Favorite race horses

[just_me]

I know this isn't a particularly technical thread, but I was thinking about this last night. I was a horse crazy girl/teen without access to live horses. I devoured books, movies, pictures, or anything about horses. I followed race horses and had my favorites. Here they are (I'm giving away my age /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ):

Carry Back
Cicada
Ridan
Jaipur

and my all-time favorite - Kelso

Anyone have favorite race horses whose careers you followed?

After I got into actual live horses, I stopped following race horses. I don't even know who's in the crop of top three year olds. But, my current horse is a TB with great racing lineage.

[just_me]

I know this isn't a particularly technical thread, but I was thinking about this last night. I was a horse crazy girl/teen without access to live horses. I devoured books, movies, pictures, or anything about horses. I followed race horses and had my favorites. Here they are (I'm giving away my age /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ):

Carry Back
Cicada
Ridan
Jaipur

and my all-time favorite - Kelso

Anyone have favorite race horses whose careers you followed?

After I got into actual live horses, I stopped following race horses. I don't even know who's in the crop of top three year olds. But, my current horse is a TB with great racing lineage.

[MsRidiculous]

All time favorite- Secretariat, of course.

Skip Away and Charismatic are close seconds. Also loved Silverbulletday.

-Amanda

"your deepest desires are a picture of tomorrow, all your darkest fears are just a vestige of regret"

[The Fjord Jockey]

I know the answer! I know the answer! (lol) Mine are Pipe Bomb, Persistence, and Kipper's an Angel. None of which are big huge famous horses, just the ones I work with and love to death /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

*J*
The Fjord Jockey

[RockinHorse]

but a few of my favorites (in no particular order):
Secretatriat
Sunday Silence
Spectacular Bid
Lure
John Henry

[LaurieB]

I just loved that mare. And I'm still mad that she could race 13 times in the best of company (over two years), retire UNDEFEATED, her last race being a winning effort in the Breeder's Cup Distaff, beating that year's Kentucky Derby winner (Winning Colors) and still not be named Horse of the Year.

If she'd been a boy, she'd have had it in a walk. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[DMK]

Nah, LaurieB - if Winning Colors had been a BOY, Personal Ensign would have had it in a walk!!!

Let's see... for the fillies, I have a soft spot for Ruffian, Bayakoa, Landaluce and Go Fo Wand (obviously Tragedy does something for me /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif ). I also have a warm spot in my heart for Glitterwoman and Unbridled Elaine, but since a friend of mine bred them, I can be forgiven for having favorites, right?

Personally, the most awesome filly I ever handled was Singular Bequest and Princess Rooney. Amazing, but Rooney doesn't hardly stand out in my mind, but Singular Bequest was everything that makes filles great.

For the colts, it's so obviously Secretariat that the rest of the field is still 31 lengths behind... however Alydar, John Henry and Point Given certainly show up after him!

Best colts I ever personally knew were Darn That Alarm and Distinctive Pro, with a big nod to Alarm for Sheer Presence.

An optimist thinks we are living in the best of all times... A pessimist fears this is true.

[sprite]

Hmmnnn...

Sunday Silence
Timely Writer- such a tragedy
Perfect Arc- won 7 in a row on the turf, I was her groom when she was a yearling.
Silver Charm and Free House, love the grays!

You cannot change the direction of the wind; however, you CAN adjust your sails.

[Linny]

Spectacular Bid
Forego
Lure
Affirmed
Go For Wand
Some of my favorites currently racing are:
Arromanches (a NY claimer)
Lido Palace
Stephentown (My Derby pick, ya heard it 1st here)
Bonapaw (midwest based sprinter)
Golden Tent (age 13 in training in NY)
Lord of the Thunder (NY bred 3yo)

BEQS clique.
The early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese.

[saratoga]

Oh, Timely Writer broke my heart- I was only 12 when that happened. such memories!

[Cruising]

Im sad, No one put Ruffian =( I really think she was (or one of the greatest) racehorses ever, defintly one of the top mares! I mean, wow. You dont see a heart like that...ever! I am kinda glad I wasnt around when she was running, I dont know if I could handle hearing about "That" race..I cried when i read the book. Oh, and my other fav. has to be Secretariat. I saw his triple crowns on ESPNs Top 50 Athletes awhile back, I started cryin when I saw his Belmont...i dont know why, just the thought of any animal being so determined and havin so much heart...its amazing.

