At the age of 86, Anthony first Oaks followed with QuietSeide

It seems like 80 the novel 50 run in the thoroughbred race.

Take a look at the Kentucky Derby (G1). The 89-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas is under a collection of the best juvenile and experienced trainers of the business. A little less than a year from winning the Preakness Stakes (G1), he aims at a fifth victory in Kentucky Derby American promise .

Then there is the Kentucky Oaks (G1), in which one of the top competitors and the leader in qualification points belongs to the 86-year-old John Ed Anthony by Shortleaf Stable.

An owner for more than 50 years and a winner of the Preakness Stakes twice and the Belmont Stakes (G1) and once under his former Banner from Loblolly Stall hopes that he can catch the Kentucky Oaks for the first time with his Homebred 3-year-old Peaceful side .

“It is a special race and this stut foal gave us a lot of fun,” said Little Rock, Ark., A resident. “We are very excited and many people in Arkansas are also. It is worth seeing that so many people identify with it.”

Quietside, trained by John Ortiz, has already noticed a piece of racing history for Anthony. At her last start when she won the Fantasy Stakes (G2) in his home track Oaklawn ParkAnhony achieved his record -breaking 40th assignment in the Balmy Springs, Ark., Track.

“I had no idea that they even keep such records. I certainly don't have it,” said Anthony, who also holds the record for victories in Oaklawn with almost 300. “Or as much back as before.”

From the mid-1970s to the early nineties, Anthony's Loblolly Stall was a top outfit that won huge races with horses such as Vanlandingham, Cox's Ridge, Temperence Hill, Pine Bluff and Prairie Bayou. But then Loblolly was dissolved because of a divorce, and a few years later Anthony started a novel name Shortleaf Stall.

Until 2017, as a coach Brad Cox, who was introduced by Racing Manager John Gasper with Anthony, was moderate success, he began again that the graded missions for Anthony had won. After winning a missions classified from 2000-16, Shortleaf has nine from 2017 to 2017.

“(John Ed) is a very clever man and he is very business businesses, and that makes him successful,” said Gasper, whose collaboration with Anthony goes back to 1976.

Anthonys 30 horses are now divided between Ortiz and Lindsay Schultz, and Quietside reflects the novel and vintage roots of the barn. She is a home bred of Malibu Moon from one of Anthony's band of around 15 breeding brands, class 1 speech stall mare, class 1 Benner Island who won the eight Belles Stakes (G2) in 2017 and earned a little more than 300,000 US dollars for Shortleaf.

Now her daughter has gained two evaluated missions, while she earned 957,200 US dollars and triggered enormous excitement, while he brought Anthony back to one of the most celebrated races in the sport with a legitimate chance of winning.

“(John Ed) and his family and friends are ecstatic about it and he will bring 20 people to Churchill Downs,” said Gasper. “This stut foal is a fighter. (Jockey) Jose Ortiz fits her really well, and if he can get a good position with her in a 14 hp area, you will feel good with regard to your chances.”

She also continues Anthony's preference for naming horses by favorite cities or areas, since Quietside was named after Anthony's house in Bar Harbor, Maine, on the still side of a bay.

Quietside has three wins and three seconds in seven career starts with three wins and three seconds in a seven career on May 2 in Kentucky Oaks in the qualification points (168). Churchill Downs. A game with second to probably Kentucky Oak's favorite Good cheer Last year in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) in Churchill Downs, Obscure Bay or the Brown Stutfalen came in successive victories in the fantasy and honeybee stakes (G3).

“I expect a victory from her,” said Ortiz. “It came from (the imagination) great. It is like an airplane. Every day we have our checklist with us, only to ensure that no stone is untracted. It is a historical moment. We try to write down our names in the history books.”

While Anthony is familiar with the emotions of a first class victory, for Ortiz, who started training in 2016 and has made a career a nice upward swing in the past three years, the 1 1/8 miles test could offer its second victory at the highest level.

“I look at it like this: I can aid my milestones with John Eds and with my aid he can reach some of him,” said Ortiz. “I like the idea of ​​being part of the story of his long, incredible career.”

Anthony, whose family has had a very successful forest company in Arkansas for more than 110 years, has certainly reached the highlight of the success in the thoroughbred race several times.

He was one of the first Arkansas owners to thrive in Novel York's main missions when Cox 'Ridge won the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Temperence Hill in 1978, apart from his 53: 1 shocker in 1980 in Belmont Stakes in Belmont Stakes.

Vanlandingham was the older man from 1985, and Loblolly had consecutive preakness winners in 1992 and 1993 with Pine Bluff and 3-year-old champion Prairie Bayou.

“I remember seeing a horse from Arkansas in a huge race when it was frowned upon,” said Anthony. “I remember when Cox 'Ridge and Temperence Hill and Vanlandingham won for the first time in Novel York. They were insulted by Arkansas to Novel York and win their races. It was a bitter pill for them to swallow so that Oaklawn is a top route.”

A lot has changed over the years. So much that Anthony plays with the idea of ​​writing a book about his family-run Anthony Timberlands business and his experience in horse racing.

If he does, there will be chapters on some major problems of the horse racing that are vital to him.

One of them is the risk of decoupling racetrack and casino licenses, a warm topic of intensive debate in Florida.

“The race has put a long way and has a few more options in front of it, but it mourns the decoupling problems. People utilize a racetrack to get a casino, and now they try to reject the race track.” Management in Oaklawn has devoted itself to racing, and although they have a casino, the race is still first -class, and the race is still investing, and continues to invest, and continue to invest in the route, and continue to invest. Fans are unsurpassed everywhere. “

Anthony is also a sturdy supporter of the Horninging integrity and security authority.

“It is easier in the race. When I started, no calls were allowed on the track. They locked telephones and they had to go across the street to the drugstore to make a call. And now with HISA the rules and regulations are better,” said Anthony. “The resistance, on the other hand, was unhappy, and I wish some of the people who have against it would come on board. I am as conservative as everyone else when it comes to federal regulations, but the idea of ​​having 35 different jurisdiction does not make much of 35 different laws.”

John Ed Anthony has seen a lot in 54 years.

Apart from the fact that a 3-year stut foal wears its colors to win in the Kentucky Oaks.

It will be a challenge, but maybe it's time. Time for another octagonal daris, one of the largest stages of racing in the spotlight.