Alma North , Richard’s child And Shine Again —three Grade 1 winners who raced for a combined 17 years, made 159 starts, won 30 races and earned four Maryland-bred Horse of the Year titles—have been selected for induction into the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame in 2024 following a vote by a committee of Maryland racing industry members jointly conducted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Racing Media Association.
The newest Hall of Fame members will be honored at the inaugural Timonium race, following the fourth race, on Friday, August 23.
“This year’s inductees demonstrate the reach of the wonderful horses bred in Maryland and the people who breed them. Mr. Meyerhoff, Ms. DuPont, Dr. Leonard and the Bender family represent some of Maryland’s most dedicated and successful breeders,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. “Each year, voters work hard to evaluate the selections and make their selections, so with a tie vote, we will induct three horses this year.”
Alma North
Alma North, a 1968-born daughter of Northern Dancer, was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year in 1971 after a 3-year-old season in which she entered 27 starts and won or placed 19 times, 12 of them in races. Bred by JIB Farms, a partnership between Dr. Robert A. Leonard and Stanley Bender, she raced for Eugene Mori’s East Acres after being purchased at Saratoga as a foal for $15,000.
Trained by Frank J. Zitto and a winner of races on both dirt and turf, Alma North had 78 starts in less than four years, winning 23, finishing second 14 and third in another 18. In her 15 starts, she placed four times in 1973, topping the Matchmaker (G1) at Atlantic City while tying the track record. Among her 20 placings were Alabama, Spinster and Matchmaker in 1972, in which she was disqualified from finishing third after leading all the way and finishing first, ahead of champion Numbered Account. In her 3-year-old season, she ran in the Monmouth Invitational (now known as the Haskell) and finished third behind West Coast Scout, who set the course record, with Belmont Stakes winner Pass Catcher and Canadian Horse of the Year Kennedy Road following her.
Richard’s child
Back-to-back winner of the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, Richard’s Kid began his career on the East Coast for his breeder, Robert Meyerhoff’s Fitzhugh LLC, and trainer Dickie Small, for whom the large bay horse is named. A racehorse favorite, Richard’s Kid was sold privately to Arnold Zetcher in the spring of 2009 and passed to Bob Baffert, who guided him throughout his 47-start career to not only a win in the Pacific Classic, but also wins at Goodwood (G1), San Antonio (G2) and twice in the Cougar II Handicap (once as a Grade 3). After finishing his 2010 season with back-to-back Grade 1 wins, he was sent to Dubai, where he raced for over a year with trainer Satish Seemar. Upon returning to the United States in the spring of 2012, he set a track record in his first start at Hollywood Park, and two subsequent starts set a track record at Del Mar.
Richard’s Kid was sold twice more, to Zabeel Racing in 2010 and finally to Dave Kenney, Triple B Farms (Boghossian), Westside Rentals.com, etc., midway through the 2012 season, when he was transferred to trainer Doug O’Neill. The last of his dozen wins came with the O’Neill stable when he captured his third Cougar II Handicap in 2013. He was retired to stud after winning eight, placing six, placing in 10 others, setting two track records, earning $2,482,259, and being named Maryland Stallion of the Year and Champion Older Male in 2009 and 2010. He is the third Hall of Fame member bred by Meyerhoff, along with Broad Brush and Concern.
Shine Again
A three-year Maryland bred champion, including Horse of the Year in 2003, Shine Again, a fourth-generation Allaire duPont, was one of the most consistent racehorses ever to appear in Maryland. When she retired, she not only finished in the top three in 31 of her 34 starts, but also ranked as the ninth-highest Maryland bred money horse of all time and the second-highest mare behind Safely Kept.
Trained by Allen Jerkens, the daughter of Wild Again won back-to-back Saratoga Ballerina Handicap (G1) and missed out on a third win by 1 length. She also came close to winning in three consecutive runs in the First Flight Handicap (G2). Named a two-time Maryland-bred champion sprinter and three-time champion older mare, Shine Again won or placed in 20 races, placing 18 times. She was retired after her 6-year-old season in 2003 with earnings of $1,271,840.
“What strikes you about all three of this year’s honorees is their longevity,” said Frank Vespe, president of the Maryland Racing Media Association. “In our era of short careers, it’s refreshing to see horses that have had dozens of starts and have competed successfully at the highest level for multiple seasons. In fact, all three have won or placed in top events in at least three different years.”
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse team.
