Bid, Book, and Beyond
It was 43 years ago on September 8 that Spectacular Bid won the Marlboro Cup in his first start against older horses. If you thought you knew the complete story of Bid and those who guided him through his Hall of Fame career you were mistaken. Jack Gilden’s new book “The Fast Ride” provides both the memorable and sordid details in revealing the untold story of one of the all-time great Thoroughbreds. Bid’s true greatness also is detailed here by yours truly through stats and recollections.~ Steve Haskin
Bid, Book, and Beyond
By Steve Haskin
I lived through the Spectacular Bid years. I covered his Preakness for Thoroughbred Record as a photographer and was at his Belmont, Marlboro Cup, Jockey Club Gold Cup vs. Affirmed, and walkover. I hung out with Buddy Delp after the Belmont, interviewed him on the phone at his home, and wrote several columns about the colt. I even visited Bid at Claiborne Farm and years later at Milfer Farm in Unadilla, New York.
Yes, I knew jockey Ronnie Franklin was a raw immature street kid with no experience and was being thrown into the fire too early. And I knew that trainer Buddy Delp’s braggadocio and occasional outbursts knew no limits. And I knew owner Harry Meyerhoff’s second wife Teresa was much younger than him and that they made for quite an odd couple in outward appearance. But they were all supporting players to the horse Delp called “the greatest horse ever to look through a bridle.”
However, I recently found out I only thought I lived through the Spectacular Bid years. Author Jack Gilden in his book “The Fast Ride: Spectacular Bid and the Undoing of a Sure Thing” convinced me I hadn’t. So now after reading the book I amend that statement by saying I existed through the Spectacular Bid years, witnessing only the performance of the lead character on stage and not knowing the full extent of what was happening behind the curtain. Yes, I cheered, marveled, and stood in appreciation at each bravura performance by this magnificent superstar. But offstage, the human frailties of the supporting cast went unnoticed, until now, more than four decades later. Although the book did not alter Spectacular Bid’s accomplishments in any way, it certainly altered the narrative of his story that is now being told for the first time.
“The Fast Ride” is not a typical biography of a horse, as was Peter Lee’s well-chronicled book on Spectacular Bid a few years ago, as it skimmed over a number of Bid’s races. What it is is a riveting book about how a horse with a fairly modest pedigree and price tag, ridden by a young inexperienced jockey not equipped emotionally for such a big stage and trained by a brash Maryland hardboot, can go on to become one the all-time greats despite the shortcomings and self-destructive actions of those around him.
Gllden went behind the scenes of “The Spectacular Bid show” and revealed the dark side of one of the greatest shows in racing history. He did make a number of detours, spending several pages on the background of supporting players like jockeys Angel Cordero and Jacinto Vasquez, which most racing fans are already familiar with. But this book is geared toward both racing fans and readers in general who would be interested in their backgrounds, as well as the backgrounds of many of the horsemen and horsewomen who had Bid pass through their hands and helped guide him toward his place in racing’s pantheon. In the end, we know who all the characters are, minor and major, and the roll they played in telling the complete story.
Gilden was fortunate that those close to Ron Franklin, who died in 2018 at age 58, were so revealing, especially Delp’s son Gerald , who is in poor health and was willing to strip away all the layers and disclose his own weaknesses and years of addiction, as well as the struggles of a vulnerable and immature Franklin. This refers to his and Franklin’s excessive drug use during and after the Bid years, which shockingly was supervised by Buddy Delp, who often partook in the rapidly growing ritual. This was a son by telling his story after all these years was freeing himself of his demons at the expense of his own father and an “adopted” brother who was taken into the family’s home.
Delp also was said to be a heavy drinker who could get mean while intoxicated. As Gilden wrote, “It got to the point where Gerald, who arrived at work at 5 a.m. every day, dreaded his father’s stumbling appearance at 8 or 9 because the old man was already reeking of booze and paranoia.”
Another invaluable voice in the book was Cathy Rosenberger, who was Gilden’s eyes and ears into Buddy Delp’s organization. She was able to reveal a great deal about Franklin when he first arrived at Pimlico, knowing very little about working around horses. She also introduced him to a number of key sources in the book.
Gilden comes at you with machine gun-like swiftness, shooting holes in all the misconceptions we have had about Spectacular Bid’s career in regard to the people who helped orchestrate it. However, none of their failings affected Bid’s performances on the track.
The author takes us to Belmont Park on the morning of the Belmont Stakes after Delp was informed by groom Mo Hall that Bid had stepped on a safety pin in his stall. He attempts to put the puzzle together as to what transpired that entire day and the uncertainties that followed regarding whether they should run the colt. We still can’t be 100 percent sure to what the extent the infamous safety pin incident affected the colt’s performance and Franklin’s fragile psyche in the race, but Gilden paints as clear a picture as possible. Bid would wind up going after an 80-1 longshot early in the race and never looked like the horse who won the Derby and Preakness, as he had little left in the stretch, finishing third to Peter Pan winner Coastal.
Let me interject here my own discussions with Delp regarding the race and its aftermath: I remember when Delp eventually broke the news of the pin to the press he was pretty much branded a liar, and, while he understood their skepticism, he said his mother “cried like a baby” at the accusations. Even long after the race Delp would tear up and become emotional when discussing his decision to tell Franklin about the safety pin, which he felt affected his ride. However, many still scoff at the safety pin excuse.
Delp did tell me that after returning to Maryland from the Belmont, he called noted Kentucky veterinarian, Alex Harthill, who told him what to do about the foot, and said if there was no improvement in seven days he’d have to come to Maryland. Seven days after the Belmont Bid seemed fine, but the next day the colt was dead lame.
When Harthill arrived, he used a miniature plane to remove little bits of the hoof at a time. When he noticed a black spot embedded deep in the hoof he bore into it with an electrical drill.
Delp recalled, “Suddenly this thick black stuff starts shooting out of there like a fountain. It was completely infected. 
Doc looked up at me said, ‘Hey Bud, where are all those sonofabitches who called you a liar?’ He told me if we had left it alone much longer he likely would have lost the foot, and possibly worse.”
According to the trainer, after Harthill’s drilling procedure, he then had blacksmith Jack Reynolds fly in and fit Bid with a special piece of aluminum on his shoe. Delp said he fed him gelatin to build up the bone and medicated the coronet band to stimulate blood circulation and help the hoof grow back.
A little over two months after the Belmont, Bid returned to the races, winning an allowance race at Delaware Park by 17 lengths in track record time with new jockey Bill Shoemaker aboard. A great horse was about to grow into a legend.
One other note about the controversial and often volatile Harthill, who is vividly portrayed in the book — according to Gilden he had treated Bid before the Belmont, but had to sneak into the track in the trunk of a car because he was banned from the premises.
One of the most compelling parts of the book was the ongoing feud between Franklin and Cordero that resulted in fisticuffs in the jocks room. Cordero knew how to get into your head, and Franklin, still an undisciplined teenager, opened the door wide for him and then tried to close it the only way a kid growing up in a tough neighborhood knew how.
We also learn a great deal more about Harry Meyerhoff than we knew, especially in regard to replacing Franklin following the Belmont. According to Gilden, Meyerhoff blamed Franklin for Bid’s defeat, feeling he was too fearful of Cordero during the race, and his reluctance to be associated with a jockey who was a known drug abuser, even though Meyerhoff and Teresa were recreational drug users themselves. The last thing Meyerhoff wanted was for the scrutiny into Franklin’s use of drugs to eventually trace to him and Teresa.
But the main storyline of the book in addition to Bid was the self-destruction of two human beings, one of whom had the skills to be one of the top riders in the country, but followed those he trusted into the deepest abyss and was never able to get out. As a result he faded into obscurity, as did Gerald Delp, who might have become a top trainer following in his father’s footsteps. Instead it was those footsteps that led him astray, resulting in continued drug use, two failed marriages, and serious financial trouble. Gilden described it as “the father who had engineered the son’s metamorphosis from child to addict.”
I don’t know Gilden, but in addition to his crisp writing style, it is obvious he has the knack of making people comfortable enough that they are willing to open up to him and tell him things even he wasn’t prepared for. You could almost feel the book coming to life for him as he sat there listening to them ripping off the band-aids exposing the under belly of the Spectacular Bid story.
For those who don’t know or cannot appreciate the true greatness of Bid, let us deviate from the world of literature and into straight fact, with a personal touch added.
Spectacular Bid won Grade I stakes on the lead and he won coming from 10 lengths back. He was the ultimate racing machine and proved it at ages 2, 3, and 4. Following two defeats early on at age 2, he won 24 of his next 26 starts, with his only two defeats coming at 1 1/2 miles, which included the safety pin incident. He ran seven furlongs in a near-world-record 1:20 flat and 1 1/4 miles in a world-record (on dirt) 1:57 4/5, a time which has not been equaled in 42 years. He broke seven track records and equaled another at seven different tracks and at distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. In addition to the World’s Playground Stakes, in which he ran seven furlongs in a blazing 1:20 4/5 over a dead racetrack, believed to be the fastest seven furlongs ever run by a 2-year-old, he ran 1 1/8 miles in a track-record 1:45 4/5 at Hollywood Park and a track record 1:46 1/5 at Arlington Park, both carrying 130 pounds, and 1:46 3/5 at Belmont Park as a 3-year-old, defeating older horses. He also ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40 2/5 over a slow track at Hollywood Park carrying 132 pounds.
In all, Spectacular Bid won at 15 different racetracks in nine different states, and carried 130 pounds or more to victory five times, while rattling off 12-race and 10-race winning streaks. It is the only time in memory that has been accomplished. In his only other defeat at 1 1/2 miles, he was beaten by the previous year’s Triple Crown winner Affirmed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup after being forced to miss his prep in the Woodward Stakes due to a virus and getting a questionable ride from Bill Shoemaker, who broke a step slowly and allowed Affirmed to crawl on the lead in a four-horse field. After being passed by Coastal on the inside, Bid battled back and tried hard to catch Affirmed, but was beaten three-quarters of a length.
As his coat lightened as a 4-year-old, he was like a ghostly figure hurtling down one stretch after another in isolated splendor. With his head held high and his powerful legs stretching across the racing universe he not only went undefeated in nine starts in 1980, there was never a horse in front of him at the eighth pole.
Bid, however, had been suffering from a nagging sesamoid problem that was discovered after the January 5 Malibu Stakes and was present throughout his entire undefeated 4-year-old campaign. Daily tubbings and Butazolidan helped, but following his victory in the Amory Haskell Handicap under 132 pounds, Shoemaker noticed he didn’t feel 100% right. Delp just wanted to get him to the Jockey Club Gold Cup to close out his career, and continued treating him and making sure he was walking sound. But first came the Woodward Stakes, which wound up being run in a rare walkover when Bid was the only horse entered in the race. Delp instructed Bill Shoemaker to just have him cruise around the track and let him get a good work no matter how long it took him. His priority was protecting the horse in order to make the Gold Cup.
But Shoemaker, despite never fully asking him to run at any point, still allowed Bid to close each of his final two quarters in a mind-boggling :24 1/5. Horses rarely come home their last quarter that fast in a normal race going 1 1/4 miles, never mind closing their last two quarters that fast running against no one. By running his mile and a quarter in 2:02 2/5, faster than previous Hall of Fame Woodward winners Buckpasser, Kelso, and Sword Dancer, Bid re-aggravated his sesamoid injury, which forced his retirement.
