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I will remember
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I thank you for all you are doing to keep the Man-0-War dream alive. He must have been a great animal. Claire
It's nearly 18 days to the Kentucky Derby. Has anyone picked a favorite yet?? As always I usually tend to wait till the day OF the Derby to make a choice. I'm still looking around.
Nope But one thing's for sure I will not be betting Curlin to win. This horse has WAY to much hype. He's got a sprinter's pedigree, and has been beating nothing in Ark. Not to mention he's only raced 3 times NO THANK YOU! lol
I do see Street Sense, Nobiz like Shobiz, Scat Daddy or Hard Spun having the best shot to win this thing but, I'm not sure about Street Sense because he's had two really tough races's already this year.
It's hard to analyze this field I would of thought Circular Quay would of had the best shot if he'd run in the Wood BUT 8 week's is a little to long for me.
So far it's Street Sense and Circular Quay for me. I agree with you Curlin, I think, has too much hype and won't live up to it. He probablly come in around 5-7 at the wire. The Dark horses I like are Tiago and Zanjero. If Teuflesberg wins that'd be awesome, a $9,000 horse, thats not supposed to be done anymore.
I will be road tripping to the Derby this year, and plan to be at all three triple crown races this year. I might check out the Breeders Cup as well! Hopefull I can pick a winner!
Good for you Alex. :-) One year back in the 90's I made all 3 Triple Crown races in one year. Also, if you're interested, while you're in Kentucky you can go to Lexington, Ky. and go to the Kentucky Horse Park. There you can see Man O' War's grave site, plus they have one or two retired race horse in their stables that they show.
Street Sense Eyes Blue Grass Stakes Win
Published: 4/12/07, 8:46 PM EDT
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
http://home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?fromspage=all/home.htm&categoryid=&bfromind=7774&eeid=5157918&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ch=ne&genid=P&ac=5&pnum=1
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - So far, Street Sense has done everything right for trainer Carl Nafzger.
As a 2-year-old, the bay colt closed out a championship season with a dazzling 10-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In March, a bigger and stronger Street Sense opened his 3-year-old campaign by nosing out Any Given Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby after a stretch-long duel. Now comes the final race in Nafzger's master plan to get his colt to the Kentucky Derby - the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.
Filly Sets World Record for 4½ Furlongs
http://sports.iwon.com/news/04122007/v5785.html
Apr 12, 6:40 PM (ET)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -One Hot Wish broke the world record for 4½ furlongs Thursday, winning a $50,000 race for 2-Year-Olds in 48.87 seconds at Keeneland.
The 2-year-old filly, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, broke the mark of 49 seconds set by Motivo on Sept. 5, 2006, at Yavapai Downs in Arizona.
One Hot Wish beat Lantana Bob by 12 lengths, and paid $4.60, $3.40 and $3.20. Lantana Mob returned $6.60 and $4, and High Bridled paid $3.20 to show.
I love Nobiz like Shobiz this horse has classic written all over him, he took a paceless race and managed to hang on gamely! He ran very well with blinkers for the first time and seems to of matured greatly since his FOY. I'd love to see him rate, in the Derby. He is a gorgeous looking speciman.
Giacomo's half sibling won the Santa ANita Derby. Maybe he won't upset the Kentucky Derby!
Strong Group this year! I am excited for the Bluegrass takes this year as well, to bad I'll miss it!
The more I see Nobiz run, the more im unimpressed, he has only beaten up on weak fields, let him take a crack at Scat Daddy anymore and he is gone from what I've seen out of both of them in there three year old careers. As for your top 3 year old, I really think there is no equal -- Street Sense and then Tiago for the classy longshot.
I think Street Sense has an equal, I don't see him as good as other's place him to be. I never said Nobiz is my favorite, all I said was he got the race won the way he needed to. There is no way Tiago has any shot in the Derby has there ever been a horse win the Derby off just 4 races? Not in a LONG time he'll get leg weary in the stretch. I don't think Nobiz is good enough to challenge the likes of Circular Quay, who I think is probably the best three year old. Great Hunter will give Street Sense a tough run. I'd like to see Street Sense win away from the rail before he's my favorite. There's lots of horses that i'd like to see win. Depending on the race this weekend, and if it is a tough race on Great Hunter and Street Sense I don't see them winning the first saturday in may.
This race between the Bluegrass I'd give the nod to Great Hunter. but we will see.
What a great win by Invasor In last nights Dubai World Cup, the much awaited match race between Invasor and Discreet Cat never eventuated, with DC finishing a tailed-off last.
Don't know what happened to Discreet Cat, but his run was too bad to be true.
Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum must consider the $US1.4m he paid for Invasor to be the best deal he's ever made.
A replay of the race can be viewed on the following link:
Re: Dubai World Cup- Invasor First- Discreet Cat Last
by Afleet Alex
hahah, i knew DC didn't have enough for this race. I also knew it would come down ot the two best dirt horses in the world INVASOR and PREMIUM TAP. I'm happy with the race. I don't buy DC's throat infection for one minute.
Re: Dubai World Cup- Invasor First- Discreet Cat Last
by Horse Racing Fan
Me either this horse has too much speed to last a classic distance, I've always thought that. Was sort of like the Woodward Stakes in which held Damascus (Invasor), Dr. Fager (D.C) and Buckpasser (Premium Tap). Mind you Discreet Cat isn't as great a horse as Dr. Fager, but it's just an observation... Discreet Cat I've always thought was a good miler and that's fine, I don't think he's a great horse though. Not verstaile enough.
Invasor has proven the best we've seen since Cigar, I'd love to see him break a record or two this year, it will be nice to see him run in the Suburban this summer! :) He is a very nice horse.
Thank-You Beth for keeping MOW's story fresh and alive! I too have always loved MOW, and anything I could find about him. I was so blessed back in 1984 to purchase a mare with MOW blood in her pedigree. Her name was
'Beggar Chic'. She was a retired race horse with a ROM in racing. I bought her as a 10 yr old. She looked just like Big Red. I wanted to keep those MOW lines going, I bred her and still have this 20 yr old mare named'Impress Me Cedar'. She has had 4 MOW foals. I have had 3 generations from these lines that I have raised, trained, and showed. They make me very proud! I also collect any ManOWarabila I can find.Pictures, books, articles,
cups, posters, etc. So glad there are so many others that love 'The mostess Hoss'(as Samuel Riddle called him).
Go Big Red! From, Paula.
