When Big Red Was Little Red

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

TNT — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:58:04 GMT

I watched the race then, and I watched it again tonight at the movies! I 'ran that race again' just as I did the day it happened. A finer horse will never run. He had heart, intelligence, and a willingness every horse owner wants to find. The only 'competing' animal that has come close in my mind, is 'BIG BEN'. Another horse that stands alone in his field.

Great show. Go see it

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

txhorsefan — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 01:01:07 GMT

Thanks for the tip about the other matings of Bold Ruler and Somethingroyal - I had no idea. I enjoyed my time this afternoon looking up The Bride on pedigree query and searching around for her progeny, etc. She really didn't do too bad after all. Next I'll have to go learn more about Syrian Sea, so again...thanks!

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Cleone — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 02:33:51 GMT

The other Bold Ruler-Somethingroyal foal I know about is Syrian Sea, who was a stakes-winner at two and stakes-placed at three. Many people like to hold The Bride up as an example of why breeders shouldn't bother with full siblings - but then you figure Secretariat is the result of trying to reproduce Syrian Sea... and that didn't turn out too bad!

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

starberry — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:44:50 GMT

whoops. sorry. I said Claiborne and I meant Mr. Phipps who owned Bold Ruler, of course.

Steve, do you know if there was a third foal from the cross?

and I want to add my THANKS to YOU for such an interesting trip down memory lane.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

starberry — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:45:33 GMT

Before there was Secretariat, there was The Bride.

Bet none of you bloggers remember her; she was eminently forgettable!

But the Chenerys bred SomethingRoyal to Bold Ruler on a foal sharing arrangement and Claiborne wno the first foal, a brown filly.We saw her at Saratoga, I think as maiden 2yo and fell in love with her and of course her breeding. We lost our bet as she finished somewhere up the track, and never did much in the stud either. I have always felt a personal interest when I see her descendants in stakes pedigrees in the magazines.

Visiting Claiborne to see Secretariat we mentioned her to his stud groom and he absolutely exploded, "What you know about dat no'count mare? and he told us how she was a perfect witch to breed and heartily disliked at the farm.

I have always heard that it was his x chromosome that imparted greatness to Secretariat, but his sister did not share the benefit.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

sharksfan1 — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:45:24 GMT

William SHanklin in The Bloodhorse of Sept 04 wrote about Secretariat. Mr. Shanklin said, and I believe it as well, the too many people in the racing world are quick to attach the word 'great" to horses who do ot deserve the title.

Thinking back on horses of the past, and the impact they made, both on and off the track, the term great applies to a select few. Secretariat is one of those. I was blessed to watch him run on TV live, although I never saw him in person. Just like the 1980 USA Hockey Team brought a country to it's feet, so did that 3 year-old chestnut colt and his connections.

It was a magical time for horse racing.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

ruffianruns — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:09:18 GMT

Cleone and Peggy,

I just sent you an email about what I've learned, where I'm staying, my talk with John Shirreffs, etc.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Backtalk — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:08:53 GMT

Howard Gregory, no wiser or more accurate words will ever be spoken about any racehorse--A horse like Secretariat. That will never happen no more.”No horse like Secretariat will ever be again!" Thanks for the article Steve.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Cleone — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:15:58 GMT

Peggy & ruffianruns, I'll be at HP on the 2nd, too. Flying in from Colorado just to see my girl! Would love to meet up with you guys. rbain9 at earthlink.net

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

ruffianruns — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:47:25 GMT

Dr D - I'm still blown away by Janet Leigh saying that she never took showers after. Your "bath" comment on the other blog killed me! I'm glad you made berttheclock laugh.

txhorsefan - I'm glad you got to see Zen at Oaklawn! I'm getting so excited to head out to CA. When I told a doctor friend of mine about the trip, she said she would have to go too to resuscitate me!

Peggy - I'll have your back!

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Dr Drunkinbum — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:53:38 GMT

Linda in Texas

That is amazing. How lucky you were to see Elvis back when he was young, and starting to change the world. Did you see the movie where Elvis met Nixon? I think it's great.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Peggy — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:24:16 GMT

Sherpa,

Thanks for your kind words. I am overwhelmed by the responses from people whose knowledge I've admired from afar. Wow, how exciting!

