Big Red, Riva, and the Unbeatable Horse

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

markscreen — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:50:05 GMT

Steve:

Sorry I just caught up with this article now. I remember reading - and being fascinated by - the initial version of this article a few years ago. The additional information you've provided in this latest version makes a great article even better.

Being a longtime fan and amateur handicapper, I agree wholeheartedly with the view, voiced by many previous commenters, that in the 1970's we were blessed by quite possibly the greatest collection of racehorses to run in any decade. From a breeding perspective, it's always seemed to me that, at least in part, this greatness is likely the result of the presence of a combination of classic North American and European champions in the recent bloodlines of the greats of that era.

I was particularly intrigued by the Beyer speed figures you cited in the article, especially the towering 131 Prove Out ran in the Woodward. Assuming this figure was computed on roughly the same scale as the 139 speed figure Andy Beyer, after a careful reconstruction, ascribes to Secretariat's Belmont, it allows us to have some fun by speculating how that Woodward might have turned out had Secretariat been in peak form. The eight point difference suggests to me that Secretariat, had he been able (or fit enough) to reproduce his Belmont performance, might have finished 6 or 7 lengths ahead of Prove Out. This would have given him a time of 2:24 3/5 or so, not very far at all off of his Belmont time. Instead, given that Secretariat ran 4 1/2 lengths behind Prove Out, we can infer that he probably ran about a 125 Beyer, some 14 points (or 11 or so lengths) slower than he ran in his Belmont. These 11 lengths (although admittedly a rough estimate) seem to me a reasonable guess as to how much Big Red's performance might have been compromised, in a tiring 1 1/2 mile race, by the training and other factors you describe in your article. They might also explain why,as Ray Woolfe cited in his book, "Secretariat", Allen Jerkens, after the Woodward, said, "Secretariat is the best horse I ever saw on his peak performances . . .".

Anyway, I don't intend at all to detract in any way from Prove Out's remarkable Woodward. These are fun comparisons to make, only the great ones are part of them and there's certainly nothing wrong with being a strong candidate for having run the second best dirt mile ever seen in America.

Thanks again for a wonderful article and for reviving so many terrific memories. I hope others enjoy these kinds of comparisons among our greatest performers and I look forward eagerly to your next article.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Will — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:25:03 GMT

Perhaps, the greatest and most interesting of Steve's articles. Certainly puts into stark perspective the decline in thoroughbred horse racing. I was 26 in 1973, and this was horse racing as I remember it before horses were made brittle by drugs, were bred only for speed, were only lightly raced, carried lower weights, were run at lesser distances, and were retired far too early in their racing " careers" if what goes on today can actually be termed a career. Yes, this really happened: Prove Out running 5 times in 5 weeks against the best in the country, stretched out to 1 1/2 for the first time in the now 1 1/8 Woodward to best Secretariat having never gone more than a 1 1/16; then stretched out even further to 2 miles in the now 1 1/4 Jockey Gold Cup to beat Riva Ridge by 33 lengths after a half in a suicidal 47 2/5 and a mile in a brutal 1:37 1/5, holding off a top notch closer when Prove Out should have been finished after the earlier speed duel with Riva Ridge. This from a horse that had only won 4 times in 27 starts (25 of those maiden and allowance races with 2 losses in his only stake races) and a horse with physical problems (ankles, sinus, and shoulder) that it took the genius of Jerkens to correct and alleviate. From the conditions in the thoroughbred racing industry today it's, simply put, hard to fathom such an occurrence of events and amazing that Prove Out then beat Secretariat in the Woodward even though Big Red ran a time equalling that of Gallant Man in the Belmont - the fastest ever run until Secretariat's Belmont - and with Secretariat ill-prepared after two slow turf works and only two weeks after a world record performance in the 1 1/8 Marlboro Cup - Secretariat still finishing 11 1/2 lengths ahead of the top handicapper Cougar 11. It seems surreal that Jerkens came right back with Prove Out in the JGC at 2 miles with the horse running a two mile winning time that only the great 60s handicapper Kelso has ever bested to this day. Then, to add a little perspective to it all, factor in that Secretariat in a span of 23 days had set a world record in the Marlboro Cup, equalled the second fastest Belmont time in losing to Prove Out, and climaxed this 3 week period by setting a turf course record in the Man O' War in his first start on the Grass, winning by 5 lengths. Then comes the badly used Derby winner Riva Ridge, the victim of bad timing/race placement, races run on the wrong surfaces in the slop, and even a drugging incident, who, despite it all, never broke down, had a fine career breaking American and track records, but never, as Steve points out , getting the recognition he deserved. Thanks, Steve, for this piece of historical perspective that causes us elders to yearn for what used to be the conditions in American thoroughbred racing and that demonstrates so clearly the sharp decline in the industry today.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Dawn in MN — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 12:53:00 GMT

P.S. Deacon, Slew and me too. I too was rooting for Sham. When Sham dropped back and Secretariat pulled away in the Belmont, the camera could no longer include the other horses in the field. I kept looking at the t.v. screen for any shot of Sham. That was the last time anyone ever saw Sham race, I never saw Sham again. So sad.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Dawn in MN — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 12:44:38 GMT

Mr. Haskin,

Thank you for telling the story of Prove Out. This fan saw this story on Blood Horse, and "saved" it. I wanted to wait for a time when the house would be quiet and I could savor your wonderful writing. I was not disappointed.

