John Salzman

OTD Oct. 31, 1968. Lizard King's Louisville. Crowd of about 4,500 at Freedom Hall as The Doors w/Jim Morrison play first American concert since returning from Sweden month prior. First of four shows in four nights for The Doors (Louisville, Milwaukee, Columbus & Chicago.

OTD Oct. 31, 1964. Kelso. Now seven years young, Kelso wins fifth straight Jockey Club Gold Cup in world record time for 2 miles on dirt. Just 11 days later, sets American record for 1 1/2 miles on turf winning DC International. Kelso named Horse of Year for fifth straight time.

OTD Oct. 31, 2015. Grand Slam. In $5,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, American Pharoah wires field by more than six lengths in track record time. America’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years concludes racing career w/nine wins in 11 starts.

OTD Oct. 31, 1970. Nick or Treat. En route to MVC title & Pasadena Bowl, Lee Corso's Cards edge Kent State 14-13 at Fairgrounds Stadium. Kent State secondary features Nick Saban. Four months prior, Saban on Kent campus when National Guard kills four Vietnam War protesters.

OTD Oct. 31, 1998. John & Bobby. After inheriting 1-10 team, John L. Smith & offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will hang 60+ points on three teams in '98. This day, Western Kentucky routed 63-34 before 32,649 at Cardinal Stadium. Cards now one win from bowl eligibility.

OTD Oct. 31, 2020. Black Out Black Outs? At Cardinal Stadium, Virginia Tech tops Louisville 42-35. Fourth straight blackout loss for Cards, seventh of last 9. Hendon Hooker 10-for-10 passing, 183 yds for VPI. Javian Hawkins runs for 129 yds. Scott Satterfield second team now 2-5.

OTD Oct. 30, 2021. Music City on Ice. Before 14,659 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, North Dakota hosts Penn State in US Hockey Hall of Dame game. Crowd of 14,659 on hand including UND Hall of Famer Guy LaFrance. Alas, 8x national champion Sioux/Hawks fall to Nittany Lions 6-4.

OTD Oct. 30, 1978. Inca Roca. In penultimate start of 63 race career, wins inaugural $22,475 River City Handicap. Win #14 in four racing yrs. Ran 7th to Bold Forbes in ’76 KY Derby. Rare Kentucky Stakes Grand Slam w/stakes wins at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Ellis Park & Latonia.

OTD Oct. 30, 1937. Gently Into That Good Night. America's first Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, passes at age 21 in Wyoming. He'd been sent to US Army division in Nebraska after undistinguished career in breeding shed, then finally to Wyoming ranch for retirement.

OTD Oct. 30, 2015. Champion. Songbird wins $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by 5+ lengths at Keeneland. Wins 13 of 15 in three years racing. Both losses in photo finish. Named champion at age 2 & 3. Sold for $9.5 million following brief 4yo campaign.

OTD Oct. 30, 2016. Spendthrift Stallion Stakes. Novel stakes race debuts at Churchill Downs w/$300k purse. Inaugural race winner Warrior's Club, trained by Wayne Lukas for Churchill Downs Racing Club. Disagreement w/Graded Stakes Committee year later ends race. Fine, fair try.

OTD Oct. 30, 2014. Record Crowd. Then-largest October home crowd in U of L history (55,414) w/undefeated, defending nat'l champ Florida State in town. Cards take 21-0 lead. Jameis Winston throws for 400 yds, 3 TDs as #2 FSU pulls away late for 42-31 win. 'Noles 24th straight win.

OTD Oct. 30, 2015. Lamar & Pharoah. Breeders' Cup Friday night in Lexington as Cards top Wake Forest 20-19 in slogfest w/24,922 at BB&T Field. Freshman Lamar Jackson w/2 TD passes. Cards turn Deacons over 5x in second half. Next day, American Pharoah wins BC Classic in Keeneland.

OTD Oct. 29, 1901. Wheels of Justice 125 Years Ago. Seven weeks after firing fatal shots leading to death of President William McKinley, Leon Czolgosz has been charged, indicted, tried & convicted. This day, justice has him electrocuted. Body will be placed in acid-filled coffin.

OTD Oct. 29, 1977. Golden Chance. Before 18,155 at Keeneland, Bob's Dusty w/Richard DePass aboard wins $28,300 Fayette Hcp. Four weeks later, after losing Ohio Championship at Beulah Park, Bob's Dusty wins first of what will be back-to-back Clark Handicaps at Churchill.

OTD Oct. 29, 1977. Affirmed-Alydar, the Early Years. Before 15,361 at Laurel Race Course in Maryland, Affirmed w/Steve Cauthen beats Alydar by neck in $144,650 Futurity Stakes. Sixth time Triple Crown to-be rivals meet at age two, w/Affirmed winning four 'em.

OTD Oct. 29, 1978. Taps for Racing in West Louisville. Final race day at Commonwealth Race Course. Beginning as Fairgrounds Speedway (trotters) in '56, became Miles Park for "runners" in '58, then re-named Commonwealth in '74. Quarter horses took over in '77 for final 2 years.

OTD Oct. 29, 1979. Go With The Times. Churchill Downs opens '79 Fall Meet on a Monday as Go With The Times romps in $29,900 River City Handicap. His rider, Gerland Gallitano, lost his mom Friday prior to race. Go With The Times wins 18 times in 110 starts across ten racing years.

OTD Oct. 29, 1993. "History of Louisville Basketball" Day proclaimed in Jefferson County as "A Flight to Greatness" released by U of L & AdCraft on VHS. Definitive history of Cards basketball produced by Roy Hamlin, edited by Chris DeMaio, written by Paul Wilman & John Salzman.

OTD Oct. 29, 1988. Keg of Nails. Cards win fourth straight in what becomes 6-game win streak to end turn-around '88 season. At Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Louisville beats Bearcats 21-6. Nippert Stadium home to UC football since 1901. Original home for Cincinnati Bengals too.