Point Given inducted into Racing Hall of Fame
Bob Baffert was on hand July 13 in Saratoga Springs for the 2010 Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Point Given, the 2001 Horse of the Year and 3-year-old champion who he trained. Point Given was part of a group included Azeri, Best Pal, and jockey Randy Romero. Baffert was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009, along with his 2-time champion filly Silverbulletday. Silver Charm, Baffert’s first Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, was elected to the Hall in 2007.
At the ceremony, Baffert talked about his third horse to enter the Hall. “In my mind, he very well might have been the best horse I’ve ever trained,” said Baffert. “Four times I’ve trained a horse to win two out of the three Triple Crown races, with horses like Silver Charm, Real Quiet and War Emblem. They were outstanding horses. But looking back, Point Given was probably the best chance I had to win the Triple Crown.”
“The reason I was inducted (into the Hall of Fame) last year was because of horses like Point Given and owners like Prince Ahmed bin Salman (who passed away in 2002). He was a dream owner who truly loved the game, and all he wanted to do is win the big races.”
Point Given raced for his breeder, The Thoroughbred Corporation, while winning nine of 13 starts and compiling earnings of $3,968,500. The son of Thunder Gulch was Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male after winning the Preakness (G1), Belmont (G1), Haskell Invitational (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1). He also joined Hall of Famers Man o’ War, Whirlaway, Damascus and Native Dancer as the only horses since 1900 to win the Preakness, Belmont and Travers. With those victories, Point Given was the first horse in history to win four consecutive races worth $1 million or more. He finished fifth in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, his only off-the-board finish in his career.
Point Given won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (G2) and Hollywood Futurity (G1) at age two, then prepped for the Triple Crown with scores in the San Felipe S. (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Point Given was retired on September 1, 2001 to stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky. for an initial fee of $125,000. He was subsequently syndicated for $50 million, the third highest price in history, behind Fusaichi Pegasus at $60 million and Big Brown at a reported $50 million. He’s been a big success at stud as well, siring four champions in the past three years, including Canadian Horse of the Year Sealy Hill.