I found this quote about story-telling;

"Australian Aborigines say that the big stories—the stories worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of your life—are forever stalking the right teller, sniffing and tracking like predators hunting their prey in the bush. —Robert Moss, Dreamgates"

I'm glad this story grabbed you. Your writing it like that, you tell the stories that give meaning to the lives of the horses and people, and for that I thank you, every time you write.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

outdoor fun — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:15:18 GMT

hi steve! '73 is special to me, secretariats belmont was the moment that grabbed me into the sport. I was in junior high, but as soon as i turned 18 i high tailed it to hazel park, mi. and until this day I'm still playing around with these horses. I was doing some research for 2012 breeding season and wonder if you know where DEBUSSY went to? I'd appreciate it if you could track him down. thanks

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Julien Richards 1 — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:59:05 GMT

wow! Steve what an amazing story. I was so mesmerized that i read the story very slowly so i would absorb every aspect of the piece. I love horses and horse racing and find that these older historic accounts of greatness in the sport give me the biggest boost. Thank you Steve... I wish that you never stop.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Slew — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 23:29:24 GMT

Phar Laps' heart is in the museum and weighed 13.6 pounds. The heart of Eclipse was weighed at 14 pounds. Sham's heart is recorded at 18 pounds, while Secretariat's was estimated at about 22 pounds. The normal size is 8.5 pounds.

When an x factor is mentioned it refers to a trait for a larger heart passed on through the female line. Princequillo was noted as having progeny whose hearts were weighed at 14 or more pounds.

(Which is why my kids never want to play Trivial Pursuit with me...over the years, my head seems to have collected many stray facts.)

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Bill Two — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:50:33 GMT

Mike Sekulac, I really wonder what Lucien Laurin was thinking when he entered Riva Ridge in that DC International. For starters, Riva was definitely not a turf horse and secondly, you're right, that turf course was a swamp that day. If i'm not mistaken, one of the participants broke down when he stepped in a hole on the backstretch. I have never seen a turf race run under such hazardous conditions and to think you had the best turfers in the world all there!

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Giddyup — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:11:48 GMT

Can't wait to read the next installment of this series. In the golden era of thoroughbred racing trainers were able to play hunches and roll the dice - unfortunately now with the Internet and media scrutiny they risk getting crucified if they try that and fail.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

MemoriesofPuchi — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:52:21 GMT

Prove Out babies had a reputation for being quite difficult to work with and I remember riding one such 2 y.o. colt in Florida. We had some some wild times together as he learned but in the end I was so proud of him and how he handled any adversity. He ended up being one of my favorite 2 yo's ever. Maybe he had some of his Daddy's spirit.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Deltalady — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:38:11 GMT

@Bill Two, I totally agree. I do need to make a small correction: Rapid's last race and this one will be around 3 turns at 1 1/16, not 1 1/8 as stated. Win or lose even if his streak ends at 16, he's fun to watch, and as Lafit Pincay & his sidekick, not sure which said what, for HRTV: "Amazing story, I know he's not one of the great ones, but Who Cares! What a neat horse! It's the perfect example that a racehorse doesn't need to be loaded with talent and God-given ability to display class. And that is what this streak with Rapid Redux is all about. If you define class as the ability to get the most out of whatever you have, he does that." They definitely are world's apart in quality, and Prove Out had the God-given talent and ability, but Rapid has to be a horse after Prove Out's own heart! Guess I'm a sucker for the "little guys" and the underdog.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

texasjoan — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:08:41 GMT

This reminds me of today with Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo. They do what is right for one horse and send the other one anywhere so they don't run against each other. Will be interesting to see what they do now since ST has shown himself a really good horse.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

trackjack — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:06:24 GMT

John from Seattle,

The official DRF chart on the Marlboro Cup states,"COUGAR II, off slowly,settled suddenly approaching the stretch,altered course when blocked attempting to split horses nearing midstretch and finished with good energy."

Here's the tape: www.youtube.com/watch

He wasn't going to catch Secretariat, even without the trouble but at 10F, it may have been close.

In a previuos post on this blog I mentioned our trip to Claiborne in March 1984 (our honeymoon). Not only did we see up close Secretariat and Riva Ridge but also Nijinsky II, Mr. Prospector, Danzig, Spectacular Bid and Sir Ivor. The more we all talk about that era, the more I realize how blessed we were to visit Claiborne that day.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Bellwether — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 05:52:45 GMT

"PROVE OUT" SOUNDS PRETTY DAMN GREAT TO US!!!..."BIG RED" WAS A RECORD BU$TER LIKE NO OTHER!!!..."RIVA" NEEDED ANOTHER TRAINER???...ty...

