The Polls Are In!

re: The Polls Are In!

Eloise — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:16:24 GMT

I fully agree that Point Given was the best! I watched him closely for every race. But when the horses came out from the barn for the Kentucky Derby, I saw how distracted he was by the helicopters and banners and all the stuff in the sky that he hadn't had to contend with during races before. That's where he lost the race.

re: The Polls Are In!

Shannon — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:57:05 GMT

I Have to agree that Spectacular Bid was the best, But I also agree that Afleet Alex should be in there

re: The Polls Are In!

Amateurcapper — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:14:37 GMT

SPECTACULAR BID!!! The big gray was the closest thing to a superhorse I've ever seen. He beats them all...Alysheba, Smarty Jones, Sunday Silence and Point Given are the others in order of preference.

re: The Polls Are In!

Johnny — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:57:47 GMT

Jim, if you look at the Timeform ratings, the horses are very close. Sea-Bird tops the list with a rating of 145, followed by Secretariat at 144. Ribot was third, can't remember the fourth horse off-hand, but know it wasn't an American. My all-time favorite horse, the immortal Citation, is 5th overall with a 142, and "Big Cy's" damsire Hyperion might have been next. Spectacular Bid had a 141, so the numbers confuse me a little, because, as you said, he was ninth overall, and Citation was 5th at 142.

The great Sea-Bird raced only 8 times in his career, and won 7 of those. His win in the 1965 Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe was the most impressive single race performance I've ever seen. I didn't see the race live, but have watched it many times on the Internet.

I do take issue with the Timeform ratings however, because Man o'War was put too low, and I don't know where Kelso and Dr. Fager rank on it.

re: The Polls Are In!

Jessica H. — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:39:20 GMT

Spectacular Bid in a runaway. Alysheba and Sunday Silence in second and third. Silver Charm fourth.

re: The Polls Are In!

Paul — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:32:52 GMT

Afleet Alex?

re: The Polls Are In!

Mr. Freeze — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:05:35 GMT

How about a poll on the best horse to finish last in the Derby?

re: The Polls Are In!

Jim — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:42:04 GMT

Spectacular Bid, a "no doubt about it" answer. Timeform rated him #9 in the world for the 20th Century and #3 in the U.S. He went off at 1-20 eight times; was a champion at 2,3,&4; he set 8 track records; he set the world record for a 1 1/4 miles on dirt, which may still stand; he carried 130 lbs or more 5 times; he had the only Walkover in 60 years when nobody showed to race him in the Woodward; according to Shoemaker, he was the best he ever rode; numerous experts have named him the best they've ever seen. In short, he was the best horse by the meanest stallion in US racing history.

re: The Polls Are In!

wilson prince — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:49:24 GMT

Silver Charm, in my book. He never had the blowaway margins that some of the others had, but he was the most game, and when he was at his best, I'd take him over any of the others considered here.

re: The Polls Are In!

Matthew W — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:51:20 GMT

On a cool windy day in Feb 1980, my brother and I went to Santa Anita to see 'The Bid vs three in the 'Strub....I watched Bud Delp and his horse as they walked to the saddling barn, Bud was in his loud plaid suit, he was classic, I saw greatness in the man, yes I did.....The Bid was rather leggy and not overly muscular, and when Flying Paster walked out of the saddling area to the vast, open walking ring of Santa Anita, there were "ohhs/ahhs" over his beautiful look---he was a very good horse----Valdez, the Travers winner, was a beautiful Chestnut trained by Laz Barrera (the GREAT Laz Barrera--- Relaunch, the big grey turfer was majestic----The Bid was rather ordinary looking to me----my brother and I were stationed at the "Clockers Corner", at the top of the SA stretch---they broke in front of us, as they ran by us, a guy yells "attaboy Eddie"---refering to Eddie D, as he gunned Relaunch into a suicide pace---Shoe took The Bid into the race early, making an amazing clubhouse turn move reminicent of Secretariat's Preakness----the fractions are like 1:32 with Bid in front and 'Paster coming---at the Clockers Corner you can see horses tiring on the turn--they lose their lean as they lose their strength----I'll never forget Spectacular Bid into a full lean on that turn, after those fractions, thats where I saw the greatness--in that fleeting moment, coming off the turn in full flight----GREATNESS! Everyone has their favorites, having seen him only that one time in person, I woundn't bet on any horse to beat Spectacular Bid!!!!

re: The Polls Are In!

Johnny — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:13:16 GMT

Although this discussion is about horses that raced in the Triple Crown, comments were made about Ghostzapper being "overrated," and having a "soft Breeders Cup." I'd like to respond to those comments.

When Smarty Jones wasn't voted Horse of the Year, I was at first disappointed; that is, until I learned more about Ghostzapper and watched his races. If Ghostzapper didn't deserve to be HOY, then in my opinion, no horse did.

In the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic, Ghostzapper beat a previous Horse of the Year, a previous BC Classic/Dubai World Cup winner, a future DWC winner, and another horse that had earned $4 million. He won by 3 lengths in a record clocking of 1.59:02. Prior to the BC, he defeated the following year's BC Classic winner and eventual HOY, in the Woodward.

In his career, Ghostzapper had Beyer figures in the 120s four times. He was unbelievably fast, and could win at any distance from 6 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. A truly brilliant racehorse.

re: The Polls Are In!

Billy D. — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:28:49 GMT

On this Point I agree, however the question was who was the best horse to fall one leg short of the triple crown. Up to the Belmont I'd Argue Sunday Silence was every bit as good as the 'Bid.' Also 'Bid' had no great rival like Easy Goer to make it more interesting, unless you count Flying Paster, whom I believe to be an imitation of Run Dusty Run. Overall the Bid had a monster 4 yr. old season.

re: The Polls Are In!

Matthew W — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:17:07 GMT

I saw 'Bid at Santa Anita win the 'Strub, and was the best horse I ever saw, and I saw Affirmed and Seattle Slew.....but Smarty Jones was a beast, certainly the best horse to not win "horse of year"---that went to the overated Ghostzapper and his soft Breeders Cup where Roses In May was content to finish second and they set a slow pace---but you can't go wrong with Spectacular Bid---he had it all....

re: The Polls Are In!

Rivercitysmitty — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:33:04 GMT

I have to go with Risen Star whose trainer didn`t realize the horse had a lot of natural speed. The next two legs were runaways when he was kept closer to the pace.

re: The Polls Are In!

Johnny — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:31:39 GMT

If you look at the entire body of work, no other horse in this poll touches Spectacular Bid.