Page 82 - September2021

Jolene Urschel Remembers Special Effort’s All American Triple Crown Win
When asked what I remembered and how I felt on that glorious Labor Day in 1981 forty years ago, I forgot a lot of things but that day will always be at the top of the list as one of the most exciting days for my family and me. Racing was something we enjoyed as a family and living on a ranch, horses were a big part of our daily lives and work. Dan’s grandfather had raced Thoroughbreds in Kentucky.
My mind wandered back to watching Special Effort compete in the Kansas Futurity trial after which we purchased him for $1 million. It’s a lot of money now and certainly was then. Then there was the thrill of his winning the Kansas and Rainbow Futurities which gave him the chance at the Triple Crown. Previously, two or three other horses had won the first two legs but had failed to win that third leg. Could we do it? He was always so exciting to watch. Billy Hunt would get him out of the gate then let him roll. What an athlete he was!
But that Labor Day was different, it had rained all day and the track was super sloppy! So how would he do with his first race on such a sloppy track?
Prior to the finals of the All American we had sold 100 breeding rights for $10 million and all were sold quickly, which added to the stress. When we won the All American Futurity in 1979 with Pie In The Sky, he was not the favorite. The next year, 1980, we qualified with Mighty Deck Three, who like Special Effort had never lost a race but ran a second at the last minute and lost by maybe 1⁄4”, the closest in All American history. So what would happen this time?
The All American Futurity is not only the last race of the day but of the season for Ruidoso Downs, and we had all day to wait, reflect, watch it rain and wonder about the outcome.
Today we know how that day ended. I believe it was the largest marginal win for the All American Futurity.
There was no tunnel under the track to get to the other side like today, and the only thing over there was the tote board and a platform created for the day. The journey across that very deep and sloppy track was a feat in itself, but no one seemed to care if they were all muddy up to their knees.
Many times since that exciting and special day, I have thanked my awesome God for blessings of many great horses and victories, but most of all for Special Effort and the honor of the Triple Crown. Will it happen again? Only God knows.
80 SPEEDHORSE September 2021