I'll never get over this race. I was eleven when I saw this and it almost ruined horse racing for me. He was my favorite horse ever and I had posters of him all over my room. I sat up all night imagining that they were trying to save him but sadly, he had already been put down. I cried for days! So sad.
my papa, Francis Martin was the owner of Timely Writer. my family still gets emotional. unfortunately, Francis passed away October of 2009. R.I.P. Timely Writer, Francis Martin, and Johnny Dance.
Timely Writer was the local horse, from here in Massachusetts. He had a huge following. I was 18 years old when this tragedy happened. Omg I just started crying watching this for the first time since that day...Thank you for sharing that with us...RIP to a great champion
i was 13 and just getting into horse racing when i saw this. poor timely writer, first colic kept him out of the Derby as the favorite and then this tragic accident.
Thank you so much posting this. When I was a kid I loved horse racing, and the 70's was an amazing time to be a race fan (Forego!). Timely Writer was the last horse I gave my devotion; a cheap horse, ran out of Massachusetts, and a come from behind style runner, what's not to love? But after he went down my feeling toward racing began to change, John Henry was still running, but after his retirement, I haven't been able to feel the same way about another horse - I wish I could.
I still cannot watch this race. It is a part of the sport that will never go away, no matter what surface they run on. The one sport where the athlete literally puts their life on the line every single time they compete.
I remember Timely Writer. He was a great horse. An operation kept him out of the Derby and the 1982 JCGC was to be his final race. God bless him and your family and the other poor animal Johnny Dance too
Sickening,sad and disgusting that so many of our beloved thoroughbreds have to die..and as we all know, these horrible injuries never end, this was 26 years ago and we all see what still is happening all these years later..RIP Timely Writer and Johnny Dance.
Most thoroughbreds received better care throughout there career than most people and almost all livestock. While I would love to see the day that racing results in no injuries, lets look at high school athletics, college, just driving down the road. Look at animals in the wild, most live very short lives that are full of hardship. Timely Writer was an amazing colt, his owners went to extraordinary lengths, colic surgery was rare at the time, but they did it on the colt. He was great.
i agree, luckily the Breeders Cup had none...Back at you just spooked &tried to jump the fence-i heard he was ok, Indyanne should be ok hopefully..can u upload the 1990 Meadow Star Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies race when u get a chance, thanks.
Unfortunately, breakdowns are the tragic part of horseracing, just like crashes are the tragic part of F1 and NASCAR and Indy Car racing. There are trainers who push their horses too hard, like D. Wayne Lukas, but the vast majority of trainers,and owners love the horses they are charged with taking care of. I can't imagine the horror of losing a member of your "family", like Timely Writer was. I remember the accident very well. You have my condolences, even after all of these years.
I'll never get over this race. I was eleven when I saw this and it almost ruined horse racing for me. He was my favorite horse ever and I had posters of him all over my room. I sat up all night imagining that they were trying to save him but sadly, he had already been put down. I cried for days! So sad.
my papa, Francis Martin was the owner of Timely Writer. my family still gets emotional. unfortunately, Francis passed away October of 2009. R.I.P. Timely Writer, Francis Martin, and Johnny Dance.
Timely Writer was the local horse, from here in Massachusetts. He had a huge following. I was 18 years old when this tragedy happened. Omg I just started crying watching this for the first time since that day...Thank you for sharing that with us...RIP to a great champion
I was 17 in 1982 and followed Timely Writer and was rooting for him in this race. He was going to be retired after this one. I was so sad for him.
i was 13 and just getting into horse racing when i saw this. poor timely writer, first colic kept him out of the Derby as the favorite and then this tragic accident.
Thank you so much posting this. When I was a kid I loved horse racing, and the 70's was an amazing time to be a race fan (Forego!). Timely Writer was the last horse I gave my devotion; a cheap horse, ran out of Massachusetts, and a come from behind style runner, what's not to love? But after he went down my feeling toward racing began to change, John Henry was still running, but after his retirement, I haven't been able to feel the same way about another horse - I wish I could.
I still cannot watch this race. It is a part of the sport that will never go away, no matter what surface they run on. The one sport where the athlete literally puts their life on the line every single time they compete.
Ahh the 80s. They wouldn’t dare show a breakdown like that today.
one of my first racing memories, I still have the Washington Post from that day. Timely Writer was a tragic horse, RIP.
I remember Timely Writer. He was a great horse. An operation kept him out of the Derby and the 1982 JCGC was to be his final race. God bless him and your family and the other poor animal Johnny Dance too
Sickening,sad and disgusting that so many of our beloved thoroughbreds have to die..and as we all know, these horrible injuries never end, this was 26 years ago and we all see what still is happening all these years later..RIP Timely Writer and Johnny Dance.
Most thoroughbreds received better care throughout there career than most people and almost all livestock. While I would love to see the day that racing results in no injuries, lets look at high school athletics, college, just driving down the road. Look at animals in the wild, most live very short lives that are full of hardship. Timely Writer was an amazing colt, his owners went to extraordinary lengths, colic surgery was rare at the time, but they did it on the colt. He was great.
i agree, luckily the Breeders Cup had none...Back at you just spooked &tried to jump the fence-i heard he was ok, Indyanne should be ok hopefully..can u upload the 1990 Meadow Star Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies race when u get a chance, thanks.
Unfortunately, breakdowns are the tragic part of horseracing, just like crashes are the tragic part of F1 and NASCAR and Indy Car racing.
There are trainers who push their horses too hard, like D. Wayne Lukas, but the vast majority of trainers,and owners love the horses they are charged with taking care of.
I can't imagine the horror of losing a member of your "family", like Timely Writer was. I remember the accident very well. You have my condolences, even after all of these years.
Timely Writer was cursed.