Memoirs of a Longshot– - Dogwood Stable

D O G W O O D S T A B L E N E W S L E T T E R
VOL. XXXI No. 2 JUNE 2007
BLOTTO
Winner
(g. 4 by Hennessy–Gleeful)
DRUM MAJOR
Graded Stakes Winner
(c. 5 by Dynaformer–Endless Parade)
PRINCE RAHY
Stakes-placed, Winner
(g. 5 by Rahy–Hishi Lover)
ADMIRAL BIRD
Stakes-placed, Winner
(g. by Royal Academy–Sea Puffin)
BABY CAKES
(f. by Cozzene–Divi)
BATTLE DRUM
(c. by War Chant–Roujoleur)
COTTON BLOSSOM
Graded Stakes Winner
(f. by Broken Vow–For Dixie)
DAN MCGREW
Winner
(c. by Smart Strike–Blushing Maggie)
DOCTOR FREUD
Winner
(c. by Freud–Erv's Duck)
ARCARO
(c. by Fusaichi Pegasus–Nature's Magic)
ATONED
(c. by Repent–Amidst)
BIG WIG
(c. by A.P. Indy–Ruthian)
BLACKBERRY ROAD
(c. by Gone West–Strawberry Reason)
BRIDAL SONG
(f. by Vicar–Bridal Memories)
DUKINFIELD
(c. by Whywhywhy–Miss Bright Lights)
GENDARME
(c. byDeputyMinister–PrincessMitterand)
GIPSY LORE
(f. by Giant's Causeway–Turkish Gipsy)
HACKENSACK
(c. by Hennessy–Affirmed Class)
Roster of Horses
OLDER HORSES
SAINT AUGUSTUS
Stakes Winner
(c. 4 by Saint Ballado–Lorie Darlin)
SINKWICH
Winner
(c. 4 by Trippi–Genuine Goer)
STAN THE MAN
Winner
(c. 4 by Grand Slam–Vivalita)
3-YEAR-OLDS
ELITE STATUS
Winner
(f. by Johannesburg–Bessiepunkindo)
GRANNY FRANNY
(f. by Grand Slam–Franziska)
GRUFFLES
(c. by Mr. Greeley–Darby Shuffle)
HALLOWED HEAT
(c. by El Corredor–Halloween Joy)
HANDS OF STONE
(g. by Two Punch–Mescalina)
MONK
Winner
(g. by Buddha–Comical Cat)
POSCHNER
Stakes-Placed, Winner
(c. by Trippi–Genuine Goer)
2-YEAR-OLDS
HALL OF FAMER
(c. by Grand Slam–Quimper)
HANNA BANANA
(f. by Officer–Native Hanna)
HEARTACHES
(c. by Broken Vow–Phu Cat)
HEPCAT
(c. by Tale of the Cat–Pretty 'n Smart)
HOLIDAZE
(c. by Harlan's Holiday–Katilac Ofthestars)
HUMBLE PIE
(c. by Johannesburg–Humbling)
MASTERSON
(c. by Carson City–Jenna S.)
NULLIFY
(c. by Yes It's True–Disclaimed)
PHILHARMONIC
(c. by Hennessy–Zia Philomena)
THUNDER PASS
Winner
(c. 4 by Thunder Gulch–Lakabi)
TIPPERARY
Winner
(c. 4 by Tiznow–Parsec)
VICARAGE
Graded Stakes Winner
(c. 5 by Vicar–For Dixie)
PROM PARTY
(f. by Pulpit–Prom Knight)
RAHOO
(c. by Rahy–Extry)
SCULLING
(g. by Maria's Mon–Fleet Canoe)
SOARING BY
Winner
(c. by Deputy Minister–Soaring Sultana)
STREET SASS
Winner
(f. by Street Cry–Dissa Six)
ZENFULLY
Winner
(g. by Cozzene–Priceless Storm)
PULLA FAST ONE
(c. by More Than Ready–Pulla Surprise)
SKYWIRE
(c. by Sky Mesa–Capital Request)
SLAMBINO
(c. by Grand Slam–Bloomy)
SONG OF SONGS
(f. by Songandaprayer–Miss Renagade)
TALENTINO
(c. by Aptitude–One Special Lady)
THE EDITOR
(c. by Mr. Greeley–Keepondealing)
TIGEROO
(f. by Hold That Tiger–Barronette)
WINGED WARRIOR
(c. by Fusaichi Pegasus–Hope for Love)
Memoirs
of a Longshot–
An “Inspirational” Tale
By Mary Jane Howell, Editor
Cot’s third book, his autobiography titled
Memoirs of a Longshot …A Riproarious
Life is now available at select bookstores
and through various websites. I can say
we have heard more reader comments
than ever before. Readers find it exciting,
funny, touching, and deeply personal. The
following is my take on life with Longshot.