For Beth and all of you, Bowen has an article in the spring issue of "Keeneland" that was issued last week. The article is sort of a review of MOW's legacy. It refers to descendants of Harbut, Loftus, Jeffords, and has photo's of MOW'S barn. It's a keeper.
Just to let everyone know, this coming Saturday, March 31, 2007. Both the Dubai World Cup and the UAE Derby will be on ABC at 2:30 Eastern Standard Time (EST). If anyone is wondering I get move of my racing schedule from http://www.breederscup.com/races_index.aspx and from http://www.ntra.com/races_index.aspx since trying to get a horse racing schedule where I live is like a fish looking for the existence of a billy goat.
man o war stable sign artist YOHE? anyone know anything?
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I have this listed on ebay and am looking for info on this. Any help appreciated. Large wooden sign is artist signed...yohe, ycohe, y cohe,or other 40 (1940). Anyone familiar with this? Thank you.<img src=http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/asapthatsme/Dscf0188-1.jpg><img src=http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/asapthatsme/Dscf0194.jpg
Considering no BCJ winner has done much in his 3 year old year the last few years it was nice to see Street Sense come back and win the Tampa Bay Derby in a big way. He beat the track record for a mile and a sixteenth and did so beating off a decent horse in Any Given Saturday who has already raced this year. We should see how he fair's against Great Hunter in the Bluegrass Stakes.
Granted it is Tampa Bay Down's but it was a helluva of a race for a horse who hasn't raced in 4 months, maybe he can break the curse, but he has to beat Circular Quay, Great Hunter.
Article: Win Puts Bwana Bull on List of Kentucky Derby Candidates
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Win Puts Bwana Bull on List of Kentucky Derby Candidates
Mar 10, 9:13 PM (ET)
http://sports.iwon.com/news/03102007/v7410.html
SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) -Bwana Bull made the list of Kentucky Derby hopefuls Saturday, sweeping past Freesgood in mid-stretch en route to a one-length victory in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows Racecourse.
It was the third straight win for the son of Holy Bull and the fourth El Camino win for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who won last year's race with Cause to Believe.
Hollendorfer started three horses in the El Camino but the public made Bwana Bull, who won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields by five lengths in his previous start, the even-money favorite.
Though he left the gate in good order, the colt was outrun to the first turn of the Grade 3, 1 1-16-mile race and found himself near the back of the seven-horse field as they turned into the backstretch.
"I thought we had a bad beginning," Hollendorfer said. "We got shuffled back and I was very worried about that."
Jockey Russell Baze waited until the far turn to make his move. But Bwana Bull did not respond immediately when asked to go after Freesgood, who had wrested command from Candy's Bro, also trained by Hollendorfer, entering the stretch.
"When I moved him outside, he didn't really take off right away," Baze noted. "But then I switched my stick and when I hit him a few times left-handed he changed leads and ran by that other horse. Once he did that, I knew he'd run on to the wire."
It was Baze's third-straight win in the El Camino and fifth overall. Final time over a fast but somewhat dull track was 1:43.22.
Freesgood, a stablemate of Derby prospect Stormello for owner-trainer Bill Currin, couldn't hold off the winner but was a clear second over Zoning In. "I thought I couldn't lose at the quarter-pole," said rider Kent Desormeaux, "but he just couldn't hold off Bwana Bull."
The win boosted Bwana Bull's earnings to $244,962. Hollendorfer indicated that either the Santa Anita Derby or Illinois Derby would be Bwana Bull's next race.
Bwana Bull paid $4, $2.40 and $2.20, Freesgood returned $4 and $3.80, and Zoning In paid $6.60 to show.
The leading contenders for Saturday's $350,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park all come into the important Kentucky Derby prep with the same goal, but each has a different agenda. For odds-on favorite Nobiz Like Shobiz, the Fountain of Youth provides another opportunity to affirm his position atop the 3-year-old division and is the second carefully planned step on his road to the Derby.
Discreet Cap misses his prep.The former U.S.-based runner Terrific Challenge was one of the big winners Thursday at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai in an evening of preps for the Dubai World Cup card that lost much of its interest when Godolphin's unbeaten Cigar Mile winner Discreet Cat was scratched owing to a slightly raised temperature
So much for Tagg saying he corrected the veering problem. Tagg's always been alittle to over confident for me. Nobiz was in contention in the stretch with Adore the Gold, Stormello and sure enough he veered right behind the path of Adore the Gold and had to be pulled back by Cornelio, once he got a straight path he went galloping to the wire with Scat Daddy to lose by a half length.
It's hard not to like Nobiz but this is getting ridiculous, this horse is oozing with talent but in a field of 20 you can't have a horse drifting constantly in the stretch. Unless he corrects this in the Wood I'll pass on Nobiz.
Stormello, is one I've liked since he beat Principle Secret in the Norfolk last year, this horse is a fighter, who loves eye to eye combat with a horse. He seems to be able to stretch his speed out which is obvious today, but how much farther can he go? I really think he should of beat Scat Daddy today, he really lost by a whisker, He obiviously isn't like most Cali horses who needs that far turn to accelerate and rally, I like this horse, and after not running since December and flying in a horrid trip, he definitly deserved this to Scat Daddy. The only red flag is stamina? Does Stormello have any? If he doesn't learn to reserve some speed, which I doubt he will, he won't make a mile and a quarter going like that.
Nice win for Scat Daddy, who lost badly to Nobiz in the Holly Bull
This race basically reassured us that there is no stand out in the 3 year old class. But it's still early so we will just wait. and see
This was in my teenage youth and I guess I was more impressionable then but my thoughts then were that the:
Best Crop of 3 Yr Olds. 1957 No Doubt
Bold Ruler The only horse besides Discreet Cat to win in track record time as a top weighted 3 yr old against 4 year olds, he did it in the Vosburgh H. Oct 9 1957 which broke Roseben`s 51 yr old track record at Belmont Pk at 7 furlongs. Bold Ruler then went undefeated for 5 more races all Grade 1 stakes against top American, World and track record holders. Bold Ruler has come down history’s highway as one of the fastest horses ever to race in America.
Gallant Man won the Belmont Stakes in 1957 in 2:26 3/5 an American Record for 1 1/2 miles which eventually was broken by Secretariat.
Gen. Duke set a world record for 9 fl when he beat Bold Ruler in the Everglades at Hialeah Feb 16, 1957.
Round Table a great grass horse was very good on dirt too as he set numerous records on both grass and dirt.
