How Did He Not Win The Derby?

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Shaker Jones — Sat, 02 May 2009 23:31:21 GMT

I'm way late but I want to at least mention Sham. He did run the second-fastest Derby in history. It was real bad luck that he happened to be born in the same year as Secretariat and that he tore his mouth open in the gate at the Derby. They say Secretariat broke his heart in the Belmont-- one thing for sure, Sham was never the same after that.

As for Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, I'll offer what I always say about horse racing-- it's not "may the fastest horse win", it's "may the best horse win." Sure I believe Easy Goer was the faster horse, but I think Sunday Silence was smarter, more competitive, had a hell of a lot more heart-- and thus, having won 3/4 races against EG, in my terms, better.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

dbjr8 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:12:06 GMT

I missed the poll by months, but if I had to choose I to would put Point Given at the top of the list.....Easy Goer would be my second choice as well. Though history does not back me up, I do believe Easy Goer was the better of the two race horse when compared with Sunday Silence (who was brilliant in his own right!).

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

U2Sister — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:23:21 GMT

Does ANYONE wonder what happened to Nashua in the Derby? I love that horse & his tenacity, but he whooped Swaps soundly in the match race, so what the..???

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Jimmy — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:29:41 GMT

Point Given gets my vote, even though some of these guys give good reasons for some of the other horses, among the best being Alydar and Risen Star. But, just looking at the horses and their records before and afterward, Point Given is the best horse to ever step on the grounds since Secretariat. He was just a great horse, period. Beautiful and big!!

If we could go all the way back to before our own era, I would have to say Man o'War was the best horse ever NOT to win the Kentucky Derby. Everything I have read, and that my dad and grandad ever said about the horse, makes him the best race horse to ever live, in my opinion.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Mr. Sokes — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:56:45 GMT

Damascus and all his lineage are famous for not handling Churchill Downs-Skip Away , Mr. Frisky, Private Terms etc. With Dr. Fager not running in any of the triple crown races Damascus not only should have won the triple crown but was probably the equal of any 3 year old of the last 50 yrs.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Jim — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:25:08 GMT

Just one more comment about Spectacular Bid: 13 Grade 1 wins on 10 different tracks!!! Delp didn't park his horse on the Salt Flats. The Bid pounded more surfaces than most of these horses will see in a lifetime.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

jre — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:04:20 GMT

The greatest would have to be curlin,easy goer,.remember the preakness when easygoer,sunday silence/curlin,street sense gave everyone what they wanted an all out preformance,to the end.I will never forget them.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

HORSEWLD — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:19:07 GMT

Let's all go back and watch Afleet Alex's triple crown races again. He loses the Derby because if you watch he loses forward motion when JR guides him toward the rail. If he stays in the same path he hears and feels the others coming on and most likely wins with the same heart and grit he showed in the Preakness. Just keep your eye on him in the Preakness and the Belmont when he makes his move. He just swallows horses stride for stride like their going in reverse. And remember he's most likley running at least somewhat injured in the Belmont after that {trip} in the Preakness. I don't care if he didn't run another step, he would have my vote. Not only that, if I was blessed with a worthy mare I would breed her to him before all others mentioned just for a piece of his grand heart and slice of his proven monster athletic ability. I was privliged to see him in the flesh at Pimlico. Gods perfection!

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Householder — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:03:41 GMT

How did he (The Jockey) not win the Derby? Point Given...Gary rightfully took the blame for having him on the traditional blistering pace and Easy Goer....I still remember the TV commentator asking Shug if he thought Pat was going to be that far back...it was a difinitive "NO." Easy Goer being the "push button" horse could have been placed anywhere. Point Given came back to redeem himself. Easy Goer changed tatics two weeks later and still lost.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Leah A. — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:01:26 GMT

I watched Secretariat's Triple Crown career with wide-eyed wonder, like most everyone else of my generation. But, five years later, Alydar would run his heart out behind Affirmed, in second place, as did Sham to Secretariat. If you compare 2nd best to greatness, Alydar was my favorite. Oh if he had been born in another year.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Dr. Fager — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:32:01 GMT

Afleet Alex, all the way. He overcame extreme adversity in the Preakness, and blew away the field in the Belmont.

