the most OVER rated horses in history

[Secretariat]

maybe Volponi ?

but then again his winning the bCC was never regarded as anything but a fluke,.ghostzapper on the other hand, ran maybe three routes in his life and in compared to some of the great horses, he, IMo is overated.

wins the BCC and races once ,more at a mile and then retires,
overrated.

[1st_Saturday_in_May]

I'll respectfully disagree about Ghostzapper. Granted he raced sporadically but when his hooves hit the track 'twas a thing of beauty. Far the best of any horse that I have witnessed in 3+ years of watching racing.

[Secretariat]

jeez dustin, uh oh, they got to you too....

What about Pleasantly Perfect, his highsteppin effortless stride wasn't one of the best ?

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Any owner's own two year old before their first race. Hey, we all like to think they are good till they aren't.

[randallscott35]

What Volponi? I love him. And nobody think that highly of him anyway. If you are going to pick an overrated horse it has to be someone who is really highly rated.

Point Given is terribly overrated if you ask me. People put him high on their top horses of all time and he never beat an older horse in his life.

[slotdirt]

Has to be Fusaichi Pegasus. Has to be.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

artie the paper champ shillar...hands down....

[Secretariat]

artie schiller, c'mon, he always hits the board, always, 100% lock to hit the board

[eurobounce]

Man I have a bunch

1) Arazi
2) Fusaichi Pegasus
3) Funny Cide
4) Brother Derek - even though I was on his band wagon
5) Bellamy Road

[Skip away]

Funny Cide, Bellamy Road, Point Given, Cliffs Edge, Perfect Drift. All overrated. :eek:

[Suffolk Shippers]

Empire Maker, had all the tools, had the pedigree, even had the trip more or less in the Derby and couldn't get past an almost equally over rated horse, Funny Cide.

[Crown@club]

Overhyped or Overrated

AP Valentine, Saarland

[Danzig]

oh, this should stir some controversy....secretariat. he lost 5 of 21 lifetime, yet is proclaimed by many to be the best EVER. the best horse ever doesn't lose almost 1/4th of the time!

now, his tc races were something to see. but come on, what about his total record?

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Here's some from the last 20 years; Capote, Houston, Mister Frisky, Strike the Gold, Editor's Note, Red Bullet, Dollar Bill, Eddington and most Breeder's Cup Juvenile winners. I could go on...

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Point Given? Expect for his Derby failure, he's been one of the best this decade!

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

I forgot, also my wive's favorite; SEA HERO!

[Danzig]

honestly tho, tongue in cheek posts aside....any horse who can run, and win, in graded company can't really be overrated, overhyped. they are the top of the heap. yes, some horses are truly great, but it doesn't mean all the others are no good, or are overhyped, etc.

i don't agree with bestowing the title of 'great' on a horse who runs one or two good races. great is earned over a career, and shouldn't be a title given lightly, earned because a horse was on his game on one day, or two days. but by all means, talk about an incredible performance--that is something to enjoy.
for instance, a good sprinter running a lifetime best should earn compliments galore, but let's not name him the next dr fager!

lil e tee did earn other wins in his career, he wasn't a one time wonder. gato del sol on the other hand....

[Thunder Gulch]

FuPeg and Lemon Drop Kid this decade.

Volponi's Classic was a bit of a fluke, but his versatility on different surfaces at different distances makes him underrated in my book.

No way Point Given was overrated.

[Cunningham Racing]

This is easy....Funny Cide is BY FAR the most over-hyped Thoroughbred of the modern era...he captured the American public after winning a weak renewal of both the Derby and Preakness (especially since Empire Maker was crippled in the Derby), and he has struggled to beat NYRA-breds and Gr. III compant since - without any significant excuse.

He simply is just not a very good horse and happened to peak at the right time in May of 2003 - similar to Giacomo in last year's Derby, although everybody knew Giacomo was a fraud at the time....the difference is that people were really convinced that Funny Cide was a true Champion of the ages during his run through the Triple Crown races - while most savvy analysts knew that Empire Maker was the best of that subpar group of 3-year-olds.

[Cunningham Racing]

I believe Point Given, Fusaichi Pegasus, Ghostzapper, and Bellamy Road - all of which many of you believe were overrated - were/are all immensely talented horses..