Cot had actually started writing his
autobiography in November 2005. It had
been three years since Rascals and
Racehorses had been published, and he
was being urged to write again. This book
would be different however; he wanted it
to be an autobiographical work: “My life
has been tragic, funny, inspirational,
rewarding, admirable, shameful, exhilarating,
colorful, important, frustrating,
happy, and entertaining. And I would not
change one iota of it. I think it is worthy of
a book, and I have written this one.” (page
12).
He never wanted it to be just a book
filled with warm and fuzzy tales, instead it
was to be an (astonishingly) truthful account
of a life lived well, (continued on page 3)

Dogwood’s Unrequited
Derby/Oaks of 2007
What might have been! Our dreams, aspirations and passions
could be summed up thusly:
1. Cotton Blossom was making an exciting move up the rail in the
Oaks (with placing, but not winning, in the cards) when a tiring front
runner staggered into her path and nearly put her into the infield.
Miraculously, she suffered no injuries, but definitely this was the end
of our Oaks.
2. Soaring By – Dogwood’s Derby “suspect” – broke through the
gate prior to the start in the Louisiana Derby, dropped the rider and
expended his best efforts in these antics. Later he ran miserably on
Keeneland’s Polytrack – a surface he did not relish. An early Derby
longshot at best, he eventually stamped his report card: “No Derby.”
3. Two Dogwood alumni were among the favorites for the Derby,
and we take great pride in that. Former Dogwood partner Jim Tafel
won it with Street Sense, trained by our old pal Carl Nafzger and ridden
by new American hero, Calvin Borel. Jim and his wife “Gus” are
old friends, and Jim was kind enough to cite us as his mentor in very
complimentary post-victory comments, which were echoed in a
May 16 Daily Racing Form column by Jay Hovdey (see our website).
Anne Campbell’s
KENTUCKY OAKSDiary
Editor’s Note: On previous Breeders’ Cups,
Kentucky Derbies and Saratoga campaigns,
Anne Campbell has kept a diary for our
newsletter. We asked her to take notes during
Oaks/Derby Week in Louisville.
First, a little history: Ten years ago
Dogwood ran in the Kentucky Oaks with
Storm Song. She was Champion Two-Year-
Filly, and she finished third.
Aserious thunderstorm had come through
just as the fillies loaded into the gate. It was
ferocious, and was still causing disarray for
90,000 spectators when they were trying to
get to their cars.
Our daughter Lila and I got separated
from the rest of the family – Cot, Cary and
Andrew. After waiting 45 minutes outside
the front gate, we trudged to the barn.
Meanwhile, they were waiting inside the
same gate thinking we were behind them,
and finally they drove back to the house.
I’ll spare you the details but will tell you
we didn’t find each other for three torturous
hours. The dark clouds overhead could not
compare to the dark states of mind of the
Campbell family. It was one of the truly
stormy days in our family lore!
Journey to this Oaks: Monday, lunch with
Lila in Atlanta, dinner in Nashville with
granddaughter Campbell who is winding up
her freshman year at Vanderbilt.
Tuesday: We arrive at our Louisville destination,
in time for a little tennis at the
Louisville Country Club. Every year we rent
a lovely house on the grounds from a good
2
a
friend who seems to keep it available
just for us. It is heaven!
Trainers’ Dinner (tonight)
where several hundred attendees
are in high spirits celebrating
another Derby together. As you
hear each trainer extolling his/her
horses(s) you are convinced each
one will win.
Wednesday: Early morning at the track,
more people than ever. It’s hard to see the
horses for the people. We used to pick up
donuts and coffee in the press room. Now
there are long lines. Ah, the good ol’ days!
Cotton Blossom looks gorgeous and “floats
over the track” in her gallops.
We drive to Versailles for a delightful visit
with Mack and Martha Miller, cherished
friends and boon companions. Lunch at the
Thoroughbred Club in Lexington with two
other pals, Susan Johnston and Bill Carl.
