A Bold, Familiar Ride

By Dana Byerly, Hello Race Fans Co-founder

While the Belmont Stakes didn’t turn out to be the exciting race we had all hoped for, the finish was exciting nonetheless. And, the ride John Velazquez gave Union Rags is reminiscent of the ride he gave turf champion English Channel in the 2007 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Let’s watch and compare, first the 2012 Belmont Stakes…

And now the 2007 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic…

The 2007 ride was more daring, but similar in that Velazquez saved ground the entire way and had to get through on a tight rail. Let’s also give credit to Union Rags, as Hall of Fame jockey and racing analyst Jerry Bailey points out after the Joe Hirsch, “you can point a horse towards a hole, but he has to have the courage to get through it.”