port conway lane ...wow

[bayrabicano]

Not sure if he's been mentioned ...but the 1969 son of Bold Commander ran until he was 14 and raced 242 times hitting the board 127 times and earning $431k.

Any connections on the forum? I would be interested in any stories about this horse.

[TJ]

Not sure if he's been mentioned ...but the 1969 son of Bold Commander ran until he was 14 and raced 242 times hitting the board 127 times and earning $431k.

Any connections on the forum? I would be interested in any stories about this horse.

Hi bayrabicano,
I actually did see this gray gelding race:>) Port Conway Lane was trained (most of his career) by a man who was as durable as this horse....King Leatherbury. He's near 80 now and still training. Never really ventured far from the his Maryland circuit, which may account for him not making the hall of fame... but he was a very respected trainer, who currently has amassed 35,168 starts with 6,358 wins, 5,151 seconds and 4.510 thirds earning a total of $60,008,362 during his long and still active career. Maryland was a lively, tough circuit back then, with good trainers like Buddy Delp, Dick Dutrow, John Tammaro and King Leatherbury going head to head daily.
Getting back to Port Conway Lane...he was bought by his owner (because he was gray) who never noticed the horse had a bowed tendon. He also developed a tumor in the center of his head....but that didn't keep him from winning all those races. He was somewhat of a celebrity back in the day...his story was national news, being in Sports Illustrated and the NY Times. He was even on Good Morning America with Charles Kuralt!
As amazing as Port's career was, here's a couple more that were also quite unique. A horse named Hiblaze (who I'm happy to say I never saw run:>), made a record 406 starts in his 14 year career winning 79 times and Time To Bid with 50 wins in 179 starts during his 12 year career.
OK, Just found that old SS article about Port....so I'll let you read it for yourself. TJ
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/ ... /index.htm

[Blue feather]

My love for racing started with Port Conway Lane. Our family had a box in the clubhouse of Laurel during PCL's career.The box was next to W Stokes the owner of Port Conway Lane. It was an event when he ran. He had a tremendous following. PCL had the heart of a champion and always ran hard. There is a terrific article on him in a fairly recent issue of the Mid Atlantic thoroughbred magazine. PCL's durability and desire is unmatched. Here is link.
http:midatlanticb.com/cms/index.php/archived-news/145-iron-horses

[Barn 31 T-breds]

In the late 60's through the 70's there were three horses who always seemed to be racing against each other - Port Conway Lane, Lexington Park, and Dot's Imp.

They all basically raced in Maryland and among the three of them they won nearly 150 races.

The horses changed hands many times over the years. I worked for Dick Dutrow during a period when he trained Lexington Park.

Ol' Lex actually made it into the 80's, and made his last start at 17.

They don't make horses like those anymore.....

[TJ]

They don't make horses like those anymore.....

Hi Barn,
You're right, they don't make horse's or trainer's like that anymore:>) How about King's Swan, he came a couple years after Lexington Park quit racing....King's Swan raced till he was a ten year old and won a number of stakes along the way after Dick Dutrow claimed him. TJ