- We Ride and Never Worry 'Bout the Fall, Guess thats Just the Cowboy In Us All -
- For the Little Girl who would Rather Jump Fences then Skip Rope -

[Cruising]

Oh, I noticed that there were many votes for John Henry. I have attatched 2 pictures of him!

- We Ride and Never Worry 'Bout the Fall, Guess thats Just the Cowboy In Us All -
- For the Little Girl who would Rather Jump Fences then Skip Rope -

[Cruising]

Heres Another...

- We Ride and Never Worry 'Bout the Fall, Guess thats Just the Cowboy In Us All -
- For the Little Girl who would Rather Jump Fences then Skip Rope -

[Cruising]

Hm...actaually, only one person mentioned John Henry...Oh well! Ya'll can still enjoy his pics /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

- We Ride and Never Worry 'Bout the Fall, Guess thats Just the Cowboy In Us All -
- For the Little Girl who would Rather Jump Fences then Skip Rope -

[The Fjord Jockey]

Definetly Xtra Heat. She is running at Laurel Feb. 16th and we're going to go watch her run /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif To quote Stuart from that movie So I Married An Axe Murderer..."Oh, I like this one, she's quite a filly"... /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

*J*
The Fjord Jockey
......who just realized that Ireland isnt in the plans for at least another 9 years.

[Kinsella]

Let's see... My all-time favorites...

Secretariat
John Henry (I loved the pics!!) I am at the Horse Park every day and I make sure to go see him often!!
Go For Wand
Ruffian
Swaps
Kelso
Seattle Slew
Alydar
Easy Goer
Point Given
Flame Thrower (he was a freak on the track - too bad he got hurt!)
Sunday Silence
Unbridled
Genuine Risk - what a classy mare. Too bad they had so much trouble getting her in foal - and that her one foal never raced...
Cigar
Landaluce
Charismatic
General Challenge

I could probably go on and on...

This year I would have to pick Officer...

And on this thread what about Jockeys?

The Shoe!!

Life is what happens while you are busy making plans.

[JER]

I was a huge fan of John Henry and, more recently, Skip Away -- two horses that were hard to beat because they loved to race. Point Given had that same quality and I was sad to see him retire so soon.

I see no one's mentioned Dahlia, the US-bred mare, who won big turf races all over the world in the mid-70s, always running against the boys. Dahlia was smallish, cute mare whose toughness on the track belied her sweet and docile nature in the barn. She was an outstanding broodmare, at least a half-dozen of her foals won graded stakes; she died earlier this year at the age of 31.

Over fences (I see no one's mentioned jump racers yet), I like 3-time Grand National winner Red Rum, the tough American chaser Saluter and the English hurdles champion Istabraq.

[Linny]

Lonesome Glory and a lesser known horse named Yaw get my steeplechase honors.

BEQS clique.
The early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese.

[The Fjord Jockey]

Since I used to hate steeplechase with a passion and just started liking it again this year, I dont know many steeplechase horses of the past, but right now I'd have to say It's A Giggle and Al Skywalker are my favs.

*J*
The Fjord Jockey....
Who just today bought some Irish oatmeal. Mmm, hardy.

[daytimedrama]

Is John Henry at the Kentucky Horse Park, or was he?? I love Cigar, I saw him on his birthday he is just stunning I have about a billion pics of him just standing around.

~Christina~
"I don't patronize bunny rabbits!" -Heathers
*Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool.*

[DMK]

Hey, TXEqstar... the same person that mentioned John Henry was the one that put her vote in for Ruffian /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif And sadly, I was around for that race...

***An optimist thinks we are living in the best of all times...
A pessimist fears this is true.***

[vineyridge]

Tim Tam (I've mentioned that, haven't I?)
Buckpasser
Damascus
Swaps
Native Dancer

[Toadie's mom]

Classic-Secretariat and Cigar
More recently-Beautiful Pleasure
Most recent-Johannesburg!!!!!Derby here he comes!

[Jane]

I'm with DMK here, I've got a soft spot for Ruffian, Bayakoa, and Go For Wand....I have a 8x10 of Bayakoa and Go For Wand coming down the home stretch, taken moments before tragedy hit.... what a sad day that was. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

I have many "favorites", for various reasons, but one I haven't seen mentioned here is Dr. Fager -- how many horses can claim all these titles: Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse, Champion Sprinter, and Co-Champion Grass Horse all within the same year (1968)??? not to mention all the records he broke...and held for decades.