..Ghostzapper might have been one of the fastest horses in the last quarter century from 8-9 panels IMO (him or Dubai Millenium IMO)....Point Given would have gone several more races without losing had he not gotten injured IMO, including winning the BC Classic..he was unstoppable at Classic distances when on his game..the reason many believe he, along with Fu-Peg and Bellamy Road, were overrated is because they were/are all injury riddled and never had the opportunity to significantly compete in the handicap ranks and race against elders...I regret that myself..

Fu-Peg was great but extremely unsound...Bellamy Road is the best handicap horse in training IMO and should have a chance to prove it soon...I didn't like him in last year's Derby, but I do believe that he has unbelievable talent and should even be a better 4-year-old with his physique.

[ArlJim78]

This is easy....Funny Cide is BY FAR the most over-hyped Thoroughbred of the modern era...he captured the American public after winning a weak renewal of both the Derby and Preakness (especially since Empire Maker was crippled in the Derby), and he has struggled to beat NYRA-breds and Gr. III compant since - without any significant excuse.

He simply is just not a very good horse and happened to peak at the right time in May of 2003 - similar to Giacomo in last year's Derby, although everybody knew Giacomo was a fraud at the time....the difference is that people were really convinced that Funny Cide was a true Champion of the ages during his run through the Triple Crown races - while most savvy analysts knew that Empire Maker was the best of that subpar group of 3-year-olds.


I guess I missed the part where Funny Cide was heralded as a champion of the ages. To me he was and is a popular horse with a good story.

I like the fact that he beat the horse that the savvy analysts had annointed as a horse for the ages before he even proved much of anything on the track.

[Pointg5]

I guess I missed the part where Funny Cide was heralded as a champion of the ages. To me he was and is a popular horse with a good story.

I like the fact that he beat the horse that the savvy analysts had annointed as a horse for the ages before he even proved much of anything on the track.


Horse for the Ages, huh, I guess i missed that as well, he was a very good horse, he did win a G1 as a 4yo, so kind of hard to rip on a horse that has won 3 G1's. Empire Maker was a better horse, but that's not to take away from FC. He's been chronically mismanaged, but definetely not overrated.

Point Given is the most overrated, never beat older horses and his Sheet figs were not that fast...

[ptgiven]

heres one to throw out there....i always thought Sea Hero was over rated besides his derby and travers win he did nothing and we got a statue of him in the paddock at saratoga...make any sense?

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Point Given got hurt after the Travers that year. Would have most likely faced older in his next start. Wasn't as bad as some other 3yrs. Both him and Thunder Gulch were the most underrated 3yrs. in the past 20 years.

[Cunningham Racing]

Horse for the Ages, huh, I guess i missed that as well, he was a very good horse, he did win a G1 as a 4yo, so kind of hard to rip on a horse that has won 3 G1's.

The American Public made a huge deal about Funny Cide...he was the next coming of Seabiscuit in the summer of '03 to the American public - NOT the real racing community...lets make that clear. Funny Cide was the blue collar gelding from New York who got way to much hype for his quality....the connections were all over the news for months it seamed and they sold merchandise like crazy considering he is SIMPLY NOT VERY GOOD.

For you who beleive the Gr. I Jockey Club Gold Cup stakes he won at four was a stellar renewal - you may want to go back and look at the charts....I always thought Funny Cide was overrated and even I bet him in that race becuase it was absolutely horrible....he beat rats like Newfoundland in there...very bad race.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

They wanted a statue in the paddock and at the time Paul Mellon and Mac Miller were the big thing in racing.

[whorstman]

Can't believe anybody says Funny Cide. I don't care what he did after TC, he had a crack at immortality, ANY horse that wins the first 2 leggs of the TC, deserves some credit. Harsh critics. If you want to point to recent history, Brother Derek catches my eye. Everybody was on his "D" and he didn't bust a grape.

[Pointg5]

Point Given's sheet figs were equivalent to Lawyer Ron's, nobody is calling him great. He beat the likes of AP Valentine, E Dubai, Wooden Phone, Crafty CT, and a hurt Monarchos, those are some all time greats.

