Silver Charm: One of Horse Racing's Greatest

Silver Charm was born in 1994, by Silver Buck out of a Poker mare named Bonnie's Poker. His pedigree is unremarkable, though his sire's sire is Buckpasser, a famous name in horse racing history. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, he was at first an unremarkable 2 year old, losing the first time out. He then went on to win his next two starts, including his first stakes win, the Del Mar Futurity. This was enough to get the gears of the Derby bus going in Bob Baffert's mind. He had lost the closest Derby in decades the year before, when Cavonnier missed by a nose to Grindstone, and he was hot to get back to Churchill and avenge the loss.

In 1997, when Silver Charm won his first start of the year easily, the rest of the world climbed on the Derby bus with Baffert. After all, the Lewises, the owners of Silver Charm, were popular names in the horse racing world, and Baffert was a charismatic and amiable fellow. Many were rooting for him the year before, and were hoping to see his luck change this time around. However, when his victory was followed by two losses to the colt Free House, many wondered if he was really as good as that first victory had made him seem.

Still, Baffert and the Lewises knew their colt had the stuff, and their confidence combined with their popularity made the grey colt a popular choice. He proved his mettle in that race, holding on to win by a gritty head over the fast-closing Captain Bodgit. A jubilant Baffert went on to Preakness with his sturdy Derby winner. Silver Charm won one of the best Preaknesses of the ages, prevailing in a stretch duel over not one but two opponents! Both Free House and Captain Bodgit tried to get past the brave Silver Charm, but neither could match the grey colt's bravery, and he moved on to the Belmont with the Triple Crown in his reach.

Silver Charm was one of the most popular racehorses in years. Time and Newsweek did articles on the big grey, and Baffert, Gary Stevens, and the Lewises were media darlings. However, on many racing shows, they showed a big bay colt that had run in the Preakness, stumbled at the start, and was running like gangbusters at the end. "With a little more distance..." these shows said ominously, "this colt would've won." The colt was running in the Belmont, and his name was Touch Gold.

Unlike many predictions, the racing gurus proved right this year, and Touch Gold denied Silver Charm his Triple Crown. It was a devastating blow to the gunmetal grey's fans, but they had faith he'd be back, and they were right.

He came back in December to finish second in the Malibu, and followed that up with three wins, including an amazing win in the Dubai World Cup over the European star, Swain. Something was definitely different after his Dubai trip, however, as he just didn't run back to form. He still managed wins in the Kentucky Cup Classic (a dead heat with Wild Rush), the Clark Handicap, the San Pasqual, and the Goodwood (where he defeated Free House again), but he lost the Breeder's Cup Classic in an odd way, and then when he ran again at the age of five, he had definitely lost his luster. He won the San Pasqual, but lost two other races, and the Lewises realized he was tired. They retired him in style, and it was agreed he would go to Three Chimney's Farm, one of the premier Kentucky breeding grounds.

However, after lackluster breeding interest in the noble horse, an agreement was reached with Shizunai Stallion Station for the bold grey to be sent there. Because of the death of the great Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand, Silver Charm's sale includes a buyback agreement, should his current owners ever decide they are no longer interested in keeping him. It is still a shame that one of our greatest Derby winners of the 20th century has gone to Japan.

In 2007, it was announced that Silver Charm was elected to Racing's Hall of Fame. He will be inducted in a ceremony on August 6th, 2007.