[DMK]

Well Jane, I could go on for hours about Florida TBs, so no argument from me on Dr.Fager, but as Rough 'n Tumble offspring goes, I'd give the nod to My Dear Girl /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

***An optimist thinks we are living in the best of all times...
A pessimist fears this is true.***

[tovero]

...this is back in the day...1969. I was 10 and was absolutely heartbroken when he lost the Belmont. I kept racing scrapbooks back then and had written "I hate Arts and Letters...I hate Arts and Letters..." all over the pages with the Belmont clippings!

[haligator]

Past Champions:
Forego - the best there ever was!
Dr. Fager
John Henry
Exterminator
Seattle Slew
Secretariat
Arts and Letters (sorry to you Majestic Prince fans!)
Count Fleet
Spectacular Bid (could have been the greatest of all time)
Riva Ridge (often overshadowed by stablemate Secretariat)
Ruffian
Go for Wand
Desert Vixen
Susan's Girl
Dahlia
Charismatic
River Keen - one of the most under-rated horses of all time - he won two Grade 1 races (the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Woodward) and beat such horses as Lemon Drop Kid, Stephen Got Even, Behrens, etc.

Horses still running I love:
Kona Gold
Sir Bear
Gold For My Gal
Carey's Gold
Hallowed Dreams

I could go on and on - even a low level claimer is worthy of acclaim!

By the way, I was at Belmont when both Ruffian and Exogenous broke down. What are the chances?

Hallie McEvoy

[Flash44]

Ruffian
Seattle Slew
Alydar
Cigar
Winning Colors
Lady's Secret
Devil His Due
Xtra Heat

Use the Force. ABBA rocks. Just say "NO" to Farrah hair.

[hitchinmygetalong]

Secretariat.

That's it. No "list". He is the ONLY one for me!

(Saw Fusaichi Pegasus when he went to Ashford, and let me tell you, there is a horse with an EGO! He knew you were looking at HIM!)

[MsRidiculous]

oh, I forgot River Keen! I aboslutely loved him, with his little freckled blaze.

-Amanda

"when angry, count four. When very angry, swear." Mark Twain

[NancyL]

Mine!!!

Just kidding -- although he did race, and did fairly well.

I vote for Cavonnier. A Cal bred gelding that lost the Kentucky Derby by a nostril to Grindstone. I think that Cavonnier getting hit in the face by some jockey's whip at the top of the homestretch might have made the difference in the outcome.

He was foaled down the road from my house, and broke his maiden at our summer fair.

He bowed a tendon in the Belmont and I think he is now retired at the farm he was born on.

[Catalina]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by daytimedrama:
Is John Henry at the Kentucky Horse Park, or was he??
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I worked at the Kentucky Horse Park when John Henry was there. He had to have been one of the meanest SOB's ever! I have no idea if he is still there. I got the opportunity to go into his stall to meet him, and found that he is a very antsocial horse, to say the least!

[WindWhistler82]

Secretariat
Man O' War
Ruffian
Winning Colors (she won the Kentucy Derby in '86!At least I think that's when she won it)
Cigar
Citation

And a whole bunch of others hehe

--Katie--

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experiance.~*~Proud member of the College Clique!~

[sprite]

Winning Colors won in 88. It was the year I graduated high school, and we went to the Derby /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif


And I'm also an Arts and Letters fan, i would have loved to breed a mare to him...

You cannot change the direction of the wind; however, you CAN adjust your sails.

[Jane]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hitchinmygetalong:

(Saw Fusaichi Pegasus when he went to Ashford, and let me tell you, there is a horse with an EGO! He knew you were looking at HIM!)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd bet!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif There's definitely something about that horse....the only time in my life I actually place a bet on a horse was for the Kentucky Derby in 2000...on Fusaichi Pegasus, while people told me the favorite never wins. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[haligator]

Xtra Heat - what a horse! She cost $5,000 and she has earned over $1.3 million.
Hallie

[RodeoGirl]

Hi Race Fans,
Just checking out the scenery on the "new board," and thought I would add my two cents...my favorite race horse would have to be Rowdy Irishman! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Little Orphan Arnie]

My all time favorite TB is Ruffian. That was such a same she would have def. be a huge legacy in the racing world

"Don't you ever wonder if you took a left instead of taking a right you could be somebody different"
~DMB

[WindWhistler82]

But it's not a TB so people forgive me lol. I thought Refridgerator was an awesome QH racehorse.

