OT: The Belmont and The Triple Crown

[RockyMTblue2]

Well, you've already engaged, I was just asking for clarification. But you are literally the only person I've read or heard this entire TC season that has disparaged this crop of three-year-olds. Even writers who have always been quick to label crops as mediocre didn't go there this year.

Hey, I've already confessed to being a curmudgeon and way out on a limb on this. Do I have to eat gravel in the parking lot! Sheesh! But, yes, what I said about this year's crop is from very inside, very reliable sources that, of course, will remain nameless. BUT I freely admit that the racing industry is full of pettiness and backbiting and feuds of all sorts. Still, my brother has been on the professional or track side of the business all his life, and his friends among the trainers are a very good sampling of the elite of racing.

 

[Waquoit]

Hey, if you are going to post controversial opinions on a public board you have to expect some push back. That's the game.

 

[meyers7]

Arrrggggghhhh. This AP stuff is driving me batty. AP is AP Indy. American Pharoah is American Pharoah. Some of you are acting like S. Carolina fans.

 

[Aluminny69]

This Is What It Would Look Like If American Pharoah Raced Secretariat

 

[Beemer]

I watched Secretariat win the Triple Crown. He was truly a magnificent horse- big, powerful and yes charismatic.

IMO no horse, not even Seattle Slew, Affirmed or American Pharoah even comes close.

 

[Waquoit]

Arrrggggghhhh. This AP stuff is driving me batty. AP is AP Indy. American Pharoah is American Pharoah. Some of you are acting like S. Carolina fans.

No one ever called AP Indy, "AP". They called him AP Indy or Indy for short.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I watched Secretariat win the Triple Crown. He was truly a magnificent horse- big, powerful and yes charismatic.

IMO no horse, not even Seattle Slew, Affirmed or American Pharoah even comes close.

Agreed. Secretariat's record times still stand 42 years later, which is incredible. He was a beautiful, big, reddish brown horse who was a freak of nature. In his time, he was known as "Sexy," which is an unusual moniker for a horse. Like Sham, he had an oversized heart, close to 2.75 times the average. His greatness stands the test of time. The videos of the Triple Crown races clearly show his speed. In the Preakness, he passed the entire field with a 20-second burst of speed that I have never seen matched.

But this is not to demean American Pharaoh. He's an outstanding horse in his own right. Though I'm admittedly not an expert, there is something that comes to my eye from watching the many replays. Secretariat was a big, powerful horse, unlike any other. Pharaoh has a distinctive stride. He seems to glide smoothly down the track. His ease of motion and the rate at which he covers distance make him special too.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

He seems to glide smoothly down the track. His ease of motion and the rate at which he covers distance make him special too.

Perhaps, but most well configured, large thoroughbreds cover ground exceptionally well. But, yes, he is a beautiful horse. On the moving part, if you study film/video of a race and look at the Jocks many seem suspended in the air - their heads are almost never bobbing up and down; yes, some of that is their legs acting like shock absorbers, but I'd like to see a scientific measure of this sometime. I first gained an appreciation of this when I grew confident enough of my first thoroughbred enough to really let him run. I couldn't believe how much it felt like being suspended over the ground going very, very fast! His registry name was butt ugly: Diplomatic Bag! To us he was Thunder Bay when we entered him in local horse events, but for 17 years he was "Bud".

 

[Beemer]

Agreed. Secretariat's record times still stand 42 years later, which is incredible. He was a beautiful, big, reddish brown horse who was a freak of nature. In his time, he was known as "Sexy," which is an unusual moniker for a horse. Like Sham, he had an oversized heart, close to 2.75 times the average. His greatness stands the test of time. The videos of the Triple Crown races clearly show his speed. In the Preakness, he passed the entire field with a 20-second burst of speed that I have never seen matched.

But this is not to demean American Pharaoh. He's an outstanding horse in his own right. Though I'm admittedly not an expert, there is something that comes to my eye from watching the many replays. Secretariat was a big, powerful horse, unlike any other. Pharaoh has a distinctive stride. He seems to glide smoothly down the track. His ease of motion and the rate at which he covers distance make him special too.

I clearly remember Secretariat absolutely destroying the field in the Belmont- a 31.5 length victory that looked even bigger than it was. Turcotte just turned him loose and away he went. Everybody else was racing for second that day.

 

[meyers7]

No one ever called AP Indy, "AP". They called him AP Indy or Indy for short.

Doesn't matter.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I clearly remember Secretariat absolutely destroying the field in the Belmont- a 31.5 length victory that looked even bigger than it was. Turcotte just turned him loose and away he went. Everybody else was racing for second that day.

Or maybe they were racing for 3rd. It was a small field, but outclassed by a quantum leap.

I can hear the conversation now:

Owner: "My horse finished second to the great Secretariat."

Casual observer: "Wow! That's very impressive. How far back was your horse?"

Owner: "Um, 31 lengths."

 

[Icebear]

Agreed. Secretariat's record times still stand 42 years later, which is incredible. He was a beautiful, big, reddish brown horse who was a freak of nature. In his time, he was known as "Sexy," which is an unusual moniker for a horse. Like Sham, he had an oversized heart, close to 2.75 times the average. His greatness stands the test of time. The videos of the Triple Crown races clearly show his speed. In the Preakness, he passed the entire field with a 20-second burst of speed that I have never seen matched.

But this is not to demean American Pharaoh. He's an outstanding horse in his own right. Though I'm admittedly not an expert, there is something that comes to my eye from watching the many replays. Secretariat was a big, powerful horse, unlike any other. Pharaoh has a distinctive stride. He seems to glide smoothly down the track. His ease of motion and the rate at which he covers distance make him special too.

American Pharoah glides like Maya Moore running down the court: effortless, smooth and far faster than you thought she was going.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I wish they would not race him and that the syndicate would pay more to have him retired.