Late Tom Voss gets Hall of Fame recognition
The late trainer Tom Voss will take his place among the greats when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer on Aug. 4 in Saratoga Springs.
Voss died at his beloved home in Monkton, Md., at age 63, on Jan. 21, 2014.
As one of the giants in the sport, he was selected by the Steeplechase Committee of the National Museum of Racing, reflecting his numerous titles as a leader in wins and earnings on the National Steeplechase Association circuit.
Voss led the NSA in wins in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2011, and in earnings in 1997, 2002, and 2009.
Among his top performers were Slip Away, the Eclipse Award winner in 2010, and Petroski, winner of the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Steeple-
chase at Saratoga in 1996.
He captured two editions of the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga with Brigade of Guards and An offer you cant refuse, respectively, in 1997 and 2003.
The Voss touch was not restricted to jumping events.
I will never forget his handling of John’s Call in 2000.
He brought the former claimer to Saratoga that summer with the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Handicap at 1 ½ miles on turf on his schedule.
John’s Call had raced just once at that point, winning the non-graded Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park on July 23.
Voss had him ready to win the Cape Henlopen, at 1 ½ miles over nine rivals, off a layoff of 244 days.
Three days before the Sword Dancer, Voss worked John’s Call a halfmile in a quick 47 3/5 seconds at Saratoga.
On Aug. 12, just 19 days after the Cape Henlopen, John’s Call won the Sword Dancer by more than nine lengths in soft going.
The 9-year-old became the oldest horse to win a Grade 1 event on the flat, defeating a field of much younger rivals composed of five graded stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Single Empire.
That is serious horsemanship, and the victory reflected the kind of challenge that Voss enjoyed.
John’s Call went on to win the Grade 1 Turf Classic later that year at Belmont Park, and finished third, beaten a halflength, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Voss also trained graded stakes winners Dreadnaught and Always First on the flat.
They and so many others that came under his care were lucky to have had Tom Voss greet them each morning.
He was a commanding presence in the game, all the more so on horseback as he led his sets to the track each morning at Saratoga out of barn 85.
It was an unforgettable sight, still fresh in the memories of those who loved him.
HOPEFUL WINNER ON DERBY TRAIL
Practical Joke, winner of the Hopeful Stakes last year at Saratoga, is penciled in for Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland as a final prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Practical Joke captured the Champagne Stakes after his Hopeful score, and ended his juvenile campaign with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.
In his only start this year, he was second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The last Hopeful Stakes winner to win the Kentucky Derby was Triple Crown winner Affirmed in 1977.
Michael Veitch writes about horse racing Wednesdays in The Saratogian and The Record. He may be reached at patelin@ nycap.rr.com.