--Katie--

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experiance.~*~Proud member of the College Clique!~

[buryinghill1]

Eclipse (first filly to win Derby) - I have an old(!) photo of her.
Nashua
Secretariat (Met him "in person" and still have THE front cover of Time!)
Kauai King (I've got an "autographed" photo and letters from his owner!)
Dr.Fager
Swaps
Canonero II
Cicada

[akrogirl]

Okay - here are some of my favorites:

Arkle - greatest steeplechaser ever!
Alydar
Alysheba
Easy Goer
Winning Colors (I picked her to win the Derby - yea!)
Northern Dancer
Sadler's Wells
Red Rum - Greatest Grand National horse
Mill House
Spend a Buck (because he's Jimmy's dad /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif )
Mr Prospector
Miesque

[cgn38]

Gate Dancer - my all time favorite ( and now I have a grandson of his), and then Birdonthewire (not well known, but I saw him at Saratoga in the mid/early 90's and he was breathtaking).

[sprite]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by yd:
Eclipse (first filly to win Derby) - I have an old(!) photo of her.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hate to tell you, but the first filly to win the Derby was Regret, not Eclipse. She was ridden by Joe Notter for Harry Payne Whitney's stable, and won in 1915.

You cannot change the direction of the wind; however, you CAN adjust your sails.

[Morrissey]

My favorite steeplechase horse of all time is Bruce and Edie Smart's "Devil's Reach" - a horse well known to hurdle fans in Virginia. I was privileged to gallop and run him for a few years - a great character with a workman like attitude and a heart as big as a house. Devil is the most consistent and honest horse I've ever worked with.

[This message was edited by Morrissey on Jan. 26, 2002 at 08:32 AM.]

[buryinghill1]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by sprite:

Hate to tell you, but the first filly to win the Derby was Regret, not Eclipse. She was ridden by Joe Notter for Harry Payne Whitney's stable, and won in 1915.

You cannot change the direction of the wind; however, you CAN adjust your sails.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the correction.
I meant to say Regret. Senior moment. Must have been hit by the boom too many times.
It's a great picture, anyhow.

[lmlacross]

Winning Colors, Lady's Secret (I always tend to root whatever filly Wayne Lukas is campaigning), Sunday Silence.

Ruffian, of course, and Bayakoa & Go For Wand.

I always really liked Summer Squall as well.

LML

[showandtell13]

I CAN'T BELIEVE NONE OF YOU SAID TIZNOW!!!!!
What a great horse he is...to win the Breeder's CUp 2 yrs. in a row...that's un-heard of.
Also, I loved Secritariat, CIgar, Ruffian, and ofcourse Silverbulletday.
waht a dissappointment about Point Given having to retire...I thought he was going to be the next Secritatriat!
Also, we can't forget Real Quiet....he was also a great 1.

[mbp]

Secretariat, Ruffian, Alydar - loved the Spend A Buck derby race

[daytimedrama]

Silver Charm /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

~Christina~
"I don't patronize bunny rabbits!" -Heathers
*Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool.*

[Pat Ness]

Man O' War
Secretariat

I love to visit John Henry and Cigar at the park.

Kelso
Sea Biscuit
Black Gold (thanks to M. Henry)

Fun thread with neat memories.

Pat Ness

[Rhonda]

Mine are Secretariat(of course), Northern Dancer who is buried up the road from me and Ruffian. My grandfather and I watched that match race and had a cashew bet on it. I took Ruffian and he took Foolish Pleasure. When she broke down I just cried and cried. It's a sad memory but also a good one with my grandfather.
My favorite standardbreds are all ones I looked after Cimarron, Shogun Hanover and Central Station. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

No horse can go as fast as your money does when you bet on him.

[Toadie's mom]

My gosh, can't believe I forgot Lady's Secret!
A few years ago she went through the Keeneland winter mixed sale. We were afraid the Japanese were going to buy her, but luckily she stayed in the US. The people that were handling her were so nice. They brought her out and took lots of pictures of us with her.

[Linny]

I met Perfect Arc up at Saratoga a few years back. She was an agressive little mare!

BEQS clique
Resident racing historian
The early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese.

[Fred]

Tim Tam (me too Vineyridge)
Alydar
Affirmed
Secretariat
Personal Ensign, Bayakoa, Go for Wand,
Ruffian (always) Discovery,(thanks to CW Anderson)

so many more. I have a little mare in my barn, ran her heart out everytime she stepped on the track, named Torbama. She won't be on anyone's list - but she deserves it.

[LaQueSabe]

CIGAR!!!