Bid remained a major part of Delp’s life until the day he died, as he would retreat to his den, sit in his easy chair, and look up at a vision that would brighten his day. There above him was the face that became the focus of his life for three years. Wherever Delp went, from Florida to California to Illinois, he would take the painting of Bid.
“It’s a head shot of him looking out of his stall, and he’s pricking his ears,” Delp said 20 years later back in 1999. “I look at that painting every day and see that familiar left eye looking back at me. That’s just the way I remember him every morning when I got to the barn. It’s as if it was 20 years ago and he’s looking at me, waiting for his morning donut. He wanted that donut and in fact demanded it. He loved the powdered sugar.”
Reading the book sparked my own memories…
I remember photographing him at the Preakness on assignment for the Thoroughbred Record. With my future wife Joan positioned on the outside rail and me on the photographer’s stand in the infield, we watched him striding out so powerfully as he whizzed by us.”
I also thought back to being in Joan’s office (when she was public relations coordinator for NYRA) overlooking the finish line at Belmont Park watching Bid complete his historic walkover. Eight days later we were married.
In 1998, Joan and I went to visit The Bid at Milfer Farm in Unadilla, N.Y., along with our then 14-year-old daughter, Mandy. He no longer bore even the slightest resemblance to that charcoal gray 3-year-old with the star on his forehead. But he still held his head high with pride, and when he looked at you, that fire and spirit of his youth still shone through. He was Spectacular Bid, and he still knew it. And you knew it.
Milfer Farm owner, Dr. Jon Davis, told us at the time, “I still get goose bumps standing next to him.”
As did I that day at Milfer Farm, seeing him interact so playfully with my daughter. I have a photo album I can open, with photos of Mandy and Bid, and show it to her. And I can tell her, “You remember these pictures of you with this magnificent white horse named Spectacular Bid? Well, his trainer once called him the greatest horse ever to look through a bridle. It was quite a preposterous comment at the time. But who’s to say he wasn’t right?”
Yes, Delp could be outrageous in some of his comments and some of his actions and those close to him knew it all too well.
As Delp said, “I never once blew my own horn. I only blew the horse’s horn. But, hell, he ran a lot faster than I talked.”
But Delp also knew how to listen, just as he had listened to Spectacular Bid. What the horse told him can be found in the pages of the history books.
In Gilden’s new fascinating book Delp is portrayed in many ways and you can make of him what you wish — a Hall of Fame trainer who was blessed with the horse of a lifetime, someone who could be brazen and insolent, or someone whose actions in his own home were darker than anyone knew.
“The Fast Ride” also strips Ronnie Franklin clean to the bone, unveiling a troubled, vulnerable, immature, but talented young rider who like many children in their fantasies had hopped aboard a beautiful rocking horse and was able to make it go faster and faster until it seemed out of control. But in Franklin’s case that rocking horse was real and it was Franklin who would be out of control.
Secretariat died in 1989, then Alydar in 1990, Forego in 1997, Affirmed in 2001, Seattle Slew in 2002, and The Bid in 2003. Just like that they were all gone, and with them the end of racing’s golden era. We will never see the likes of Spectacular Bid again, in what he accomplished at 2, 3, and 4.
Franklin, Delp, and Meyerhoff are also gone, but thanks to Jack Gilden and his quest to unlock the true story behind an equine legend we were able to find a silent voice waiting to shout to the world in Gerald Delp, who could have uttered Ishmael’s closing line in Moby Dick: “And I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
Photos courtesy of Maryland Jockey Club, Milt Toby/Blood-Horse, Bob Coglianese, and Steve Haskin. Steve will be on vacation next with the Askin Haskin column returning Sept. 26
Once again a great article on Bid, Steve. I always knew he was the best racehorse I ever had the pleasure of watching but after reading Jack’s book I realized that he was even greater than I thought. His name fit him perfectly. He was spectacular and I’m so happy I was able to visit him numerous times at Milfer. I too would get goosebumps standing next to him. I really miss that big guy.
I got to meet the Bid at Claiborne when we would visit. Somewhere in my old photos he’s in the background as I’m standing with Secretariat. Those were the mid-80s, and there were so many incredible stallions there at the time. Bid wasn’t pure white at the time – more like a flea-bitten gray, but his magnificence shone like a spotlight. My heart was always foremost with Red, but the Bid commanded attention. Wish I had taken more photos.
Wow Steve that was an amazing read! As usual. I actually am currently reading Jack Gildens books. Just getting started.
After finishing the book and having a couple of days to think about it, I’ll make a few comments. It was an interesting book and well-written. I’m glad that I read it. Thanks to Steve Haskin for telling us about it. Author Jack Gilden really put a lot of work into it with many in-person interviews and plenty of research. A few people don’t come out looking so good in the book. Obviously, Bud Delp. But, also Angel Cordero. Surprisingly, at least to me, Andy Beyer is not portrayed very well in the book. Andy Beyer is not named on the Author’s list of personal interviews. It makes me wonder if Beyer was one of the people that refused to be interviewed for the book. Ronnie Franklin seems like a guy that was a natural size to be a jockey and athletic enough to be a success. However, too much came to him way too soon and he was probably too young to handle it. He developed bad habits that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Two glaring omissions from the book: #1- where are the pictures? The only 2 pictures are the blurry shot of “The Bid” on the front cover and one of the author on the inside jacket at the back. It would have been nice to see a picture of Harry and Teresa Meyerhoff. #2- Bud Delp is said to have instructed jockeys to hold back the horses they were riding, basically race-fixing, but when mentioning Jacinto Vasquez several times in the book, there’s no mention of his own 1-year suspension for trying to bribe another jockey, nor of the involvement of a couple of the biggest names in the sport who were investigated in the race-fixing scandal in the ’70s. Maybe Mr. Gilden is saving all of that for another book. “The Fast Ride” is a good book with some “shocking” details.
Jack Gilden confirmed the “safety pin story” with a couple of sources. But, is that what got “The Bid” beat in the 1979 Belmont? That certainly could have been part of it. But, I’ve re-watched the race a few times and I think that the race tactics used by Franklin were an equal cause. Bud Delp instructed Ronnie Franklin to “Take ’em away” which meant to go to the lead. But, 80-1 longshot Gallant Man went to the lead and Spectacular Bid may have wasted all his energy running him down. “The Bid” was running well enough to get to the lead, but didn’t have enough left to hold off race winner Coastal or even 2nd place finisher Golden Act. Did Franklin misunderstand Delp’s instructions? Might Spectacular Bid have won that Belmont if they had only waited for the 80-1 Gallant Man to come back to the field instead of taking up the chase on the backstretch? I think that “The Bid” would have been right there at the finish if they’d have waited. Pure speculation on my part.
Steve, just now getting around to reading this.
I clearly recall the safety pin incident at the Belmont. I was devastated to hear that something as small as a safety pin resulted in The Bid losing the race and the Crown. I recall being angry that someone was so careless as to leave a safety pin in a stall with a horse or was it an accident and even thought that someone intentionally jammed that safety pin into his hoof.
The drama of human frailties plays out even in the microcosm of the racing world.
I’m always whining about the short fields in Stakes races these days. Well, I just watched a replay of the 1979 Preakness on ABC which is referred to in “The Fast Ride”. Only 4 other horses lined up to face Spectacular Bid that day. “The Bid” went off at 1-9 against those 4 rivals. I think he had already beat all 4 of them in The Derby. “The Bid” won very easily as we all know. After seeing his Derby and Preakness wins, it’s hard to believe that Spectacular Bid wouldn’t win The Belmont even though I already know the result. That Preakness wasn’t one of Angel Cordero’s greatest moments. But, my biggest takeaway from watching that replay was the announcers. Jim McKay and Howard Cosell. I always enjoyed Cosell who was unlike any announcer or commentator that we had ever heard before. But, I was reminded of what a terrific announcer Jim McKay was. A real pro. Good at whichever event they assigned him to.
RE: Iowa Cradle Stakes, 2yr. olds, (100K), at Prairie Meadows, Saturday, Oct. 1st.
Tyler’s Tribe (by Sharp Azteca) is undefeated in four career starts, with an average winning margin of 13 open lengths. His Brisnet Speed Figures have increased steadily, (74, 89, 92, 97) and he’ll likely continue that pattern in this upcoming race.
What’s interesting about the Iowa Cradle Stakes, the six horses entered are all geldings. I can’t remember ever seeing a 2yr. old race comprised entirely of geldings.
In the event Tyler’s Tribe should win the Iowa Cradle Stakes, (which he should), I’d like to see the connections point him to an open stakes race at a major track in his next outing. He is certainly one to watch moving forward, IMO.
The legend Stradavarious has been officially retired.
Best wishes for a long and happy life and a successful stud career.
I will miss him on the track but it was time.
Did Society signal her arrival on the big stage with her performance in yesterday’s Cotillion? She didn’t just win. She blew her rivals away. If Joel Rosario was riding Society, I would have paid more attention to her. I’m not completely surprised. Steve Asmussen always has his trainees ready for their best on the big days. John Goggin reports below that Society earned a 100 BSF for her winning run. If she moves forward off of that she could be hard to catch on November 5th. The Distaff is looking really competitive this year. A nice mix of younger and older horses.
Don’t forget about Echo Zulu. A big win after being reunited with Ricardo Santana could have her going to the Breeders Cup Distaff or maybe even the BC Filly & Mare Sprint. Steve Asmussen has a barn full of talent. How many Breeders Cup races does he win this year? Well, Steve don’t turf. And if Epicenter runs in the Classic, he may be running for 2nd. His best chances are probably the 2 Juvenile Dirt races on Friday and the Sprint & Distaff on Saturday. I’d set the over/under at 1 1/2 and bet the over.
Speaking of the Breeders Cup, I’m one guy that loves the 2-day event. They will offer 5 BC races on Friday and 9 more on Saturday.
The Breeders Cup people love themes. They tried having Friday be “Lady’s Day”. Now, they have the Juvenile races on Friday. I don’t like either of those “themes”. The Distaff belongs on Saturday, and they smartly moved it back there. But, the BC Juvenile also should be on Saturday IMO. There might be a Derby winner among those youngsters. I also think they should beef up the Friday card with 2 more Breeders Cup races. A Juvenile Dirt Sprint and bring back the BC Marathon on Dirt. They always have a “marathon” somewhere on the undercard anyway. A Juvenile Dirt Sprint could be a place to go for Gulfport and Damon’s Mound. And move the BC Dirt Mile to Friday.
Count me among those that prefer the original one big day of seven races….sprints, dirt miles, ladies turf races just thin out The Classic, and Turf races, which have far less speed ( Classic) as well as less contentious Turf races ( without fillies)….sometimes less….is more!
I’m not sure if my post will go thru, so I made another…. I’ll name six fillies, that were prominent in the 6 fur Sprint: Very Subtle, Safely Kept, Xtra Heat, Desert Stormer, Honest Lady, Soviet Problem….there are also many fillies that competed in the 12 fur Turf—Speed and Stamina are equal in both, when they added more races they weakened the races, as a whole…and the Dirt Mile gutted the Classic, of speed!….It’s why I liked the one day, seven race format— because it had better fields!
Unlike the 6 fur Sprint, and 12 fur Turf…the 10 fur Classic requires STRENGTH, so by all means have a Disraff and a Classic. But 6 fur Sprint and 12 fur Turf used to be stronger fields, BECAUSE they included fillies! We dont need filly sprinter or filly Turf of dirt mile ….less was more!
