1993 Breeders' Cup Classic
As Breeders' Cups go, it was a rather formful afternoon.
And then came the Classic.
And with it, the hopes and dreams of thousands who placed a wager on the final Breeders' Cup race vanished as Arcangues blew past Bertrando in the stretch to win the $3-million race.
But despite, or perhaps because of, the monumental upset, spirits weren't down among the losers after the race. It was just one of those things. Who could have figured?
"I was looking forward to winning this race for the past month," said jockey Gary Stevens, who looked every bit the winner on Bertrando. "So I'm kind of surprised at my reaction, that I'm not upset. I would have been mad if my horse hadn't run the race he did. But my horse ran a great race. He gave everything he's got. He just got beat."
Even Bertrando's trainer, Bobby Frankel, who has been known to be a bit surly after a losing race, seemed resigned to the result.
"I'm really kind of in shock," said Frankel, who has not won with 22 Breeders' Cup entrants. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be. He ran great. I'm surprised that anybody was able to catch him. When Gary (Stevens) got off the horse he said, 'Where did that (son of a gun) come from?' and I had to say, 'I don't know.' I guess it just wasn't meant to be for me this year."
Stevens thought Bertrando would win.
articles.latimes.com/1993-11-0...