[sprite]

Perfect Arc-

She WAS a tough girl /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Was a pretty well mannered yearling but could have a mind of her own!! Still, she was the only one of that group of yearlings that really was successful, so it must mean something. The sweet natured ones didnt do much!

You cannot change the direction of the wind; however, you CAN adjust your sails.

[Giddyup2]

Genuine Risk!

[SillyHorse]

This is the great English steeplechase horse that won the Grand National with Bob Champion. The horse was badly injured, Bob Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and they both came back to win the Grand National. It's an incredible story, and the movie "Champions" tells it well (maybe a little "Hollywoodized", but a terrific movie nonetheless).

Here's a link to a wonderful website that tells about this horse and rider:

http://www.findonvillage.com/0134_aldaniti.htm

[Alexander]

Citation, the man
Personal Ensign, a profile in extreme courage
Oh So Sharp (ENG), could win at 1mile or 1&3/4miles
Seattle Slew, the man#2
Easy Goer, unbeatable at 1&1/2miles
Affirmed, dangerous at any distance
Turkoman, at 1&1/4 and above he would be there
Count Fleet, ranked at 132 lbs at 2, no other horse has ever been ranked that high
Secretatiat, reason is obvious

[Wonder]

My favorites are....
EASY GOER
Ruffian
Go For Wand
My Flag
Serena's Song
Personal Ensign
Secretariat

*Wonder*

[Pat Ness]

The come from behind horse.

This is my husband's choice along with Personal Ensign.

Pat

[horselips]

...Most of my favorites have been mentioned. I also liked Autobiography, Cougar2, Typecast, Devil's Bag, Tom Fool, and Native Dancer

"Smile: It makes people wonder what you're up to..."

[SillyHorse]

Pat On the Back, I remember Silky Sullivan! Fabulous gray, as I recall. There was a picture in our newspaper of him training a few weeks before his Derby run, and I cut it out and kept it for years.

I also loved Candy Spots (jump out ahead at the start and stay there kind of horse), Carry Back, and Tim Tam from those days.

[Carol Ames]

I grew up watching "the race of the week", back when racing was televised much more often, and each spring enterd the "name thefoal" contest run by a tobacco company before the Derby, each year. My first "special race horse' was TIM TAM, and it pleased me greatly to see one sports writer call Secretariat before his Belmont "The surest thing sice Tim "Tam!"It was a great thrill to se him in his stall when I was in Lexington in 1968! And I cried when he died.He introduced me to the highs and lows of racing. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Carol Ames]

Wasn't Silky Sulivan the california horse, bright chestnut I believe, who came from way way back of the field?, They even went to a separate camera just for him, he was so far back, but as I recall he flopped in the Derby. What was his breeding? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Toadie's mom]

Oh my Gosh! to Carol Ames, you're the 1st person I've heard mention that contest in years! I used to enter it every year and just pray and pray I would win. I was always disappointed, of course, and now can't remember any of the names I submitted, but I know my Mom was so worried I was taking it way too seriously.

[Jewels]

Some of my faves eh? Well I better only put 5 cuz I could go on forever!
1)Ruffian -had a lot of heart!
2)Alydar -
3)War Admiral -
4) Northern Dancer -woo! go stud-muffin!
5)Key To My Mercedes -lol, cute lil claimer! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Ain't horse racing great!!!

Jewels!

[crystalacresponies]

I'm right there with you! I loved TIMELY WRITER. I was also a young teen when he died. I remember it vividly to this day. Have never really watched racing since. I used to watch every race religiously. My earlier love was ALYDAR
1) Alydar
2) Timely Writer
3) Easy Goer
4) Spectacular Bid
5) Genuine Risk

[katm]

Foolish Pleasure & my own horses of course, lol.

[Glimmerglass]

Aside from the more well known household names, I'll add Stephen C. Clark, Jr's Hoist The Flag (now deceased) who stood at stud at Claiborne Farms.

He was the 1970's 2-year old of the year and was at the time viewed to be the top thoroughbred since Man o' War. A heavy favorite to win the Triple Crown in 1971 he fractured his right leg training at Belmont Park in March of that year. He was saved by some of the best orthopedic surgeons of the day and went to stud.

His name has since become protected from reuse by the Int'l Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

PDF file on Hoist the Flag (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/stalliondirectory/pages/HOISTTHEFLAG.pdf)

[This message was edited by Glimmerglass on Mar. 10, 2002 at 09:09 PM.]