Posted on 05/15/2004 10:06:32 AM PDT by nwrep
Edited on 05/15/2004 2:35:43 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Well, then the horses that win this big test and then go on to win two more big ones within a few weeks time period (including the much more grueling 1 1/2 mile Belmont) richly deserve their position as among the greatest in the history of the sport.
Exactly.
That's why so few have won the Triple Crown.
If it were easier, it wouldn't be a very big deal.
But in my mind, Alydar just was unlucky, and deserves to be mentioned every time Affirmed is.
I don't think anyone who did not see those three races as they happened can ever really appreciate how amazing those races were.
Yeah.....Great races.
I don't like the idea of changing the distances. Screws up the records; ruins everything.
Yes indeed I remember that heart stopping three race series
between those two magnificent horses.
But I don't think Alydar was "Unlucky".
I think Affirmed beat him in all three races.
Affirmed beat him a whole lot of times. They ran together some 10 times. If I recall Affirmed won some 7; 1 was a DQ to Alydar. I think that pretty well proves who's better!
I agree things shouldn't change - to make it easier, anyway.
But we still have to put this in perspective. There was no "pattern" as we know it now until the '70s. The time between races wasn't set in stone, and prior to the '40s (again going on sheer memory - easy to check even on line but I'm not disrupting this) the distances weren't set.
Only the Derby has run at the same distance. The Preak and Belmont have been several distances - all shorter just before ~'35.
OTOH, they were spaced wildly differently. Sir Barton ran in KY then 4 days later won in MD. Gallant Fox ran in MD before running in KY. Many Derby-Preak have been only a week apart. Frankly, only the Belmont has been pretty rock-solid as far as date. As a result, frequently it's was up to 4 weeks from the 2nd race to the Belmont. And also as a result, many horses - including Citation - ran and won other top races in between.
Overall I'm inclined to think we've already cheapened the TC.
Alydar was unlucky to have come along the same year as Affirmed. I think that a year later, Alydar would have been a triple crown winner.
"I think that a year later, Alydar would have been a triple crown winner."
:D Not against Spectacular Bid! :D
LOL.
Well neither they nor Chrysler (and I'm sure there was 1 or 2 other for a year or so) have ever had to pay out! They should have plenty of interest in that TC account, right? :)
I was in the stands the day Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes. I still love Secretariat and think he is the greatest horse ever to look through a bridle. Smarty Jones has Secretariat blood in him (his sire's sire was out of a Secretariat mare). I hope Smarty wins the Triple Crown.
Them's fightin' words!
Grin...what would horse racing be without opinions. I can't remember a time when I didn't love animals, but especially dogs and horses. When I was a kid, I used to read everything I could about famous racehorses, and thought Man O'War was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I always wished I could have seen him run.
Then along came Secretariat (who had Man O'War blood in him, by the way), the dream horse of my youth. Seeing with your own eyes and living the experience is always more vivid and meaningful than reading about historical figures, including a great racehorse like Man O'War.
I begrudge no one their choice of where to place their love and loyalty. When it comes to horses, both Big Reds are more than deserving. Smarty Jones, "Little Red," is fast making fans who one day will have similar discussions when the next great horse appears on the scene.
How did this thread get resurrected?
I say, leave the races the way they are.
Should be very exciting tomorrow. I think Smarty Jones can do it!
Sorry Wolf, Secretariat does not descend from Man O'War. He does descend from MOW's sire, Fair Play. Distant cousins several times removed.
Probably just as well. ;-)
I love dogs probably most of all, myself. Well, if they're German Shepherds. ;-) Love animals generally, too, and that's alot of why I love horse-racing.
You are correct. I had thought Discovery was by Man o'War, but am mistaken. Sad that Smarty lost the TC, but I hope those who want to change it don't get their way.
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