Hall Induction a Crowning Moment for Julie Krone

DEL MAR —  Julie Krone made history in 1993, when Colonial Affair won the Belmont Stakes. She made more Monday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

More than seven years after she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race, Krone, 37, was inducted into Thoroughbred Racing’s Hall of Fame.

Also inducted were trainer Neil Drysdale and thoroughbreds A.P. Indy, Winning Colors and Needles.

Krone retired from riding in April 1999 after suffering several major injuries during a career that saw her mounts earn nearly $82 million in purses.

Elected in her first year of eligibility, her induction wasn’t universally applauded. Some argued that her numbers--3,545 career victories--didn’t measure up to some other jockeys who aren’t in the Hall of Fame.

None of that mattered Monday.

Krone, who won riding titles at several different tracks, including Belmont Park and Gulfstream Park, was introduced by Chick Lang, the former longtime general manager at Pimlico who helped her get started.

“She showed up in Maryland one day with four cardboard boxes tied with a rope,” Lang said. “That was her luggage.”

A rider for 19 years, the Michigan-born Krone thanked her mother, Judi, who died last year of cancer.

She told of the time she was refused entry at Churchill Downs because she wasn’t yet 16. Her mother forged her birth certificate.

“I want this to be a lesson to kids everywhere,” said Krone, who now spends some of her time as a studio host for the Television Games Network (TVG). “If the stable gate is closed, climb the fence.

“I wish I could put every one of you here on a race horse at the eighth pole, so you could have the same feeling I did. I got to do something I loved every day. Today I know for sure that life does not get any better.”

Drysdale, who won this year’s Kentucky Derby with Fusaichi Pegasus, his first starter in the world’s most famous race, was introduced by Peggy Whittingham, the widow of Charlie Whittingham, for whom he worked as an assistant from 1970-74.

A native of England, Drysdale, 52, has trained five national champions. In addition to A.P. Indy, he has had Fiji (the top female turf horse in 1998), Hollywood Wildcat (3-year-old filly, 1993), Princess Rooney (older filly/mare, 1984) and Tasso (2-year-old, 1985).

The soft-spoken Drysdale has also won five Breeders’ Cup races. Besides the 1992 Classic with A.P. Indy, he won the Distaff with Princess Rooney in 1984 and Hollywood Wildcat in 1993, the Juvenile with Tasso in 1985 and Prized, who won the Turf in his first race on the grass in 1989.

In his speech, Drysdale saluted Whittingham, who died last year, for his influence. He also thanked his thoroughbreds.

“Mostly, I want to thank these four-legged creatures that have given my life such passion,” he said.

Scratched from the 1992 Kentucky Derby on the morning of the race because of a foot problem, A.P. Indy, who had won the San Rafael Stakes and Santa Anita Derby earlier in the year, went on to win the Peter Pan and Belmont Stakes, then capped his horse-of-the-year campaign with a convincing win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park. He is now a top-notch sire.

Purchased by trainer Wayne Lukas as a yearling for the late Eugene Klein and his wife Joyce, Winning Colors beat the boys in the 1988 Santa Anita Derby, then did the same thing a month later in the Kentucky Derby, giving former jockey Gary Stevens his first win in the race.

A roan daughter of Caro and still a broodmare at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky., Winning Colors finished her career with eight victories in 19 starts and is one of three fillies-- along with Regret (1915) and Genuine Risk (1980)--to win the Kentucky Derby.

One of Winning Colors’ defeats was one of the most memorable races in history. In the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs, she was caught on the wire by Personal Ensign, who was able to end her career unbeaten by the slimmest of noses.

Needles was voted into the Hall of Fame as the horse of yesteryear. A winner of 11 of 21 lifetime, the son of 1949 Derby winner Ponder captured the Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1956 and was second in the Preakness.

Owned by D & H Stable and trained by Hugh Fontaine, Needles won one of three starts as a 4-year-old before injuries forced his retirement. He died in 1984.

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Skimming, who won Sunday’s San Diego Handicap by eight lengths, will return in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 for trainer Bobby Frankel and owner Juddmonte Farms.

The improving, 4-year-old son of Nureyev is one of three horses who ran in the San Diego expected to return in the Pacific Classic. The others are Prime Timber, a longshot who rallied to finish second, and River Keen, who was last as the favorite.

In addition to River Keen, trainer Bob Baffert is expected to start defending champion General Challenge in the Classic. Other probables include Hollywood Gold Cup winner Early Pioneer, Ecton Park, Blazing Sword, Euchre, who is also trained by Frankel, and the 3-year-old Tiznow. Cat Thief is a possible entry.

Horse Racing Notes

In a race switched to the main track due to rain, Turnofthecentury won the $100,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Handicap Monday at Saratoga. Aaron Gryder rode the winner. Aldo was second and favored Polish Miner was third in a field reduced to five after three scratches. . . . Riboletta, who swept the Hawthorne, Milady and Vanity at Hollywood Park, will try for her fourth consecutive win in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar Saturday. Excellent Meeting, Bordelaise, Gourmet Girl and Speaking Of Time are expected opponents. . . . After the first two weeks of the Del Mar meet, jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. has 11 wins and has increased his career total to 8,960. Victor Espinoza, the top rider at Hollywood Park, leads the standings with 15 victories after winning three races on Monday. . . . Seeking his fourth consecutive title at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert leads with 10 victories, three more than Hollywood Park champion Bobby Frankel.