David Cassidy on the Web
Zito shines at Racing Hall of Fame induction
August 8, 2005
Thoroughbredtimes.com
By John P. Sparkman
In a year otherwise dominated by steeplechasing luminaries, trainer Nick Zito was the star attraction at the 50th annual induction ceremony to the Racing Hall of Fame on August 8 at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, New York."Some of us get to do something we love," Zito said after being presented with his Hall of Fame plaque by longtime patron John Hettinger, "and if we're really fortunate, we get to do it over and over. In this sport, there's never a bad day attached to it.
"If it wasn't for racing, I don't know where I'd be," Zito said. "Let's give some girls and boys the opportunity to do what I did and stand up here one day."
The 2005 induction ceremony marked the first year that nominees to the Hall were required to win 75% of the votes. The rule change resulted in Zito being the lone flat-racing nominee earning entrance. Among steeplechasing nominees, five-time champion Lonesome Glory, leading trainer Sidney Watters, and leading rider Tommy Walsh were awarded plaques.
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard presented the plaque for Lonesome Glory, American steeplechasing's all-time leading earner, to Sally Jeffords Radcliffe, daughter of Lonesome Glory's owner, Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Jr.
"There was never a horse so loved as Lonesome Glory," Radcliffe said. "He was my mother's pet."
Eric Watters, son of Sidney Watters, accepted the plaque for his father, who also trained 1971 champion two-year-old Hoist the Flag, from Jane Forbes Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen C. Clark, owners of Hoist the Flag.
"My father was once asked, 'What is your favorite thing to waste money on?,'" Watters said. "He answered, 'buying a horse.'"
Racing official Lenny Hale presented the plaque to Walsh, who told a story about falling during a race and getting back aboard to win for his uncle, Hall of Fame member Mickey Walsh, who nevertheless chastised him, "If you hadn't chased the horse into that fence, you wouldn't have fallen."
Entertainer David Cassidy, the keynote speaker, regaled the crowd with tales of his career in music and television and spoke of his passion for Thoroughbred racing.
"The passion that I have has been with me since I was a little boy," said Cassidy, who bought his first Thoroughbred at Saratoga in 1974. "My wife once told me, 'Just imagine if you'd had the same passion for the entertainment industry.'
"I was phenomenally wealthy at a very young age, and now here I am 30 years later and I'm nearly a millionaire! Why am I still here? Because I love this game. I'm live in the fifth race today with a horse I bred and own," Cassidy said. "I want to be an ambassador for this sport. We need an ambassador, we need a face. I would love to be able to help in any way I can."