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

John from Seattle — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:34:39 GMT

Steve,

If I remember correctly, Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form mentioned that Cougar II had a troubled trip in the Marlboro Cup busting out of a pack of horses at the top of the stretch and actually made up several lengths on Secretariat, but still behind.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Ida Lee — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:44:12 GMT

As usual, great article. 1973 was the first year I became aware of horse racing. The reason: Secretariat and Ruffian. I fell so in fell with these equine wonders that I saw no other horses but them. Now reading your article I wish I had paid more attention to the other horses of the time like Prove Out. On the other hand, to this day, no other athlete, whether human or equine, has taken the place of Secretariat and Ruffian in my heart. P.S. Regarding heart size brought up above, I did read somewhere that the great Australian Champ Phar Lap had a huge heart...2 or 3 times bigger than Secretariat. I believe his heart is in a museum in Australia.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

The Deacon — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:51:15 GMT

Two pretty good fillies also born in 1970.

Windy's Daughter who won the 1973 Mother Goose Stakes and Acorn Stakes, and Magazine who won the 1973 Coaching Club American Oaks.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

The Deacon — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:26:36 GMT

Steve from St. Louis:

Yes I was up late, couldn't sleep but out here in the west it was only 12:36am, which is bad enough.

I enjoy reading all the posts late at night when it is quiet.

Yes Nijinsky II was amazing, as good a sire as he was race horse.

Great son of my favorite all time stallion Nothern Dancer, argueably the best stallion ever. Also Nijinsky II sired Royal Academy, Sky Classic and Seattle Dancer who in 1985 sold for a record 13 million dollars.

I thought Mr. Haskin might appreciate some of this info, but I can't match him for memory.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Mike Sekulic — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:54:23 GMT

Did you know that COUGAR II was the morning line favorite for the 1972 Washington DC International? I have the program! Yes, he was the favorite over DROLL ROLE (winner), RIVA RIDGE, SAN SAN (Arc de Triomphe winner) and BELLE GESTE (Canadian Champion), and I think that honor speaks to his status in the racing world at the time.

Too bad it rained so hard, and the turf course became an absolute quagmire, so COUGAR had to be scratched.

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

MikeM — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:15:17 GMT

Did Secretariat really need blinkers?

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Slew — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:07:47 GMT

What a beautiful, loving tribute to a hard knocking horse.

Deacon; though not from California, I, too, was a Sham fan. While Secretariat had the largest heart of any TB, Sham had the 2nd largest heart, as both dams came from the Prinquillo line. Talk about star-crossed, Sham was simply born in the wrong year.

The 70's were truly the Golden Decade of horse racing in America. It simply boggles the mind to consider the heroes we were blessed with in that era. Throw in the 60's, and the period is unequalled in our sport. A quarter century of greatness that we have reduced to sprinters and milers. Is there any flat race in America over 12f? Not even a marathon!

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

Abigail Anderson — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:47:42 GMT

@Deacon & Steve from St. Louis: I so resonate to the horses mentioned: The Minstrel, Allez France and the superb Nijinsky II, a great favourite of mine. In the latter case, I am just THRILLED to see Nijinsky mentioned in the context of great thoroughbreds such as Secretariat & Prove Out & Mr. Prospector & Riva Ridge. I believe that, at the time of his arrival in the USA, very few understood what it meant to win the British Triple Crown and he was the first since Bahram, 36 years earlier. All that most North Americans knew about Nijinsky was that he had lost the Arc, as well as his final race, after going undefeated up until then. And he lost the Arc by LESS than Zenyatta lost the 2010 BC Classic, likely due to being asked to do too much too late and to lugging out near the finish when Lester Piggott hit him.

At stud, Nijinsky got some great colts and fillies -- Ferdinand, Golden Fleece, Lammtarra, Maplejinsky, Cherry Hinton and others. But I was always sorry that he never gave the USA a Triple Crown winner of its own!

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

steve from st louis — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:46:43 GMT

Hey Deacon, I know old farts like us have a tough time sleeping but a 3:36 a.m. post? Maybe you should start reading the Stallion Register to help you doze. But thanks for the Paul Harvey-like update! :+)

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

The Deacon — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:36:20 GMT

Steve from St Louis:

1970 was a pretty good year for the great Nijinsky II, he won the English Triple Crown.

Also in 1970 Calumet Farms Bull Lea passed away at age 25 I believe.

Allez France was also born in 1970, we can't forget how great she was.

Finally in 1970, Muhammad Ali knocked out Jerry Quarry in his first fight in over 3 years.....

re: Remembering the Fall of '73

KarenToga — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:49:30 GMT

Steve,

What a wonderful article about a horse who went under the radar in notoriety in 1973. Such a great tribute to him and his trainor Allen Jerkens. It is amazing how much you know and there is no one who can articulate it with such passion . I am so happy to see you back with pen and passion. Missed you and your beautiful prose.

Thank you and glad your are feeling better. Be well.