Here is my take on the Pennsylvania Derby… Baffert trained Taiba beautifully for this race and had him ready for a big effort in which he produced. Nobody in that field was going to beat him yesterday. Zandon got a great ride by Rosario with a ground saving and patience ride along the rail. I know that the trainer and rider of Cyberknife say he did not like the track (I am not sure of that with especially the way he finished)… They also said they wanted him a little bit more forward in the race but he was in about the same position in the Haskell. I think the jockey made a mistake of not getting him to the rail when he had a chance on the backstretch and saving ground but instead he had him wide through out the race and the jockey seemed a little hesistant at the top of the stretch on were he wanted to put him. I would definitely not run him in the classic or mile on Breeders Cup day. I would rest him and maybe look at the Clark Handicap 1 1/8 mile ($750,000) on November 25th for his next race. I will give him time to regroup and with the proper works (thought his works before the Penn Derby could have been a little quicker ) He should improve as a 4 year old. If Taiba comes out of the race good Baffert wants to take him to the Classic against Flightline and LIG but it will probably be futile ,especially against Flightline, which is fine but probably wants to finish ahead of Epicenter and then have strong claim for 3 year old of the year honors. One more thing and most here may not agree but I would actually like Rich Strike to be in the Classic. If all the runners show up in the Classic as expected it should be a lively pace and if his jockey shows patience ( I thought his jockey moved him too quick in the Travers and he flattened out a little in the stretch) he may pick up 3rd or 4th. His works though for the Lucas have been a little “pokey” though for my liking but he loves Churchhill Downs..
Give SO a break Lukas!
Agree… She is just going through the motions right now.
If you’re referring to SECRET OATH I agree with you that she needs a break. Unfortunately, Lukas has never been great at giving horses a break – he just keeps going and going – because he doesn’t read those signs very well. She got blitzed the other day, and I think she’s simply going in the wrong direction right now, so I’m not optimistic at this point that she will even hit the board in the Breeders Cup Distaff.
Beyers….
Taiba 108
Society 100
Taiba was sent fast, out of there, but Mike got him switched off nicely….he got in a brief picket, and swung widest, had they stayed down there they win by six. But Mike knew what he had! That’s a man pushing sixty!
I just saw on TVG that BB said that Taiba will be coming for Flightline though he doesn’t know how close they will get. At least we know that it won’t be a “walkover”.
Tiaba is the real deal, really should have three Grade 1 if properly ridden in Haskell. He is the top threat to Flightline but unfortunately will be so far back his late kick won’t matter, unless LIG goes on a suicide mission.
Cheerleader! And….. no chance he can even warm up FL.
Jeff – how would a jock know how a horse should be ridden when said horse has only had a couple races under his belt? You’re right, his recent performance shows he’s the real deal. IMO Taiba is not that not far behind Epicenter. When they run head to head we’ll figure that out. And I believe it’s obvious as the sun rising every day that 3yo’s usually can’t hold a candle to the older division.
On the topic of Steve Haskin’s column about Spectacular Bid and the new book “The Fast Ride”, I just watched the original ABC broadcast of the 1979 Florida Derby. It was so long ago that I didn’t believe author Jack Gilden’s description of the race. Well, I was wrong. Young Ronnie Franklin gave “The Bid” one wild ride. The first thing that I thought of was “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”. Fans of Disneyland will get that one. Eddie Arcaro on the ABC telecast didn’t pull any punches in his post-race analysis of Franklin’s ride. “The Bid” was so good that he won easily despite the adventure that Franklin treated him to. In the book, Franklin is said to have blamed the wild trip on the other riders ganging up on him. Maybe that’s partly true. But, I think that when you have a horse that is so much better than the others, the best policy is to stay on the outside in the clear.
More on the book when I finish it. Probably late tomorrow or Monday. I was slowed by handicapping the Parx card.
And then after staying inside in the Florida race, he takes Bid widest both turns, in the Bluegrass, if I recall correctly…I still don’t think the Belmont was Ronnie’s fault, I still think Bid was a tired horse, I was at Schwanie’s, having lunch..and struck up a conversation with Art Sherman…he said the distance didn’t get Chrome beat, in the Belmont, nor was it the hoove injury….Chrome was a tired horse, and he and Victor both knew it… but Shoe fit The Bid! Had they replaced Ronnie, after that Florida ride, I think Bid wins the Triple Crown, Shoe was “meant” to ride Bid.
People who weren’t around, then—wonder what it was like, when Bid ran….it was like this: two really good three year olds…will be 6-1, in the Classic, if what’s his name is in the gate…..was impressed today, by Taiba, and those massive hind quarters..
The hindquarters come courtesy of Flatter. Needmore Flattery was a monster in her element.
I still can’t believe what a huge favorite Taiba was. He went off at 7-5. Zandon 3-1 and Cyberknife 4-1. I wasn’t surprised that he won. Just that he was so heavily favored. But, the bettors at Parx have been pounding the favorites all day. Hopefully, we’ll see Taiba in the Breeders Cup Classic despite BB’s glowing comments about Flightline. I understand that the owners have to do the best thing for themselves. Afterall, it’s a business. An expensive one at that. But, I think most of us fans want to see the best horses in the biggest races.
I was wrong about Adare Manor. Maybe she’s just a Santa Anita horse. She is a really beautiful looking filly though.
Society ran away with it.
Green Up a respectable 4th. Effort got her 56,000.
Lynda, remember the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle”? That’s Parx racing results.
“Hey diddle, diddle!
The cat and the fiddle,
The fish jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon”
Hello Davids, yes I remember the nursery rhyme.
I had a big book with dozens of nursery rhymes and a record (33&1/3 ) of rhymes.
I am very impressed with quality and success of Gun Runner’s first raving crops.
Read a comment today from someone in a FB group that she was going to be keeping her eye on the Gun Runner / Tapit crosses.
It is early of course but it certainly looks so far that Gunny nicks with most every line.
On another note…poor Zandon seems to be destined to be the best man in his races much like Hot Rod Charlie.
Will be very curious to see how Taiba does against Epicenter and Flightline should they meet up in the Classic.
It will be the best of the best and Taiba might not have as easy a race as he had today.
Watched most all the coverage for Queen Elizabeth. No one but no one can present pagentry and tradition like the British and Scotland. Most of the time I was in tears and when Emma, her Fell pony was waiting at Wndsor and Her Majesty scarf was on her daddle, I just lost it.
I can genuinely say that I have never had the respect and admiration for anyone as I have had for the Queen with the possible exception of our President George Washington. Just a bit of trivia, President Washington wrote his Farwell Letter to the Nation the same fay as Her Majesty’s funeral. A good friend of mine from my childhood said it best I think. Queen Elizabeth reminded us of our Mothers and Grandmothers. It was end of an era and one of last few still alive from that era , the likes of which we will never see again in our lifetime and probably forever.
H.
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Lynda, your friend is spot on about Queen Elizabeth II, she does/did remind us of our mothers and grandmothers. Friends of mine think the same as well.
Yes, poor Zandon, he’s always there but is somewhat disadvantaged by speed favoring tracks. Churchill, Keeneland and to a certain extent Belmont suit his still of running at other tracks he’s rushed a bit which detracts from his finish. Even so, a long rest now and I think we’ll have a much stronger individual as a 4 year old. Zandon does look, from internet only, as though he needs to put more weight on.
Around half of Gun Runners stakes winners come from A.P. Indy line mares which is a bonus, although nothing from Bernardini mares as yet. Stamina doubling up. Gun Runner’s second crop is devoid of a stakes winner thus far which is a little puzzling. Have you been watching the sales? The Constitution colts were my pick of the yearlings.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be run on October 2 and prior to weather/posts I like: Alpinista, Vadeni and the outsider Al Hakeem. Outside posts are a distinct disadvantage. Take note.
Hello Davids, you are correct about Gunny’s second racing crop. Have no explanation for it, just hope it is not a trend. The yearlings are still bringing good prices. He is private treaty now and I read he will be shuttling to Australia of all places.
Yes I do follow the auctions up to a point. IMHO, however, no two year colt is worth these prices high figures to over a mil8on dollars. One has to be a billionaire like Zeydan or be a China Horse Club or have a ownership list that is as long as my arm to afford them. I think it hurts the sport. Reading that Hronis want to race Flightline at 5 does not surprise me. The brothers buys horses with the intention of racing the horse. The co-owners however are the ones kicking back on that idea. He is another horse whose racing career will come to a screeching halt because he is too valuable as a stud to continue racing.That is why I was cheering for Greeen Up in the Cotillion. She sold at auction for 10K though that was probably to a pin hooker. The filly is a Virginia bred from a very small operation close to Winchester (top of the Shenanndoah Valley). Her damsire is not well known outside of Virginia of course but he did produce a number of successful horses on the track.
A friend posted a photo of American Pharoh that she took a few weeks ago when she visited Ashford. He is thin…can count almost every rib and his coat was dull. Probably the reason he did not shuttle this year. That is the sad side of these 75 plus milion dollar stud deals..to get that ROI these stallions are getting worn out in the breeding shed.
It is being reported that the Queen Consort is going to take over the Royale Stud. King Charles lll really has no interest in horse racing but he said to be a traditionalist so since horse racing , The Royal Ascot and the Windsor Horseshow are all family traditions, I hope he continues to support them as well as Her Majesty’s conservation efforts for breeds that are on the endangered list.
We fo not know how much of the latest hurricane we will be getting. There are several different scenarios as to its path. There is also a very g9od chance it could be a Cat 4 or 5 when it hits Florida. That will be devastating if it is a 4 or 5. Our local meteorologist said weeks ago that the reason the hurricane season hadn’t amounted to much was because of desert dust storms in the Saudi peninsula which have now abated. We are having at the moment a cool start to Autumn. Temps at night are down into the 50’s..almost sweater weather. Relieved that our local hay farmers did manage to get up a very good crop of fall hay. We have three hay seasons here (spring, summer and fall).
Thanks for the info on the upcoming Arc. I will check them out.
One more tidbit. Colonial Downs had a very successful turf season. The cards were full. Aiden brought a few down from Saratoga to enter incasethere were last minute scratches but there were not any. Still think Colonial Downs would be perfect for European style turf racing (like Kentucky Downs ).
At this stage the Southern Hemisphere mares are doing the traveling but should the progeny of Gun Runner take off in Australia they will definitely shuttle Gun Runner. Gun Runner has a beautiful pedigree and most importantly for Australian breeders there is no Danehill blood there. Moreover, early precocity and stakes winning 2 year olds are predominant requisite here. Not keen on shuttling valuable sires.
I know it’s unpopular but if Flightline was my horse I wouldn’t be racing him at 5 years, not so much the return from stud fees, I just fear the dirt surface wear and tears only with the tight angles on knees and ankles. I just wouldn’t gamble with a horse that comes along once a century.
Stay safe with the weather forecast you’ve mentioned above, life is full of fear these days with the weather/climate constant. They are predicting a wet summer in Australia so hopefully, that comes to fruition. It’s the wildlife and livestock that is devastated the most by bushfires. People usually avoid danger but for most animals it’s a death trap.
Davids, rhe report I read was that he will be shuttling.
Anyway, I am of the opinion that shuttling is hard on these stallions, not because of the travel but because they are basically being used for breeding year round. Yes, they do get about 8 weeks off between seasons but live coverb breeding takes a lot out of these stallions.