Back to Louisville. Derby fever is rising!
This town knows how to showcase a big
weekend. The Mayor announced there were
4,000 volunteers helping stage the events.
Thursday: Rain, rain – we have it this
morning and it is guaranteed for tomorrow.
Cotton Blossom’s exercise rider says she relishes
the muddy track. Very good news.
Lunch at the Speed Museum; dinner with
the Oreffices; Campbell and Lila reminiscing
about past races, anticipating tomorrow’s.
Friday: Oaks Day…Déjà vu! We wake up
to gloomy skies and rain. Undaunted, Lila,
Campbell and I make an early morning pil-
Soaring By jumps the gun at the start of the Louisiana Derby.
The owner of the sparkling (but unplaced) Nobiz Like Shobiz is
Elizabeth Valando, widow of Tommy Valando. They too started with
Dogwood, and won an Eclipse Award with us: Inlander, Champion
Steeplechaser of 1986.
We salute Jim Tafel and Elizabeth Valando and their splendid colts.
In the meantime, read Anne’s Oaks Diary (launched in a cloud of
optimism) for more on Dogwood’s Oaks luck.
Smiles in the rain (but feet in the mud!) before the Oaks –
Cot, Lila (Campbell) Tindall, Campbell Glenn, and Anne.
grimage to the backside. It’s relatively quiet,
the calm before the storm, literally (as it turns
out). Back home to get dressed. We forego
fashionista aspirations in favor of pragmatism
and comfort as black clouds roll in and
the rain picks up momentum.
We’re all swathed in rain gear (our “good”
shoes carried in plastic bags) to make our traditional
walk (half-mile) from the barn to the
paddock. No umbrellas allowed, so no hat for
me.You wouldn’t believe the sea of mud. Cot
almost lost a shoe in the quagmire. But I
wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It’s a
unique, rarified experience.
Then… waiting, waiting, waiting for six
hours packed with nerves, suspense, nerves,
food, nerves, mint juleps, well wishers,
friends and more nerves. BIG FUN!?!?
And finally the big race. All over for us
when Cotton Blossom gets “sawed off” (as
trainer Todd Pletcher put it) by another filly
and loses all chance as she is driving up the
rail. Such a build up for such a letdown.
That’s racing. We briefly lick our wounds,
then make our muddy trek back to the car as
the storm really lets loose.
Two Oaks, two losses, two storms. At
least we went through this one together!
© SKIP DICSTEIN

Longshot (continued from page 1)
and sometimes not so well! Cot is an alcoholic and he does not shy
away from the early tales of despair – being locked out of his room
at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, losing several vehicles
during a three-day period in Atlanta, the list is actually quite long!
Cot’s candidness about his alcoholism and how it affected all parts
of his life has touched so many readers in these early stages of the
book’s release.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“an indelible memoir of a life lived
in grand and gracious style.”
–Jay Hovdey
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
By the time Saratoga (August 2006) rolled around, Cot was in editing
mode. He took the transcript with him, making corrections after
full mornings at the barn and before afternoon racing.
Cot’s aim was to have the book out by Spring ’ 07 – he made it!
How do you sum up “the meat” of Memoirs of a Longshot? Ed
Bowen, President of the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation, said it this
way: “Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable has been a mainstay in the
world of horse racing for many years. The rollicking tale of how this
came to be, and the personal travails overcome to make it so, is at
times harrowing and sad, but ultimately uplifting and joyous.”
Cot already has had several book signings in Dogwood’s home
town ofAiken, and two in Kentucky – at Keeneland and the Bluegrass
Festival of Books. He’s also had signings in Fort Worth and Palm
Beach. A book signing at Belmont is in the works and there will be
several at Saratoga. On Cot’s website – www.cotcampbell.com – there
is a list of signings on the “Appearances” page.
Memoirs of a Longshot ($32.99 hard cover and $22.99 soft cover)
is available at select bookstores, through the publisher’s website –
www.xlibris.com – as well as www.amazon.com and www.exclusivelyequine.com.
Xlibris also has a toll free number: 1-888-795-4274.
Campbell Inducted into SC Hall of Fame
What do John Heisman, Althea Gibson,
Dan Reeves, Doc Blanchard, Joe Frazier,
Cale Yarborough, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson,
and our own Cot Campbell have in common?
They are all members of the South Carolina
Athletic Hall of Fame.