Bold Ruler, Gallant Man and Round Table ran against each other often and had a showdown on Nov. 9, 1957 to settle Horse of The Year honors.
At Garden State Park in the Trenton Handicap Bold Ruler won handily with Gallant Man 2nd and Round Table 3rd.
Derby Prospect Owned by Pitino Injured
Feb 26, 8:07 PM (ET)
http://sports.iwon.com/news/02262007/v0995.html
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) -Buffalo Man, a promising 3-year-old colt owned by Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, sustained a minor ankle injury and was pulled off the Kentucky Derby trail Monday.
The injury occurred during a Sunday morning workout at Gulfstream Park.
"He took a bad step," trainer Cam Gambolati said Monday. "Fortunately, it's not life-threatening or anything like that and he should be able to come back. He could make it back sometime in the fall."
Buffalo Man had won his last three races and was scheduled to run in Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Pitino's Ol' Memorial Stable owns Buffalo Man, along with partners Ed Glasscock and his son, Clint; Rick Avare; Chris Sullivan; and former Kentucky and NBA player Jamal Mashburn.
Buffalo Man won the OBS Championship at the Ocala Training Center in his last start Feb. 12.
Hello Friends
I am a life long fan of the greatest race horse ever-MAN O WAR=!!!!But on seeing some research on the racing histories of the second greatest race horse of all time-SECRETARIAT-I am humbled to have to admit that according to the facts that it does appear that Secretariat does seem to come out on top according to his career standings. But once again I have a question:
I have heard that the race tracks today are at least a full five seconds than they were in Man O War's day. If this is true than how does the records that Man O War set in his day measure up to Secretariat's??? I have asked this question several times and no one seems to want to send me an answer. If I am wrong about the track timing someone please let me know so I can stop trying to figure out the answers myself. But if this is true than I would think that theoretically you would take 5 or so seconds off his time and then compare to Secretariat. This is of course all conjecture and theory but I sure would like to hear from someone out there who might know something about this.
DEBORA
Yes the timing is different between the tracks of Man O' War's time and Secretariat's time. But 5 seconds is just an estimate, it's not cold hard fact. There are a number of differences between the races and tracks the two champions ran on. Just take the Belmont racetrack for instance. Man O' War raced using cold steel shoes, where Secretariat used aluminum shoes. Also the weight that Man O' War carried were slightly heaver than the weights that Secretariat carried since the assigned weight of Man O' War was heaving than Secreatait at the same age, so the weight the two horses carried even for the same races or similar races were totally different. Also, the track itself was different. For Man O' War the track surface was a bit looser, the material used to make the track was totally different. The track Secretariat ran on at Belmont was more packed and secure footed for race horses.
The races and the tracks the two horses ran on were the same, but it may as well have been different races and different tracks (in my opinion) because of the changes and differences and changes made through the years. So to say the tracks today are 5 seconds faster are only an estimate. Also, no one can really know what would happen if Secretariat and Man O' War met each other on the same race track. Both horses are well known for being VERY competitive in races. This isn't to start the old debate of which one is the better race horse because everyone that's been to this board knows there's no win or loose in that argument. Just keep in mind that even though yes they ran in the same races and at the same tracks, changes have been made over time. So there's no way to end the debate unless someone finds a way to alter the space/time continuum and bring the two stallions together. Then I want a ticket to THAT race personally.
do a yahoo search for "Secretariat and Mano'war revisited" and there you will see it all......send me an email when you are finished with it...I an answere more questions....
That site does not prove anything. It is a multiple regression approach which I have used often in present day races and it gets losers eight times in ten. It ignores the importance of trip handicapping, neglects early speed, dismisses the importance of the daily track variant, denies the truth of MOW competition level and belies the importance of the physical health and soundness of the horses involved. It uses cop out excuses for Secretariats losses such as he was sick, under trained etc. If Secretariat ran against MOW when he was sick, under trained etc, he would have been a CERTAIN LOSER as MOW never ran when sick and unfit. That is to MOWs credit not an excuse. MOW Beyer in the Lawrence when he was given his head in an effort to set a track record was run on a slow 10 Beyer Variant and his Beyer was 147 to 149 well above Secretariats 138 in the Belmont. It was a run on the clock. I do not like to use that Beyer for that reason. Accurate daily variants have been made for the years MOW raced. MOW had MUCH more early kick than Secretariat and his running position at the First Call was 1.8 when he ran in fields of 5 or more. Secretariats FCP was 5 or 6. If MOW got a soft lead on SEC
Sec won’t have caught him as MOW Beyers at the FCP and the Finish are higher than Secs.
It is the finest head to head confrontation in decades. I am excited about it. I can remember only a few of these TOP matchups. ALL of them so long ago now! It brings back memories of my young halycon days. Love it.
Sept. 30 1967 Dr Fager- Damascus- Buckpasser
Sept 16, 1978 Seattle Slew - Affirmed
Oct 1979 Affirmed- Spectular Bid.
I believe too that Discreet Cat will win it again from Invasor.
Affirmed and Alydar had the greatest two year old rivalry ever. Who can forget that Belmont Stakes with Affirmed on the inside Alydar on the outside racing stride for stride for the lead for the entire mile and a half!! That was a horse race! Many believe this the finest race ever run in America.
Beyer figures have been made for every class, age, gender and distance run by horses.
The study has been done by Dr. Quinrin, Andy Beyer, Steven Davidowitz and a few others. More than 100,000 races have been analyzed to determine the Beyer figures involved.
Best Beyer ever in a Weight for Ages race at 1 ½ miles: Affirmed 128 when he beat Spectacular Bid in JCGC in 1979. I enjoyed seeing and betting that race as I thought Affirmed would beat The “Bid”
Best Beyer ever in a Handicap race for 3 year olds and up at 1 ¼ miles: Damascus 138 when he beat Dr. Fager July 20, 1968. I loved this race as it unfolded you could see the power of Damascus that day as he was 20 lengths off Dr Fager after 6 furlongs and as Dr Fager pulled away from Hedevar Damascus unleashed a furious run passing Dr. Fager as if he were standing still. This is the fastest one two finish in racing history when considering the Beyers of the first two finishers in a race: Damascus 138 and Dr Fager 133. Both horses carried 130 lbs plus that day and it is the highest weight carried by a horse running 130+ Beyer.
He could walk home and still win... He definitly needs an easier race, if Invasor has improved since the UAE Derby last time they met, maybe DC can get the Mile and a Quarter, will have to see..
