Promotional artwork for Old Bones: The Story of Exterminator, image provided by WSKG Public Telecommunications Council, Inc. (2018)
There’s fervor amongst fans--and New Yorkers--as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival returns to Saratoga Springs, NY this week! Beginning June 4th and running through June 8th, the centerpiece of the event, the 157th Belmont Stakes, will take place June 7th. An integral part of the American horse racing scene, the Belmont Stakes is the eldest of the three prestigious Triple Crown races.
New York State has a long and fascinating history of horse racing, dating back to the 17th century. Some consider it the birthplace of North American horse racing given the 1665 establishment of the Newmarket course on what is now known as Long Island.
In celebration of New York’s many contributions to this sport and to add to the excitement around the 2025 Belmont Stakes, this blog post brings attention to the story of a beloved racehorse, Exterminator.
Exterminator (1915-1945) was purchased by Willis Sharpe Kilmer, a Binghamton, NY businessman, as a training partner for his favored racehorse Sun Briar. Kilmer only considered Exterminator a workhorse, but when Sun Briar faced a medical issue and was unable to race in the 1918 Kentucky Derby, the owner begrudgingly substituted him. Despite the 30-1 odds, Exterminator won the race.
Exterminator’s story does not end there. As his racing career continued, he captured more titles as well as the hearts of New Yorkers. 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of this Triple Crown race win where Exterminator surprised and inspired the world. WSKG, the Binghamton-area public broadcasting station, paid tribute by producing a local documentary that tells the full story:
‘This homely underdog would go on to become one of the most successful racehorses in American history. ‘Old Bones' looks at the legendary career of this fascinating horse, his larger-than-life owner, and the trainer that knew he could win.’
Old Bones: The Story of Exterminator runs for one hour and fourteen minutes. It does what only public broadcasting can do – create content that brings otherwise forgotten stories to life. In this case, it’s moments from history that left a mark on New York State and the world of horse racing.
The Old Bones documentary first aired in December 2018, and WSKG is graciously making the film available on-demand via its YouTube channel. So, before the big races, sit back, relax, and enjoy impeccable storytelling from public broadcasting.
There’s fervor amongst fans--and New Yorkers--as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival returns to Saratoga Springs, NY this week! Beginning June 4th and running through June 8th, the centerpiece of the event, the 157th Belmont Stakes, will take place June 7th. An integral part of the American horse racing scene, the Belmont Stakes is the eldest of the three prestigious Triple Crown races.
New York State has a long and fascinating history of horse racing, dating back to the 17th century. Some consider it the birthplace of North American horse racing given the 1665 establishment of the Newmarket course on what is now known as Long Island.
In celebration of New York’s many contributions to this sport and to add to the excitement around the 2025 Belmont Stakes, this blog post brings attention to the story of a beloved racehorse, Exterminator.
Exterminator (1915-1945) was purchased by Willis Sharpe Kilmer, a Binghamton, NY businessman, as a training partner for his favored racehorse Sun Briar. Kilmer only considered Exterminator a workhorse, but when Sun Briar faced a medical issue and was unable to race in the 1918 Kentucky Derby, the owner begrudgingly substituted him. Despite the 30-1 odds, Exterminator won the race.
Exterminator’s story does not end there. As his racing career continued, he captured more titles as well as the hearts of New Yorkers. 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of this Triple Crown race win where Exterminator surprised and inspired the world. WSKG, the Binghamton-area public broadcasting station, paid tribute by producing a local documentary that tells the full story:
Old Bones: The Story of Exterminator runs for one hour and fourteen minutes. It does what only public broadcasting can do – create content that brings otherwise forgotten stories to life. In this case, it’s moments from history that left a mark on New York State and the world of horse racing.
The Old Bones documentary first aired in December 2018, and WSKG is graciously making the film available on-demand via its YouTube channel. So, before the big races, sit back, relax, and enjoy impeccable storytelling from public broadcasting.