Secretariat

[Hostile]

I am a huge horse racing fan. My Mom and I catch every race. Either together or on the phone. Her ringtone for me is "Call to Post," the trumpet call at the Kentucky Derby.

I checked my Mom out of the nursing home tonight and took her to see it.

Wonderful. Go see it.

Last thing, this is a link to the best sports article I have ever read. I posted it on this site a few years ago. Williams Nack's memoirs assisted in the making of this movie.

Big Red

 

[Avaj]

OT- Did you every watch Jockeys on Animal Planet? Best tv ever. Shame it didn't return this season.

Love horse racing as well. I bet it is a good movie just think they targeted the wrong audience for the film since it is Disney.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I am a huge horse racing fan. My Mom and I catch every race. Either together or on the phone. Her ringtone for me is "Call to Post," the trumpet call at the Kentucky Derby.

I checked my Mom out of the nursing home tonight and took her to see it.

Wonderful. Go see it.

Lat thing, this is a link to the best sports article I have ever read. I posted it on this site a few years ago. Williams Nack's memoirs assisted in the making of this movie.

Big Red

Fitting that he wrote that piece regarding one of the greatest ever. Fitting indeed.

 

[burmafrd]

I was lucky to be old enough to realize what Secretariat did at the time. I had never had any interest in horse racing before then, and frankly never had a whole lot afterwards. I remember watching the Belmont Stakes. To this day the comparable event live I cannot find. Because of the way the idiots at ABC did things I was unable to see the 1980 Olympic Hockey game vs the Russians. To me that might have been the only event that could have matched it.

Secretariat that day was simply the greatest racehorse that ever lived; that performance the greatest race ever run. Even the few horsemen that thought Seattle Slew was a great horse, or other olders ones that saw great horses in the past including Citation and Man O' War admit that on THAT day no other horse they ever saw could have beaten him.

His son Risen Star almost duplicated his father in 1986; he trailed and while coming hard could not quite win the Kentucky Derby; then dominated the Preakness, then won the Belmont by 12 in the second fastest time ever; second only to his father. Even though the jockey pulled up in the last 1/16 Risen Star could not have come within at best a second or so to his father. I do remember the announcer yelling in the stretch "He looks like his Daddy". That was the last horse race I ever watched. I only watched because Risen Star's father was Secretariat.

 

[Hostile]

1973 Kentucky Derby
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1973 Preakness Stakes

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1973 Belmont Stakes
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[TheCount]

You watch EVERY race? Aren't there a ton of races?

 

[burmafrd]

maybe a dozen that matter each year. ANd Horse racing has been in a slump for quite a while.

 

[justbob]

Thanks Hos --brought back some old memories when I was just a wee lad

 

[Faerluna]

What a beautiful article. Thanks for posting that.

 

[Hostile]

You watch EVERY race? Aren't there a ton of races?

I'm talking about the Breeders Cup and Triple Crown races and those leading up to the Derby.

 

[WarC]

That Belmont run is easily one the epic events in American sports history. Even people who don't watch horse racing know they're seeing something special.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phar_Lap

What do you think of this horse Hos? He's the Aussie Secretariat.

 

[TheCount]

I'm talking about the Breeders Cup and Triple Crown races and those leading up to the Derby.

Ah, I've always wanted to get into it but it strikes me as one of those sports gamblers and the rich are really capable of being a part of and I'm neither of those things.

 

[Hostile]

Ah, I've always wanted to get into it but it strikes me as one of those sports gamblers and the rich are really capable of being a part of and I'm neither of those things.

I grew up on a ranch. Horses are an automatic interest. I had two. My filly, Lacey, was sired by Easy Jet. She was a rocket on 4 legs and would have been slow compared to these other horses. I only had her to full speed one time and my eyes watered like mad.

I remember watching Secretariat run these races. I remember my eyes watering in a very different way watching him pull away and destroy Sham in the Belmont. If not for a glitch at the Preakness he would hold the record time for each track. He is still the only horse under 2 minutes at the Kentucky Derby. He broke the Belmont record by over 2 seconds and I thought my heart was going to explode.

When you grow up with this stuff in your blood it never leaves you.

 

[Hostile]

That Belmont run is easily one the epic events in American sports history. Even people who don't watch horse racing know they're seeing something special.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phar_Lap

What do you think of this horse Hos? He's the Aussie Secretariat.

I don't know what it is about chestnut colored thoroughbreds. Secretariat, Man O' War, and Phar Lap were all red horses. In fact, all 3 of them were called "Big Red" by those around them.

Phar Lap, Man O' War, and Citation are all legendary horses of the past whom I never got to see run but all of whom I have read about. I remember arguing with my friends that Seattle Slew was not greater than Secretariat. I remember arguing with an old cowboy from my home area that neither was Citation.

If there is a heaven I hope all these great horses get to race. I think Secretariat would prove to be the best horse ever. But I am very biased.

There is a movie about Phar Lap, but I have never seen it. I should.

 

[WarC]

If there is a heaven I hope all these great horses get to race. I think Secretariat would prove to be the best horse ever. But I am very biased.

I think so too, just because of those runs where he pulls 25 lengths ahead. Those horses seem so much like a human athlete, they have the same competitive spirit. An all-time race would bring out their best. Thats one of the things I find so fascinating about horse racing. It's right up there with the sweet science!

 

[burmafrd]

I cannot imagine ever seeing a horse that I think could have beaten Secretariat that day. Just not possible.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Thanks Hos --brought back some old memories when I was just a wee lad

When was that? The Preakness of 1912?

 

[DallasGirl50]

I saw Secretariat before he was put down and he was a magnificent animal. Beautiful. I cried when I heard he had to be put down. What an athlete.

 

[Hostile]

Part 1

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Part 2

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[VietCowboy]

I grew up on a ranch. Horses are an automatic interest. I had two. My filly, Lacey, was sired by Easy Jet. She was a rocket on 4 legs and would have been slow compared to these other horses. I only had her to full speed one time and my eyes watered like mad.

I remember watching Secretariat run these races. I remember my eyes watering in a very different way watching him pull away and destroy Sham in the Belmont. If not for a glitch at the Preakness he would hold the record time for each track. He is still the only horse under 2 minutes at the Kentucky Derby. He broke the Belmont record by over 2 seconds and I thought my heart was going to explode.

When you grow up with this stuff in your blood it never leaves you.

I saw my first Kentucky Derby this year (Boyfriend's family is from Louisville) and it was awesome. I picked Super Saver to win, and I was right! (Did not bet, though).