2001 Horse Racing Season Recap
Point Given Misses Out on History
Looking back, 2001 Preakness and Belmont stakes winner Point Given was probably thoroughbred racing's best shot at a Triple Crown champion in more than two decades.
The 3-year-old colt, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, had a marvelous, but brief, 13-race career. A career that would have been described as historic if not for a disappointing fifth-place finish in a wild Kentucky Derby.
Starting from the 17th, and last, post on May 5, Point Given couldn't keep up with the blistering pace set by Monarchos, who became the first Derby winner to run a sub two-minute race since Secretariat.
Point Given rebounded with four straight victories in $1 million races, including a strong run at the Preakness and a more than 12-length victory in the Belmont Stakes. But like so many great recent champion 3-year-olds, Point Given was forced to retire before the end of the season due to injury.
Another Triple Crown season in the books and the champion drought reached 23 years, the second longest span in history.
In late October, Tiznow became the first horse in history to win back-to-back Breeders' Cup Classic titles. Once again Chris McCarron was on board to ride the defending champion to victory in the $4 million race.
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