How fast was Secretariat in the Triple Crown Series?

randallscott35 · #1 12-03-2010, 09:04 AM

* Swaps ran 49 points faster in his KY Derby win than an open 5K CLM route for straight 3yo males in the days lone other dirt route. Considering the year was 1955 .. there's a chance that race might possibly be as fast as a 120.

Erb lives in Saratoga and is a family friend. Says Swaps was the best horse he ever rode and it was amazing being on him.

blackthroatedwind · #2 12-03-2010, 10:25 AM

Who was the second fastest horse he ever rode?

randallscott35 · #3 12-03-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Who was the second fastest horse he ever rode?

Haha, not Needles though...

Fun to talk to that's for sure. He rode in Mexico for a short time and actually saw a horse put down with a gun on the track in front of patrons in the 30's...you don't see that everyday. Never broke a bone in a long career. Better to be lucky.

OldDog · #4 12-03-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randallscott35

...you don't see that everyday.

Thank God!

The Indomitable DrugS · #5 12-03-2010, 10:59 AM

All numbers aside - the best winning Derby performance visually to me is easily Seattle Slew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-QYkEjVBM

Pretty amazing to see a horse break like that and just bull his way up into a speed battle on a 45 and change pace and still win.

If anyone actually saw the form of the Derby 3rd finisher, Preakness 2nd finisher, and Belmont 4th finisher that year ... they'd want to vomit. Nolan's Cat and Scrappy T. might have hung tough with them.

Using numbers and trips in tandem - I think Touch Gold's 4th in the '97 Preakness is probably the most under appreciated triple crown performance I've ever seen. He had a horror trip in a very fast Preakness - and was still right there at the end.