1999 Season Review

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

A Charismatic Colt

This year all eyes were on a red chestnut colt named Charismatic. Bob and Beverly Lewis' longshot shocked everyone as a 31-1 winner at the Kentucky Derby. And then dropped them to the floor with a victory two weeks later at the Preakness Stakes.

Charismatic was the third horse in the last three years to go into the Belmont with a chance at winning the first Triple Crown since 1978. He was also the third horse in a row to fall short of the title. A broken leg and the hard rush of Lemon Drop Kid kept Charismatic from winning the Belmont Stakes and the elusive Triple Crown.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas added his 11th and 12th Triple Crown victories in 1999, thanks to Charismatic, and was selected for the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

Laffit Pincay became the all-time winningest jockey, toppling the 29-year-old record for victories set by Bill Shoemaker.

But the horse racing community had to deal with the passing of two of the world's most prolific sires Riverman and Mr. Prospector. Not to mention the retirement of legendary jockeys Julie Krone and Gary Stevens.