Cot was inducted into the Hall of Fame as
part of the Class of 2007 at a ceremony in
Columbia on May 21. He is the fourth horseman
in the Hall of Fame – the others include
trainers Max Hirsch and Frank Whiteley, Jr.,
and owner Marion duPont Scott.
Begun in 1960, the Hall of Fame has
members drawn from a wide variety of sports
disciplines “to honor those who, by outstanding
achievement or service, have made lasting
contributions to the cause of sports in
South Carolina, the nation, and the world.”
“For this surprising honor, I am indebted
to some fine racehorses, and their ability,
courage and class. I do not think my personal
athletic prowess had much to do with it!” said
Cot upon receiving the news of his induction.
Cot was named “Man of the Year” by the
Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce at its
annual awards banquet earlier in the year.
Cot Campbell displays his SC Athletic Hall
of Fame plaque - and his "members only"
jacket - at the induction ceremony.
It’s Time Again…
Dogwood Dominion Award
Nominations Sought
We’ve had a steward, jock’s agent, track photographer, parking
lot attendant, and a horse identifier win. We’ve awarded $70,000
since 1993 and our luncheon at Saratoga is an eagerly awaited
event. We are – of course – talking about the Dogwood Dominion
Award, now in its 15th year! It is time to begin our search for a new
unsung hero within the Thoroughbred industry and nominations are
now being accepted.
This year’s winner will be honored at a luncheon on August 1 at
the Saratoga Reading Rooms and presented with a $5,000 check and
a bronze statue of Dominion. Judges for this award are Anne
Campbell, Penny Chenery and Jay Hovdey.
The award was inspired by the multiple stakes winner Dominion,
who was campaigned by Dogwood Stable in the 1970s and then
went on to become five-time Champion Sire in England. Upon
Dominion’s death in 1993, Dogwood created the award to recognize
the industry’s unsung heroes – the behind-the-scenes men and
women who work to create a positive influence in their work environment.
Nominees should be individuals who have had a positive effect
on the racing/breeding environment in which they are involved.
Previous winners are H.W. “Salty” Roberts, Howard “Gelo” Hall,
Peggy Sprinkles, Grace Belcuore, Nick Caras, Donald “Peanut
Butter” Brown, Danny Perlsweig, Katherine Todd Smith, Julian
“Buck” Wheat, Jim Greene and Shirley Edwards, Neftali Gutierrez,
Pam Berg, Jo Anne Normile, and Pete Lizarzaburu.
Nominations should be received no later than June 25 and be
mailed or faxed to: Mary Jane Howell, Dogwood Stable, P.O. Box
1549, Aiken, SC 29802. Fax: 803-642-2747. A nominating form can
be found on the stable’s website: www.dogwoodstable.com.
Calling all Writers
We currently have 54 horses
on our Dogwood roster, and the
person who can come up with the
most unique story using the
names will be the winner of our
newest contest. It may be difficult
to use all the names, but try your
best! The winner will receive
signed copies of Cot Campbell’s
three books…and we will publish
the story in our next Dogwood
newsletter. The deadline for this
literary contest is August 6.
So, you can use some “Gipsy
Lore,” or write that “Song of
Songs,” but know that “The
Editor” is waiting for your submissions!
✍
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11
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In Aiken… 1) Two racing luminaries: Lenny Hale and jockey Eddie Maple, at the Trials. 2) Chic tailgaters: Duddie Sterling,
Nancy Thurmond, Donna Ritter and intruder. 3) Dogwood’s Suzanne Davila, flanked by daughter Brandi and longtime Dogwood
partner Judge Robert “Bodip” Sparks. 4) Two boulevardiers: J. T. Sadler and Dogwood treasurer Bill Victor. 5) Aiken color –
Jack Wetzel’s rig before the races. 6) Webster’s definition of “cute” – Mallory Gore, in Stonerside colors. 7) Todd Pletcher and Bob
McNair (Houston Texans and Stonerside Stable) flank an unidentified midget. 8) Distinguished Aiken visitors Jim and Diana Perella.
9) At a Longshot book signing, an earnest literary discussion. Author and Carter Copeland. 10) Michael, Lorraine and Madeleine
Bimonte after a visit to Hanna Banana. 11) Clem and Hayes Clement, “masked marvel,” Kim and Triska Taylor. Situation defies explanation!