And, yes, I DO blame Jeremy Rose for not listening to his horse during the Derby.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Billy D. — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:26:47 GMT

I think it was Alydar, he just didn't handle the track on Derby day like Affirmed did. Their two year old rivalry cannot be denied. I think Velasquez moved a little late in the Preakness. Affirmed was only inches better in the Belmont and they raced the last mile of that race virtually as a team. It was the biggest rivalry since Secretariat and Sham. And 'Believe it' was no slouch either. Alydar would've been a deserving triple crown winner.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

flyinhome — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:28:50 GMT

LDP- Sorry. i meant the Haskel and how Anygivensaturday won.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

WDK — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:30:48 GMT

Curlin. We are watching history in the making. No doubt about it.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

LDP — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:55:14 GMT

flyinhome- Curlin wasn't ever in the Kings Bishop, so what are you talking about? Curlin last year ran in the Rebel, AK Derby, the triple crown, the haskel, the JCGC, and the BCC. After the Triple crown Curlin faced Hard Spun in the Haskel and that was it till the BC. Also Curlin had a nasty trip in the Derby if you look close enough. If Curlin had as smooth a trip as SS he would've beaten him, he did in the Preakness and he still had more problems than SS.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Todd — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:29:47 GMT

I think captain Bodgit was better than Silver Charm and would have proven it if not for a bowed tendon.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Todd — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:28:32 GMT

Captain Bodgit

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

home of ramon — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:50:36 GMT

I have never saw a move like Arazi made as a 2 year old...I love visual aids...Don't forget the Delaware Park horses and trainers this year....remember...Barbaro...Afleet Alex ...Matz...Motion

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

makerfan — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:42:34 GMT

Empire Maker was a gorilla and would have won without the bad luck of a sore foot.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

rocketscientist — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:21:13 GMT

POINT GIVEN had a HUGE chance to win the Kentucky Derby. Five horses were abreast at the top of the stretch, and for some reason he just didn't kick into his groove. Even the best bowlers in the world miss a strike now-and-then. It could have been something small which turned out to be so big. I had money on him, too. Darn it!

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

flyinhome — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:54:31 GMT

jmark: i thought Alex had won the Derby also. Alex could have easily won, but unfortunately, when i watched the replays, Rose eased up on Alex. he thought he had it in the bag, and Alex, not having encouragment anymore, slowed down and lost momentum. Alex sure walked all over the feilds in the next two races. i would have liked to see him as an older horse.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Derby Boy — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:45:29 GMT

For my money it was Cavonnier who lost to Grindstone by a nose in the 1996 Derby. If he doesn't get hit in the face by another jockey's whip coming down the stretch he wins that race.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Matthew Wohlken — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:54:02 GMT

Easy Goer in a runaway----I think he and Smarty Jones are the best since "the Bid"......Easy Caught slop in the Derby---Easy Goer also should've won the BC Classic----were not for the Phipps/Shug team's disasterous decision to run him in the (then) 1 1/2 mi JC Gold Cup----he got a tough challenge from Cryptoclearance----and it took his edge off for the shorter Classic......

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Johnny — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:03:35 GMT

I certainly agree that Native Dancer was the greatest horse not to win the Kentucky Derby. It was the most shocking Derby upset ever, in my opinion.

Whenever I think of Native Dancer and the Derby, I also think of the horse that wasn't even entered in the race: the magnificent Man o'War.

re: How Did He Not Win The Derby?

Becky — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:09:00 GMT

I must admit that Afleet Alex was the first name that came to mind, but only because he's so recent. However, I think the answer is Alydar. He and Affirmed were so far and above all the other horses of their generation. Had Affirmed not been there, Alydar would have easily won the Derby...had Affirmed not been there in general, we'd have a different Triple Crown winner and an uncontested champion.

I also have to agree with your 1st poster. f there's no cut off date, Native Dancer is clearly the best ever Derby starter not to win the Run for the Roses.