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#2
04-27-2012, 08:22 AM
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The whole Apollo thing would be kind of a red flag if it weren't for the fact that pretty much every Derby streak has been broken in recent years.
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The world's foremost expert on virtually everything on the Redskins 2010 season: "Im going to go out on a limb here. I say they make the playoffs." 
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#3
04-27-2012, 09:37 AM
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He spoke of Churchill Downs like it was Santa Anita.
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#4
04-27-2012, 09:46 AM
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Aside from the Sir Barton race, Man o' War only stepped foot outside of the state of New York to race twice, and both times were in Maryland.
__________________
The world's foremost expert on virtually everything on the Redskins 2010 season: "Im going to go out on a limb here. I say they make the playoffs."
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#5
04-27-2012, 09:58 AM
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Other than the Preakness -- which Man O' War won by 1.5 lengths -- he faced very minimal competition. 2nd start at age 3: Two rivals 3rd start at age 3: match race 4th start at age 3: match race 5th start at age 3: match race 6th start at age 3: Two rivals 7th start at age 3: Two rivals 8th start at age 3: match race 9th start at age 3: match race 10th start at age 3: 3 rivals 11th start at age 3: Match race He faced just one older horse his entire career -- Sir Barton -- who was widely rumored to be injured and off form. Racing was in desperately bad shape at the time because of anti-gambling laws ...and Man O' War fiested on one of the smallest foal crops in racing history. He did have great early speed -- and that's a tremendous asset when you're racing in glorified walkovers or 3 horse fields.
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#6
04-27-2012, 10:10 AM
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The last 10 years have turned just about everything upside down, with the 5 weeks rest, 2 prep schedule, geldings, et al, but for what it's worth, here are two long standing trends still standing that I tried to take apart.
The "no races at 2". I think the "no race at 2" thing is overstated, but I do agree u need some foundation and experience. So who are the ones who tried it in our time: Summer Bird- won Belmont/Travers Dunkirk- multi million dollar yearling, got hurt Greely Galaxy 11th Curlin became 2 time HOY Atswhatimtalkinbout 4th Wheelaway 5th Indian Charlie, never raced again Pulpit 4th, hurt, retired Bodemeister ?? Say what you want, but there were some major talents here and the closest to winning was Curlin, who failed in the Derby but was good enough to win the Preakness and be HOY. Now look at those undefeated going in: Undefeated going in: Big Brown 3-0 win Curlin 3-0 3rd Barbaro 5-0 win Showing Up 3-0 6th Smarty Jones 6-0 win Trippi 4-0 (sprinter) Indian Charlie 4-0 3rd Gemolotist 5-0 ???? There were a handful of others going back to Mr. Frisky, but as a group, these have some pretty impressive results.
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Do I think Charity can win? Well, I am walking around in yesterday's suit.
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#7
04-28-2012, 04:33 PM
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#9
04-28-2012, 01:40 PM
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facilis descensus Auerno
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#10
04-28-2012, 09:49 PM
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Here's a Daily Racing Form column from the 1920's.   
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#11
04-29-2012, 06:02 AM
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__________________
facilis descensus Auerno
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#12
04-29-2012, 10:00 AM
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It is true that in 1920 there was more wealth in New York than any other city. A lot of owners and buyers of top class horses lived there. Chicago was also strong in that regard...and for the period when racing was struggling badly because of anti-gambling reforms -- Cuba was strong. A lot of good horses in the mid to late 1910's had been bought up by Cuban owners. Racing was going well in Havana. The Cuban Government was also buying up our race horses in a project to breed their army horses during these times when betting reforms helped create a favorable market for buying horses. That said, Kentucky has always been very prominent in the thoroughbred racing world. Organized racing had been established in Lexington well before the cival war. The Louisville Jockey Club was formed in 1875 (the first year the Kentucky Derby was run) and Latonia was formed in 1883 about ten miles from present day Turfway Park. From pretty much the existence of these tracks through present day -- they have featured some of the greatest horses, fields, and races in history. I don't think even the stuffiest of New York City elite would have ever considered it "bush" racing. The vast majority of those owners really wanted to win events like the Kentucky Derby...especially by the 1920's. A few of the very best trainers at Churchill Downs around the turn of the century were blacks. A former slave had trained a Kentucky Derby winner and was the owner-trainer of a Kentucky Oaks winner. He also won a few training titles at Churchill Downs.
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#13
04-29-2012, 10:22 AM
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In terms of speculating why Man O' War ducked the Kentucky Derby even though he would have been a heavy favorite ... his owner certainly wasn't the most sporting man to say the least and he later ducked other tough spots that season where he could have faced good older competition.
However, his erratic temper may have also had something to do with it.  Man O' War's owner did campaign War Admiral in a far more sporting way. War Admiral did ship for the Kentucky Derby -- and he did eventually bring him back at age 4 where he faced Seabiscuit in a famous match race.
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