Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Convene — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:57:27 GMT

Forgot another really annoying (and maybe harmful) one: love. It's an emotion, not an act - and it doesn't apply to food. "I love ice cream," suggests some sort of funny things ... Sorry - but language and literacy are important and their decline upsets me. Leads to some sad misunderstandings too.

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Convene — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:53:35 GMT

Yup! You're right! And along with,"great," we can add a whole bunch of other words and phrases that have been so over-applied as to have become totally meaningless (not to mention downright annoying!). As literacy levels decline (and the are), so does vocabulary and the ability to describe anything appropriately. There are a few other, "greats," but only a minicscule fragment of the people and horses so-described. How come words like, "outstanding," and phrases like, "impressive," now seem - well, UN-impressive? We're on verbal overload. Thanks for making that necessary and very valid point.

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Robin from Maryland — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:14:24 GMT

GREAT article. I for one feel if someone or something is great, than they should be applauded. Why not? Secretariat was a superstar as was Man O' War, and both were GREAT!! Overused - NEVER. Here's looking for the next Great One and it's not Gretsky.

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Arlene — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:48:39 GMT

From the previews I have seen..whether the "Secretariat" movie is really about the greatness of the horse..or about the greatness of the humans surrounding him, especially Ms. Chenery remains to be seen. Literally seen. I have a feeling that Ron Turcott's statement ..to paraphase.."I could tell you like others that he was the greatest race I had ever seen the first time I laid eyes on him, but I woould be telling you a lie. So many great looking horses just don't make the grade." I think new myths will be fabricated, in hind sight, about the horses career. If so, a shame. He EARNED the term greatest through performances..one after another. The Seabiscut movie was wonderful by integrating the horses achievments with the humans around him. Hope this movie does also. I hope Disney does not blow this concept by "Disneytising" it!

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Fuzzy Corgi — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:45:42 GMT

There is no doubt in anyones mind that the title of great can be attached, but not limited to: Man O'War, War Admiral, Phar Lap, Secretariat, Affirmed, Alydar, Seattle Slew, Cigar, Personal Ensign, etc. Some horses are called great because of what they themselves have accomplished on the track and some for what their offspring have accomplished. An extrememly small number are on both lists.

Some trainers, owners, jockeys and writers have a tendency to place the 'great' label on any horse they are trying to promote or are impressed with that day. Occasionally they will truthfully say that it is the greatest horse they have ever trained, owned or ridden, but often this is an attempt at an ego boost for themselves or hoping to inflate the legend of a horse. And especially with a stallion, there is a lot of breeding shed money on the line. A horses career, either on the track or in the breeding shed, is what gives them the added 'great' moniker.

Ann in Lex - I don't know if you've ever seen Zenyatta in person but the venom of your words makes me think that you haven't. Seeing the massive mare effortlessly defeat every horse who has ever run against her can only be described as amazing. Zenyatta has defeated some of the best fillies and mares in racing; Ginger Punch, Life Is Sweet, Hystericalady, etc. and some of the best males from NA and Europe in the 2009 BCC. If you think that only running and winning in GI races for the past two years is a conservative campaign then horse racing in general must be a bitter disappointment to you. All a trainer can do is get their horse ready to the best of their ability, pick a race suited for the horse, hope the race fills, then run the horse and hopefully the horse wins the biggest share of the purse.

And no, I am not just star struck or new to horses or racing. I've owned and shown horses my entire life and I used to work a shedrow over from the great Cigar and was able to see him every day. He was memorable even before he was a super star on the track. He was always a super star in his head. The great ones are that way.

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Soldier Course — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:32:43 GMT

Let's make sure that "great" doesn't end up like "awesome".

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

spitting the bit — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:41:17 GMT

Good article and I concurr. It is hard to compare greatness in some sports from different generations. Track surfaces, distances, and such but it is obvious as John T states that Man O' War was a great thoroughbred, as was Secretariat,and I know that there are some others that can reside with the other greats; however, the word is over used and like some many other superlatives it is losing its meaning.

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Ann in Lexington (aka Pedigree Ann) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:44:04 GMT

And is Secretariat any less great because he lost a few races here and there? No!!! The misguided idea that a horse that takes a few risks and fails now and again is less than one that takes no chances and succeeds uniformly is a blight upon modern racing. (I'm looking at you, Team Zenyatta. Kincsem won 54 in a row at the highest levels, folks: any other record needs qualifiers and is like restricting lifetime home runs to some era or other.)

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

mg — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:22:13 GMT

Mr. Shanklin, Thank you. The word "Great" should certainly be reserved. Unfortunately it has become a daily reference by the media in all sports, especially ESPN, where the word is bandied about several times in each telecast. It would appear the horse racing personalities have joined in by using the great word for almost every horse that wins a major stake thus diminishing the truly accomplished that distinguished themselves in the sport over many generations and are truly are deserved of the title - "Great."

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Bellwether — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:27:10 GMT

GREAT = JOHN HENRY THAT$ FORE $URE...ty...

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

John T — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:41:24 GMT

Secretariat was a great racehorse

and no mistake about it.But so also

was Man O War and i,m sure a good case could be made about some others from this side of the Atlantic.In Europe Sea Bird was a great racehorse as was the unbeaten Ribot and once again a good case could be made for others.

I think the proper term for Secretariat should be ''He deserves

his place with the greats''

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

LAZMANNICK — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:29:26 GMT

Great is a word used every third sentence or so. It should be used maybe once or twice a month.

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Rachel — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:33:16 GMT

The director of the Secretariat movie, Randall Wallace, lends a lot of credibility to a movie I thought would probably be just a Disney version of what really happened...I mean...I saw the original Secretariat...I was dreading the Disney version...I might give it a chance because of Wallace. Though I did read Penny Chenery saying they told her they kept the "theme" of his life...me? I prefer the facts ;-)

re: Reserve 'Great' for Those That Deserve It

Somethingroyal — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:05:34 GMT

Amen. I believe this article is long overdue. The "great" title should be earned and not handed down like a piece of candy. Secretariat earned his title the way it's suppose to be done.