Even horses in a natural environment do not breed year round Mares do not start cycling until April and stop by usually September. Because of the desire to have a foal born as close to January 01, the mares are given hormones and put under lights for human convenience. Did you know that the fertility rate for Thoroughbreds is lower than horses bred during the natural cycle.
I know of and visited a large Arabian horse farm in Paris , Kentucky. The owner of the farm was part owner of a very successful Polish line racing Arabian. The stallion shuttled to Kentucky and was there for two years. That I can see. But a 240 mare book from February to June then shuttl8ng halfway around the world to breed over two hundred mares is ridiculous in my opinion.
I do not know why Americsn Pharoah is so ribby and his coat has lost its bloom and his muscles have lost definition but I truly think that it was the result of the shuttling and is probably why he is not shuttling this year.
As to Flightline, in my opinion, he will not come back at 5 because of a very lucrative stud deal.
The Hronis brothers feel that if he is healthy there is no reason not to race him at 5.
And I am going to respectfully disagree about the wear and tear.
This might tick some people off..but if Baffert or Lukas was the trainer I would agree because they both trains hard and fast. But not Flightlines trainer.
Anyway, not something I am going to lose sleep over. Just chalk it up to the way the game is played in the United States now. It is all about the stud deal…breed to breed, not breed to race.
Lynda, in The Blood-Horse and TDN on July 19, 2022 they both claim “Three Chimneys is exploring the Southern Hemisphere market with its top sire, Gun Runner, without physically shuttling this year’s leading second-crop sire overseas.” Things May have changed since then but I hope not.
Yes, the over-serving by shuttle stallions is excessive now, when it started, shuttling, a book of 50 mares was regarded as the max. They claim their reproductive methods have improved so much since then that stallions can take the excess load these days. Well, that’s a judgement rather than a scientific opinion.
That’s interesting about the ‘natural method’ being more successful in getting a mare in foal. I always felt the lights/hormones could only do so much as remarkable as often are.
Hopefully, American Pharoah is given a few years off or stopped altogether.
Lynda, I agree about the Queen reminding of us of our mothers and grandmothers. My mother, who nearly 99 and still living, could easily be the Queen’s sister — similar in appearance and unfailingly gracious and kind (even with five children!). I hope she has as easy a passage out of life as Queen Elizabeth. And I’m ironically pleased to hear that Camilla will take over the Royal Stud — back in the 1980s we all thought of her as The Other Woman! (which she was, but she should have been the First woman, Diana notwithstanding).
Hope the hurricane lands only gentle blows (and a little rain) in your area. The west coast of Florida seldom seems to get a direct hit (I watch that area because I spent a third of my childhood there), but the rest of the Gulf Coast doesn’t need a bad storm either. Be safe.
Hi Ms Blacktype.
The Queen Consort evidently loves horse racing. She was an equestrian back in the day.
Her Majesty had such a depth of knowledge about Thoroughbreds , bloodlines and racing that they will be big shoes to fill.
She last rode Emma back in July before she left for Balmoral.
Her last week’s were bittersweet. One of her Corgis died (rhe oldest one) died shortly after she arrived at Balmoral.
She was so pleased that one of her fillies won her race the day before she passed.
My Mom was 96 when she passed. She had live in care givers because of two hip fractures within a year. We were able to keep her in her home until the Tuesday before her death on Thursday. Her sodium plummeted totally unexpectedly and she went into cogestive heart failure. I had made plans to leave late Thursday night and travel to Virginia on AMTRACK. Got the call around 12 noon on Thursday that she had coded and since she had a do not resuscitate order they called me since I was her medical POA. Hardest decision I ever made in my life. I could hear the doctors trying to bring her back. Did not want her to die alone so I over rode the DNR. She lived for about two hours, enough time for a close family member to arrive at hospital and for her immediate family to speak to her one last time. I had spoken to her hospitaler just before I spoke to my Mom and asked her if she was in pain or suffering and her response was no, that she was dying and would not be able to hear me. Oh what a witch, wanted to reach through the phone and smack her. Anyway, aftermy daughter and 2 grand daughters spoke to her on the phone she passed away peacefully. The charge nurse told me that she rarely sees anyone pass as peacefully and serenely as my Mom.
I so hope your Mom, when the time comes passes as gently as mine. It made losing her so much easier. Like The Queen dhe was in total control of all he’d f aunties, only had mobility issues and just suddenly went into congestive heart failure.
As to the hurricane , we do not know yet what course it will take into Florida. I am a little concerned because my family lives in Florida and both grandaughters attend the Unversity of Florida and live in Gainesville. Also have several good friends who live there.
Big worry here will tree toppling high winds. I live in a very rural area in NE Georgia. Hurricanes and tornadic thunderstorms ( we are in a mini tornado alley) are just the course of nature here. All we can do is be prepared as best we can, expect the worst and hope for the best. Luckily flooding is not a big concern here.
Correction…in total control of all faculties.
What a beautiful, heartbreaking story about your mother, Lynda. It really is true that the dying often have moved beyond interaction with us for hours and even days before they go. I experienced that when my mother in law died. Not like those pretty deaths in the movies, but often absolutely peaceful.
I went to grad school at UF and toppling trees will definitely be an issue there. And I go to Asheville often and remember people complaining months later about a September hurricane decimating the place. So I understand your concern! Get your bottled water in and batten down the hatches.
About the queen’s horses: so glad she went out with a winner!
Ms Blacktype, we are closer to the Greenville, South Carolina dappled than the one in Atlanta.
Greenville Fox Weather gave us a heads up last night that if the storm continues on the projected path that can expect some severe weather (severe thunderstorms and pop up tornadoes that could be on the ground for a long time).
If that develops that is actually of greater concern to me than the heavy rains and gusting winds.
I have been in four tornadoes (one here and three in Virginia) and two of tornadoes in Virginia and the one here resulted in property 9damage.
The one good thing here is that we have an excellent EMS and can hear the tornado sirens and receive a text on my cell phone as well. I have a real fear of tornadoes based on previous experiences, especially if they are night time.
Doppler, not dappled.
Davids, just read that Blackbeard might be headed to the BC Sprint.Oh dear. If he does come what will Americans say about his antics…LOL. ( this is per an interview Aiden that it is being considered).
Lynda, after watching the Quality Road debacle, I’d have second thoughts but racing is pure business these days. Some decisions deplore you don’t they, while, at the same time, the old adage comes out “the horse comes first.” You wish.
Blackboard is doing you proud, though. I thought you’d be over the moon with the Middle Park stakes win. Did you see Tahiyra win the Moyglare Stud Stakes the other weekend? I fell in love with her on fist asking and the pedigree is perfect for the 1,000 Guineas.
Hi Davids, yes I was over the moon about his latest win. Feel like Aiden will make a good decision about shipping him.
Guess some people wonder why I like these devilish horses. Can’t love Arabians, chestnut mares and Australian Cattle dogs ( also a red head girl) and be wiling to tolerate them being devilish sometimes.
I will check out Tahiyra.
Been slightly out of the International loop for about a week. Been hauling in hay for my little herd of brombies.
Also the temperatures here have cooled way down. Low Wednesday night in the mid forties. Spending time outside.
Usually pot pansies in the Fall. If I cover them if it gets down to freezing they will last all winter and into the late spring.
If I still lived in Virginia you can bet the farm that I would have been at Colonial Downs and made a good effort to meet the O’Brien team. I think I mentioned that they came down from Staratoga to Colonial Downs in case horses were scratched.
Hope that if and when you ever come to America that you will visit Colonial Williamsburg and the Blue Ridge moutains in the western part of the state. Think you might be surprised to see how much the Blue Ridge looks like the Highlands in Scotland.
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Lynda, I have seen parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains and you’re right about the similarities with the Highlands of Scotland. We used to live in the US, New York, throughout parts of my childhood and when I worked in the film industry. Moreover, my father worked for Shell so we travelled a lot, living in numerous diplomatic quarters around the world. I have family living in England, Netherlands, Australia, and the US so home has never really been a constant place for me. There are positives and negatives with all that dislocation.
Melbourne is home at present, it’s a beautiful city, friendly people, and totally safe day or night. Where I’m living there are 4 large parks only a few minutes walk away as is the city. Flemington and Moonee Valley are a 15 minute tram ride away while Caulfield a bit longer by train. You can walk to Flemington if you feel eager.
Good luck with Blackbeard entering the Breeders’ Cup, he wants to win.
Davids are you by chance on FB or ate willing to share your e-mail address with me?
I so enjoy our conversations on all topics, not just racing but feel that I overstep the boundaries on Steve’s site when I go off topic.
He has been very gracious snd not said anything but I might be pushing the limits.
Have several friends in Englsnd. One lived here in America for a number of years and met through a horsemans association we both belonged to.She has since moved back to England but we sill stay in touch.
Yes Lynda, I really enjoy our conversations and others had said they enjoy our conversations as well. Steve, wants people to discuss things on his forum as it builds a community, he just despises negative waffle. Moreover, it’s fun when a whole group can pitch in to discuss what’s happening.
Unfortunately, I’m not on Facebook.
More the case that Parx is a very quirky track – speed favoring, then the middle part of the straight seems golden. Mike Smith played the track like a virtuoso violinist in the Pennsylvania Derby. Encore.
Well, she lost her last race there, too…she ran those two big races and regressed….I did note the 12 days between one of her recent works, Bob is a 7 day guy.
Also….after Del Mar they moved to train up at Santa Anita, where for whatever reason their main track was VERY deep, which could take a lot out of a horse….I understand they have fixed that situation, nut for 10 days or so that track was slow…
If…..they decide on no 2023 racing for Flightline….could they at least face off with Life Is Good, in The Pegasus?
Has it already been decided that Life Is Good is not running in the BC Classic? A Classic with Flightline, Life Is Good, and Epicenter as the marquee players would be very nice.
I don’t think LIG stacks up at 10 fur with those guys.
I agree. But, I think most fans would like to see him in the Classic anyway. Only 6 weeks from today.
Speaking of Life Is Good, he’s listed as a “probable” for next Saturday’s Woodward at Aqueduct to be run at a Mile and an eighth. Which could indicate that he’s prepping for the Classic. We’ll see.
Looking at Saturday’s Cotillion at Parx, I think Adare Manor will run a big race, but the rail horse, Green Up, has caught my attention. At first glance, I didn’t think that Green Up passed the Class test. However, I watched a replay of her last race and she beat Interstatedaydream very easily. The same Interstatedaydream that beat Adare Manor in the Black-Eyed Susan. Green Up has won 4 in a row. All by open lengths. The last one at Parx. A race over the track is always a good thing. That
100 BSF that she earned in her last equals what the outside horse, Society, ran in her last race. It’s also the best number run by any horse in the field. Does Green Up “bounce” off that performance? It was a big jump from her usual. Green Up only cost $10,000 and has already banked over 20 times that amount. If she wins on Saturday, make that 80 times that amount. Well done, Team Valor. If Society, Adare Manor, and even Beach Daze go too fast, Secret Oath might just get a dream set up. Or, maybe Green Up and Adare Manor stalk Society and take up the running in the stretch. Another good race. It should be for a million bucks.
I would be shocked if Green UP goes off 6-1! I see her sitting right off of Adare, and those two making the exacta!
Green Up cost 10k at auction. She was was privately purchased by Team Valor after her maiden running 2nd at 25-1.
Which means that Team Valor probably paid much more. Thanks.
