Whose was/is the best?

TheSpyder · #1 07-16-2006, 01:53 PM

Alot of talk about present day horses, so who do you think was the best:

Sprint Horse
Distanse Horse (besides Secretariat)
Turf Horse

Bring it on...I'll have to think it over to make my selections

TheSpyder · #2 07-16-2006, 02:20 PM

OK, here are the four best:

http://www.fantasy-horse-racing.com/SingingHorse.asp

Gander · #3 07-16-2006, 02:29 PM

I think as far as sprinters go, the Tom Fool is going to have a lot to say about this year's Sprint Division. If either Silver Train, Anew or War Front run huge today, they would establish themselves as possible favorites for the BC Sprint. I see it as a race between the early speed of War Front and the closing kick of Silver Train. Conditions and track seem to be fair, may the best horse win.

#4 07-16-2006, 04:07 PM

The word "great" is tossed around much too lightly. I only use it for horses who were either champions each year they raced ... or who lost a championship to another great race horse ... and raced at least two full years.

I've been following the game since 1958 ... here's my list of great male dirt horses since then ...

1958: Three greats in one year ... Bold Ruler, Round Table, and Gallant Man.
1959: Sword Dancer ... one the the best 3YOS ever ... but not champion at 2, 4 ... margin of greatness ... but not quite.
1960: Kelso was HOTY five times ... can't do better than that.
1961: Carry Back was champion 3YO and outstanding at 2, 4 & 5. Another marginal great.
1966: Buckpasser ... champion at 2, 3, and 4.
1967: Another banner year with three greats ... Damascus, Dr. Fa-ger, In Reality.
1969: Arts And Letters ... another super 3YO and marginal great.
1973: Another banner year ... Secretariat and Forego ... five straight HOTY between them.
1977: Seattle Slew ... champion at 2, 3, and 4.
1978: The great duo of Affirmed and Alydar.
1979: Spectacular Bid ... runaway champion at 2, 3, & 4.

That's it ... there hasn't been a truly great male dirt race horse since then.

Those who have come close ... Spend A Buck, Slew O' Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, Holy Bull, Cigar, Skip Away, Silver Charm, Point Given.

Of those ... Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, and Skip Away were the best.

Gander · #5 07-16-2006, 04:51 PM

As talented as Point Given was, I would hesitate to put him in the same group as Cigar and Skip Away. he didnt stick around long enough and really besides Monarchos, who did he ever beat with any real talent? E Dubai, Touch Tone? Cmmon. Probablt the most stunning visual move I have ever seen by a 3 year old but he quit before the hard stuff started. Skip Away and Cigar stuck around and even faced each other once where Skippy beat him convincingly.

Point Given was a teriffic 3 year old but I wouldnt call him a great horse. Skip Away was a great horse.

somerfrost · #6 07-16-2006, 05:23 PM

Well, folks who know me know that I maintain a list of "100 Greatest" in history of racing...always fun to post it and listen to folks complain when their personal favorite is ranked lower than they think or...god forbid...not at all! I've done the homework and can defend every ranking but it really is quite arbitrary, the further back in history one goes, the more subjective you become...anyway, my top 20 are:
1. Secretariat/ Kincsem (tie)
3. Ribot
4. Citation
5. Man O War
6. Flying Childers
7. Sea Bird
8. Eclipse
9. Native Dancer
10. Count Fleet
11. Spectacular Bid
12. St Simon
13. Kelso
14. War Admiral
15. Seattle Slew
16. Ruffian
17. Affirmed
18. Colin
19. Dr Fager
20. Exterminator

#7 07-16-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gander

As talented as Point Given was, I would hesitate to put him in the same group as Cigar and Skip Away. he didnt stick around long enough and really besides Monarchos, who did he ever beat with any real talent? E Dubai, Touch Tone? Cmmon. Probablt the most stunning visual move I have ever seen by a 3 year old but he quit before the hard stuff started. Skip Away and Cigar stuck around and even faced each other once where Skippy beat him convincingly.

Point Given was a teriffic 3 year old but I wouldnt call him a great horse. Skip Away was a great horse.

Yeah ... you're probably right ... but I thought I'd try to squeeze a 21st-century horse onto the list. This hasn't exactly been the century of champions so far.

But I did mistakenly leave Ghostzapper off my list. He definitely belongs on there.

Kasept · #8 07-16-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Alot of talk about present day horses, so who do you think was the best:

Sprint Horse
Distance Horse
Turf Horse

C/H: Dr. Fager (S).. Kelso (D).. Round Table (T)..

F/M: Ta Wee (S).. Gallorette (D).. Makybe Diva (T)..

TheSpyder · #9 07-16-2006, 05:37 PM

You guys are either very old or more connected to the history of horses. Now I'm going to have to get Steve Crist's book out and cap 100 years of racing. Actually that sounds pretty good. I know my favorite (maybe not the best) was Cigar as well as John Henry.

I'll be back to you with my picks.

2Hot4TV · #10 07-16-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

You guys are either very old or more connected to the history of horses. Now I'm going to have to get Steve Crist's book out and cap 100 years of racing. Actually that sounds pretty good. I know my favorite (maybe not the best) was Cigar as well as John Henry.

I'll be back to you with my picks.

Some of us are very old and some are on crack.

randallscott35 · #11 07-16-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Alot of talk about present day horses, so who do you think was the best:

Sprint Horse
Distanse Horse (besides Secretariat)
Turf Horse

Bring it on...I'll have to think it over to make my selections

I think it is funny that you just concede distance horse to Secretariat, that it is just a given that he was the best ever....Within a week or two I will be giving a breakdown of how it isn't so cut and dry.