A talk with Tiz the Law owner Jack Knowlton
Q: I say the name Tiz the Law. What does that mean to you?
A: It means lightning has struck twice for Sackatoga Stable. Never in the world did I believe we would have another opportunity to at least start on the trail of the Triple Crown and be in the big races like Funny Cide (2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner) was. Last year, when Tiz broke his maiden at Saratoga and then won the (Grade I) Champagne (at Belmont), all of a sudden we had one of the top 2-yearolds. This year he has proven to be one of the top 3-year-olds (off wins in the Holy Bull and Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park).
Q: Three weeks from yesterday is the Belmont Stakes, the first leg in the Triple Crown this year.
Where is your confidence level? A: I think, rightfully, Tiz the Law is at the top or very near the top of everyone’s list for top 3-year-olds. He is already a Grade I winner and his Beyer figures and his Equibase figures (both speed numbers) are as high or higher than his competitors. He is going back to his home track and will have an opportunity to train over it twice before the race. We are confident he will run his race and will be very disappointed if he is not very competitive.
Q: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we have never seen a Triple Crown season like this where the Belmont is first and the Kentucky Derby is in September and the Preakness in October. How challenging is it to keep a horse together until the fall?
A: Well, it’s tough on the trainer (Barclay Tagg). As an owner, it’s just being impatient. You want to see the horse run. It was disappointing after he won the Florida Derby not having the Kentucky Derby five weeks later. Barclay had him ready to peak on the first Saturday in May. On the good side, he has only raced twice this year off eight- and nine-week layoffs. Now, we are asking him to win (the Belmont) off an 11-week layoff. He is a fresh horse and has been at Palm Meadows (in Florida) since December. Barclay knows the horse and I have all the confidence he will have him ready. We took our chance to qualify (with points) for the Kentucky Derby in the Florida Derby. Fortunately, he was right in the Florida Derby and now it’s a matter of Barclay keeping him healthy, happy and sound.
Q: I mentioned Funny Cide earlier. You said you never thought it would happen to you again.
A: No. The modest stable that Sackatoga has ... we are a fourhorse stable. Only New Yorkbreds. We don’t spend a lot of money. The most we ever spent was $180,000 and those (two) horses were not very good at all.
We got Tiz the Law at the (2018) New York-bred Saratoga yearling sale and we paid $110,000. I wake up every day and wonder, ‘How did this happen again?’ We are at the point now where we have 35 owners (partners) who are on the ride of their lives. To have a horse accomplish what he has accomplished at this point ... he has done more than Funny Cide did at this point. And Funny Cide is a tough act to follow.
Q: What is it like for you being back on the national stage in horse racing?
A: It is fun. Fortunately, because of Funny Cide, I have been able to be at the big races year after year. I go back to Kentucky for the Derby and the Oaks every year. Because I am a Derby winner, I get to buy box seats at face value for those days and I get invited to the Derby winner’s party. I always get to go see Funny Cide at the Kentucky Horse Park (in Lexington). Even before Funny Cide came along, I went to the Preakness and the Belmont and the Breeders’ Cup. I would go and share in that excitement with friends.
Q: When you go see Funny Cide, does he know you?
A: He knows me if I wrinkle
For more questions and answers with Jack Knowlton, go to http:// timesunion.com/ sports
the peppermint wrapper in my pocket. Then he comes running (laughs).
Q: As of right now, we don’t know if owners will be allowed at the Belmont. It’s the call of the governor. You were not able to get into Gulfstream Park to see Tiz the Law win the Florida Derby. How frustrating would it be not to be able to be at Belmont Park on June 20?
A: It would be a huge disappointment not only for me, but for the ownership group. I know a lot of them would certainly like to be there. It was frustrating for the Florida Derby when I had to watch it in my condo, which was only a mile from the track. But the world we are in, that was minor compared to the death and economic structure around us. We will have to wait and see. Anything is possible but no one knows what the rules are going to be, It’s too early. We just don’t know.