Congaree was a much better horse than Point Given...

[Pointg5]

The American Public made a huge deal about Funny Cide...he was the next coming of Seabiscuit in the summer of '03 to the American public - NOT the real racing community...lets make that clear. Funny Cide was the blue collar gelding from New York who got way to much hype for his quality....the connections were all over the news for months it seamed and they sold merchandise like crazy considering he is SIMPLY NOT VERY GOOD.

For you who beleive the Gr. I Jockey Club Gold Cup stakes he won at four was a stellar renewal - you may want to go back and look at the charts....I always thought Funny Cide was overrated and even I bet him in that race becuase it was absolutely horrible....he beat rats like Newfoundland in there...very bad race.

Yes, overrated horses win G1's at 3 and 4 happens all of the time...

[Gauchos0522]

Point Given's sheet figs were equivalent to Lawyer Ron's, nobody is calling him great. He beat the likes of AP Valentine, E Dubai, Wooden Phone, Crafty CT, and a hurt Monarchos, those are some all time greats.

Congaree was a much better horse than Point Given...
Has to be one of my top 5 favs of all time. He won the cigar mile twice but was really dissapointed with his met mile. From 7f to 1 1/4 he was very good with his best game coming at 1 mile I think.

[Hoisttheflag]

If anything Funny Cide is underrated. He deserves as much respect as people are willing to give him. Not only did he run a great Derby and Preakness but his Wood and Belmont were good races. He actually was a very fast horse who put up some great times. He had a workout that was probably too quick for the Belmont, although I don't think he would have won. If anything Empire Maker is the overrated one. He didn't get it done in the two big ones, the derby and travers.

For me the most overrated/overhyped horse was Saarland. At 3,4, and 5 he won nothing but allowance races. Not one stake. He was an Unbridled on top and Versailles Treaty on bottom (monster filly that won 4 grade 1's) and he never won anything except the remsen at 2 and allowance races.

[Suffolk Shippers]

This is easy....Funny Cide is BY FAR the most over-hyped Thoroughbred of the modern era...he captured the American public after winning a weak renewal of both the Derby and Preakness (especially since Empire Maker was crippled in the Derby), and he has struggled to beat NYRA-breds and Gr. III compant since - without any significant excuse.

He simply is just not a very good horse and happened to peak at the right time in May of 2003 - similar to Giacomo in last year's Derby, although everybody knew Giacomo was a fraud at the time....the difference is that people were really convinced that Funny Cide was a true Champion of the ages during his run through the Triple Crown races - while most savvy analysts knew that Empire Maker was the best of that subpar group of 3-year-olds.

I think Funny Cide was over rated, but I dont think anyone heralded him as the next superhorse. He ran a good race in the Wood, a very good race in the Derby and was lights out at Pimlico. That was his peak right there, calling him a fraud and comparing him to Giacomo is off base.

The sport was denied a chance at a legitimate Triple Crown winner in Afleet Alex last year partly because the owners of Bandini threw the glorified quarter horse Spanish Chestnut out there to light the pace on fire and Giacomo practically collapsed across the line, coming home in like 25 or 26 and change.

Funny Cide, ran a solid race, held a few lengths off Peace Rules and made a well timed move, passing in the stretch AND digging in to hold off Empire Maker.

[Buffymommy]

Funny Cide, Bellamy Road, Point Given, Cliffs Edge, Perfect Drift. All overrated. :eek:


You talking bad about my gusty gelding? COME ON DUDE! This horse still finishes in the money nine times out of ten racing horses half his age. Give the boy some credit! We should all have a horse this overrated.

[Cunningham Racing]

Congaree was a much better horse than Point Given...

I have talked to Baffert personally about this subject...not only was Point Given a much better horse than Congaree, Baffert told me that Point Given was the best horse he has ever trained (up to the end of last year and there han't been one better yet)...FYI

[Habersham000]

has to be Fusaichi Pegasus he beat nobody in the derby....

[Thunder Gulch]

Secretariat had a few "off" days which some of the other all-time greats didn't. However, when he was on his game, he was simply the best ever. He shattered track and world records at different distances, tracks, and surfaces.

[Metal Man]

It's going to be Lost in the Fog.