Sheppard Extends Lengthy Saratoga Streak

Entering yesterday's steeplechase race with 7-5 morning-line favorite Lune de Caro, Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard already felt enough pressure before saddling his horse along with the anxiety of being able to extend his streak of at least one victory in a flat or jump race at Saratoga dating back to 1969. Although he had to wait for stewards to review the last hurdle to make the race official, Sheppard was able to breathe a sigh of relief when Lune de Caro was declared the winner.

"We were very happy for the horse and the connections," said Sheppard. "It's a small owner and he was initially given the horse with the vet telling him he would probably never race again. After turning him out at his small farm in Versailles, Ky., the horse ran two or three times on the flat before winning a hurdle race. 

"With no more jump races in Lexington close to where he lives, he gave me call to ask if I'd be interested in taking a look at the horse or selling him to some of my other owners," he said. "We ran him at Parx, where he won pretty impressively, and so he said you know what 'I'm kind of enjoying this' so he decided to keep him. This is the only horse he has in training, he drove all the way from Kentucky for the race and had a good time here with friends and drove back this morning." 

Reflecting on extending his streak to 47 years at the prestigious Saratoga meet, Sheppard still lets the horses in his stable guide him on where they might run best.

"Yes, that was a huge relief to get that off my back," Sheppard said. "You don't talk about it, but you think about it. We don't really point for this meet, it's just what might seem best for each individual horse on where each might end up and run. I did think this horse yesterday was just about our best shot."

On how long he thinks he may be able to keep the streak going, Sheppard has no plans to try to extend it beyond 50 should he be given the opportunity.

"I guess I have to come back again next year," said the Hall of Famer. "See if we can get it up to 50 then maybe I'll pack it in. I'm 74 now and I'm not particularly planning on dying with my boots on as Wayne Lukas says he's going to do. I'll take it year by year."

Source: NYRA Communications