Alysheba to National stardom. This was a colt, that IMO, could have, and should have been a Triple Crown winner. JMO
I vividly remember this Derby because of having the Alysheba-Bet Twice exacta, that midway down the stretch I thought would never happen due to the "stumble". How he didn't go down which would have been the biggest and most tragic horse race of all-time, thankful turned out to be one of horse racings grestest moments! RIP Alysheba and Thank You Jack Van Berg for making him a champion!
Pat Day had to pull him up because he was bleeding badly from the nose. He did come back to race again, but was never the same. He had six wins before the Derby, and only one (an allowance race) after it. He also died pretty young; I remember reading the obituary, must have been at least six or seven years ago now.
wow,I vaguely remember the stumble and recovery but didn't really recall that Bet Twice came over a second time,pretty severely. Maybe Alysheba woulda been put up even if he had run second. What an awesome champion.
LadyWickham Says:
29/05/2012 11:39:59 AM
I worked for Jack Van Berg and if he never blamed Chris for the Belmont. Chris blamed himself more even though what cost them the race ultimately saved Sheba. Gone West stalled in front of them and Chris had to take up to keep Sheba from going down and Jack has said many times that even if that hadn't happened no one was going to beat Bet Twice that day. Bet Twice won by fourteen lengths, not a nose so it proves his point. Sheba went on to be Horse of the Year in '88
Tampaslice Says:
29/05/2012 1:42:15 AM
Guaranteed triple Crown winner, if not for McCarron and his fear of Alysheba. He never trusted the horse until his 4yr old season. What a shame! I Had Alysheba on my Arkansas license plate while in flight training at Little Rock AFB 87-88. Van Berg will tell you all about how McCarron is why Alysheba not a triple crown winner.
altstiff Says:
3/05/2012 7:00:10 AM
What a win by Alysheba, almost knocked down at the head of the stretch and still came back on to take Bet Twice.
Shimmeringsmiley Says:
15/08/2010 5:38:25 AM
I remember each one of the horses that ran that day. I had always loved Alydar, so wanted his son to win, even @ 8-1. When he tripped towards the end, I remember a collective "noooo" echoing from everywhere..I couldn't watch any longer, thinking he may have hurt himself badly. The crowd roared, I looked up, and Sheba won! Then poor Demons.. Nothing worse than seeing the white trucks. I've lived in KY most of my life, and got to see this race, Secretariat's (my first) Affirmed and Seattle Slew.
GBeret83 Says:
6/05/2010 4:09:28 PM
Allysheba really did have a string of 2nd and 3rd place finishes coming into the 1987 Derby. But this race really catapulted Alysheba to National stardom. This was a colt, that IMO, could have, and should have been a Triple Crown winner. JMO
wrenster34 Says:
4/05/2010 3:34:13 PM
how awesome is it to listen to Jim McKay!!!!!!Simply the best!!
HorseRacingNut Says:
10/09/2009 11:30:18 PM
I vividly remember this Derby because of having the Alysheba-Bet Twice exacta, that midway down the stretch I thought would never happen due to the "stumble". How he didn't go down which would have been the biggest and most tragic horse race of all-time, thankful turned out to be one of horse racings grestest moments! RIP Alysheba and Thank You Jack Van Berg for making him a champion!
pjw5328 Says:
4/05/2009 5:28:31 AM
Pat Day had to pull him up because he was bleeding badly from the nose. He did come back to race again, but was never the same. He had six wins before the Derby, and only one (an allowance race) after it. He also died pretty young; I remember reading the obituary, must have been at least six or seven years ago now.
logjammers Says:
6/04/2009 10:01:27 PM
wow,I vaguely remember the stumble and recovery but didn't really recall that Bet Twice came over a second time,pretty severely.
Maybe Alysheba woulda been put up even if he had run second.
What an awesome champion.