All time best horses

[FATPIANO]

The Bid at 8???????????? what r u drinking? opinions are fine, but basic knowledge of racing puts him in top 5. IMO he is number 1

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by FATPIANO

The Bid at 8???????????? what r u drinking? opinions are fine, but basic knowledge of racing puts him in top 5. IMO he is number 1

As I said, it's easy to be critical...very few folks rate the Bid that high but your opinion is as good as mine. Don't question my knowledge of racing history simply because I disagree with you. The Bid had a wonderful 4yo season and finished 30/26-2-1. Obviously a great horse but same can be said for the 7 I rate above him.

[robfla]

I just don't know how you can rate a horse #2 that raced predominately in Hungary and Austria in the late 1800's. Sure, she was undefeated, but lots of walkovers and weak competition.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by robfla

I just don't know how you can rate a horse #2 that raced predominately in Hungary and Austria in the late 1800's. Sure, she was undefeated, but lots of walkovers and weak competition.

Fair question...54/54-0-0, raced all over Europe actually and routinely destroyed males, raced all distances from short sprints to marathon distances, carried over 160 poinds and spotted her male foes 20-30 pounds. Certainly in a class of her own during her career...level of competition is always a question...again. a judgement call.

[Cannon Shell]

I understand why you posted this so I will bite. Zenyatta at 11? I am not sure she is the 11th best filly of all time if we are going to include horses from the 1800's. I'm anxious to hear why she is better than Kelso or Dr Fager who doesnt even make the top 20????

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I understand why you posted this so I will bite. Zenyatta at 11? I am not sure she is the 11th best filly of all time if we are going to include horses from the 1800's. I'm anxious to hear why she is better than Kelso or Dr Fager who doesnt even make the top 20????

Kelso was a warhorse, 5 times HOY and a record of 63/39-12-2, Dr Fager (ranked #21 by the way) was 22/18-2-1 (only out of money finish was a DQ from a winning effort). Zenyatta was a nose from being perfect in her career despite being a dead closer, the hardest racing style to compile victories. She can be criticised for level of competition but visually she was tremendous, looking at the great horses of history, the vast majority were stalkers with tactical speed...I personally upgrade her quite a bit because of her running style.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Kelso was a warhorse, 5 times HOY and a record of 63/39-12-2, Dr Fager (ranked #21 by the way) was 22/18-2-1 (only out of money finish was a DQ from a winning effort). Zenyatta was a nose from being perfect in her career despite being a dead closer, the hardest racing style to compile victories. She can be criticised for level of competition but visually she was tremendous, looking at the great horses of history, the vast majority were stalkers with tactical speed...I personally upgrade her quite a bit because of her running style.

So she is ranked as the 11th best horse of all time because she was a closer and almost was undefeated? Wouldn't your case have more merit had she taken on the miserable group of older horses in the country more than twice? I understand that it simply an opinion however when you examine her record there are very few really historically signifigant performances.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Kelso was a warhorse, 5 times HOY and a record of 63/39-12-2, Dr Fager (ranked #21 by the way) was 22/18-2-1 (only out of money finish was a DQ from a winning effort). Zenyatta was a nose from being perfect in her career despite being a dead closer, the hardest racing style to compile victories. She can be criticised for level of competition but visually she was tremendous, looking at the great horses of history, the vast majority were stalkers with tactical speed...I personally upgrade her quite a bit because of her running style.

But her running style was not disadvantaged on the synthetic surfaces in which she compiled her record.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I understand why you posted this so I will bite. Zenyatta at 11? I am not sure she is the 11th best filly of all time if we are going to include horses from the 1800's. I'm anxious to hear why she is better than Kelso or Dr Fager who doesnt even make the top 20????

forego, john henry, round table...left off, but the pretender is number eleven all time.
this thread should be moved to esoteric under 'heard any good jokes lately?'

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Fair question...54/54-0-0, raced all over Europe actually and routinely destroyed males, raced all distances from short sprints to marathon distances, carried over 160 poinds and spotted her male foes 20-30 pounds. Certainly in a class of her own during her career...level of competition is always a question...again. a judgement call.

A lot easier to make judgement calls on horses that someone in our lifetime may have actually saw.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

A lot easier to make judgement calls on horses that someone in our lifetime may have actually saw.

I think there are a few on this board who saw them all run

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I think there are a few on this board who saw them all run

There are some people here who haven't seen the field since it left the gate

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I think there are a few on this board who saw them all run

I'm old but not that old...seriously, one must rely on data from others to compile a list such as this, never saw Man O War for that matter but the literature makes it easy to appreciate his greatness.