Santos, Silver Charm inducted into Racing Hall of Fame

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Jockey Jose Santos and former Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm were among the eight racing greats who were inducted into the National Museum of Racing"s Hall of Fame Monday. University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, a thoroughbred owner, was the guest speaker at the induction ceremony.

The recently retired Santos was joined by former rider John Sellers, thoroughbreds Mom"s Command, Swoon"s Son and Silver Charm, and trainers John Veitch, Frank McCabe and Henry Forest.

Santos, Veitch, Mom’s Command, and Silver Charm were elected in the contemporary categories, while Sellers, Forrest, McCabe, and Swoon’s Son were elected by the Historic Review Committee. The Historic Review Committee considers candidates who have not been active in 25 years.

Santos was aboard Funny Cide to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and captured the 1989 Belmont Stakes with Lemon Drop Kid. The 45-year- old jockey earned better than $155 million in his career while winning more than 4,600 races. He announced his retirement from racing last Monday. The native of Chile was injured in February at Aqueduct in a three horse incident.

Retired since 1977, John Sellers led the country with 328 wins in 1961. In the same year he rode Carry Back to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Owned by Beverly Lewis and her late husband Robert, Silver Charm was voted 1997 three-year-old champion after taking the Run for the Roses and the Preakness. He was then second in the Belmont Stakes to Touch Gold.

Mom"s Command was the 1985 champion three-year-old filly after sweeping the Acorn, Mother Goose Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks. She closed her career with a victory in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

Swoon"s Son won 22 stakes races during a four year career in the 1950"s. Racing at Midwest tracks, Swoon"s Son won 30 of 51 starts for $907,605.

Former trainer John Veitch joins his father Sylvester in the Hall of Fame. The elder Veitch was inducted in 1977.

Currently the chief state steward in Kentucky, Veitch trained Alydar. In 1977 the three-year-old colt was part of the historic rivalry with Affirmed. While Affirmed swept the Triple Crown, Alydar finished second in all three races.

Henry Forrest trained thoroughbreds for nearly 40 years from 1937 to 1975. Before his death in 1975, Forrest trained Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners Kauai King in 1966 and Forward Pass in 1968.

Frank McCabe, who died in 1924, was a trainer in the late 1800"s into the 1900"s. He won the Travers with Inspector B., Sir Dixon, and Sir John. McCabe trained three straight Belmont Stakes winners, Inspector B. in 1886, Hanover in 1887, and Sir Dixon in 1888.

This is the 52nd class to be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame.