Does a race horse have rivals???

[IrishofNDMan]

I loved watching Barbaro and Sharp Humor battle it out in the Florida Derby til the wire. I am big on Sharp Humor, can't wait to see him run again!

[King Glorious]

I'm not a believer that they know they are running against a certain rival and try harder or less based on that fact. That's why I'm not a big proponent of running horses in lesser races in order to face weaker competition. I think they are natural competitors that will usually do as much as the rider allows them to do in a race. I get frustrated when I see people say a horse should skip race A and go in race B because race B will be an easier race. Like there is really that much difference in a horse having to run a 1:35 mile or a 1:37 mile. To go 1:35 means u go an average speed of 37.9 miles per hour. To go 1:37 means u go 37.1 mph. U have to run hard either way.

[ELA]

Good point. I think the "easier" term is more used with regard to "class" or competition.

Eric

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I'm not a believer that they know they are running against a certain rival and try harder or less based on that fact.

You are probably right about this......but I have to make one sentimental exception to this logical rule.
1989 - Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. Watch the '89 Preakness again. After that race.......I think those two horses knew each other pretty well, and were competing against EACH OTHER the next two times they met.
Now that may not be true in fact. But I was 12 years old at that time and those two (particularly my all-time favorite Sunday Silence) brought me into being a fan of the sport. I like to believe they were truly battling each other in those 4 spectacular races they gave us that year.
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[King Glorious]

If it were two horses that ran around the track together, on each other's flanks then I would think what u are saying might have more credence. Well, first I want to say that I don't know if they have rivals or not for sure. I only gave my uninformed opinion. Anyway, going back to EG and SS...when they raced each other the next two times, they hardly spent any time near each other. EG blew by SS in a flash in the Belmont and SS spent the majority, if not all of the Classic in front of him so I'm not sure that EG even knew he was there.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Dixie Porter

"Horses have rivalries"

There have been some classically stupid things posted on this board since it's inception but this ONE wins the Gold Medal.

If you want to define "rivalry" as a situation where trainers run one horse against another several times, for whatever reason, you won't get an argument from me.

One horse recognizing another while breezing or racing, I give up..............

This board might be better if some of these idiotic posts were deleted, INSTEAD of banning some of the posters who have a clue to what you people are all yakking about.

Actually, Dixie, horses DO recognize one another. You can take that one to the bank...

Whether or not they actually race harder against a horse they recognize, I don't know, but they DO recognize each other.

[IrishofNDMan]

Originally Posted by Dixie Porter

"Horses have rivalries"

There have been some classically stupid things posted on this board since it's inception but this ONE wins the Gold Medal.

If you want to define "rivalry" as a situation where trainers run one horse against another several times, for whatever reason, you won't get an argument from me.

One horse recognizing another while breezing or racing, I give up..............

This board might be better if some of these idiotic posts were deleted, INSTEAD of banning some of the posters who have a clue to what you people are all yakking about.

RELAX!!!! BREATHE!!!!!! everything will be alright, Captain Flipout! If you don't like a post, don't read it then.

[sumitas]

Why can't a horse recognize a foe ? If they race together several times I don't see why they can't recognize each other.