Trainer of Alydar in thrilling 1978 Triple Crown, Hall of Famer John Veitch dies
Random notes:
▪ In the memorable 1978 Triple Crown series, Calumet Farm’s Alydar finished second to Harbor View Farm’s Affirmed in all three races by a grand total of approximately 2 lengths.
Alydar’s Hall of Fame trainer John Veitch died Tuesday at his home in Lexington. Veitch was 77. Under Veitch’s guidance, Alydar won six Grade 1 races, including the 1978 Travers Stakes. Alydar was Thoroughbred racing’s leading sire in 1990.
The son of Hall of Fame trainer Sylvester Veitch, John Veitch won 410 races, including 76 graded stakes, with such horses as Davona Dale, Proud Truth, Before Dawn, Our Mims and Sunshine Forever. Alydar did beat Affirmed three times, including the Travers.
Veitch also served as chief steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission until he was suspended and then fired in 2011 over his handling of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup. Veitch fought the suspension through 2016.
▪ ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has Kentucky quarterback Will Levis headed to the Las Vegas Raiders as the seventh overall pick in April’s draft.
“He has a huge arm to drive the ball downfield to Davante Adams, and at 232 pounds, he is a strong runner on designed rushes and scrambles,” writes McShay. “Levis has experience with pro-style concepts, too, and his ceiling is sky high. But can Coach Josh McDaniels clean up Levis’ turnovers (23 interceptions over the past two years) and maximize his traits? That will be the biggest question for the team that ultimately picks Levis.”
▪ The Cincinnati Bengals caught a huge break when the Arizona Cardinals passed on hiring defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo as their head coach.
▪ Congrats to former UK quarterback Maxwell Smith, who has been named quarterbacks coach at Eastern Kentucky under Walt Wells.
▪ Former UK tight end Bobby Blizzard is reportedly the new wide receivers coach at FCS program Hampton.
▪ If you missed it, Kentucky running back Ramon Jefferson has been granted a seventh year of eligibility. The transfer from Sam Houston State tore his ACL in UK’s 2022 opener against Miami (Ohio). He has the potential to be a valuable piece in Liam Coen’s offense in 2023.
▪ Former Kentucky offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is the new offensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes. Dawson called plays for Mark Stoops in 2015. After three seasons (2016-18) as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss, Dawson reunited with former boss Dana Holgorsen at Houston.
▪ Runners-up in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Kentucky men’s tennis team is off to a 10-0 start, including a win over defending national champ Virginia, going into this weekends ITA National Indoor Tournament in Chicago. As the No. 2 seed, UK plays No. 15 seed Florida on Friday.
▪ Update: After transferring from Kentucky, Bryce Hopkins is averaging 16.8 points and 9.2 rebounds for Providence basketball. Hopkins scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the 24th-ranked Friars’ 94-86 double-overtime win over No. 18 Creighton on Tuesday night.
▪ After a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in Auburn’s blowout 89-56 win over visiting Missouri on Tuesday, Morehead State transfer Johni Broome is averaging 13.7 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Tigers.
▪ By the way, I have no idea who is the best team in college basketball right now. This season is as wide open nationally as we’ve seen.
▪ It’s Mike Bobo 2.0 at Georgia. With Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator Todd Monken headed to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart promoted Bobo to play-caller. The former UGA quarterback was previously Georgia’s offensive coordinator from 2007-14. It will be difficult matching Monken’s success.
▪ Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari said on his radio show Monday that his team was in the same spot as North Carolina a year ago. UK was 16-9 and 7-5 in the SEC heading into Wednesday night’s game at Mississippi State. Through 25 games last season, UNC was 18-7 overall and 10-4 in the ACC before advancing all the way to the NCAA Tournament championship game.
▪ Victory Formation is the favorite for Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The Risen Star offers 50 points to the winner for this year’s Kentucky Derby.
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