ATR Hall of Fame Debate: Gio Ponti?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

You can get 10-to-1 on Gio Ponti right now off-shore.

To make the Hall of Fame?

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

To make the Hall of Fame?

I'd take that on the basis of the poll results in this thread.

But no, to win the Mile.

[OldDog]

I only attached this to the HOF thread in order to not start a new Gio thread. Other than what I quoted above, what I was taking more to the point of the article was

In a setting on the eastern shore of the Atlantic, the Mile would be seen as the best race on the Breeders' Cup menu, a rematch of champions with the potential for high drama. In Louisville, beyond the question to be answered (or not) by Goldikova, the focus will be on the Classic and horses far less accomplished.

A lot of time is spent talking about the durability of the thoroughbred. Here is a horse (not a gelding) competing consistently for years in Grade 1 company, and doing damn well at it, while we spend hours discussing horses who head for the shed with a dozen or fewer starts. It's easy for owners to say, "We love racing." But show me more than a few today who run a horse this long in G1 races. I take my hat off to Shane Ryan, and Christophe Clement, and win or lose Saturday, to Gio Ponti.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by OldDog

I only attached this to the HOF thread in order to not start a new Gio thread. Other than what I quoted above, what I was taking more to the point of the article was



A lot of time is spent talking about the durability of the thoroughbred. Here is a horse (not a gelding) competing consistently for years in Grade 1 company, and doing damn well at it, while we spend hours discussing horses who head for the shed with a dozen or fewer starts. It's easy for owners to say, "We love racing." But show me more than a few today who run a horse this long in G1 races. I take my hat off to Shane Ryan, and Christophe Clement, and win or lose Saturday, to Gio Ponti.

Had he a more fashionable pedigree, and/or won a couple of those BC races he's been in, he'd have been standing stud well before next year.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Had he a more fashionable pedigree, and/or won a couple of those BC races he's been in, he'd have been standing stud well before next year.

I think we both need to remember how lopsided the vote is in this thread. It puts things in a more proper perspective.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I think we both need to remember how lopsided the vote is in this thread. It puts things in a more proper perspective.

It's pretty silly really, but I think I can at least explain away the poll results on the belief that most of the members of this board don't go back twenty, thirty or in your case, almost forty years (in racing), so they are incapable of having a more proper perspective.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I think we both need to remember how lopsided the vote is in this thread. It puts things in a more proper perspective.

spot on

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by OldDog

I only attached this to the HOF thread in order to not start a new Gio thread. Other than what I quoted above, what I was taking more to the point of the article was



A lot of time is spent talking about the durability of the thoroughbred. Here is a horse (not a gelding) competing consistently for years in Grade 1 company, and doing damn well at it, while we spend hours discussing horses who head for the shed with a dozen or fewer starts. It's easy for owners to say, "We love racing." But show me more than a few today who run a horse this long in G1 races. I take my hat off to Shane Ryan, and Christophe Clement, and win or lose Saturday, to Gio Ponti.

You do understand that he's racing because he has no real value as a sire...right?

Once again, I'm not knocking Gio Ponti. I've been a fan since his debut, and have made plenty of money betting him at different times, but let's at least be honest.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OldDog

I only attached this to the HOF thread in order to not start a new Gio thread. Other than what I quoted above, what I was taking more to the point of the article was



A lot of time is spent talking about the durability of the thoroughbred. Here is a horse (not a gelding) competing consistently for years in Grade 1 company, and doing damn well at it, while we spend hours discussing horses who head for the shed with a dozen or fewer starts. It's easy for owners to say, "We love racing." But show me more than a few today who run a horse this long in G1 races. I take my hat off to Shane Ryan, and Christophe Clement, and win or lose Saturday, to Gio Ponti.

He's probably worth more on the track than in the breeding shed. Our turf races are a joke -- and breeders don't fall for late running American turf horses as stallions.

Gio Ponti RNA'd real cheap as a 2yo (I believe at the FT Calder 2yo sale) -- I doubt his offspring will be prime candidates for pinhookers at yearling sales either.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

He's probably worth more on the track than in the breeding shed. Our turf races are a joke -- and breeders don't fall for late running American turf horses as stallions.

Gio Ponti RNA'd real cheap as a 2yo (I believe at the FT Calder 2yo sale) -- I doubt his offspring will be prime candidates for pinhookers at yearling sales either.

I appreciate your response. Would it be reasonable then to say that turf horses typically race more years than dirt horses?

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OldDog

I appreciate your response. Would it be reasonable then to say that turf horses typically race more years than dirt horses?

Generally turf horses seem to.

IMO -- Gio Ponti has stuck around for the simple fact that he's been more valuable racing than breeding.

Had he accomplished the same success in dirt racing -- he would have been whisked away a year or two ago because he would have been worth more in a breeding shed VS a campaigning on a race track.