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At the races and other locales… 12) Bone’s Steak House, Atlanta. Cindy and Jack Rooker, Anne, Cot, Carolyn Wilson. “Cropper” is
Bruce Wilson 13) Hockey legend Rod Gilbert and Hall of Fame Jockey Angel Cordero before Louisiana Derby. 14) Ocala sale. Paul and
Carol Collins. 15) At Joe’s Stone Crabs: Campbells and Oreffices. 16) Mark Grier and Todd Pletcher. 17) Frank and Linda Alexander, Ron
Stevens. 18) Ladies of the Fourth Estate – Dede Biles and Jennie Reese – flank Anne at Keeneland. 19) Mary Jane Howell, Cotton Blossom,
Cot – Oaklawn Park. 20) Result Line in progress – Jack Sadler at work in a limousine in Arkansas. 21) Palm Beach book signing/luncheon at
the gorgeous Mar-A-Lago: Anne, Cot (signer), John and Annette Ahern, Bentley and Joanie Smith (he of Unbridled fame). 22) Y.P.O. (Young
Presidents’Organization) book signing, speech at Lone Star Park, Fort Worth. Stephanie and Bourke Harvey, Anne, Robert Dozier, and author.
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At the Oaks and Derby… 23) Sam Huff, Gary Biszantz and Paul Oreffice. 24) Famed actor/playwright Sam Shepard and Cot.
25) Marylou Whitney (right) keeps Jo Ann Oreffice anchored at post-Derby party. 26) Bill Lussky provides champagne for three
generations of Campbell women – Anne, Lila and Campbell. 27) Before the Oaks: Carl Myers, Howie Ulfelder, Anne, Dick Kelso,
John Bitzer, Lila Tindall. 28) Lukas and Oreffice. 29) Derby chapeaux (on unidentified man) delights Lila Tindall. 30) Glamorous
couple Lori and Carl Peterson (president, Kansas City Chiefs). 31) Holding the roses – Dawn and Dick Kelso. 32) Retired
Churchill Downs president Tom Meeker and Cot – morning on the backside. 33) Carl and Cathleen Myers.
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Interview with Leslie Jordan
Editor’s Note: Leslie Jordan has won an
Emmy Award for his work as Beverly Leslie
on Will and Grace, been a presenter at the
Eclipse Awards, was an exercise rider for ten
years under the tutelage of the Hall of Fame
trainer Horatio Luro, and for one season he
broke yearlings at Dogwood Farm. A great
talker and comedian, Leslie gave us a wonderful
interview recently via the telephone –
while having breakfast in Hollywood.
You grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
tell us about your love of horses and how
you ended up at Dogwood.
When I was four all I wanted for Christmas
was a pony. That Christmas under the tree
was a little saddle. My Dad said, “Maybe
there’s something that Santa Claus couldn’t
fit down the chimney. We better go look outside.”
I ran to the window and in the backyard
was the fattest, furriest, cutest little
Shetland pony. His name was Midnight and
I had him until I was 14. I did the horse show
scene growing up and then I went off to college.
I didn’t know what I wanted to do – so
I decided to take a break and try working
with horses. I had heard about Old Mill
Farm, which was an hour away. They
weren’t hiring, but they suggested Cot
Campbell. This was pretty early in Cot’s
career. He was starting the whole partnership
idea and it was a real exciting time.
Any stories you could tell us about Cot
Campbell and the farm?
Cot was around there, but not all the time.
I remember thinking that he was such a gentleman.
He was like a Real Gentleman
Horseman. You know, he would greet everybody
when he came to the farm. The
Dogwood office was in Atlanta, and that’s
where he and his family lived as well.
On the farm I would be one of the first on
a horse’s back. First you slowly lay across
the horse, then perhaps the next day you
slide your right leg over and slowly sit up. I
was like a squirrel. I’ve had horses go
straight up in the air. I’ve crawled walls like
Spiderman. I don’t know how I did it! The
scariest feeling is to be up on a yearling, a
baby, and they go up and they begin to lose
their balance, it’s a slow kind of fall.
You went from Dogwood to Belmont Park –
what were those years like?
I went to work for Horatio Luro and
became good friends with his grandson,
Billy Wright. Mr. Luro was quite a character.
He dated movie stars like Lana Turner, you
just wouldn’t believe the pictures in the
Luro’s cottage on Belmont’s backstretch
where I lived – Mr. Luro’s whole history.
