Bert S. Michell

Article summary

Bernard S. "Bert" Michell (May 21, 1881 – October 21, 1938) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer best known for winning the 1928 Kentucky Derby with American Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, Reigh Count. In 1927, Michell was the trainer for Green Briar Stable when owner by Frank D. Shea of Winnipeg, Manitoba liquidated his racing operations. Michell was then hired by Chicago businessman John D. Hertz and his wife Fannie, owners of Leona Farm, near Cary, Illinois. That year he trained the Hertz's filly Anita Peabody, retrospectively voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honors and whose wins included the Belmont Futurity Stakes and the Churchill Downs Debutante Stakes. However, it would be future Hall of Fame inductee Reigh Count who would bring Michell his greatest success. Reigh Count not only earned American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors, but at age three won several prestigious races including the Kentucky Derby and was voted American Horse of the Year. In 1929, Mr. & Mrs. Hertz brought Michell and Reigh Count to race in England where he raced on turf, winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs Racecourse then finished second in the Ascot Gold Cup at Ascot Racecourse. In the fall of 1929 Michell left the Hertz stable to take over as trainer for the racing operations of Emil and Jennie Denemark of Chicago.…

Key claims

1. date of death: 1938 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of death is "1938". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377257474