This 1987 Preakness Stakes….along with the 1987 Kentucky Derby….are two horse races that are near and dear to Bone Daddy for one simple reason….the owners of the eventual winner Alysheba were a family that BD knew while growing up in Midland, TX from 1952 to 1965….Dorothy and Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. and their four children Clarence III, Chris, Douglas and Pamela…..as Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. was an American rancher, oilman, banker, horse breeder and philanthropist….who was born on July 6,1925 in Midland, Texas.
Scharbauer inherited his father’s 350-acre ranches and oil investments….of which one of his ranches, Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas produced more than one billion barrels of oil….who was also the recipient of the Golden Spur award for ranching….and served as the chairman of the First National Bank of Midland….where Bone Daddy’s mom worked for 13 years.
The 1987 Preakness Stakes was the 112th running of the Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race….as the race took place on May 16, 1987…. and was televised on the ABC with a broadcast crew including Jim McKay, Al Michaels, Becky Dickson, Jack Whitaker, Charlsie Canty and Lynn Swann.
Alysheba was trained by Jack Van Burg….one of the winningest trainers of all time in horse raceing…..and was jockeyed by all time great Chris McCarron….who guided Alysheba to a half length win over runner-up Bet Twice with Craig Perret aboard. The race was run over a fast track in a final time of 1:55-4/5….as the Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 87,945….which was recorded as second highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 1987.
Any way you cut the pie….this 1987 Preakness Stakes was a great race between Alysheba, Bet Twice and Criptoclearance…..and still remains very near and dear to the original Sportsphile….my Bone Daddy.
