1986 Breeders Cup Steeplechase (NBC)

The great grandson of Princequillo wins the inaugural running of the Steeplechase.
The first running of the $250,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase - then the world's richest steeplechase event - was a watershed for the sport. With the advent of this race, held in conjunction with Maryland's Fair Hill Race Course, the Breeders' Cup acknowledged steeplechasing as an integral part of Thoroughbred racing. NBC Sports, which televised the race as a feature during its four-hour live broadcast of the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Championship Day races, joined the record 19,185 in attendance at Fair Hill to watch 8-year-old American gelding Census post a 1 1/2-length victory for owner George Chase, trainer Janet Elliot and jockey Jeff Teter. An international field of 11 turned out for the 2 3/8-mile race, and Census set a course record of 4:27 3/5. Census, whose superb career was highlight by several memorable battles with four-time Eclipse Award winner Flatterer, finished his steeplechase career with 14 wins and a then-record $426,524 in earnings. The chestnut son of Speak John competed on the flat for famed trainer Horatio Luro before being converted to steeplechasing by Elliot, the first woman to win a National Steeplechase Association trainer championship. Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, Census returned $5.40 to win and keyed a $24.40 exacta with Dogwood Stable's Kesslin. The field included horses from the U.S., Ireland, France, Italy and New Zealand.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Thoroughbred
• Horse
• Racing
• 1986
• Breeders
• Cup
• Steeplechase
• Census
• Fair
• Hill
• Race
• Course
• Maryland
• NBC
• Tony
• Bentley
• Don
• Cruqui
• Richard
• Pitman
• Princequillo

[Stamolka1986]

What happened to Mr. Asia, the horse that fell? Did he survive the fall? Steeplechasing is so dangerous.

[cf1970]

@Stamolka1986 Not sure what became of Mr. Asia. I hope he was alright.

[nameofthepen]

Loved it! What a refreshing and beautiful "side dish" for you to serve up, CF. :-)

[cf1970]

@nameofthepen Thank you very much, my friend. Admittedly, I don't know a lot about steeplechasing, but I wanted to add this video to my channel. Being an important part of the Breeders Cup program, leaving it out would have been improper.

Have a good day. :)

[Nextannouncer]

Interesting video, thanks!!

I've always wondered why the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase was never run on Breeders' Cup day at the host track. It would have been neat to see steeplechasing at tracks like Santa Anita, Gulfstream, and Lone Star.

[cf1970]

@Nextannouncer You're welcome. I agree with your comments.

[CHEVYedsf]

Yeah buddy! An American horse wins a mostly European sport!

[Riffer87]

@Stamolka1986 98% of horses that fall survive to race another day. He popped up and looked to be ok.

[joelsterling]

this is not the only track this type of racing happens at as Monmouth has also held some steelechase races in the past few years

[TEHFUZZEHONEZ]

I'm sure MrAsia was just fine, those are low fences and he fell on his side, as he was falling he pulled his head to the side so I don't think he or the rider suffered injuries.

[bbmtge]

Great video cf...will "pass it on". BTW..how did jockey and horse turn out after fall???