Timely Writer (horse)
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Timely Writer (horse) (1979-1982) was a thoroughbred racehorse by Staff Writer out of Timely Roman (by Sette Bello).
The Boston Globe once described Timely Writer as “the horse with the greatest potential—and the worst luck—whose very story was a fairytale of racing history.”
He was known as “The People’s Horse.” His bloodlines included Northern Dancer, Swaps, Tim Tam, Ribot, Tom Fool, and Count Fleet and others, a formidable bunch of great racehorses. But his owners, Peter and Francis Martin, owned a meat-packing plant in Boston, Massachusetts. Purchased for a mere $13,500, and without sheiks, millionaires, or aristocrats for owners, Timely Writer was a colt with whom the average person could identify.
“TW,” as he was affectionately known, began his stakes career as a claimer at Monmouth Park, winning by eight lengths, and matching a track record set in 1943. He commanded real attention with wins in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes and the Grade I Champagne Stakes, overtaking the 4-5 favorite by nearly five lengths in the latter. Characterized by a self-assurance possessed only by the sport’s greats, Timely Writer quickly became a household name.
Timely Writer’s brilliance, however, was repeatedly marred by disappointment. He was passed over in favor of Deputy Minister for the 1981 Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old colt. Key wins in the 1982 Flamingo Stakes and the '82 Florida Derby made Timely Writer a favorite for a Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1982, until a severe case of colic sidelined him for the entire spring season.
With a 50% chance of surviving surgery, Timely Writer once again beat the odds. He not only recovered, but came back to win at Saratoga Race Course less than six months later. The famed Dr. William O. Reed purchased the colt’s breeding rights for the sum of three million dollars. Before heading to the breeding shed, Timely Writer would complete the 1982 racing season.
Traces of an anti-bacterial substance found in his system forced Writer’s withdrawal from the $150,000 Jerome Handicap, for which he was the favorite. Unprepared for his next start, he finished a dismal seventh. He rebounded to win his next start, but many felt the colt was ill-prepared for Belmont Park’s grueling Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Timely Writer showed winning form as he broke from the pack in the Gold Cup. He coasted along in third before Jockey Jeffrey Fell began to urge the colt forward as they approached the far turn. Suddenly, and with no apparent warning, the colt’s left foreleg snapped beyond repair. As he thrashed about, three other horses stumbled over the fallen hero. He was euthanized immediately. Another colt, Johnny Dance, collided with the fallen Timely Writer and was also euthanized. (A horse called Lemhi Gold won the Cup.)
Timely Writer’s fatal breakdown on live television caused the entire nation to mourn. He was buried at the head of the stretch at Belmont, an honor previously granted only to the immortal Ruffian. Like Ruffian, Timely Writer will forever be remembered not only for his accomplishments, but for his incredible courage and dignity.
