Mr. D. Stakes

A little over 20 years ago, a young man from Ireland approached me about his wish to become a jockey in the United States. His name was James Graham. James impressed me so much with his dedication and work ethic that he soon was living at my home and galloping for me every day. His sweetheart, Lisa, joined him, they married, and Lisa became my treasured assistant trainer for a time. James showed tenacity and great athletic ability and became an apprentice rider. He has always been the same every...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL--Hugh Robertson has started close to 10,000 horses in a journeyman career, but celebrated his biggest--and likely most bittersweet--victory when Two Emmys (English Channel), a 5-year-old gelding he also owns in partnership, went wire-to-wire to cause a massive upset in Saturday's Mister D. S., ostensibly the final Grade I race to be run at historic Arlington Park. "I never thought I'd have a horse in the Million, and then when I do, it's not a million [dollars]," the long-time Chicago-based conditioner told TVG's Scott Hazelton following his neck...