best single year by a horse....
 

....in the last 25 years.

since my hypothetical derby got a lot of discussion lets see how this one works out. here are the guidelines. the rules are simple. what horse(s) had the best single years (meaning january 1 through december 31st) from 1981 - 2006 (sorry spectacular bid fans). so for example, if you took cigar - 1995 his victory in the 1996 dubai world Cup would not factor in. got it?
here are my top 3:

#3 - john henry - 1981 - How many horses are going to pull off the big cap/arlington million/jockey club gold cup triple in a single season? Add his 5 other graded stakes wins and he makes my top 3.

#2 - personal ensign - 1988 - 7 for 7 with 6 g1s. beat the boys in the whitney and beat the kentucky derby winner in the bc distaff.

#1 - cigar - 1995 - his 1995 season was so spectacular that you dont even need to count his races at the start of 1996. imo - best year by a horse since the bid in '80.

Point Given was pretty solid as a 3YO in 2001 including these wins:

Santa Anita Derby G1
Haskell G1
Travers G1
Preakness G1
Belmont G1

For me the answer is:

Sunday Silence - '89.

I am biased because he was my all-time favorite horse but his year was truly amazing. For starters he won the two biggest races in the country - the BC Classic and the Kentucky Derby - in the same year. Unbridled is the only other horse to do that. The difference is that Unbridled didn't do much the rest of the year. Sunday Silence meanwhile won the G2 San Felipe and three other G1s - Preakness, Santa Anita Derby, and the Super Derby.
In addition Sunday Silence beat a true superstar of a horse in Easy Goer 3 out of 4 times and I believe EG was better than anything Cigar faced in 1995.
Don't get me wrong, Cigar was great in '95, but I would rank Sunday Silence's year #1.

I'll take Lady's Secret's 1986, thank you very much:

BC Distaff G1
Santa Margarita G1
Whitney G1
Beldame G1
Ruffian G1
La Canada G1
Shuvee G1
Maskette G1
Molly Pitcher G2
El Encino G3
2nd Woodward G1
Apple Blossom G1
Hempstead G1
3rd Iselin G1
Metropolitan G1

Seriously, I have to go back and look at 1986 for Lady's Secret again.

8 GI races...including one against the boys. Two other Graded races, and place or show in other graded races against boys.

Sorry guys, nobody else compares. That's the end of the discussion as far as I'm concerned.

How about Damascus in 1967

Wood
Preakness
Belmont
Dwyer
Travers
JCGC
Woodward (Beat Dr. Fager and Buckpasser by 10)

Fuzzy math....last 25 years.

Your the only old f*cker old enough to remember that year. What, you were 38 years old in 1967???? LOL:D :D

Guess it helps to read the ENTIRE question..LOL

37 and a half...LOL

Cripes, I'll be 37 in like 2014.

WHO LET THE OLD FART ON THE BOARD??????

Dr. Fager...

That explains all I need to know...your reputation is going to hell quick hanging out with that guy....no wonder you had a heart attack:eek: :eek:

Thankfully, no heart attack..yet..just stents inserted into clogged arteries.

GPK...he's just turning into the bionic man....piece by piece. It's by design.

he needs all that if he is gonna be running around with you....

Actually, I think Erin is the one that will need it all.:D

You have hit the proverbial nail right on the head!!!

I figured I was close

Spectacular Bid 1980

10-10-0-0

4 track records including the world 10f record on dirt that still stands.
Carried 130 lbs or more to victory five times

1st:
Malibu S (Gr II), 7 furlongs, defeating Flying Paster, Rosie's Seville, etc. Set new Track record of 1:20.

San Fernando S (Gr II), 1 1/8 miles, defeating Flying Paster, Relaunch, and Timbo.

Charles H. Strub S (Gr I), 1 1/4 miles, defeating Flying Paster, Valdez, and Relaunch. Set new Track and American record of 1:57 4/5. :eek:

Santa Anita H (Gr I), 1 1/4 miles, 130 lbs, defeating Flying Paster, Beau's Eagle, Silver Eagle, and Leonotis.

Mervyn LeRoy H (Gr II), 1 1/16 miles, 132 lbs, defeating Peregrinator, Beau's Eagle, Flying Paster, Life's Hope, and Replant.

Californian S, (Gr I), 1 1/8 miles, 130 lbs, defeating Paint King, Caro Bambino, Gristle, How Rewarding, Bolger, and Replant. Set new Track record of 1:45 4/5.
Washington Park S (Gr III), 1 1/8 miles, 130 lbs, defeating Hold Your Tricks, Architect, Liberal, Prince Aries, and Imperialism. Set new track record of 1:46 1/5.

Amory L. Haskell H (Gr I), 1 1/8 miles, 132 lbs, defeating Glorious Song, The Cool Virginian, Tunerup, Big Bulldozer, Boyne Valley, Steelwood, and Wave Forever.

Woodward S (Gr I), 1 1/4 miles, in walkover. Horses who scratched: Temperence Hill, Winter's Tale, and Dr. Patches