Ruffianruns and I are arranging to meet at HP. She promises to let me watch Rachel run on the simulcast as she will be in either the Beldame or the JCGC. She will have my back in case of rabid Z fan attack. If anyone else can make it out to the park we'd love to meet up with you.

Thanks again, everyone.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

sherpa — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:55:15 GMT

As always, late to the party but: Welcome to the blog stable, Peggy! Anybody who loves horses will find a home here! :-)

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

txhorsefan — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:52:10 GMT

Linda - how fun that you got to see Elvis live in concert, but your dad wouldn't let you watch him on tv - I love it! Yes, back in those days of concerts and dances at the armories, etc., people could even afford the price of admission. The events they hold now days, where you can't even see the folks on the stage, are so outrageously expensive, I refuse to go...well, besides being so cranky in my old age that I don't like huge crowds any more - lol! And yes, Dr. D, I have taken lots of showers - lol! Slew's right again - Steve's more than a jolly good fellow to all of us and we definitely should go see the horses we love and admire while we have them to appreciate. I'm so excited for ruffianruns and cleone to be going to HP to see Zenyatta's race. I will forever hold cherished the glimpses of her I got to see through the white blossoms at Oaklawn. I'm so grateful Steve is bringing to life the stories of the horses of the past and you all are providing links to more races, SI stories and so much enabling me to more enjoy them as I learn about them. Thanks all.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

ruffianruns — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:49:53 GMT

My first concert, in utero, was Joan Baez '64 or '65. And I love her today! My first concert, out utero, was Journey in '81 or '82.

All your concerts sound GREAT!

Did you see the movie Walk the Line? I loved it and was blown away with all those early concerts in school gyms with Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, June Carter. Can you imagine seeing them all at once?

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

ruffianruns — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:08:35 GMT

Good one Slew. Who dat team dat BARELY beat us? I was rooting for them last year! That Super Bowl was amazing.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Linda in Texas — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:11:50 GMT

Good Dr. Bumster, a little nostalgia here, my first live concert was between 1955 and 1956,

held at The Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, TX, where friends owned the concessions and the featured attraction:**ELVIS** Got to sit on the front row right by the speakers, was about 10 feet from Elvis wearing dark brown slacks, a dark blue blazer and lots of hair !! I was 15.

Later, when he appeared on The Ed Sullivan show for the first time, my father changed the station because Elvis had the reputation of perhaps gyrating obscenely and i guess my eyes were too young or my father was too protective. Later i found out the TV cameraman did not film him from the waist down !!!!

My dad i guess did not remember i had seen him in person!!!

Elvis ended up marrying Priscilla whose father was stationed at Randolph AFB, TX and her mother owned a beauty shop where in later years my operator moved to, it was located on the AFB. This was right before the time Elvis began seeing

Priscilla and it was a big secret.

Her mother was very nice but i never met Priscilla.

Saw Nat King Cole at The Auditorium and later Mary Martin in South Pacific and Louis Armstrong at the Coliseum before his death and

Herb Alpert with The Commodores.

I am old but i don't 'fergit' nuttin!

Steve, i have been missing Mary in Vermont. Have not seen her post in a while. Hope she is okay.

And==though this is personal, how are Joan and Mandy???? Have missed your mentioning them. Hope they are well. Please tell them hello from us and thank them for allowing you to spend so much of your time with us.

Thank you Steve.

P.S. A Tapit 'juvie' 2 year old won the 9th Race last Saturday night at The Charles Town Races, his name is

"Bandbox" and he earned $100,000 for his owner Mrs. Charles that night.(Watched it on HRTV.) It was Pink Ribbon night for Cancer Research.

He is a big tall fella and won by several lengths. Would it be possible maybe that he might be considered for the Juvenile Breeder's Cup? I liked the smooth way he runs. Naturally, he is a gray roan and quite handsome.

At first he was not listed as being sired by Tapit, but on Monday i saw he was added under Tapit listed on The Stallion Register. Seeing that a Tapit offspring just sold at Keeneland, thought someone might be interested to know about Bandbox.

And welcome Peggy. We all started out just like you. And we stayed!

