1987 Awesome year of horse racing
 

There has been a lot of talk about the weak crop of 3 year olds this year and possibly the lack of interest in the older ranks other than Curlin. In my opinion, 1987 might rank as the very best year in the last 30 years.

1987 two year olds:
Forty Niner, Winning Colors, Seeking the Gold, Tejano, etc

1987 three year olds:
Alysheba, Bet Twice, Lost Code, Cryptoclearance, Broad Brush, Gulch, Java Gold, Gone West

1987 older runners:
Ferninand, Judge Angeluci, Skywalker, Groovy, Zany Tactics, Very Subtle, Snow Chief

1987 turfers:
Theatrical, Miesque, Trempolino

I'm sure I missed some great runners that were racing in 1987 but this is what I could remember. This year was so good and so stocked with great horses. The year was capped off by the best Breeder's Cup Classic ever (two Derby winners hitting the wire together, Ferninand over Alysheba).

Anyone else have a year that really stands out to them? Does '87 qualify for the best year in recent memory or am I just looking back favorably on the past?

I graduated from High School. Does that count as something good in 1987?

If you lived in Fort Plain :D did I miss much with the "big" street fair last weekend?

I'm pretty sure Broad Brush was a 4 yo in '87

I'm partial to 96 and 98

Cutlass Reality was a pretty good older horse running in 1987, but I think his big year came in 1988.
Temperate Sil was another decent 3yo from that year too.

3yos - Afleet and Polish Navy

hey we got big Brown and Curlin now......

This was my favorite year of racing. There was also a lightly raced 3yo filly that returned from injury that year named Personal Ensign. Sacahuista was another pretty good 3yo filly.

And don't leave out Manila and his electrifying destruction of Theatrical in the 1987 Arlington Million. Then take a look at the amazing year Theatrical compiled to put it into perspective.

His election to the HOF this year was long overdue. I'd argue that he was the top American grass horse of the past 20 years.

No argument from me. He was a wonderful horse.

Did you know he broke his maiden in an off the turf race at Hialeah?

Brian's Time? He might've been a year later. . .

This would be my primary quibble with the list. While Forty Niner was the champion 2YO that year, neither Seeking the Gold nor Winning Colors made an impact during their 2YO seasons (only breaking their respective maidens). The Breeders Cup races that year were won by relatively less-distinguished Epitome and Success Express.

I didn't know that. After touting him so much, my one lasting in-person memory of Manila's career was him getting beat by Talakeno in a 4-horse Bernard Baruch Handicap that year.

Seeking the Gold didn't even race in 1987. He broke his maiden in the last race at Hialeah in January....filling out the late double with Personal Flag when that Phipps runner won a three horse photo in the Widener.

For what it's worth, I believe Seeking the Gold won by 18 1/2 lengths.

His half brother, Stacked Pack, was a pretty nice below the radar 3YO in 1987.

I remember making one late double with Manila and a Mott firster in the last race. It was going to pay $29. I was disgusted after Manila lost to Talakeno ( and Cordero ) and didn't play the last race.

The Mott horse won and paid $31!

Just pulled his PPs. Seeking the Gold broke his maiden at Hialeah on December 26, 1987 (race 11). He won by 11 lengths, getting 6F in 1:09.4, not a bad debut!!

I'll never forget his effort in the 1988 Travers. Beaten a nose despite Pat Day putting up one of the silliest rides ever.

Good call. I didn't realize Hialeah opened before the New Year. Thanks. I do know that I hit that late double.

Seeking the Gold was a terrific horse. He came damn close to beating Alysheba in the Classic. Looked for a second like he was going to go right by him.