He earned the right to be offered that job with the Phipps because of the quality work he performed while laboring down at Oaklawn and CD with limited stock. Long before he ever went to NY.
Same thing with Bill Mott before he went to work for Firestone, Paulson and others. They had as many $5,000 claimers as they did Allowance runners back in those days and they were all treated with same level of TLC.
Pat Day I\'m sure wasn\'t in attendance because he likes going to banquets and hearing speeches. There is no doubt in my mind he felt like he owed it to someone he goes waaaaaay back with. Almost before he was Pat Day and Shug was Shug if you know what I mean. I\'m sure Fred Aime (Days original agent) probably called and wished him a well deserved congrats. Shug being the second trainer he personally put in the Hall of Fame. LOL