The cost of a privately purchased racehorse should be disclosed. It creates more transparency for those who fund the sport, the betting public.
Just curious why is the price paid in a private sale of importance to the betting public?
A lot of Thoroughbreds are sold privately. They are not all sold at auction.
Breeding to some stallions are also purchased via private treaty.
Lynda, I believe all sales information should be documented to the public. If auction sales info wasn’t of any significance, why have a link to access what that info is on the equibase website? Yearling prices influence to the betting public how much a horse is meant in how they may perform when he or she runs.
TommyMc, I think Green Up is an interesting filly as well. She is a Virginia bred which of course adds to my interest. She also has an interesting pedigree. Her dam line goes back to some European bloodlines that we do not usually see in most pedigrees.
I always cheer for the small breeders success.
This year’s Turf Monster at Parx on Saturday didn’t draw the same kind of horses that it did last year despite it’s $300,000 purse. It did draw an overflow field of 12 with 1 also-eligible and 2 MTOs. But, no standouts IMO. In fact, a win by any of the 12 wouldn’t surprise me. Especially, after last year’s “ultra-crazy” result when former $10,000 claimer Hollywood Talent won and paid $219.20 to win. That’s 108-1. Not easy in what turned out to be a 9-horse field. Last year’s field had the Beer Can Man, FireCrow, Carotari, and Caravel. No such horses this year. My advice: tread lightly. The problem is that the Turf Monster kicks off the only Pick-5 on the card. At Parx they call it “The Philly Five”. So, I’m forced to deal with it. I’m contemplating a ticket that looks something like this: 12 x 3 x 1 x 1 x 3 x $.50= $54 ticket.
All of this begs the question: What happened to Hollywood Talent? I lost track of him after his late scratch from last Fall’s Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. I’ll look him up and report back.
I forgot to mention that Hollywood Talent was 10-years old when he won last year’s Turf Monster. He just had his first race back on
August 22nd in a 5-furlong dirt sprint at Parx when he finished 5th. That was his 11-year old debut. He was off for 11 months. That
Turf Monster must have had an adverse effect on him. This is one case where maybe they should have retired the old fella after his big win.
He was DQed for a PED positive, and was dragged through the system until it was finally adjudicated.
I see. I’m hardly surprised. Thanks.
Hard to believe, but I’ve uncovered another horse that went off at even higher odds than Hollywood Talent in last year’s Turf Monster.
West Fork, an also-eligible who has scratched IN to this year’s race, went off at a whopping 170-1. That means there were 2 horses that went off at over a 100-1 in only a 9-horse field. West Fork goes 2nd off the layoff today and looks like he’s been pointed to this race for the last eleven months. 20-1 on the Morning Line, West Fork is a former $5,000 Claimer. The bad news is that he hasn’t won in a very long time and breaks from the extreme outside post.
Real nice field in the PA Derby….winners of the SA Derby, Arkansas Derby, Ohio Derby, Florida Derby and the West Virginia Derby all will try this race.
This weekend also marks “The European Road to the Kentucky Derby” with big races for two year olds in both England and Ireland.
Bluegrass and Haskell, too..
I’m going to box Skippy, Taiba, Zandon….I like Skippy and Taiba….
I’m surprised to see Taiba installed as the 5-2 ML Favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby. Cyberknife 3-1 and Zandon 5-1. I like Taiba best and thought I’d be betting on the 3rd favorite. Zandon’s 5-1 looks like the value to me. Zandon and Cyberknife are both on rising numbers patterns. Cyberknife is very adaptable. He can race on the lead or come from off of the pace. I won’t jump ship on Taiba just yet. You never know what odds the horses are going to go off at. Zandon and Cyberknife are both coming off of 105 BSFs in their last race and should be very attractive to bettors. This could turn out to be one of those situations where Taiba’s slightly lower BSFs could benefit his backers. BSFs don’t always tell the whole story.
I’m not surprised to see Taiba favored…I actually think he will go of 2-1, maybe lower! This horse was rushed, and changed barns, twice—-now he’s more settled, and when you consider the barn….I think he will go off race favorite
Taiba’s done quite a lot of travel for such an inexperienced colt, a trip too many for this one?
With the spring/summer meet of Hollywood Park being put to rest in histories footnote of racing, west coast 3yo’s have to venture east if they want to be relevant. I believe Taiba is more than seasoned now to handle the rigors of travel. His TG number, I assume, was better than Cybers’ in the Haskell.
Baffert was tossing up the Awesome Again Stakes for Taiba as an alternative to the Pennsylvania Derby, which Country Grammer is also aiming at. He may regret choosing the Pennsylvania Derby. We’ll see.
I look for value….at 5-1 Zandon looks good, but Skippylongstocking is whom I am settling on, I like the race spacing, I thought the Travers horses were exhausted…Skippy has three weeks longer to prepare, he’s a bit slower than some but not that much…and he is getting better..
Zandon definitely looks the best value. Matthew, do you know how Parx has been playing lately, it’s hard to follow.
I don’t follow any eastern tracks, really only Los Al and Santa Anita/Del Mar…
Thanks anyway, I know New York, Kentucky, Florida on the East. Others are a guess for me.
When it comes to the Pennsylvania Derby I see it as a 2 horse race ( not sure why Icy Storm , B Dawk and Naval Aviator are even in the race other than to take up space) between Taiba and Cyberknife, who I consider the best 3 year olds in the country (sorry Epicenter fans but JMO) and are evenly matched. I will be rooting for Taiba ,as I am a big Bob Baffert fan, who has been working like a champion and expecting him to win. Cyberknife has a more recent race which I see as an advantage for him. Weather wise the race looks like it will be run under clear skies and a fast track and both horses have good post positions.
I hope for a clean race with no mishaps or jockey errors ( I do not expect either horse to be on the lead in this race) and may the best horse win !!!
I am not enamored with Epicenter but his record against Cyberknife is rather conclusive.
Lecomte Stakes: Epicenter 2nd – Cyberknife 6th
Kentucky Derby: Epicenter 2nd – Cyberknife 18th
Travers Stakes: Epicenter 1st – Cyberknife 2nd by many lengths.
Agreed! Horse has run all good races this year, Travers and Derby was best in both by far….stands out, in this crop, over everyone with the possible exception of Taiba, who has been rushed….if he wins on Sat Taiba vs Epicenter COULD be a nice matchup…..but Epi is clearly on top.
Matthew, it will be interesting to see if Charge It makes it back to the track this year. A powerful performance in the Cigar Mile or Malibu Stakes would be a nice fillip for next year.
Davids I forgot about Charge It! I bet on him in his initial start, and he ran too good to lose….that race he ran was impressive—looking….but Belmont does get huge win margins sometimes…and he beat nothing….so I’m still on the fence, with Charge It…what I DID like was how he never got a breather, in that 23 length win, he was taking pressure inside…and just blew them away..
Yes Matthew, I’d like to see Charge It do it again before becoming a true believer but I tend to believe what we saw. Fingers crossed with Flightline probably going to stud next year.
You are correct Epicenter has been ahead of him in 3 races but I feel Cyberknife has an excuse for all of the.
Lecomte…. Cox said the horse was immature and sort of a head case back then he is different from back then.
Kentucky Derby … Jockey error…… got him caught up in that frontend meltdown.
Travers …. He was put on the frontend. Even Gary Stevens, (FOX commentator for the race that day ) said after the race that he is sure that is not were F Geroux wanted him) as no other horses went for the lead. Unfortunately Geroux had no other mounts that day and put him on the rail in the stretch which was not the best part of the track that day plus the fractions he ran in the early part of the race were too fast (compare his fractions to those of Olympiad in the JGC) for him to sustain and yet he finished a valiant 2nd. Go back to Steve’s article in this blog ” Vet Alan Dorton and Lindsy Reed Add to Rich Strike Fairy Tale” and look at my comments i made on August 24. I did not want him on the frontend … In hindsight in the Travers I wish he would have gotten left at the gate. But such is racing and Epicenter got the better trip that day. Turn the tables and let Cyberknife get the trip Epicenter got that day and vice versus we would be singing the praises of Cyberknife today.
Yes, fair argument, but that’s just racing. I would argue that Cyberknife received the best of racing luck in the Arkansas Derby and the Haskell Stakes so things tend to balance themselves out. Wouldn’t you agree? Taiba was the best horse in the Haskell Stakes.
In the Arkansas Derby Cyberknife was not on the pace. His sustained drive in the Arkansas Derby was very impressive. In the Haskell he was farther back in the beginning and in my opinion had a better trip…Taiba was coming off a long layoff and Baffert wished he had one more week with him before that race Should be a good race this Saturday.
Let’s hope the track is fair to all, it’s a good field. Exciting race.
I agree totally with that !!!
He was in deep end for Derb. No business running.
Steve, Thank You for enlightening all of us on John Gilden’s book , The Fast Ride. Although I have not read it, I hope to in the near future as it does sound it will be a good read. As far as Buddy Delp he might have had his faults (and who doesn’t) , his training of the Bid in his 4 year old season will always be considered by me to be the “GREATEST” training of a thoroughbred ever. He had the Bid ready to run his best for every race entered that year, and with the many track and world records he set that campaign I think it is hard to argue it wasn’t. And for Flying Paster he might have been just as good as the Bid but to me was given many poor rides by Don Pierce. I wish he would have had Chris McCarron in the stirrups , but what is done is done.
One more thing, I will always fault Ronnie Franklin’s ride for the Bid miss winning the Triple Crown regardless of the safety pin issue !!!
A heckuva Penn Derby! For a Longshot melikes #4 Skippylongstocking, will box with the two favorites. ..Rosario takes over for Prat, on Zandon, I thought Prat gave him some good rides, I’ll let him beat me—but he’s a good horse …
The Cotillion for 3yo fillies has some nice one’s entered. The big one, Nest, is sitting this one out. Also, looking thru some of the PP’s on Equibase, I’d like to see the private purchase price for a racehorse entered under the auction tab. Team Valor has one entered that was sold after running 2nd in it’s maiden in May of 2021 at 25-1.
If Bob’s Adare Manor goes I like her, have always liked her…
I’m looking forward to see if Secret Oath can unleash her rally around the far turn.
Green Up is the filly that intrigues me the most in the Cotillion Stakes. A good test to see if she belongs on the big stage.
I’d like to make some comments about Zandon. I still like Zandon. He was my Derby horse at 6-1. In the Pennsylvania Derby I’m torn between Zandon and Taiba. Zandon drew the rail for Saturday’s race which should be fine for him with his style of running. He just needs some pace in front of him and he might just get it. He picks up Joel Rosario who is a master of judging the pace and a Grade I specialist.
I mean no offense when I say that I don’t think that a mile and a quarter is his best distance. Look at the 2 times he ran a mile and a quarter. In The Derby, Zandon looked like he was ready to pounce on Epicenter and win the race before flattening out while Rich Strike passed them both. Did he “hang”? In the Travers, Zandon again made his move. Forget about Epicenter. Nobody was beating him that day. But, Zandon looked like he would surely pass Cyberknife for 2nd. Again, he looked like he flattened out and got nosed by Cyberknife for the “place”. Did Zandon “hang”? Did Cyberknife just fight back? I think it’s that last 1/8 of a mile. I think that a mile and an eighth is Zandon’s distance. Like when he looked so good winning the Bluegrass. That’s the distance that he gets on Saturday. No Epicenter. Rosario on. Two nice works since raced. One of them a “bullet” 5-furlongs. If Taiba doesn’t beat him, Zandon could find himself in the winner’s circle.
