Forego by the Numbers

re: Forego by the Numbers

John T — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 04:41:38 GMT

As we all watched the running of the 1973 Kentucky Derby when Secretariat ran the fasted 10 furlongs in the history of the race no one could have foresaw the big Hoss who run down the field that day would go on to give us precious memories of the ''Sport Of Kings''. Thank-You Forego for your weight defying moments and for Kelso before you and the 1918 Kentucky Derby winner before him Exterminator. Although we would love these magnificent animals to go on and do well at stud it does not always happen so let us remember them as ''Geldings'' who contributed well to the sport.

re: Forego by the Numbers

sceptre — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 03:20:25 GMT

Thanks for the reply, Byron...I may have left the wrong impression and wish to clarify by saying that I considered Forego, overall, to be a quite good specimen. I touted him highly to others following his unplaced effort in first start, attended his 1973 Derby, bet him, and clearly felt that he would defeat Secretariat in that race. Still believe that he was a better racehorse than Secretariat.

Re-Alan's comments on the Vet report received by Whiteley; if accurate, shame on Whiteley (and, perhaps, Mrs. Gerry) for ignoring it and allowing him to compete for another year. One could say that it worked out, but who knows what further arthritic issues the horse was left with. Weren't two HOY's enough; was it moral to risk him again? Certainly not an example of the horse coming first.

re: Forego by the Numbers

Byron Rogers — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:52:05 GMT

Sceptre,

Unfortunately we don't have any measurements of close relations to Forego. Hopefully in the coming weeks we will put together some interesting charts on the measurements taken. I agree some of the measurements are vague, but this is interesting nonetheless. It's also interesting to look at these in comparison to those published in Frank Mitchell's Racehorse Breeding Theories.

Byron

re: Forego by the Numbers

sceptre — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 16:58:49 GMT

I would have been more interested in reading what was your first idea...Nice to see Forego's measurements, but some of the landmarks are a bit vague and not easily duplicated by another. Buckpasser's would be more interesting, because visually I consider him near ideal...Forego, physically, was a rather atypical Forli who was a lovely, smooth, medium-sized (therefore somewhat enlarged) version of his forebear, Hyperion. Have you any notes on the size of Forego's dam, and her close relatives?

re: Forego by the Numbers

Bret Stossel — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:31:17 GMT

Love seeing this type of article. Can't wait to see the comparisons. Are there patterns to look for? I remember reading that when Jim Reno measured Secretariat for his life size bronze and the Quarter Horse, Dash For Cash, for his, there measurements were identical. Great stuff and fun to read. Thanks!

re: Forego by the Numbers

Byron Rogers — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:09:08 GMT

Keelerman,

We have these multiple measurements of Secretariat also. Interestingly there are multiple measurements of horses like Seattle Slew (age 3,4), Affirmed (2,3,4), Buckpasser (3,4) and Kelso (4,5) in the sheets we have here.

re: Forego by the Numbers

Keelerman — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:32:22 GMT

What an interesting post! Thank you for sharing!

For those who are interested, the 1974 American Racing Manual contains an interesting comparison -- created by Dr. Gilman -- that chronicles the physical development of Secretariat from October 1972 to October 1973. An excerpt from the Manual was posted on DRF.com in March 2012. If anyone wishes to read it, here is the link to the article:

www.drf.com/.../secretariat-hatton-1973-season

re: Forego by the Numbers

Jean in Chicago — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:07:07 GMT

Would love to see a comparison chart of those horses mentioned!

re: Forego by the Numbers

ThoroGreats — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:55:15 GMT

Wow, great stuff. Would be interesting to know what Forego weighed, as Gilman didn't list (or take) his weight. Would love to see Easy Goer's measurements if you can post them. Thanks

re: Forego by the Numbers

Alan Porter — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 14:55:42 GMT

Another interesting story of a vet and Forego came in the spring of his six-year-old career.

Sherill Ward, who had been training him, retired at the end of Forego's five-year-old season. Early the following year, prospective trainer, Frank Whiteley traveled to Florida with veterinarians Arthur Davidson and Alex Harthill, to inspect Forego and determine whether Forego's rather rickety legs would support is considerable frame through another season.

Following x-rays of Forego's near fore and off hind, the verdict was that there was no chance of getting Forego back into racing shape. Whiteley elected to take the shot anyway, and Forego earned a third successive Horse of the Year title.