I was really not the best exercise rider. In
fact, I was probably the worst, but I was so
personable. The horses would get away from
me a lot in the morning. I just didn’t really
have the strength. I was in over my head! I
remember one time Mrs. Luro came to me
and said, “I’m going to ask you something
that is way beyond the call of duty. Horatio
is insisting on driving his Jaguar from New
York to Florida, and I want you to ride with
him.” I said, “Oh Mrs. Luro that would just
be hair-raising.” He had driven race cars and
took part in the “24 Hours at Le Mans.” He
still thought he could drive like that at the
age of 83. We made it though.
You went from Belmont Park to Hollywood.
What made you want to take up acting?
Well, I really wanted to be a jockey, not
just be an exercise rider. And I guess I realized
that was not going to happen. I’m 4’11”
and a solid 125. I was going to have to diet
all the time. I just couldn’t take the weight
off. and ended up sick and back in
Chattanooga. I went back to school to study
journalism because I always wanted to write.
I took Introduction to Theater to get an elective
out of the way. We did these improvisations,
and I was good, I had everybody
laughing – I’m telling you it hit me like a
drug. I went that afternoon to the head of the
Theater Department, and said “I’ve found
what I want to do.” I graduated in two years.
I headed to Hollywood on a bus, with
$1,200 sewn in my underpants. I had never
been on a bus in my life, and I thought it was
kind of like church camp where you would
stop at night and everyone would get out and
go to a motel! Thirty-six hours later I was in
Texarkana crying on the phone to my mother.
I thought the trip was going to be glamorous!
I stepped off the bus a block from
Hollywood and Vine, with a suitcase and my
dreams. All I could see was sky, and I
thought, “That’s how big my dreams are.”
Tell us about your early years in Hollywood.
I arrived in Hollywood in 1982, the year a
wonderful character actor named Clara Peller
made famous the line, “Where’s the beef?”
Suddenly there was a whole new era of commercials
and everybody wanted people with
funny faces and accents. I worked for the first
five or six years doing nothing but commercials.
I made a wonderful living. I was the
Bell taco, I was the guy who bought the gas
that made the car knock, or I would be mowing
my lawn with the smoking lawn mower.
I was never the hero. I worked and worked.
Sometimes I would have 17 commercials
running nationally.
My break came when I did this funny part
on Murphy Brown. My agent called the next
day and said, “I’ve heard of people getting
breaks, but I’ve never seen anything like this.
Leslie Jordan…from exercise rider
to Emmy Award winner.
My phone is ringing off the wall. This morning,
Steven Spielberg saw it. He wants to
bring you in for an audition. Burt Reynolds
saw it and wants you maybe do something
with his wife Loni Anderson.” I was like the
Golden Boy and I’ve worked ever since.
Do you have a favorite role?
My favorite role would be Beverly Leslie
on Will and Grace. They had written a part
for Joan Collins. They wanted her to steal
Rosario, the maid, away from Megan
Mullally’s character (Karen Walker). They
were going to have a Dynasty cat fight across
the billiard table and pull each other’s wigs
off. At the last minute Joan Collins’ people
said “You cannot pull Ms. Collins’ wig off.”
They said, “That’s the whole joke.” And so
they fired her. My agent called and said
“Leslie, they want a funny little sort of
Truman Capote. Put on that white suit that
John Ritter gave you.” John Ritter had given
me a white linen suit when we worked
together years ago on Hearts Afire. Anyway,
I walked in wearing my white suit, and I was
chattering away like a magpie. They didn’t
even audition me. One of them looked over
and said “He’s it.” I did one episode and they
called me back and I did another. I ended up
doing four a year and then won an Emmy.
What was is like to win an Emmy Award?
They actually presented my award the
week before, at the Creative Arts Emmy
Awards which are the “behind the scenes”
awards. I flew my mother out first-class –
she had a gorgeous dress, we arrived in a
limo…and there wasn’t a star in sight. I was
thinking, “Poor mom, all she wants is to see
some movie stars.” But we had a wonderful
time. Then the show’s producers called and
said, “We want you as a presenter at the big
Emmys.” So I called my mother, who had to
get another dress, but this time around she
saw lots of stars!
For the entire interview go to www.dogwoodstable.com
7

© PHOTO BY Z
Limehouse, who was a graded stakes
winner and earned $1,110,433 in purses
while racing in Dogwood colors, has been
a proud papa (over 100 times) this year!