Discreet Cat got smoked, and was never a factor in the race. May not quite be the next Dr. Fager! Can anyone explain why he has such a terrible race? I guess we really couldn't expect him to beat Invasor without a prep race, at a distance he'd never run before, but I did expect him to show some speed. Maybe he'll always be more of a miler.
Does anyone else like this horse? I think he has alot of talent, and by far stands out to me more so than Nobiz like Shobiz has so far. He's been firing workouts since his Lecomte *G3 win in January and looks raring to go at Oaklawn. I'd really like to see him lay 2nd in the Southwest Stakes this Monday and hopefully pull out another win, though the 9 hole isn't ideal, hopefully this horse will live up to the hype that he's starting and be able to win this one! :) I really hope this is a great one for Danzig, it would be nice for Danzig to have one last great one! And his dam an Turkoman/Alydar Mare Turkish Tryst won a stakes at 1/1/2 so hopefully this horse can do well and be able to get the distance, *pedigree says he should*! The North/Penny, Delaware area has produced some nice horses, I believe Barbaro was from that area to? including "Alex, and Smarty" who were nice horses. Maybe this horse can get it done Monday! What does everyone else think?
man o war was a great horse, yeah. but unless you face two horses against each other, you're not gonna know who was better. racehorse shoes were generally cast in silver until about 1950. they were very expensive and some had special turn-grippers so horses wouldn't slip. compared to horseshoes used on racehorses now, there's about 1/3oz difference. ONE THIRD OF AN OUNCE. :-) now enough to slow ol' man o war down, i promise. when you said on your page that Seabiscuit and Secretariat carried 115 lbs, that was wrong. each race assigns weights to the horses called imposts. they are different each race and are determined by the horse's progress in racing. seabiscuit carried as much as 132 lbs in some of his races. track surfaces and conditions varied. sometimes it was muddy while other times it was compact and fast. like i said before---the only way to tell which horse is better is a match race.
Seabiscuit carried 133 lbs in three races and won all three times! He was five years old when he was given that weight. As a three year old Seabiscuit did carry only 115 to 120. He set a track record under 133 lbs. at Bay Meadows on April 16,1938 while he was giving the runner up 20 lbs.
I realy do not know what you are trying to say in this post. Seabiscuit was named for a government issue of bread. Ships in the Navy were at sea for long periods of time so they needed a bread that would not get stale in a long time, Thus a sea biscuit was invented for the US Navy.
The long life biscuit that you refer to was so hard and difficult to eat that the sailors called it 'Hard Tack'.
Hard Tack was a son of Man O'War and the sire of Sea Biscuit, hence the name 'Sea Biscuit' from his sire, Hard tack.
Hard Tack was owned by the powerful Wheatley Stable who often named their foals in some connection with the sire and dam’s names. Wheatley Stables is a prime example of the very high quality “outside” mares to which Riddle allowed MOW to be bred.
Hard Tack was a horse of unremarkable racing talents, the well bred son of MOW won just 3 of 15 starts in three seasons. His eventual stud career was disappointing too with the single exception of a stocky brown colt named Seabiscuit.
I just want to know how fast Man O' War really could've gone if he ran on the same tracks we have today. He ran on loose, sloppy tracks, where most of our horses today run on hard packed tracks without a blemish on them. What if he had carried as little weight as all of the horses that race today carry. That would be almost 20 pounds lighter!!! He brought the sport of horse racing to the U.S. as a highly watched sport. I believe that he could still beat any horse racing today if he were still here and 100%. I would have loved to see him and Barbero race!!!! I have never seen a horse with as much heart as Barbero. Wouldn't that have been a race to see? No extra wieght on either of them, just 2 horses and an open race track! What if his jockey hadn't held him back while he was racing and had let him go all out all the way? How many records would still be standing today? How much more would he have won by? Man O' War is unmatchable? No One can beat him!!! He had so much heart, No horse is ever going to even compare to him!!!
Man O War was by far superior to a horse like Barbaro. Barbaro had heart sure, but so did recent stars like Afleet Alex, lets not forget his near tragedy in the Preakness in 05 and his nice Belmont Win. Barbaro would of had to of raced better horses than he did to even be thought to be in competition with a horse like Secretariat. The horse race that would of been the best would be between the two best horses ever Man O War and Secretariat!
Fact of the matter races horse sure aren't made like they use to.. There will never be another MOW, Secretariat, or Dr. Fager
Pace handicappers quickly notice that many horses have a comfort zone. If forced to fun faster-than-usual pace figures, their final figure suffers. A textbook example was Afleet Alex during the 2005 Triple Crown. Afleet Alex had established a consistent comfort zone in his prep races, and although it visually seemed he was rated far enough off the pace in the Kentucky derby, pace figures illustrated that he actually was much too close to one of the hottest paces in derby history. Afleet Alex was dramatically out of his pace-figure comfort zone, and almost won the race anyway. In the Preakness and Belmont he was allowed to run at his preferred pace and dominated the opposition. It was a difficult way to lose the Triple Crown!
Arlington Park Installing Polytrack
Feb 7, 5:58 PM (ET) http://sports.iwon.com/news/02072007/v8805.html
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) -Arlington Park has chosen Polytrack as the synthetic surface that will replace its conventional dirt track, where 22 thoroughbreds suffered fatal injuries during last year's summer meet.
Polytrack, made of wax-coated sand, synthetic fibers and recycled rubber, is considered a safer surface and will be installed in time for the start of the racing season on May 4. The cost will be about $10 million.
"We are confident that our new Polytrack surface will provide the safest and best racing surface possible and will strengthen our leadership in the racing industry," track president Roy Arnold said in a statement Tuesday.
The increase in deaths on the Arlington track, along with Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's breakdown in the Preakness on May 20, were factors in initiating the change.
All 22 fatal injuries occurred on the dirt track. In 2005, 12 horses were fatally injured on the track - eight on the dirt, four on the turf course; in 2004 the total was 14 - 13 on the dirt.
Several major tracks have switched from dirt to synthetic surfaces, including Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., which recently installed Polytrack. The track had a significant decline in horse breakdowns in last fall's meet.
Three independent experts inspected Arlington's dirt surface and found it well maintained after last year's rash of fatal breakdowns. But the experts also said European-pioneered synthetic surfaces are more consistent and appear to be safer.
