Over the past week, the TDN has embarked on an interesting journey. They have been asking racing personalities with no family ties to the sport what that one moment was that initially drew them in. Let's delve into the stories of these individuals and discover the magic of racing.

Uncover the Moments That Hooked Racing Personalities

Jason Beem: A Childhood Bond with Longacres

Jason Beem, a track announcer and podcast host, grew up just a few miles away from Longacres Race Course in Renton, Washington. His father was a gambler with a love for horses and would take him to the races from a young age. Beem was fascinated by jockeys and still has photos of himself at three years old sitting on horses trained by a poker-playing acquaintance. One of his favorite horses was Rascal Rascal.The street he lived on had an oval shape similar to a track. After the races at Longacres, he would come home, get a stick, and reenact the day's races while cycling around the street. He would imitate track announcer Gary Henson, whipping his bike with the stick. Even though Longacres closed in 1992 when Beem was only 12, he has countless memories. The poplar trees on the turn, the brick flooring, and the green wall where they watched the races are still vivid in his mind. (Interestingly, parts of that green wall still stand on the old Longacres land, hidden in the overgrown woods.) His father would get him the Longacres media guide every year, and he would study it and memorize the winners of the stakes races. His favorite jockey was Gary Boulanger, and he had a stuffed jockey teddy bear named "Gary Bearlanger" that was autographed by him. Beem initially wanted to be a jockey but realized he was already taller and probably heavier than the jockey at the age of 10.Once he turned 10 and was old enough to bet, his mother would give him $20 to make bets. His father would take the money and make the bets for him and keep track. His all-time favorite horse was Captain Condo. In the 1990 Space Needle Handicap, Captain Condo won over another favorite, Grandstand Gabe. The exacta paid $44, and Beem hit it. He still remembers that moment as if it were yesterday and has been chasing that $44 ever since.

Barry Irwin: The Early Days of Horse Racing

Barry Irwin first became interested in horse racing as a child in Los Angeles in the early 1950s. His aunt Bertha, known as the "perfume lady" from behind the counter at Saks department store on Wilshire Boulevard, had a boyfriend who took her to Hollywood Park and Santa Anita races. Irwin saw some racing movies on TV and noticed "selected workouts" in the local newspapers. He started following the ponies in 1951, much to the horror of his parents. They had an uncle who went broke as a horseplayer, and they were afraid Irwin would follow in his footsteps.The boyfriend would let Irwin send $2 bets with him to the races. He was amazed at Irwin's luck in picking winners and was happy to accommodate him, keeping it a secret from his disapproving parents and grandparents. Then came Native Dancer on TV, followed by Swaps. It was Swaps that truly hooked Irwin on racing. When Swaps won the Kentucky Derby just after his twelfth birthday, he became both a seasoned race watcher and a potential degenerate gambler. With his best friend Steve Kallman, they made book on weekend feature races at their junior high school and sold tips on the corner of Robertson and National Boulevards. Steve had sold newspapers there for years near Hamilton High School where they both graduated a few years later.The 76 gas station chain produced a beautiful 4-color photo of Swaps with Willie Shoemaker in the saddle, which was suitable for framing. When kids and their families went to the Railbird Theatre at the Railbird Club at Hollywood Park, Swaps was the star. There was something about that chestnut California-bred that captivated Irwin. His demeanor, speed, and brilliance made Irwin proud to be a Cal-bred. When Swaps won the Kentucky Derby, it was as exciting as UCLA or USC winning the Rose Bowl. To this day, Swaps remains Irwin's favorite horse.