Zandon is still on a rising numbers pattern. At least by using the BSFs. He’s tied for “best last race BSF” with Cyberknife. They both earned a 105 Beyer when Cyberknife beat Zandon by a “whisker” for 2nd in the Travers. The question is whether or not that Travers race took a lot out of both horses while Taiba was resting up down at Del Mar?
Taiba has been off since his “head” loss to Cyberknife in the Haskell at Monmouth two months ago. Since then, Taiba has been training up a storm. Starting on August 13th at Del Mar, Taiba has had 6 workouts. Four of them “bullets”. He should be “fit & ready” off those 5,6, and 7 furlong works. BB is back in business and excels at having a good horse ready for a big race.
Big Money Mike has been winning at 22% for the year. Sure, he picks his spots. But, not bad for an old guy. I’m an old guy. Mike Smith is just old for an athlete. I admire him even if sometimes it doesn’t sound like I do.
Baffert has his horses fit when he ships cross country. As you point out with the noted workouts. It seems as though Parx has a very tiring surface so your horse better be fit.
9 furlongs hits Zandon right between the eyes!
For sure!
I believe 9f will always be Zandon’s pet distance but as a 4 year old Zandon should be more effective at 10f. I don’t think he hangs so much as ‘somewhat’ flattens out on his run due possibly to a long campaign, he keeps trying nonetheless.
The Pennsylvania Derby looks wide open to me, with numerous upset chances a plenty. How the track plays at the time of the race could be a distinct advantage to a runner, but who and how is the big question. I like the way We the People is rounding back into 9f after the Belmont Stakes ‘adventure.’ Good luck, I can see half the field winning.
Joel Rosario takes over on Zandon. Flavien Prat goes to We the People.
A big 13-race card at Parx on Saturday. One pick-5 and five pick-4s.
Good sized fields and some big fields
Parx really made an effort. I’m impressed. Even the 3 non-Stakes races have $100,000 purses which helped all 3 draw big fields.
They will draw the Pennsylvania Derby Day Card today at 2pm.
Could the presence of Flightline in this year’s Breeders Cup Classic cause this year’s BC Mile to be possibly the best edition ever run? Let’s hope that enough quality horses show up in the Classic to give the John Sadler trainee at least a “test”.
He was “tested” by the Dubai World Cup winner, who finished 7 lengths clear of 3rd place….
You made me laugh, Matthew. Flightline’s Pacific Classic run was only him against the clock. Country Grammar is a fine horse, but, he was way back there.
I’m not sure there is a horse who can test him…..Country Grammar is pretty good….
I think yge BC DIRT Mile should be done away with! In my opinion it takes away from the Classic AND Sprint! Dirt Mile is nothing like TURF Mile, in my opinion …I wish the Breeders Cup was ONE day…..NO filly Sprint. ..NO Dirt Mile. .NO Filly Turf….just- :2yo Dirt races. 6fur SPRINT. Mile Turf….1 1/2 Mile Turf……9fur Distaff…and CLASSIC, SEVEN Saturday races!
Being the fan of COUGAR II that I am, I sent a letter to Bud Delp, in the early 1980’s, about his horse CAGEY COUGAR. I was very pleased when I received a handwritten letter from him telling me about the horse, along with an official win photo of one of the horse’s stakes wins. I thought it was extremely nice that he would not only write to me but also purchase a photo for me as well! I was impressed by his manners and kindness.
At some point after that I noticed the horse wasn’t running anymore, so I wrote to Delp again, and he was thoughtful enough to let me know that CAGEY COUGAR had died.
Bud Delp was blessed to have trained SPECTACULAR BID. Not everyone who is fortunate enough to train one of the top two great horses of all time! Good for him. May he rest in peace. I think my experience with him was really quite nice.
Mike,
You are very fortunate, since many trainers of current era would only respond to you if they knew it would garner a media response. Bud Delp was not of this time, as many trainers then considered the fans for their true importance and not for self-serving purposes. You do appreciate Delp’s efforts as stated. Continue to enjoy, and I can relate to your appreciation of Cougar II.
The only time I saw Bid….my brother and I had walked towards the receiving barn. And Bud knew we were not allowed to do that, but instead of telling us that he conversed with us! We were 23 and 21 years old, Bud Delp was a TREASURE, who was looked down upon, by the racing elite, which is possibly why he proclaimed Bid as “The greatest horse to look thru a bridle” …this was before he won The Derby, and at the tail end of a decade that had Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Ruffian, Affirmed, Alydat, Forego—Bud said it….and I for one believe he was correct.
Over the years, I have found that many trainers pretend not to remember certain horses, or claim to have no idea what happened to a particular horse. I have also noticed that most trainers don’t want you asking any questions about their horses. I think this is a byproduct of the tragic ending that many racehorses face, and the secrecy that the racing world quietly agrees upon to keep the ugly part of it all sort of “hush-hush.” So, I think what Bud Delp did was not only really nice, but honest and transparent. If only the majority of people in racing were like him!
I totally agree with you….I look at those races at Sha Tin….14 horse fields, of geldings …Sha Tin, Hong Kong…..the fans love those horses, and mewonders….after they can no longer race— what becomes of those beloved geldings?..
Every Wednesday there used to be a farm auction. In Woodburn, Oregon, and I used to stop by, on the eve of the auction, to see if there was anything that I wanted—I used to buy and sell from that auction, it paid the rent…..in the back was livestock, and there in the back of the back were race horses, no longer sound…..heads low, to be auctioned, mostly for slaughter, and I would bring apples, and talk to them, thru my tears….and they were happy, again…..
Thank you Steve for this column. I am ashamed to admit I transferred my dislike of Delp to Spectacular Bid during the time the Bid was racing. Your words show me how wrong I was and reminded me what a great race horse the Bid was.
Ron Franklin’s story reminds me a little of Chris Antley, another talented, troubled soul with drug demons. I also remember how Steve Cauthen was taken off Affirmed when the horse turned four because the horse was too strong for him to control. Am I remembering that correctly? What a partnership that was.
Affirmed lost to Sure Fire, in a sprint….and I think he lost again…Picayune was the strongest jockey, and when he rode Affirmed they won off by many lengths, as we saw in the Santa Anita Derby win (by eight lengths)….Caution back on, in the Hollywood Derby they won by 2 1/4, over the same horses…Picayune on Affirmed went 9 for 9, but they were DQ’d, in the Travers, they finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Alydar, that day…Alydar lost probably 5 lengths, from the foul…still you wonder—Affirmed was hard to pass.
I see my phone wouldn’t let me write PINCAY..
…or CAUTHEN..
Plans for Cyberknife is to cross enter, Classic and Dirt Mile, and see who’s going and where….
By “who”, I assume you mean Flightline. Does he have anybody else to fear? Maybe Epicenter I guess.
I think it’s Flightline…because they know they cannotbeat him, and with Epi on there …..third place may be their limit….of course Life Is Good and Laurel River in the Dirt Mile would present problems….perhaps an off track would change things….
A possible competitive 11-horse field for next Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby and I think each and every one of them was on Steve Haskin’s Derby Rankings at one time or another. Or at least in the “Knocking on the Door” section. At first glance, I’m drawn to Taiba and Zandon. Obviously, Epicenter has Zandon’s number. But, no Epicenter on Saturday and a possible legitimate pace could set up well for Zandon. Let’s see if Flavien Prat follows him to Parx. I definitely think that Taiba can turn the tables on Cyberknife. Cyberknife ran his eyeballs out in his losing effort to Epicenter while Taiba was resting up. For now, I’ll commit to using both Taiba and Zandon in multi-race wagers. I’ll take a stand on one of those 2 by Friday night.
A 12:05pm post-time next Saturday at Parx. If I counted correctly, there are ten(10) Stakes races on Pennsylvania Derby Day. The Cotillion & Derby have purses of $1million each. The Gallant Bob & Turf Monster will have $300,000 purses. There will be six other races with $200,000 purses. The Keystone State has put up the money. Let’s see if they can fill those fields.
Is it my imagination or are $1million races becoming a dime a dozen? I remember back in the late ’70s at Santa Anita, everyone was always talking about how many 100-granders Bill Shoemaker had won. Now, $100,000 is Maiden race at some places.
That picture is just sinking in.
Is the Bid entertaining Mandy or the other way around?
Incredible!
The amazing Charlie Appleby went 3 for 3 in his North American Stakes races today. Mysterious Night scored at 1-2 under William Buick in the $500,000 Summer Stakes at Woodbine. Two races later, his Modern Games was ridden to victory by Buick in the $1million Woodbine Mile at 3-5 odds. Minutes later, Frankie Dettori guided Nation’s Pride to an easy win in the $1million Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct as the 1-2 favorite. 3 wins. All as easy as pie. You have to hand it to him, Mr. Appleby knows how to pick his spots. He’s one European trainer who realizes that the NorthAmerican turf horses are not all that much. No offense. The Europeans have to be licking their chops when looking at the Breeders Cup Turf & Mile.
Lady Speightspeare is an interesting Filly. After today’s win in the Grade III Seaway at Woodbine, she has won 7 of 12 races. She is 7 for 7 in Canada and 0 for 5 in The U.S. 7 for 7 at Woodbine(4 for 4 on turf and 3 for 3 on synthetic). Why would trainer Roger Attfield ever ship her anywhere else? She scratched out of a race last weekend at Kentucky Downs. I’d say that trainer Attfield made the right move there. Good call!
I know that it saddens most horse racing fans when our heroes are retired. Especially, when they are retired too soon. But, the beauty of the sport is that there is always a brand new cast of characters that show up every year. Many have already run their first races and there are still many to come. The Breeders Cup is coming up, but, it’s never too early to start looking for the 2023 Derby Winner. Don’t we all want to find the next Spectacular Bid or the next Flightline?
As I watch the races from Churchill, it looks like their turf course is looking better. They still aren’t racing on it. Will they be able to use it on their big Thanksgiving Weekend of racing? I hope so. I still don’t know why they replaced their turf course. To me, the Churchill turf course was always one of the best in The U.S. Right up there with Belmont IMO. Oddly, I’ve always liked the Indiana Grand/Horseshoe Indy turf course. Unfortunately, they only get decent horses to run over it about twice a year.
Beautiful.. brought tears to my eyes. I starred following racing in 1978. Boy was i lucky to see The Bid race.
I hear there’s a battle Royale going on, between the Hronis Bros and the other owners, concerning Flightline’s future, with the Bros wanting to race him as a five year old, the others wanting to whisk him away to the breeding shed— the breeders are ruining the sport.
Mo Donegal has been retired because of “bone bruising” suffered in his big Belmont win. Very sorry to hear that. Another 3 year old that looked to have a very bright future who couldn’t make it to his 4 year old season.
I think he could have but not until mid year, and since they got the one big win….over a filly that missed the break, and a gr3 winner….they decided he did enough…..and that’s Horse Racing in 2022..
I also wonder if the looming presence of Flightline had anything to do with their decision. Could they have figured that they weren’t going to win any big races as long as Flightline is around? May as well go now with The Belmont in their pocket as a pretty good draw for potential breeders. Still, as a fan, I like to see my favorite horses race as 4 & 5 year olds.
He beat the Kentucky Derby winner and ran a good Belmont, one of the triple crown races and one of the few remaining 12 f. races. No need to knock the field.
I was knocking the owners….for thinking that was enough.