Arlington Park plans a 94-day meet in 2007 from May 4-Sept. 16. The park is owned by Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc.
hi just a note to all i have been off the pc for sometime =i was at kentucky horse park in 06'and noted two posts that measured mows stride =the stride was 28 feet pole to pole .its there for all to see along with john henrys 24 ft ? stride it was nice to learn that man o'war was voted the greatest horse of the 20th centurys top 100 thoroughbreds see ya later larry pelkey
Invasor will make his first start in defense of his Horse of the Year title tomorrow at Gulfstream Park in the 4YO & UP Donn H Grade 1 Stakes race. Invasor will be spotting the field on average 11 pounds. When a horse has his best TWO Beyers better than the rest of field the horse is said to be “Double Advantaged” and wins over 40% of the time.
Invasor has his last Three Beyers well above this field of Grade 1 runners! I think the champ has arrived. Invasor trumped Bernardini for Horse of the Year honors.
Also running at GP tomorrow is Nobiz Like Shobiz in the 3YR OLD Holy Bull Grade 3 Stakes race. Nobiz Like Showbiz is at the top of everyone`s list of leading KyDerby candidates. Nobiz Like Showbiz also has a “double advantage” Beyers figures over this field of good 3 year olds.
In a performance more than worthy of his status as the reigning Horse of the Year, Invasor overcame a near-disastrous trip to register a heart-stopping two-length victory over Hesanoldsalt in Saturday’s $500,000 Donn Handicap. The Grade 1 Donn capped an outstanding day of racing at Gulfstream Park that featured five other graded stakes and included an impressive victory by leading Kentucky Derby prospect Nobiz Like Shobiz.
Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner, was euthanized on Monday morning at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., ending an emotional, eight-month odyssey that began when he fractured his right hind leg in the Preakness Stakes.
According to a report by The Associated Press, Roy Jackson, who along with his wife, Gretchen Jackson, owned the colt, said: "We just reached a point where it was going to be difficult for him to go on without pain. It was the right decision, it was the right thing to do. We said all along if there was a situation where it would become more difficult for him then it would be time."
Barbaro eventually succumbed to the ravages of the crippling hoof disease laminitis, which developed in his left hind leg and caused further problems with the right hind. The original fracture in his right hind leg had healed, but subsequent complications in both rear legs felled the gallant colt.
Dr. Dean Richardson, the chief of surgery at New Bolton, had repeatedly cautioned that Barbaro's health was in a precarious position, even as the colt appeared to make strides toward a recovery last fall. In recent weeks, however, Barbaro had several setbacks that eventually proved insurmountable.
On Saturday, Barbaro had surgery on his right hind leg because, according to a statement from Richardson, "we could not keep him comfortable on his right hind foot."
Richardson said a deep abscess developed because Barbaro apparently was shifting weight to his right hind to compensate for the "discomfort on the left hind foot." Richardson said it was not laminitis in the right hind, but "potentially just as serious."
The surgery on Saturday placed an external skeleton fixation device on the leg, which required two steel pins to be placed through the right hind cannon bone, Richardson said.
"This results in the horse eliminating all weight-bearing from the foot," Richardson said. "The horse's weight is borne through the pins across the cannon bone. There is significant risk in this approach, but we believed it was our only option given the worsening of the right hind foot problem."
Richardson said the major risk was that the bone bearing the weight - in this case, the cannon bone - "can fracture."
"Unfortunately, we felt we needed to take this risk because this approach offered our only hope of keeping Barbaro acceptably comfortable," Richardson said.
At the time, Richardson warned, "This is another significant setback that exemplifies how complex his medical situation remains because both hind limbs have major problems."
The surgery on Saturday, which removed an orthotic brace, followed by three days surgery to apply a plastic and steel brace to help stabilize the right hind leg. At that time, an abscess was drained from the right hind foot, and the cast on his left hind leg was changed.
Although the original fracture in the right hind had healed, the left leg ended up being a longer, more complicated project, and begat the recent complications in the right hind leg.
Barbaro's condition had regressed earlier in January, but he then had a couple of good weeks before his latest round of maladies.
On Jan. 3, Barbaro had the cast replaced on his left hind leg. And then on Jan. 9, Barbaro had a significant setback. According to a press release from New Bolton, Barbaro "became acutely more uncomfortable on his left hind foot" that evening.
"The foot cast was removed and some new separation of the medial [inside] portion of his foot was found," the release said. As a result, Barbaro needed surgery to remove the damaged tissue.
I am working on an article for Keeneland magazine which discusses ways in which Man o'War's legacy continues. This will include comments from families whose ancestors were directly involved with the horse, as well as organizations by which the horse's name and fame are preserved. Can you give me a brief description of how this club operates, when it was formed, how Man o' War drives it, etc.? Thanks.
I started the club back in May 21, 1999. I made it because I am the only person in my family and among my friends that follows horse racing. Even in the neighborhood I live in, if a person mentions the sport of horse racing the first thing out of everyone's mouth is Secretariat. They don't know of any other race horse but him. If you mention Barbaro, Seattle Slew, Man o' War or any other they may not know who you are talking about. For the movie "Seabiscuit" I seriously doubt anyone here knows that the movie was based off a book about a REAL horse. Much less knows that the race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral are between 2 horses who really are blood related to each other. Seabiscuit's grand-sire was Man O' War himself, and Man O' War is the direct sire of War Admiral. So in human terms Seabiscuit and War Admiral are nephew/uncle.
I originally created this board to talk about Man O' War in general. I read about him and was convinced that in my own opinion he was 100% better than Secretariat, but had no one to talk to about him. So the original reason I made this board was to just talk about Man O' War. As time went on it moved to talking about if there were any horses today with Man O' War in their pedigree. Then it moved from that to if any of those horses were racing today, and if so who?? Then from there we started talking horse racing in general. On this board I learned a lot about the sport of horse racing. Also I enjoy talking to people with different opinions about Man O' War, horse racing, or whatever comes up. The people on this board spans the ages, I've known kids still in elementary school come on this board, I've even known senior citizens come on this board. So we get a huge mix of people, and I like that. It give the people on this board a wide range and mix of views.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Barbaro underwent surgery on Saturday to insert two steel pins in his right hind leg in what his surgeon called the “only hope” of keeping the colt “acceptably comfortable” as he fights to recover from a broken right hind leg and severe laminitis in his left hind leg.
hello every one. i am an avid horse lover. in fact it is a passion. i own appaloosas and daughter rides college rodeo. i owned a mare that was the dead ringer for secretariate. had to put her down due to arthritis. broke my heart. have the danbury thoughbred collection of plates except for seabiscuit" it was broken". love talking to any one who just loves the out of doors, animals and simple living.