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:33:30 GMT

Peggy

Thank you. The medical field is tough. I couldn't have done it. They definitely should spend more time in medical school teaching good bedside manners and less on the terrible handwriting class.

Slew

That's great. My first concert was Santana, 1970.

ruffianruns

I know it sounds strange, but she sounded very sincere when she said it. I believe her.(no showers since 1960). I heard her say it(on video) not too long before her death. Over 40 years without a shower. I suspect that she took baths though. She looked very clean.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Slew — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:13:13 GMT

To everyone-thanks.

Dr. D and Ruffianruns: Who dat?

(Sorry-I just had to)

Dr D..The Smothers Brother were at my college gym in '63, and a friend of mine, who worked security, got me in to see Simon and Garfunkle in '64 at the armory nearby. (When a concert was a concert without all the hoopla and fireworks-just music).

My kiddos have no interest in horse racing, however, they would be kind enough to take me to the track anytime I asked. However, I'm discovering that I am unable to do so.

My advice to everyone is this...if you love or deeply admire any horse, and would like to see them...do it now. Otherwise you will discover when you finally have the time and finances to eventually go to the track, either your horse will long be gone, or your get up and go will have got up and went....without you.

Meantime...go see "Secretariat". Even with pimples, it's better than no Secretariat at all.

And Steve: you're more than "jolly good"...you're bloody well jolly good!

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

ruffianruns — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:53:10 GMT

Dr D - I forgot to thank you for having my back. Thanks! And I think your suggestion to Slew is too cool.

Peggy - I guess Rachel's people still haven't said she'll be racing in the Beldame, huh? I was surprised that no plans had been confirmed. My heart hurts for her. She just set expectations so high last year.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

ruffianruns — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:52:16 GMT

"...which nobody can deny!"

Is that true about Janet Leigh?

I can't find hardly anything on Pretty Unusual. TB Times says that the reason for the surgery wasn't specified in the release. So sad. I hope these sweet creatures go to the most wonderful place.

On a happier note, Presious Passion is back!

txhorsefan - Would you please come back and post again?

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Peggy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:29:45 GMT

Txhorsefan,

Sorry I forgot to thank you for your kind comments. I think your're right about the generosity of the group (starting with Steve).

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Peggy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:26:08 GMT

Dr D. I second the "jolly good fellow" for Steve. He really deserves a lot of credit for letting us get off topic (especially since the topic is so important). I am anxiously awaiting his next blogs on Slew and Ruffian. I own and read the John Henry, Kelso, Dr. Fager, Ruffian, and Seattle Slew books from the Thoroughbred Legends series and I am truly honored to be on this blog with the author.

Ruffianruns, thank you for sharing. I had also heard Rachel compared to Ruffian, so naturally I went on-line to find out about this other horse who was said to be the best filly ever. I didn't know the details of her story and broke down when I saw her break down in the match race. I couldn't stop crying, but am ready now to hear the story from Steve.

Dr. D, you always make me laugh. I spent a career in medicine (human) because I couldn't get into vet school, but I never met any Doctors like you. You should have gone into medicine, what a bedside manner you would have. Actually, I take that back. I am happy for what you do for us, you would never be fully appreciated in medical school.

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:53:38 GMT

I think it's been far too long since we sang The Jolly Good Fellow song to Steve Haskin. He works incredibly hard for us and our viewing pleasure and helps us to keep our sanity, so all together now-"For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny, which nobody can deny......"

re: When Big Red Was Little Red

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:58:03 GMT

ruffianruns

Oh yeah, I have your back. They usually don't mess with my friends here anymore. They have to get out of the kitchen, they can't handle my heat, respectfully given of course. That's a great mix you have. I believe jockeys are the strongest athletes in the world. They do it race after race daily, not just once a week.

txhorsefan

I bet that unlike Janet Leigh you've taken a shower since then. She never again took a shower since the making of the movie. I heard it out of her own mouth on an extra feature on a Psycho DVD.

zookeeper

All I know is that it was emergency surgery. No other details.

Slew

Get the young ones to the track, and make sure they win. They'll be hooked. Her's how you make sure they win- buy a $2 win ticket for every horse in the race. After the race give them just the winning ticket. "You won!!!"