Thursday, February 12, 2015

In 1973, Two Exceptional Events occurred

In 1973, Two Exceptional Events occurred

Records for each event were established that will never be matched or broken.
It was a time of hippies, commies, Watergate and the Vietnam war.
It was a time of national uncertainty. Our country was in need of super-heroes and displays of excellence.

Greatness is hard to define or put in words, but we recognize it when we witness it at the Olympics or in skate-boarding. Some call greatness “defining moments”. As competitive humans we put one before the other in every competitive endeavor. We even try to compare distinctively different sports and proclaim one as more important than the other. Man will compete almost anything that moves. 

 Authors are accused of exaggeration and bias in calling something or someone  “the best” or “the greatest”. Readers take exception with their own alternative claims.

Some individuals transcend their games with accomplishments that make them icons in their sport with “one-name” or “nick-name’ recognition.

The test of time and statistical comparison, either enhances or diminished their legendary status. Tradition, tougher competition and faster times are each part of the conditions we use to evaluate and compare.

In 1973, both athletes were perfect measurement conformation examples for their breeds, structurally built to perform the tasks they were bred for. Both had passionate owners and trainers who had prepared to win.

Both had proven pedigrees that foretold their success. Their breeders knew that they would have the special attributes needed to compete at the highest levels, if they were given the opportunity and placed with the right owners and trainers.


SECRETARIAT
June 19, 1973
Belmont Park, Elmont, New York

The first Triple Crown Champion in 25 years, setting race records in all three stakes:

The Kentucky Derby (1:59.4)
 The only derby winner to ever break 2 minutes.

 The Preakness (1:53)

 The Belmont (2:24)
 “Big Red” set a World Record Time on a 1 ½ mile dirt track beat his rivals by
31 lengths. It is still two full seconds better than earlier challengers. The 2 3/5 seconds by which he broke Gallant Man’s 16-year-old track record was the equivalent of 13 lengths.

Secretariat also broke the record of the Kentucky Derby; and 39 years after the Preakness, it was determined that he broke that record also, although officials disallowed the proven claim. He accomplished a series of record wins that no other horse will ever match.

Secretariat is a member of the US Racing Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

Breeder/Owner of Record: Christopher T. Chenery
Owner: Penny Chenery - Trainer: Lucien Lauren - Groom: Eddie Sweat - Jockey: Ron Turcotte           


PACOLET CHEYENNE SAM & Rick Smith

January 18, 1973
Ardmore, Oklahoma

“Sam” the only Brittany to compete against pointers and setters and win the Three Hour INTERNATIONAL ENDURANCE SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP.

Coupled with Sam’s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP; NATIONAL SPECIALTY;
U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP; ABC PHEASANT CLASSIC and AMERICAN & CANADIAN DUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, winning this stake opened the eyes of all bird dog enthusiasts. He accomplished a series of record wins that no dog will ever match.          


The events leading to Sam’s win are as important as the win itself.

This was not a lucky win. It was a dedicated effort on the part of Sam’s trainer/handler and owner to compete against the very best bird dogs at the highest level.

Sam’s Timeline:

February 2, 1970
American Field 03/14/70 page 326 – United States Open Brittany Championship
Conducted 02/14/70 – Winner Pacolet Cheyenne Sam

November 1970
American Brittany Club National Specialty – Best of Breed Pacolet Cheyenne Sam
November 1970
American Brittany Club National Open Championship
The infamous Judge Chet does not see the birds. Pacolet Cheyenne Sam does not win and handler Rick Smith does not run trial dogs for 6 months.
There have been 3 judges at the Brittany Nationals ever since this happened.

November 1971
American Field – January #1 page 6 –
ABC National Open Championship won by Pacolet Cheyenne Sam
The only dog of any breed to win its National Field and Show Championships

American Field 12/25/71 – page 891 – Texas Open Championship – 70 entries
69 pointers and setters, 1 Brittany - Pacolet Cheyenne Sam
Winner Easy Jed – handled by Dean Lord

February 2, 1972
American Field page 218 – National Open Shooting Dog Championship (1 ½ hour heats)
68 pointers and setters, 1 Brittany - Pacolet Cheyenne Sam
Winner Easy Jed – handled by Dean Lord

October 13, 1972
Greater Oklahoma Open Shooting Association
23 entries pointers and setters, won by Pacolet Cheyenne Sam

Arkansas Open Shooting Dog Classic
Conway, Arkansas, 01/05/73 - 43 entries,
Winner- Pacolet Cheyenne Sam
Runner-up - Himself
Jan 18, 1973

International Endurance Shooting Dog Championship
Ran 01/18/73 at Ardmore, Oklahoma
            Winner – Pacolet Cheyenne Sam in 5th brace.
            Runner-up – Himself in the 6th brace.


February 3, 1973
Texas Coastal Brittany Club Open All-Age
30 entries –Winner Pacolet Cheyenne Sam

February 23, 1973
Stillwater Brittany Club Open All Age – 52 entries
Winner Pacolet Cheyenne Sam


September 1973 Upper New York Brittany Club Open All Age – 30 entries
Winner Pacolet Cheyenne Sam

1973 American Brittany Club Pheasant Classic at Camp Adair, Oregon – 28 entries
Winner Pacolet Cheyenne Sam

Sidebars:

Pacolet Cheyenne Sam was the first dog of any breed other than a pointer or setter to be featured as the color insert in the Christmas Issue of the American Field.

He is a member of both the ABC Hall of Fame & the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame.

Pacolet Cheyenne Sam is a 4th generation Dual Champion and  a 6th generation ABC Hall of Fame member.

Delmar Smith handled Sam to his first Open All-Age at Stillwater Brittany Club.

Sam was shown briefly the US and Canada, winning 24 Best of Breeds w/ 4 group placements.

Sam is both an American and Canadian Dual Champion

Sam returned home each fall to hunt chukar in the hills of Eastern Washington

United Airlines declined a 100,000 Mile Club Membership to Sam.

Sam and and his daughter Star appeared on ABC Television’s “The American Sportsman”  with New York Yankee shortstop and announcer Tony Kubek and Cy Young runner-up Jerry Koosman who pitched for the New York Mets.

Ch. Jacolet’s Wandering Star - Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame
sired by Pacolet Cheyenne won three U S Open Championships
among of her breed record of 10 Championships.

American & Canadian Dual Champion
Pacolet Cheyenne Sam (ABC HOF & BFTHOF)
            Whelped in Kentucky, May 29, 1966 Died Oct. 9, 1979

            Sire –       Dual Ch. Pacolet Sam (HOF)
            Dam –      Fld. Ch. La Petite Blanche
            Breeder – Dr. Ralph Bolton
            Owners – Ken & Erin Jacobson of Redmond Washington
            Trainer –  Delmar Smith
            Handler – Rick Smith

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Christopher T. Chenery, owner of Secretariat and  Ken Jacobson, owner of Pacolet Cheyenne Sam are brothers in Phi Delta Theta. The fraternities colors of the checkered blinders worn by  Secretariat are Phi Delta Theta  Azure Blue and Argent White.

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