Maryland Jockey Club Cancels Pimlico Special
Jan 25, 12:15 PM (ET)
BALTIMORE (AP) -The Maryland Jockey Club canceled the Pimlico Special, the most prestigious race in the state after the Preakness Stakes, because of limited purse monies on Thursday.
Pimlico Special Will Not Be Carded In 2007
BALTIMORE, 01-25-07---Officials at the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) announced today that they have been forced to cancel the 2007 running of the legendary Grade I Pimlico Special.
Invasor, the Breeders' Cup Classic winner, led a strong showing for the ruling family of Dubai at the 36th annual Eclipse Awards dinner Monday night by being named the 2006 Horse of the Year and champion older horse.
This sunday Jan. 21, 2007 the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes (7th race) will be run at the Santa Anita track, in Arcadia, Calif. This race is for 4yr olds and up for a one and a quarter miles on turf.
Isn't Barbaro like related to Man O' War? I've been doing a project about Barbaro and was wondering how he was related to Man O' War. If he is would would please let me know and if you can give me the pedigree for 8 or 9 generations on Barbaro.
Thanks,
B
On his Sire's side (Dynaformer)
Man O' War shows up in the pedigree of Roberto (Barbaro's "grandfather") about 7 generations back.
On his Dam's side (La Ville Rouge)
Man O' War shows up in the pedigree of Carson City (Barbaro's other "grandfather") about 8 generations back.
He also shows up in the pedigree of La Reine Rouge (his "grandmother") about 9 generations back.
If anyone is interested, I used www.pedigreequery.com for the search, you can do free pedigree searches for up to 5 generations. So for what I did, it took a bit of time.
But from what I could find, Man O' War shows up 3 times in Barbaro's pedigree. If any of you decide to go to pedigreequery.com to do a search on his pedigree, you'll also see has has a few of "who's who" in his pedigree as well. Like Mr. Prospector and Mumtaz Mahal, just to name a few.
Article: Barbaro Has More of His Left Hoof Removed
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Barbaro Has More of His Left Hoof Removed
Jan 13, 4:03 PM (ET)
Article --> http://sports.iwon.com/news/01132007/v7226.html
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -Barbaro had another section of his laminitis-stricken left hind hoof removed Saturday, and a cast was placed back on his right hind leg for additional support.
The Kentucky Derby winner had a significant setback this week in his recovery from laminitis - a painful, often fatal disease - in his left hind foot. Chief surgeon Dean Richardson removed more of the hoof Saturday.
"The left hind deep digital flexor tendon was cut to help decrease the pull on the coffin bone by that tendon," Richardson said in an update issued by the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.
"This was previously done in July, but the tendon had healed and was pulling on the coffin bone, contributing to the malalignment of the coffin bone."
Because Barbaro had become uncomfortable on his left hind hoof, Richardson put the cast back on the right hind lower limb for additional support. Barbaro has been rehabilitating at the center since shattering three bones in his right hind leg just a few strides into the Preakness on May 20.
After his injury in the Preakness, Barbaro developed severe laminitis, which is caused by uneven weight distribution in the limbs. The result was that 80 percent of his left hind hoof was removed in mid-July.
Richardson removed damaged tissue from Barbaro's left hind hoof on Tuesday, calling it a "significant setback" after nearly seven months of promising recovery from laminitis.
When he came out of surgery, Barbaro was lifted by sling and placed on a raft in a pool so he could calmly awake from the anesthetic.
Secretariat still holds the fastest ½ mile, ¾ mile, 1 mile, 1 ¼ miles and 1 ½ mile times in a Belmont Stakes Race. Sec holds the largest margin of victory 31 in the Belmont. He ran a 12+ seconds furlong for all 12 furlongs that day. Unbelievable! It is perhaps the single greatest performance in horse racing history. It is hard to find ANY fault in it. I consider myself lucky to have met Secretariat while he was racing and I met MOW when he was an old man like me lol. Only MOW in the 1920 Dwyer compares well to Secretariat’s Belmont. MOW ran faster for 6 fl(on a LOT slower track) than Sec and had to KEEP contesting the pace with J.P. Grier who unlike SHAM did not fold up after 6 fl. JP Grier kept coming at MOW for 1 mile and 100 yards. The longer the pace is contested the WORSE it is for the horses involved. MOW set a world record that day in the “RACE OF THE CENTURY”.
Man O War’s record of 2:14 1/5 for a mile and 3/8 was erased on July 9, 1966 when Winfreux, a four year old, was timed the distance in 2:13 4/5 at the Doomben track in Queensland, Australia. His time bettered the former mark by two-fifths of a second. So MOW`s record for 1 3/8 lasted 46 years not 71 years.
Sir Barton had set the world record for 1 3/8 miles in the 1919 Belmont Stakes in a time of 2:17 2/5. MOW the next year in the Belmont ran 1 3/8 in 2:14 1/5 shattering the old mark by more than 3 seconds. MOW is the only Belmont winner to sire as many as 3 other Belmont winners namely American Flag 1925, Crusader 1926 and War Admiral 1937. MOW had a phenomenal stud career.
Okay -- but please re-read my earlier comment. Regarding MOW's
1-3/8 mile record time in the Belmont Stakes, I did not claim MOW held a world record for 71 years.
What I had stated is:
"His running time on a dirt surface lasted as a track record for some 71 years."
What happened is that his track record set on the Belmont dirt track was bested in 1991 -- when a scheduled 1-3/8 mile race at Belmont Park was switched from grass to dirt.
Article: Breeders' Cup Expands to 11 Races, 2 Days
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Breeders' Cup Expands to 11 Races, 2 Days
Jan 8, 9:07 AM (ET)
http://sports.iwon.com/news/01082007/v6043.html
NEW YORK (AP) -The Breeders' Cup got bigger and richer Monday, with thoroughbred racing's showcase event expanding to 11 races over two days in the largest addition to the competition since it began 24 years ago.
Three $1 million races and another day of racing were added to the program, beginning with this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., on Friday Oct. 26 and Saturday Oct. 27. The 11 races, televised by ESPN, will now total $23 million in purses.
"Today's marketplace demands change, innovation and the willingness to take chances," Breeders' Cup president Greg Avioli said. "The Breeders' Cup board has embraced this and is giving us the freedom and responsibility to take the event to the next level."
