Mike Dillon: Yankees owner missed holy grail

We've said it before and it's never more applicable - when your worst enemy wins a horse race, shake their hand.

It's that damn hard to do.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner spent a lifetime finding that out.

In this part of the world it's perhaps difficult for some to understand how truly remarkable it is to own a baseball franchise like the New York Yankees.

It's like owning your own country.

You can have anything you want.

Well, almost.

Last Tuesday, George Steinbrenner, 80, died having won seven World Series with the Yankees, but failing to achieve his lifelong dream of winning the Kentucky Derby.

He bred and bought horse after horse, had six make the Derby field and failed to finish better than fifth.

"I think that was the missing jewel for him," Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

Torre knew an awful lot about the man he worked for as the Yankee's manager 1996-2006. For starters, he was just about the only manager the owner didn't sack.

Torre has one of the most recognisable faces in world sport.

Who could ever forget that steely glare through the Yankees dugout wire netting?

You didn't want to be staring down Torre if you were the shortstop who let one under the glove with the bases loaded. Forget La Cosa Nostra. This was real scary.

He also tried to win this year's Kentucky Derby, but his horse Homeboykris finished down the track.

He recalled Steinbrenner's passion for winning was equally as strong at the track as it was at the ballpark.

"When he turned a horse over to a trainer he basically expected them to win. It's not reasonable but that had nothing to do with what he wanted done," Torre said. "That was the fun part about George. The only time it would drive you nuts is if you took it too seriously."

Although Majestic Warrior failed in the Kentucky Derby, he won the grade one Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga in 2007.

"His Kinsman Stable left an indelible mark on New York racing, including Bellamy Road's remarkable 17-length victory in the 2005 Wood Memorial, and his sensational filly Dream Supreme's four New York graded wins," New York Racing Association president Charles Hayward said.

Dubai's Sheikh Mohamed, who practically does own his own country, is a Steinbrenner parallel. The Sheikh has twin passions in life - to win the Kentucky Derby and the Melbourne Cup and won't stop trying until he achieves both.

If you win one of the maiden races at Tauranga tomorrow consider yourself very lucky.