OT: Secretariat Awarded Preakness Record

[NoelAustin]

Secretariat is the best I have seen. He would not have recorded such an astonishing time at the Belmont had he not had the first position, only four competitors, and if one the others had had the presence to take the rail away from him. Easy Goer's performance was just as impressive seeing he spent much of the race on the outside. Secretariat's Preakness and Dr Fager's record mile remain the two most breathtaking horse racing performances I have witnessed.

When Tris Speaker retired as a baseball player, he held the career records for doubles (792) and assists by an outfielder (449). That was in 1928, and neither record has been matched. To hold the career record in an offensive and a defensive category for 84 years - that gets my vote for most impressive individual accomplishment. He also gets my vote for the most under-appreciated athlete of the 20th century.

 

[Dairyair]

Man, I loved to watch Big Red run...never followed the Sport of Kings that closely before or after Secretariat, but talk about Must See TV!!! I think I'll be sad when Secretariat's record(s) fall, but I suppose they might some day.

 

[VAUConnFan]

My favorites:
1. Secretariat
2. John Henry (unfortunately, a very ornery chap slow to develop the championship form he would display as an older horse, thus was denied the opportunity to work in a breeding barn.
3. Zenyatta(there may have been one other filly or mare as good; the name eludes me, but she had to be put down in a match race).
4. Spectacular Bid
5. Alydar - I would love to place him Number 1; Just such a game horse, and certainly number one in the breeding shed.
6. Seattle Slew - Eddie Arcaro never thought he was a great race horse. Of that, I do not have enough knowledge fo the game to dispute it. However, like Alydar, one could just throw away the Racing Form once you spotted his name as the sire.

 

[Alydar]

1. Forego. http://www.horsehats.com/forego.html 1973 was Secretariat's year. Maybe the best 3 YO career ever. But a horse that finished in midpack in the Jentucky Derby that year went on to win HOTY in 74, 75, & 76. That was also roughly when I got in the track business. Unlike today's distance specialists, forego won sprint championships as well as routes up to a mile and a half. And he did it while giving huge weight allowances to the best horses in the country. The link has a video of the 1976 Marlboro Cup.

2. Ruffian. Never saw a more beautiful horse. Effortless speed and competitive fire. I still tear up when I think of her breaking down.

Her last race before the match race. http://horsehats.com/horse-racing-videos/ruffian-video.html

3. Secretariat. The Tiger Woods of the equines. At the time his loss to Onion was bigger news than any of his wins.

4. Seattle Slew Loved him because he got no respect from the racing media during his 3yo career, some of whom wrote off his triple crown as a "down year in racing". He went on to also become a top sire.