I thought that Big Invasion would have a big chance in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. However, trainer Christophe Clement says that Big Invasion is done for the year. No injury was reported. Clement just didn’t like the way that his horse came out of last Saturday’s race at Kentucky Downs. Monsieur Clement probably saved me some money.
I know that the European Sprinters don’t do that well in the BC Turf Sprint. Well, not as well as they do in the BC Turf & BC Mile. But, there’s a horse named Highfield Princess and if she comes over she could be very tough. The one concern is that the race I watched her win was on a straight course. Can she handle a turn at Keenland? I’ll have to investigate further. Maybe Golden Pal won’t be a “single” this year. We’ll see.
Only 7 weeks until the Breeders Cup.
And there’s Lieutenant Dan…..Golden Pal has not looked unbeatable lately, and ‘Dan runs his race—and will be a better price.
Lt. Dan is a quickster for sure. And you are right. You always want to get a fair price at the Breeders Cup.
Steve, your well constructed ‘Christieesque’ dropping of hints has piqued my interest on ‘whodunit’ to Speculator Bid on Belmont Day that I have ordered a copy “The Fast Ride.” Mind you, from what you have written above the storyline appears to be a sad tragedy – which doesn’t surprise. Those who have golden lives are quite rare, quite rare indeed.
Have you been watching the sales, I’m bug-eyed from watching them especially getting up in the wee early hours of the morning. Constitution looks as though his progeny are going from strength to strength with better broodmares. I’d be surprised if some of his colts in this crop don’t make a noise on the Derby Trail, come 2024.
For those of us with incurable Derby fever — to stay on topic, last I checked the Bid DID win the race — Churchill Downs just announced some interesting tweaks to the point system that go into effect THIS year, as reported by drf.com. First, all points races will include points for fifth-place finishers, and certain Jan/Feb races will go from 10 points to 20 to the winner, including preps in CA and LA. Most significantly, winners of the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile will earn 30 points. Similar tweaks are on board for Oaks preps as well.
Yes, Ms Blacktype, the point system did need tweaking as the ‘major’ trainers had worked out a system that suited them but detracted from the experience of most fans. Should be more cut throat, nail biting, for owners/trainers and drama for the fan.
Mind you, I didn’t the BC Juvenile’s points needed further padding.
Davids I totally agree! Breeders Cup should mean more than a gr3 at Remington…..
I agree. Should make the Derby Trail even more interesting.
Didn’t want to forget to thank Steve for yet another chapter of masterful storytelling!
I appreciate it Mike. Thanks.
Charlie Appleby looks to have another big day shipping horses over to The U.S. on Saturday. He will send out the even-money favorite Nation’s Pride in the $1million Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct. Frankie Dettori takes over for William Buick who will be busy with a couple of Appleby runners up at Woodbine. Only 6 runners in the $1million race. Flavien Prat will be riding Classic Causeway who has handled the switch to turf just fine for new trainer Kenny McPeek. I’ll be interested to see if Classic Causeway can handle the mile and a half on turf.
With Prat being there for the start of the meeting, I think he might be able to give Irad Ortiz a challenge for leading rider at this “Belmont at Aqueduct” meet. He’s got his foot in the door with some pretty good stables.
Meanwhile, at Woodbine, Charlie Appleby sends out 6-5 favorite Mysterious Night in the $500,000 Summer Stakes and
7-5 favorite Modern Games in the $1million Woodbine Mile. William Buick will ride both of those. Eleven horses are entered in the $1million Woodbine Mile. I’ll give the Paulo Lobo trained Ivar a shot to upset and back him with a very small wager. My only bet of the weekend. I noticed that Lobo and jockey Joe Talamo brought in a couple of longshots at Kentucky Downs this week. Let’s see if they can keep the good mojo going.
Modern Games should be very tough to beat. People will remember that he won last November’s Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf after he was scratched and then wasn’t scratched. When he won, his backers only got their bets back without any winnings due to a snafu caused by the Del Mar Stewards. Basically, he won and nobody could bet on him. I’m still angry about that one.
I also like Ivar….
I know it’s hard to rank horses, but it’s fun to try, and I always come up with the same top two of all time: SECRETARIAT and SPECTACULAR BID. And as I pointed out in my letter to the editor on Thoroughbred Daily News last week, in response to their question, “Was Flightline’s Pacific Classic the best performance since SECRETARIAT’s Belmont?” there have been many great performances in that nearly 50 year period, and “Leapfrogging over a horse like SPECTACULAR BID is unthinkable.”
jay Hovdey did a column on his Top blowout performances. I think I’ll do the same thing, Eastern version. So many to choose from. But mine will be races that blew me away and not all of them were huge margins.
When it comes to great races (after SECRETARIAT’s Belmont and before FLIGHTLINE’s Pacific Classic) that blew me away there are a great many that come to mind, including:
SECRETARIAT’s Marlboro Cup, beating one of the best fields ever assembled (RIVA RIDGE, COUGAR II) in world record 1:45-2/5
DESERT VIXEN’s brilliant 12 length Beldame win (following another brilliant Beldame the year before)
RUFFIAN’s 13-1/2 length Mother Goose victory.
FOREGO’s Marlboro Cup in 2:00 flat under 137 pounds!
ANCIENT TITLE – Del Mar Hcp (in what might have been a world record performance if not for the “about” distance).
J.O. TOBIN’s savage run in the Swaps Stakes. Too bad he didn’t run this same race, or his race at all in the Preakness!
ALYDAR’s 10 length victory in the Whitney in 1:47-2/5!
EXCELLER & SEATTLE SLEW’s showdown in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
SPECTACULAR BID – Strub Stakes in 1:57-4/5, Santa Anita Hcp win in the slop, Malibu, Washington Park Hcp, etc.
AFFIRMED’s Hollywood Gold Cup in 1:58-2/5 while carrying 132 pounds!
PRINCESS ROONEY obliterating the field in the inaugural Breeders Cup Distaff by 7 lengths.
PRECISIONIST’s 1:46 Woodward by 4-3/4 lengths.
FERDINAND – mostly because it was awesome to see William Shoemaker, the greatest jockey in history, win the Kentucky Derby.
EASY GOER’S 1:32-2/5 smashing win in the Gotham Stk.
SUNDAY SILENE & EASY GOER in the Breeders Cup Classic!
SKIP AWAY – loved his Breeders Cup Classic win.
ZENYATTA’s Breeders Cup Classic was the most exciting race I’ve witnessed live.
AMERICAN PHAROAH’s Belmont Stakes, and finally getting another Triple Crown winner was a thing of beauty!
FROSTED, like he was shot out of a cannon with less than 1/4 mile to go in the Metropolitan Mile, winning by 14-1/4 in 1:32-3/5!
ARROGATE’s Travers Stakes in track record time!
Those are the dirt races that instantly come to mind, but if I were to include turf races I would have to throw in some beautiful efforts by DAHLIA, JOHN HENRY, GOLDIKOVA, DEEP IMPACT, FRANKEL, MIESQUE and a few others.
Why and how do I keep forgetting BEHLDER’s wonderful and dazzling Pacific Classic blowout?
*BEHOLDER* that is.
Quack’s far turn move in the 1972 Hollywood Gold Cup, beating 14 older horses in 1:58 1/5….
Spend A Buck’s 1985 Derby…..
Great list and great memory you have.
Gotta throw in Arazi BC Juvenile…
g
I saw him win in Florida early…am convinced that he is still the last Superhorse we have seen, and the 1970s, which gave us Secretariat, Forego, Seattle Slew. Affirmed/Alydar and Spectacular bid to 1980, has colored my opinions of all that have come since, and makes me grateful it is so embedded in my memories.
Thanks so much Steve!
To me, thre have been only two male horses since Bid I would consider all-time greats — John Henry and Cigar, and Cigar is borderline only because I’m not sure what he would have accomplished had Holy Bull not gotten hurt and retired. Holy Bull might have become an all-time great or they might have canceled each other out.
Respectfully, I think Point Given would have been perhaps an all time great if he were not injured. I would also include Ghostzapper but perhaps he did not have enough races under his belt.
Zenyatta, Rachel & Rags to Riches are fill all time greats IMO.
Regardless Steve, your assessment is spot on.
He said males….
I can list 20 might have beens if….
I bet you can easily, Steve.
Hoist The Flag gotta be way up there.
Thank you for the magnificent article on the Bid.
Much heavier than the well documented drama of the Slew crew.
I think the current day shenanigans are of a different nature for the most part…
A forgotten “could’ve been” is Roving Boy, a big son of Olden Times, foaled in 1980…took three races to break his maiden, then won four stakes in a row, including the Del Mar Futurity, Norfolk and Hollywood Futurity…injury prevented a Triple Crown run, he came back in the Fall, and ran 2nd in an allowance race, then he won a small stakes, at Oak Tree, and collapsed, right after the finish, and passed away on the track…..
Matthew, I will never forget Roving Boy and who knows how good he could have been. His “catastrophic” breakdown after the finish line ( I still have that image in my mind of that picture that either the LA Times or Herald Examiner had the next day after the race of his trainer, Joe Manzi, kneeling next to him on the track with a look of pain and hopelessness ) was not only a loss for horse racing but also to the breed as he had a very strong pedigree lineage to the “All Time GREAT” …. Man o’ War !!!
I absolutely love your articles on legendary horses. Bid was a phenomenal freak that the younger generation needs to know about in relation to the horses of today that pale in comparison. I’m going to buy this book so I have something to follow the Landaluce book. I’m really enjoying reading books again which has taken a lot of my time away from internet reading and honestly that’s OK.
Thank you Andrea.
Love the story Steve, the horse of a lifetime Spectacular Bid. Sometimes a horse and a trainer just make it work. Buddy Delp was not as well known as many trainers but he hit the jackpot with the “Bid”.
Thank you for sharing this story, I truly enjoyed it.
To this day I still believe that Spectacular Bid & Dr. Fager were the 2 best horses I ever saw run. I was at Santa Anita when the “Bid” set his 10 furlong world record.
Of the horses I’ve seen, Best horse at 2 and 3 Ruffian. Best 3 year old Secretariat and Damascus. Best 4 year old Dr. Fager. Best horse at 2 3, and 4 Spectacular Bid. Best horse at 4, 5, 6, and 7 Forego. Best horse at 8 and 9 John Henry
I know he didn’t always run his best…but I consider Skip Away special, he could go fast early and hold sway late….just my opinion….
There’s special a there’s all-time great. If you rank Skip Away with Secretariat, Slew, Citation, Man ‘oWar, Forego, Kelso and Affirmed etc thats fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion
Yep….opinions are like noses….everyone’s got one.
I am curious Steve how would you rank American Pharoah? He did win 7 of 8 starts as a 3 year old. He logged more air miles then most pilots. He beat some pretty good horses in the BCC at Keeneland as well.
If were able to run at age 4 then maybe affecionado’s would have viewed him differently.
Your last graph answered the question.
Nice assessment here Steve, and have no disagreement with it The thing about John Henry I would add, and you don’t see it with too many horses is that he knew he was in a race, and in the late stages of a race, he ran with determination !!! Ears pinned back grinding and gaining with every step. I felt the same way with Justify.
Interesting Steve, but who is the best 2 year old you’ve seen?
