Frank T Ace had to be walked back to the winners circle every time and was a monster just about every start. I'm sure others here remember that.
Recent article about JC:
“The horses, there were so many good ones, most of them who might have had physical issues which they overcame when they raced.”
Mr Budlong: “As good and as solid a free for all pacer as there was at the time.”
Earl Laird: “He was my all-time favorite. I was his caretaker. My greatest thrill with him was in winning the United Nations Trot. There were times with him when he would get so lame in his stifles, that he could barely walk. But, show him the starting gate and he would throw it all away and become the great racehorse that he was. As a yearling, dad was ready to give him away. ‘You can have him,’ he said. ‘Just give me the first $500 he wins, if he wins it.’ He found no takers.”
Frank T. Ace: “Dad bought him at the Old Glory Sale for $15,000. Within a little more than a year he was racing and winning the free-for-alls.”
Bud T Ace: “This horse was involved in a terrible barn fire. He lost two ears and an eye. They were going to put him down. Dad thought he could save him and he did, using lime therapeutically. He made a still useful racehorse out of him.”
Kash Minbar: “Yearlings never excited dad too much. He had this horse as a yearling. He made a deal with John Schroeder. Schroeder was to race him in the New York Sires Stakes at 2 and 3. Dad would get him afterwards. He did and became a great free for all trotter.”
Magician: “He was by far the greatest horse that I ever trained. He was selling close to the end of the sale. His dam was zero for five at getting them to the races. I had seen his video and man was I ever impressed. I figured that if he sold cheap enough, I would buy him for myself. I bought him for $10,000.
