Column about the 1870-through-1933 list compiled by Henry Price

[The Indomitable DrugS]

This was a DRF column is responce to a top 20 list of the best horses from 1870 on. It came out in the winter of 1934.

Basically, newspaper man Henry Price compiled this list from a canvass of fifty owners, trainers, racing officals, and retired racing veterans.

[smartbid09]

This is awesome! Thank you for posting this! A few names are on this list I've never heard of (Firenze in particular). I'll have to check them out

[bare it all]

I find it that through the decades, the exploits of many of these horses has been forgotten. It's sad that such horses are pushed to the wayside as time degrades their accomplishments.

[Pedigree Ann]

One place to start is:

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-...w.asp?varID=71

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Jockey Club "Handicapper" W. S. Vosburgh on the subject with one of his typical brutally long winded columns from the late 1910's.

This was in a period of no speed figures - No Beyers, no Ragozin Sheets etc. Obviously - figures are king in discussions on subjects like these.






Later on - the subject of old jockeys naming the best they've ever seen...



It's cuts off talking about Hindoo and Luke Blackburn. Basically, both were in the same stable and ridden by the same jockey. When asked to name the better horse - the trainer favored Hindoo. While the jockeys reply was always "Luke Blackburn, of course"

[The Indomitable DrugS]

This is Vosburgh's opinion of the best 2yo - and best 3yo - each year - from 1866-to-1915.

Not only did he compile this list - but he also did a write-up profiling each horse. He also rated the crops every single year.

Best 2yo's:





Best 3yo's:

[The Indomitable DrugS]

The columnist Salvator labeled Man O' War "a speed marvel" - compared him to 1870's star Ten Broeck - claimed he never proved himself as a race horse - and called his match race against Sir Barton "a circus act" claiming everyone knew Sir Barton was off form battling physical issues.

Interestingly though - he was a very strong defender of Man O' War as a stallion. Writing entire columns mocking those claiming he was "an overrated sire" later into his stallion career.

Here's all I could find of Vosburgh's takes on Man O' War:

Speaking on his crop at age 2:




After his Belmont Stakes win:




Speaking high praise of him a few years after his last race in a column profiling past Belmont winners:




Other than Man O' War's Belmont - I could not find a sensationally fast race of his. His Preakness was not fast. His Travers was not fast at all.