Korean War Veterans Association

history they have produced  some of Thoroughbred

racing's greatest horses.

  "I was there when Mrs. Lucille Parker Wright

Markey managed the operation. She inherited the

property following her husband's death in 1950. I

galloped Tim Tam (winner of Kentucky Derby

and Preakness Stakes), Iron Liege (winner of

Kentucky Derby), Bardstown (superior handicap

horse), a Glitter and many others. While there I

became friends with the great Eddie Arcaro."

  It was a natural that Anthony Bencivenga and

Edward Arcaro would become kindred souls. They

both loved racing and shared their substantial

Italian heritage.

  "Eddie was the most professional and generous

rider I ever had the pleasure of encountering. He

was a true scholar of the game and studied the Daily Racing Form like he was going to be tested on the material. I was blessed to work around some amazing horses and people. One of the foremost was trainer Jimmy Jones, who I still keep in touch with at his home in Parnall, MO. I stayed at Calumet until Jimmy left to be director of racing

for Monmouth Park in 1964".

  Like a rolling stone and in typical racetrack fashion Tony has continued to move where the demand needs him. For 16 years Tony worked at Charlestown for general manager Robet Leavitt,

  "Like many racetrackers before me, the little night  track in the remote corner of West Virginia just seems to pull you in. I was a clocker for the Morning Telegraph and remember sending workouts to New Jersey over the Western Union."

  Tony held that post until an opening in the racing office at Penn National became available. He set up roots for about five years and fondly recalls his bossand racing secretary, Peter Kosiba.

  "Peter was brilliant at his job and understood how to write a condition book for the horses stabled on th grounds.. One night in the '80s while I filled in for the paddock judge, I prepared to announce 'Riders Up', and nothing came out. My buddy and