The additional racing was approved by the Breeders' Cup board Friday and must be approved by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and state regulators.
This is the latest in a series of changes for the Breeders' Cup during the past 12 months - the increase of purses from $14 million to $20 million in 2006, new nomination rules and the formation of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, which this year will allow winners of 24 races at six tracks to gain automatic spots in the event.
The new races, to be run Oct. 26 are the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for 3-year-olds and up, the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint for 3-year-olds and up and the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. There will be three other stakes races on the card, each with a $250,000 purse.
Breeders' Cup board chairman Bill Farish said the changes provide "the framework for unprecedented growth," aimed at attracting the world's best horses.
Total purses for the 10-race card on Breeders' Cup Friday will be $4 million, making it the second-richest racing day in North America.
The eight races on Breeders' Cup Saturday: $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint and $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Article: Barbaro, Invasor, Bernardini Among Eclipse Award Finalists
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Barbaro, Invasor, Bernardini Among Eclipse Award Finalists
Jan 3, 11:04 AM (ET)
http://sports.iwon.com/news/01032007/v6727.html
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Invasor and Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini were among the Eclipse Award finalists announced Wednesday.
Three finalists in each of 15 categories were chosen, with Barbaro in contention for champion 3-year-old male after an accident in the Preakness ended his racing career. Invasor was bidding for older male, and Bernardini competed against Barbaro and Discreet Cat for 3-year-old male.
Finalists for Horse of the Year were not released. Winners will be announced Jan. 22 in Beverly Hills.
Argentine-bred Invasor upset Bernardini by a length in the $5 million BC Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4. Other finalists in the older male category are Lava Man and Premium Tap.
The awards are voted on by turf writers and racing secretaries at National Thoroughbred Racing Association tracks.
Russell Baze, who broke Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record with his 9,531st career victory in December, was a leading contender for the jockey award. Garrett Gomez and Edgar Prado were the other candidates.
Todd Pletcher, who topped his own North American single-season earnings record for trainers with $27.4 million last year, leads the Eclipse Award finalists for trainers. The others are New York-based Kiaran McLaughlin and Doug O'Neill, based in Southern California.
Pletcher is currently serving a 45-day suspension after one of his horses tested positive for a drug that isn't allowed within one week of racing.
The other finalists:
2-year-old male: Circular Quay, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Street Sense
2-year-old female: Dreaming of Anna, Octave, Point Ashley
3-year-old female: Bushfire, Pine Island, Wait a While
Sprinter: Discreet Cat, Henny Hughes, Thor's Echo
Older female: Asi Siempre, Fleet Indian, Round Pond
Male turf horse: English Channel, Miesques Approval, The Tin Man
Female turf horse: Gorella, Ouija Board, Wait a While
Steeplechase: McDynamo, Mixed Up, Sur La Tete
Apprentice jockey: Martin Garcia, Julien Leparoux, Rosie Napravnik
Article: Belmont Stakes Winner Jazil Returns Friday at Aqueduct
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Belmont Stakes Winner Jazil Returns Friday at Aqueduct
Jan 1, 5:46 PM (ET)
NEW YORK (AP) -Belmont Stakes winner Jazil will return to racing Friday at Aqueduct, his first race since winning the Belmont Stakes.
He drew the outside post in a field of eight in a $48,000 race at 1 1-16 miles. Regular rider Fernando Jara will be aboard.
The 4-year-old was sidelined with a bruised canon bone that prevented him from running in the Breeders' Cup Classic, won by stablemate Invasor, in November.
Jazil and Invasor were both in Florida until an outbreak of the highly contagious and, sometimes fatal, equine herpes virus in that state prompted trainer Kiaran McLaughlin to return both horses to New York on Christmas Eve.
Jazil had his final workout Saturday at Belmont Park, going four furlongs in 48.60 seconds.
"We wanted to get him started," McLaughlin said. "He's doing very well but I don't know if he has to win first time back. If he runs well, we'll be happy."
I just had a look at Secretariat's Kentucky Derby win on You Tube and it reminded me very much of Phar Lap's win at Agua Caliente in what turned out to be his last race. Like Phar Lap, Secretariat dropped out to last early and then circled the field to get the lead and go on to score convincingly.
I also viewed Sec's Belmont win where he led, and led, and led, and won by 30 lengths, Fair Dinkum if that doesn't make your jaw drop to the ground then nothing will.
These 2 races show how versatile Secretariat was, it's often said that champions can win races no matter how they are ridden and he certainly proved that.
Those who were on course to see that Belmont Stakes were privileged to say the least.
I doubt we'll ever see another win to match that one.
Best horse that ever lived in my opinion he actually won the Belmont by 31 and in a time of 2:24 a time that should NEVER be beaten!!
Phar Lap was a magnificent creator, I loved his movie its a great one, both Chestnuts had incredibly large hearts and racing ability. How many Melbourne Cups did he win 2? And under large amounts of weight if I'm correct?
Keep in mind that, if Secretariat's 1-1/2 mile time on a dirt track remains not broken for a very long time, it will be because virtually no tracks in the U.S. sponsor races at that distance. Yes, the Belmont Stakes is still run every year at 1-1/2 miles in New York, but the track cushion Secretariat ran on in 1973 was several inches thinner (i.e., faster) - since then, the running surface has been made much deeper (slower) to help protect the horses' legs.
It's really no different than when Man O' War set the world record for 1-3/8 miles in the 1920 Belmont Stakes. His running time on a dirt surface lasted as a track record for some 71 years -- solely because horses stopped running races at that distance on dirt tracks many, many years ago. If no one is running the distance, then who is going to break the record??
Secretariat's 2:24 running time has been bettered a number of times -- before and since 1973 -- on grass.
Also, although visually exciting to watch on video re-runs, when put in a proper perspective, his 31-length winning margin is not very meaningful. Except for Sham, who broke down in the early stages of the race, and was eased up into last place, the running ability of the three (3) other horses that Secretariat faced in the Belmont Stakes was unremarkable. Secretariat had it all his own way because he faced no Spectacular Bids, no Seattle Slews, no Affirmeds, Dr. Fagers, Buckpassers, etc. If he had, no one would be talking today about a 31-length margin of victory.
Even as it is, 31-lengths is virtually meaningless as a true indicator of the race result -- consider, if the other three (3) horses had fallen down at the start of the race, one could then silly-claim Secretariat had won by 1000 lengths. In either event, given the conditions of the race, and lack of ability of the other three horses, exulting over a 31-length winning margin or a 1000-length winning margin is meaningless.
