Best horses of the 1980's by division

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Another great horse was Perrault. He was a grade I winner on both the dirt and the grass. You don't see too many horses these days winning grade I races on both the dirt and the grass.

Here is the famous 1982 Santa Anita Handicap where Perrault beat John Henry by a nose and got disqualified. I think the calll was correct. The head-on shows that Perrault came out several paths in the stretch and made contact with John Henry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c9gre1rB88

Perrault was certainly a very good horse - and he was excllent on both surfaces for a stretch over 6 months time in '82.

What's crazy about the 80's is that foal crops were absolutely gigantic in volume, the largest of any decade - that combined with the fact that horses seemed a lot more durable - seemed to make competition so solid in the major races in relation to what it is today.

There was a horse I looked at named Peat Moss - who was a close 2nd to John Henry in a 500K Grade 1 on dirt at 50/1 odds - this horse made 29 starts in a span of just over 15 months time .. ran at distances as far as 2.25 miles on two seperate occasions .. and carried as much weight as 145lbs.

[Indian Charlie]

I was fond of a horse named Interco, back in the 80s.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I was fond of a horse named Interco, back in the 80s.

The only horse to beat him on turf in America was Royal Heroine. I took that into consideration when placing Royal Heroine over a horse Cannon mentioned earlier - April Run.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

The only horse to beat him on turf in America was Royal Heroine. I took that into consideration when placing Royal Heroine over a horse Cannon mentioned earlier - April Run.

How about the 2 monster 2yos from I think '83, Roving Boy (out West) and Copelan (back East)?

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Perrault was certainly a very good horse - and he was excllent on both surfaces for a stretch over 6 months time in '82.

What's crazy about the 80's is that foal crops were absolutely gigantic in volume, the largest of any decade - that combined with the fact that horses seemed a lot more durable - seemed to make competition so solid in the major races in relation to what it is today.

There was a horse I looked at named Peat Moss - who was a close 2nd to John Henry in a 500K Grade 1 on dirt at 50/1 odds - this horse made 29 starts in a span of just over 15 months time .. ran at distances as far as 2.25 miles on two seperate occasions .. and carried as much weight as 145lbs.

Peat was the king of the Aquedirt inner dirt marathon handicaps. He ran with 6 screws in one leg. He sure gave John all he could handle in the '81 JCGC, the race that won John his first HOY

[keithting]

In talking about the beloved Peat Moss, one must also bring up the real "King of Aqueduct" as named by the fans - King's Swan who campaigned for Dutrow, Sr. in the 1980's.

Also, I don't understand the fascination with a horse racing 29 times in 15 months - horse of that era used to do that all the time.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by keithting

Also, I don't understand the fascination with a horse racing 29 times in 15 months - horse of that era used to do that all the time.

29 times in 15 months - at an avg distance of 12.12 furlongs per race - with a 2nd by a head at 50/1 to a future first ballot hall of famer in a Grade 1 race - and carrying as much as 145lbs to victory - and supposedly with 6 screws in one leg ... and you don't understand the fascination?

Oh - and the name of his dam is Moss.

That was only the 1980's - if they tried to do that with a horse today - PETA would start a campaign to spare the poor horsey and Todd Pletcher's head would explode.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by keithting

In talking about the beloved Peat Moss, one must also bring up the real "King of Aqueduct" as named by the fans - King's Swan who campaigned for Dutrow, Sr. in the 1980's.

Dutrow Sr. actually took it easy on the poor guy compared to Richard Nieminski.

Nieminski started the poor guy 22 times in 1984 alone. By far his busiest year of nine seasons. Those horses were freaking machines compared to today.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by monipenny

Thank God, a voice of reason enters the fray. What took ya so long Drugs?

Peat Moss won 14 Grade 1's and sired the greatest NFL wideout of all-time .. as well as also siring a good NFL Network/ESPN Horse racing analyst.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I'm doing well. How have you been? Why aren't you using the Kentucky Roses In May handle any more?

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I'm doing well. How have you been? Why aren't you using the Kentucky Roses In May handle any more?