America's Best Racing. The Jockey Club.

Calendar Racing to History

• 03.072009

  Helen Pitts-Blasi became the first female to train the winner of the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap when she saddled 7-year-old Einstein to victory.

• 03.081985

  Chris McCarron rode his 4,000th career winner, Hawkley (GB), in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park.

• 03.081987

  Carrying 126 pounds, Zany Tactics set the world record for six furlongs, 106 4/5, at Turf Paradise. On Feb. 21, 1993, his time was equaled by Honor the Hero, also at Turf Paradise.

• 03.082012

  Zenyatta, 2010 Horse of the Year, gave birth to her first foal, a bay colt by Bernardini, at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Ky. 

• 03.091977

  Seattle Slew made his three-year-old debut at Hialeah. He won a seven-furlong race in 1:20 3/5, breaking the track record.

• 03.092009

  2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches gave birth to her first foal, a filly by Giant's Causeway, at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.

• 03.101808

  Diomed, the winner of the inaugural Epsom Derby in 1780, died in Virginia at age 31. He had been imported to the U.S. 10 years earlier and subsequently became an influential sire.

• 03.101993

  At age 41, jockey Eddie Delahoussaye had his 5,000th career winner, aboard Ackler in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park. He was the 14th rider in North American Thoroughbred racing to reach that plateau.

• 03.111943

  After siring 350 foals with a combined earnings total of $3 million, 26-year-old Man o' War was retired from stud duty.

• 03.121966

  In the last race of his 40-year career, John Longden won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita Park, aboard George Royal. He retired with a then-record number of victories with 6,032.

• 03.141941

  Merrick died at age 38, establishing the longevity record for a Thoroughbred.

• 03.141973

  In his final preparation for the March 17 Bay Shore Stakes, the first race of his three-year-old season, Secretariat worked three furlongs in a blistering 32 3/5.

• 03.141976

  Bill Shoemaker gained his 7,000th career victory, aboard Charlie Whittingham-trained Royal Derby II, in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park.

• 03.141987

  Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. became the first rider in the history of Santa Anita Park to win seven races in a single afternoon. In his only loss of the day, Pincay finished third aboard Bob Back in the eighth race.

• 03.171973

  In his three-year-old debut, Secretariat won the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct by 4 lengths.

• 03.182001

  Zippy Chippy beat a Standardbred horse named Paddy's Lady at Freehold Raceway. Because the race was an exhibition, Zippy Chippy officially maintained his record of 89 starts without a victory.

• 03.191942

  The Thoroughbred Racing Association of the United States was formed, with John C. Clark as president.

• 03.191949

  Jockey Bill Shoemaker rode his first career race, at Golden Gate Fields. He finished fifth, aboard Waxahachie, in an eight-horse field.

• 03.192010

  Ramon Dominguez became the 58th jockey to win 4,000 races when he guided Fortyninegeorgest to victory in the second race at Aqueduct.

• 03.201932

  Phar Lap, legendary champion racehorse of Australia, won his only start in North America, the Agua Caliente Handicap at Agua Caliente Racecourse in Mexico. His time for the 1-mile race was 2:02 4/5, a track record. The six-year-old Phar Lap died one month later and the cause of his death remains a mystery. During his four years of racing in Australia, Phar Lap won 36 of 50 starts.

• 03.201969

  Less than two months after she became the first woman to ride in a parimutuel race in America, Diane Crump rode her first winner at Gulfstream Park.