The Passing Parade


We lost several racing icons within the past year. They had one thing in common - spending the winter at Gulfstream Park.

They included two veteran handicappers, a legendary trainer and a man who I respected because he was not only knowledgeable, but a great guy who knew more about the South Florida track than anyone.

Eleven months ago, Dave Feldman passed away just before the Kentucky Derby. This guy was the dean of handicappers and a man for all racing seasons for nine decades - the King of the Turf in Greater Chicago and the United States.

Dave was handicapper, reporter, track announcer, horse owner and thoroughbred trainer. "I could enter my horse in a race, handicap the event, call him home to the wire and interview the winning owner and trainer -- me."

I remember what he said about horses and jockeys when I asked if a thoroughbred had a shot when his regular rider wasn't aboard: "I never saw a jockey carry a horse over the finish line yet."

Bob Slater was the dean of Florida handicappers and worked at The Miami Herald many years longer than I did. He loved racing. And he knew how to wager. "Never bet on a horse less than 3-1," was his prime advice. It served him well.

Jimmy Jones and his father Ben were the top trainers for Calumet Farm and accounted for most of its famous champions, including my favorite Citation. The Jones Boys were the reason Calumet Farm was the champion owner in North America a dozen times and the top breeder 10 times.

He routinely traveled to his winter residence in Miami for the Gulfstream meeting. I often saw him at the media brunches for the big stakes races. He always drew a round of applause.

Jimmy also was a charter member of the Hialeah Park Wall of Fame. Other inductees included Citation, a half-century after winning the Flamingo Stakes, and Eddie Arcaro, who rode the Triple Crown winner in '48.

Jones, who accepted a plaque for Citation during a special ceremony at the track, said: "He was such a pleasure to train. Citation was the greatest."

But the guy I respected most was Stan Platkin, a former sports writer for The Miami Herald, where I was employed for 35 years.

Stan, who died at age 78 on March 5, six days before my birthday, is best know as a fixture at Gulfstream for 33 years who analyzed statistics.
The copyright of the article The Passing Parade in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish The Passing Parade in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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