How baseball Hall of Famer Joe Torre fell hard for horse racing

When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, I would tag along to the horse races with my older brother, Frank. And when I was a minor leaguer with the Louisville Colonels in 1961, I went over to Churchill Downs one afternoon. But it wasn’t until Don Zimmer brought me $600 that I became hooked on the sport.

I was managing the Yankees against the Orioles in Baltimore in 1996 -- the first year we won the World Series -- and Zim was my bench coach. “Want to go over to Pimlico?” he asked me. I said no, but I gave him some money and told him I would go in on a few bets with him. He came back later with that $600, and I was off and running. As we were winning four world championships together, I used to joke with Zim that I could never afford to retire because he got me into horse racing.

But I am so glad he did, because it opened the gates on what has been an incredible ride for me as a sports fan and horse owner.

Through Zim and some of his connections, I met the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. We were both from Brooklyn, and we became great friends. Bobby would seem like he had a bit of a gruff personality, but once you got to know him you realized how warm a guy he was. I always admired the way he cared so much about his horses. Bobby came to me once with a chance to buy in with him on a horse that he thought had great potential. We paid $250,000 for Vineyard Haven, and after he won the Champagne Stakes we sold him for $12 million. Even as we turned $250,000 into $12 million, Bobby had seller’s remorse. He loved his horses that much.

As I have had the chance to own other horses, I can see why Bobby had such strong feelings. They are amazing athletes with unique personalities. And for me, there has been no horse quite like Game On Dude. I bought him four years ago with my friend Bernie Schiappa. In baseball, there were always those guys you would want up there with the bases loaded. Whether they got a hit or not, you knew they weren’t going to shy away from the challenge. We bought The Dude when he was a 3-year-old, and as he has won big race after big race since then, I have seen him stare down challenges just like that hitter who says, “I dare you to get me out.” Other horses will run up alongside him, and The Dude just seems to look at them and say, “No you don’t.” He’s been an amazing horse to watch. Even in his advancing age -- he’s now 7 years old -- you know he will give you everything he’s got.

K.C. Alfred/UT San Diego/Zumapress.com

I wish The Dude had done better in his two Breeders’ Cup Classics, because it is such a magical race experience. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the World Series -- the best of the best, head-to-head. I went into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July with Greg Maddux, a guy whose pitching I always loved to watch. I admired him even when he was pitching against my team. The two days of the Breeders’ Cup are as incredible to watch as having a front-row seat when Maddux was on the mound.

I realize I’m lucky. Not only do I get to watch the best horses in the world, I have gotten to experience the thrill of being down there in the paddock with the horses and trainers and jockeys before a race or after a win. There’s a fraternity in racing -- a great group of people who root for each other and have the sport in their blood. Thanks to that $600 with Zim, I’m one of them.

— Written with Brad Young

Known as the richest two days in sports, the Breeders’ Cup awarded more than $26 million in prize money in 2013. And this year, viewers have the chance to win big, too, by playing Million Dollar Finish during the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series on NBC Sports. There’s $15,000 up for grabs during each of the 11 qualifying races, a VIP trip for two to the 2014 Breeders’ Cup in Los Angeles this fall and a shot $1,000,000 during the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1.

date	network	time (et)	race	track	winner qualifies for	post times (et)
August 23	NBC	4:30 p.m.	Ballerina Stakes	Saratoga Race Course	Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint	5:08 p.m.
August 24	NBCSN	8:00 p.m.	Pacific Classic	Del Mar Thoroughbred Club	Breeders' Cup Classic	8:44 p.m.
August 30	NBCSN	6:00 p.m.	Forego Stakes	Saratoga Race Course	Breeders' Cup Sprint	6:45 p.m.
September 27	NBCSN	6:00 p.m.	Jockey Club Gold Cup	Belmont Park	Breeders' Cup Classic	6:08 p.m.
September 27	NBCSN	6:00 p.m.	TBD	Santa Anita Park	TBD	6:30 p.m.
September 27	NBCSN	6:00 p.m.	TBD	Santa Anita Park	TBD	7:05 p.m.
September 27	NBCSN	6:00 p.m.	Awesome Again Stakes	Santa Anita Park	Breeders' Cup Classic	7:45 p.m.
October 4	NBCSN	4:30 p.m.	Jenny Wiley Stakes	Keeneland	Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf	4:35 p.m.
October 4	NBCSN	4:30 p.m.	Breeders' Futurity	Keeneland	Breeders' Cup Juvenile	5:08 p.m.
October 4	NBCSN	4:30 p.m.	Shadwell Mile	Keeneland	Breeders' Cup Mile	5:45 p.m.
October 5	NBC	5:00 p.m.	Bourbon Stakes	Keeneland	Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf	5:08 p.m.
October 5	NBC	5:00 p.m.	Spinster Stakes	Keeneland	Breeders' Cup Distaff	5:45 p.m.