One comment about Sham -- many supposed "expert" commentators who should know better, seem to delight in stating that Secretariat ran so fast that he broke Sham down before getting through the back stretch. Keep in mind their running time at 6 furlongs (1:09-4/5) was seriously fast for a 1-1/2 mile race, but not for a 6 furlong running time -- that time is several seconds slower than what the top stakes horses in the U.S. are capable of. Secretariat didn't stop Sham. Sham sustained an unfortunate injury (it happens every day to good horses, including Barbaro and Go For Wand) that caused him to be eased and then pulled up. If Sham had been able to stay in the race, Secretariat was not going to win it by 31-lengths.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree no horse could of stayed with Secretariat at that pace and that distance for that long! He was in a race by himself, and any other horse would of faded badly to such a regal horse. Man O War would of been the only horse to stay with him that long, even the best distance horses back then would not been able to Affirmed was spent racing with Alydar going 2:26 so there is no way in heck he could of stayed with Secretariat going 2:24 he would of faded easily 10 lengths behind Big Red because he couldn't keep his speed up to that level.
Risen Star his son and Easy Goer have had the closest two times to Big Red and neither could of run 2:24. that's what makes it great, it doesn't matter that Sham couldn't stay with him and I guarentee you he wouldn't have even if he would of broken down the early going was just to fast for him and that's obvious, if the early quarters weren't enough to do him in the final half mile of the race just kept getting faster, sure some horses like Afleet Alex ran the fastest last quarter of the Belmont up to date but I'd like to see another horse keep up that pace that long and then we will talk about breaking records.
You are right in America there are hardly any mile and a half races but a race like that in terms of speed and visual conformation is one that should never be topped in another Belmont.
Intresting fact is that Secretariat sired Kingston Rule the 1990 Melbourne Cup Winner who still holds the Melbourne Cup Record of 3:16:3
Sham was spent after a hotly contested 6 furlongs with Secretariat at 1:09 4/5 in the 1973 Belmont. I remember getting off work at 4 pm that Saturday and it was very humid in NY for early June. I got home in time to see that Belmont and when they went 6 fl in 9 and change I expected both Sec and Sham to lose!! You could see Sham was TIRED and he was finished after 6 fl!! He did not lift his legs too well then and his ears went down: a sure sign of fatigue. Injured or not Sham would be well beaten that day.
Grass races are faster than dirt because a horse’s foot does not slip and slide even one inch on grass as it does on dirt. The horse’s feet get back into its next stride quicker and easier on grass as can be seen in PG Johnson’s film studies of horses feet action on grass surfaces. PG Johnson is the only trainer to win at least one race a year at Saratoga for 32 straight years.
"Secretariat had it all his own way because he faced no Spectacular Bids, no Seattle Slews, no Affirmeds, Dr. Fagers, Buckpassers, etc. If he had, no one would be talking today about a 31-length margin of victory."
Mr Harris,
That's one of the silliest statements I've ever read.
Secretariat could only race what was put up against him in that race, and he beat them by 31 lengths.
You don't need to be Einstein to work out that Champions don't beat other champions by 31 lengths, so you're telling us nothing.
Like Secretariat, many other great horses have raced opposition that were considered far inferior to themselves, so Mr Harris, can you name me one other great galloper who has won a GR1 race by such a margin.
Re: Follow Up -- Let's have a dispassionate look, ...
by John Harris
Okay -- then, … for discussion purposes, let's get a time machine and we'll all go back to 1988, to pick up Mike Tyson when he was in his ring fighting prime (Tyson being the stand-in here for Secretariat).
You can help pick any local U.S. high school boxing champion then or now (that fellow being here the stand-in functional performance equivalent of Secretariat's opposition in the Belmont Stakes) and -- when Tyson knocks out the hapless high school champ in the time span of 0.002/100ths of a second in the first round, we can all proclaim the feat as being one of the greatest and most devastating sports accomplishments in the history of the world.
With all my best regards!!
P/s -- to respectfully address your rhetorically stated question ... with one such example: Damascus racing at 1-1/4 miles in the Travers Stakes bested his field of unremarkable runners by 22 lengths. Had the Travers been stretched out to a full 1-1/2 miles (the distance of Secretariat's Belmont), Damascus easily would have tacked on an additional 10 or more lengths, over the next quarter-mile, to greatly increase his winning margin to beyond 31 lengths.
Re: Follow Up -- Let's have a dispassionate look, ...
by Tulloch
Mr Harris,
You make one stupid comment after another.
So Secretariat is Mike Tyson and Sham and the others are high-school boxing team class opponents, the same Sham who bettered the Kentucky Derby race record in running second to Secretariat.
Any other year and Sham wins the K/Derby and breaks the race record as well, and yet he's high-school class opposition for the purpose of your ridiculous argument.
I see you still haven't found another 31 length GR1 winner.
All you've got are hypotheticals, and ridiculous ones at that, and they don't stack up against historical FACTS.
One is hard put to fine horses that have won a graded stakes race by at least 20 lengths let alone by 31 lengths! In 1973 after Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 the DRF published a list of horses who had won a race by at least 20 lengths. There were very few to speak about.
Hamburg won by 100 July 30, 1898 at Brighton Beach, Brooklyn N, Y,
Roseben won by 20 Oct, 16, 1906 at Belmont Pk
MOW twice won by at least 20 Belmont Stks and Lawrence Realization
Discovery won by 30 June 25, 1935 in Detroit
Count Fleet twice won by 20 or more Belmont Stks and Walden at Pim April 13. 1943
Damascus by 22 in 1967 Travers.
There may have been a few more on the list but by 1973 that is all the wins by 20 or more that were recorded. No wonder Mr. Harris can’t fine another Grade 1 winner by 31 or more.
Yankee Clipper, you contribute a refreshing breath of intellectual discourse and maturity to this discussion board. I am not attempting to persuade you or anyone else to agree with me and I do not care if anyone does. However, you -- and some of the tolerant others who participate on this discussion board -- might give respectful consideration to these final comments of mine.
Firstly, Secretariat, inarguably, was a great racehorse – a very accomplished and exceptionally strong middle-distance runner (esp. at 1 mile to 1-1/2 miles) but his reputation has since grown to incorporate a soft mix of hyperbole. Because of the consistency of the grass racing surface -- wh
