American Pharaoh will try to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years on Saturday at Belmont Park. Roger Clark spoke with some veteran racing judges who will have a front row seat to history.
"And I make it official from up here," says Sonny Taylor.
Taylor, and his colleague, Ralph Theroux, can tell you stories about thoroughbred racing. The pair are placing judges for the New York Racing Association.
"We're involved with the complete order of finish," Taylor says.
After double checking a video replay, they report the order of finish to various departments around the track. If there is a photo finish, another judge weighs in. Following a final word from stewards who enforce race regulations, they make the results official. It's exactly what they will do after the Belmont Stakes Saturday.
"You get kind of a little goosebumps if it looks like history is going to unfold." Theroux says.
For Sonny Taylor, historic moments are nothing new. He has been at New York racetracks for 51 years. He was the official timer when Secretariat blew away the field in 1973 to win the Triple Crown, and when Seattle Slew did it in 1977.
He was also there during the historic matchup between in 1978 when affirmed crossed the finish line just ahead of Alydar.
"I have the pictures of Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed. And now we need another one that will make what they call a Superfecta," Taylor says.
But the question for fans and these veteran judges at Belmont. Will a photo of American Pharaoh fill that spot on the wall in this booth high above the track?
"He's certainly talented enough and quality enough to win that race," Theroux says.
"I guess you have to have a horse that's worthy of the task to win the Triple Crown and a lot of horses have come close but they haven't made it so maybe they're not good enough," Taylor says.