Shown below is his first foal, born at Fares
Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, on January
7. The colt’s dam is Fit to Win (Fit to
Fight). Limehouse was bred to 142 mares
his first season at stud (what a way to start
off his retirement!).
Limehouse’s first foal.
* * *
We often receive interesting requests
for information, but two emails from a local
girl gave us a good chuckle. The first one
read: “I have wanted to race my whole life.
Is there any way I can get on a thoroughbred
and at least canter or trot him?”
Mary Jane Howell let her down easily,
explaining in an email that Dogwood’s horses
were galloped and worked by professional
exercise riders. She was curious, however,
about the age of the writer – a female named
Hannah who lives down the road from the
training track. The mystery was quickly
solved by the next email in the correspondence:
“I am 12 years old. My dad says I
can’t be a jockey till I am 28. Is that true?”
* * *
We were startled at the end of March
when the front page of the Aiken Standard
read “Bowery statue missing” and there was
a photo of our Dogwood Stable lawn jockey!
Why does someone “steal” a lawn jockey…and
one with such identifiable colors?
This particular jockey has been in place at
the West Side Bowery for four years. He was
a companion to our Horseplay horse and the
pair were often photographed in the restaurant’s
picturesque courtyard. But, in the dead
of night, the little (but very, very heavy!) fellow
was whisked away to parts unknown.
In a matter of days a gracious local
couple – Wesley and Barbara Gunter –
offered up a replacement statue. We all hope
he sticks around!
Editor’s Notebook
And the Winner Is….
We knew that the contest announced in our last newsletter
– naming the 73 individuals portrayed in Peb’s
“Canvas of Stars” mural – would be difficult. We were
right! No one had all 73 names correct, but Carl and
Cathleen Myers came the closest.
The couple will soon reap the reward of their hard
work – a dinner for four at Gallagher’s Steak House in
New York City – with Peb! Carl and Cathleen are currently
involved with five different Dogwood horses, including
Cotton Blossom.
We got a kick out of hearing that many people actually formed “committees” to work
on the mural – some people were experts in sports, while others had an easier time identifying
stars of the movies and theater. There was a lot of positive feedback – and we’re glad
that we had such a wonderful response to the contest.
To view the mural and its key, please visit our website – www.dogwoodstable.com.
* * *
Dogwood Stable and West Point
Thoroughbreds shared the same winner’s
circle at Gulfstream Park in February – when
our own Anne Campbell presented the trophy
to West Point’s Terry Finley, after
Dream Rush won the Old Hat Stakes.
The equine Anne Campbell had won the
inaugural running of the Old Hat Stakes in
1976. Cot andAnne were at Gulfstream Park
for a day of racing on February 10, and when
track publicist Mike Mullaney discovered
they were there, he put together the trophy
presentation. This time around a different
Anne Campbell was in the winner’s circle!
Dogwood did not have a runner in the race.
Note Anne Campbell presenting the trophy. If you want to
find out why, read the preceding story!
DOGWOOD
STABLE, INC.
* * *
One of Dogwood’s dearest friends, Rev.
John Yates, made a return trip to Aiken in
April to spend a few days “hanging around”
the barn.Yates is the senior pastor of The Falls
Church, and met the Campbells through their
daughter Cary Umhau, whose family attends
his church in the Washington suburb of Falls
Church, Virginia.
His congregation is composed of about
2,500 members, and he is the author of several
books. Yates relaxes by spending time with
horses. During a sabbatical a few years ago,
he came to Aiken and “worked” under the
watchful eye of Dogwood’s trainer Ron
Stevens. Although he didn’t groom or hot
walk this time, he did have a
chance to catch up with the
latest crop of two-year-olds
and renew friendships with
both the barn and office.
* * *
Our Dogwood partner
and friend Audrey
Nelson passed away in
March. Audrey was a
race tracker at heart and
was a frequent visitor to
Gulfstream Park and
Saratoga. Of her many
Dogwood runners, the
stakes winner Summer
Rainbow perhaps gave
her the biggest thrills.
W. Cothran Campbell, President
Mary Jane Howell, Newsletter Editor
Address: Post Office Box 1549
Aiken, South Carolina 29802
Tel: (803) 642-2972 Fax: (803) 642-2747
E-mail: office@dogwoodstable.com
Internet address: http://www.dogwoodstable.com