BTW, I ordered my copy of “The Fast Ride”. It will be here on Monday. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll only have 3 days to finish it before digging into the Form for Pennsylvania Derby Day. The only day of the year that I play Parx. They added a couple of Penn-Bred Stakes races this year to make something like 8 or 9 Stakes Races on the day. I’m looking forward to it. It will be interesting to see if BB can reassert himself on the national stage. BB is supposedly sending Taiba for the Pennsylvania Derby and Adare Manor for the Cottillion. Adare Manor has been training well. Heck, she always trains well. It’s time for her to step up and fulfill her promise.
The Turf Monster will be run on that Penn-Derby card. Some may remember that last year a $10,000 Claimer beat the Beer Can Man over a course that can be best described as a “cow pasture”. No offense. That turf course was soggy from rains in the days before and the race probably should have been moved to the main track. That former Claimer paid way over $100 for his backers. I don’t remember his name. He was entered in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint only to be scratched just before the race. Like I always say: “such an interesting sport”.
Bud Delp brought out a horse for the 1981 San Pasqual…he told Bill Garr he did not expect to beat Flying Paster, and he said take Bid away and Paster sweeps the ’80 Strub series, and wins the BigCap for fun….Bud was class! I saw Paster win the ’81 San Antonio, but he lost, at 6/5 in the BigCap, he got injured in that race, won by a six year old John Henry…. Paster sired runners, but he passed too soon..
I just watched the 1981 Big Cap … Flying Paster was never able to be better than fourth during the race but still always up there… he was retired after that emblematic race…
Flying Paster was so dominant 2 and 3-year-old in the West that many people thought he would be able to defeat Spectacular Bid in the 1979 Kentucky Derby. Before that highly anticipated East‐West confrontation the trainers of prior Derby winners were asked about their preference. Lucien Laurin, LeRoy Jolley and Lazaro Barrera favored Flying Paster slightly above Spectacular Bid. Woody Stephens liked Spectacular Bid and Billy Turner could not separate the two Derby favorites.
Flying Paster finished fifth in the Derby as the second choice (2.2-1). It was reported he had suffered cuts in his right foreleg during the race. Flying Paster came out the Derby very tired with sore muscles and, as you mentioned in one of your posts, lost anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds after that only race at Churchill.
The addition of Butazolidin in the Preakness did not help him recuperate and finished a distant 4th (penultimate) as a third choice at 10 to 1. His speed duel with General Assembly was indeed tiresome for both.
I am not sure if Flying Paster was totally drained or if he was injured after the first two TC legs but he needed a 7-month vacation before returning as a 4-year-old.
Flying Paster was undeniably one who pushed Spectacular Bid to potential during their 4-year-old campaigns.
As a sire, the son of Gummo was champion in California from 1987 to 1991 with 44 Black Type winners from 353 starters (12.5%). His best progeny in US were California Champion Flying Continental, Cats Cradle, Flying Julia and Key Phrase. The latter is the dam of Yankee Gentleman, the notable broodmare sire of American Pharoah. Not too shabby for a pure Californian…!
Paster and General Assembly went around Pimlico in tandem, finishing 4th and 5th (last) …Paster probably shouldn’t have run, but back then you ran them….probably one if the best east/west Derby showdowns, Paster won SA Derby by six then Hollywood Derby by ten….did not like that Churchill surface and was beaten by another Cal bred Golden Act that day….
Totally agree with all your points there…!
The question was always who is the “best since Bid:….for years my answer was Easy Goer, then Candy Ride….it’s Flightline now, I’ve seen them both! Bid had Paster, to push him Flightline has no one, I am fortunate to have witnessed them both!..What Bid did, with lite training and a hot spit in a tendon he was really something..
Hot spot..
I would never question your opinion, Matthew. But, I’m surprised that you said Easy Goer.
Didn’t Sunday Silence beat Easy Goer 3 of the 4 times that they faced each other? Easy Goer beat Sunday Silence in The Belmont to deny him the Triple Crown. But, Sunday Silence prevailed again in the Breeders Cup Classic.
Sunday Silence: 14 9-5-0, 6 Grade I wins. Easy Goer: 20 14-5-1, 9 Grade I wins. I guess a case could be made for Easy Goer because of his slightly longer career. Being from California in those days, I was a big Sunday Silence fan. So, I may be blinded by my allegiance to him.
If I remember correctly, Pat Valenzuela’s troubles began with Sunday Silence which caused Chris McCarron taking over for the Breeders Cup Classic. His troubles really came to a head with a horse named Hawkster. Patrick didn’t show up to ride him in a Stakes race one day. Russell Baze, of all people, got the mount and rode him to victory. Russell Baze was a Northern California rider. I don’t remember the circumstances that had him at Santa Anita that day. I hope I got my facts right. That was all from my very questionable memory. Except for the Sunday Silence/Easy Goer stats which I looked up.
Pat Valenzuela eventually took off for the Mid-West. I think his first stop was down in the Bayou. He ended up in Chicago before returning to Southern California. I always say that he was a much better rider when he came back.
PV was another of my favorite riders. Many times he saved the day for me by winning the 9th race or “get out” race.
Pat Valenzuela was ultra talented, and he “rode” several horses in a race, which I didn’t like…..he could herd horses, push things to the limit, in the 1989 Preakness, the best race I ever saw on television. Pat Day on Easy Goer puts him PVal on Sunday Silence into a pocket, down the backside…PVal brings his quicker horse around Easy Goer, then crowds Day, down the length of the stretch, then Day makes the decision of turning his mounts head towards his competition, hoping to spur him on…a strange move, considering the margin at the wire was two inches.
Just my opinion….I thought the Phipps Family erred, using a 12 furlong race as a prep, against Sunday Silence….Kentucky Derby was an iff track, Easy Goer didn’t like off tracks. ..they were both great ….
I always had a gut feeling that Easy Goer was the better of the two horses. All the evidence, both on the track and in the breeding shed, says no, but I still think he was better than his record indicates.
Those sharp, tight corners always favored Sunday Silence. No lasix for Sunday Silence and Big Sandy’s luxurious corners allowed Easy Goer to excel. The turning of Easy Goer’s head may have been the distraction that lost him the race but that’s guessing.
I have been looking for a picture of fager to add to my wall but I have never found one better than what you took when he was going out for a workout. I would like to add it to my wall of slew swaps and Medina spirit. If you can help me thank you
Really? I thought that photo was good only in my eyes because of how special it is to me. How can I help you? Do you want me to email you the photo?
That is a very eclectic wall you have.
Hi Steve. Oh my goodness I had been debating as to whether to buy this book but after reading your column I am going to order it. Amazon needs to thank you. Spectacular Bid is in the pedigree of Hoppertunity who stands here in Maryland.
I think you will enjoy it. Jack Gilden told me yesterday that the day the column was posted the book “zoomed to No. 1 on Amazon for racing books.”
Hi Steve. Oh my goodness I had been debating as to whether to buy this book but after reading your column I am now convinced that I should. Amazon needs to thank you. Have a great vacation although I will miss your columns while you are gone. Spectacular Bid is in the pedigree of Hoppertunity, who is standing here in Maryland.
Hi Steve. Oh my goodness I had been debating as to whether to buy this book but after reading your column I am now convinced that I should. Amazon needs to thank you. Have a great vacation although I will miss your columns while you are gone. Spectacular Bid is in the pedigree of Hoppertunity, who is standing here in Maryland. I am planning to send my filly to him if she is not successful when she returns to the track.
Thats great Carol. I hope it all works out ,but i hope she is successful on the track first.
Gosh Steve I’ve read the intro, it’s available online….am ordering the book, it’s no hit piece but it hits hard! I saw Bid once, my brother and I walked up the path towards ghe receiving barn, and we met the Strub foursome…I saw Relaunch first, a big buttermilk grey….Valdez…well bred beautiful chestnut ..Flying Paster, who was a beautifully balanced blood bay….and then Spectacular Bid, all legs and a slightly large head— I said “THAT’S BID?”….and Bud Delp yells to us “You guys are in for a treat, today…”. …over 42 years have passed, and his world record still stands…..
It’s great you were able to see him close up and to be at his world record. Yess, it hits hard and thats what separates it from most horse bios.
Flightline is jaw dropping,but,IMHO Bid is still the last really great horse.Thanks for reminding us.
It sounds like the connections of Rich Strike are re-thinking their plan to run in the Breeders Cup Classic. Trainer Eric Reed says that Rich Strike is being pointed to the Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on October 1st. After that, they will decide on either the BC Classic or wait another 3 weeks for the Clark at Churchill. I can’t blame them. Churchill is the “Striker’s” track.
I wonder if Churchill’s turf course will be ready by Thanksgiving weekend?
At this point I wouldnt want to run Rich Stike vs. Flightline, Life is Good, Olympiad, and Epicenter. Get what you can this year and you’ll have a much better 4yo.
Mandaloun has been retired. A good horse who will always be remembered for winning The Derby and the Haskell after the DQs of the horses that finished in front of him(Medina Spirit & Hot Rod Charlie). Six wins in twelve starts.
At the beginning of the year Mandaloun ran huge, running down Midnight Bourbon, and they brought him to Saudi Arabia….he floundered, then came back a different horse, I saw him on person on July 30th, for the San Diego, and he did not look like the horse I saw on my computer screen, he looked smaller….
The Bid was the first horse I saw on TV as a kid and instantly I was enamoured. So smitten I purchased a Bid grand daughter decades later that died in a freak training accident and then when I should have run away from the whole scene I went on a search to find another one of his daughters so that I could breed her and have both a daughter and grandkid of the Bid. First horse and only horse I ever bred and they made me a winning owner,breeder, and trainer. Racing may have soured me out of it but there isn’t a day that I look at the two of them in my field and feel like the Bid was meant to be seen on TV that day by a horse addict little girl whose first love was The Black Stallion. My worst days are never for long bc of these two and I ultimately have that gliding long strided charcoal enigma to thank for the path that was inevitably set in motion.
I got choked up reading Haskin’s account of Gilden’s book and now I can’t wait to dive in. I want a Spectacular Bid movie so badly and this seems like if anything should be made into one it’s definitely this.
That was a great story, Belinda. I love it and am so glad you persevered and got two special horses who have enriched your life.
Speaking of Ron Franklin and Bud Delp and their problems with drinking I still remember the sad incident with Bid’s other jockey, Bill Shoemaker, and his tragic alcohol-related accident that fracture his neck and left him paralyzed.
Let’s hope Julie is making Jay sleep on the couch . . .
Did you wander in here by mistake?
Bartender, another round for everybody in the joint!
Good one Steve!!
Nope, I’m in the right place . . . Just flicking out a playful left jab at a certain writer at a certain other website who has made a premature comparison to a certain other horse headed to the classic . . . I believe, perhaps unwittingly, you have rebutted that quite conclusively.
Anywho, I was lucky enough to get an early copy of the book when Jack appeared at a race reunion at Laurel Park. Read it in a couple of days. It’s one of those rare books where you intentionally slow the pace of reading when you realize you are more than halfway through . . . Because you don’t want it to end.
I’m hoping for a screenplay!
I’ve watched that Florida Derby replay more times than I care to admit. Among other things, this book totally changed my perception of Cordero . . And not in a good way.
Hope that clears up my obscure post Steve!
He actually gets personal and criticizes Cordero and Harthill. Cordero was always very intimidating and could get under a jockey’s skin. I’m sure he saw that Franklin was vulnerable and it could throw him off.
I also paced myself through the book because to draw it out.
Flightline could turn out to be a freak, even an all-time great, but comparisons now is crazy. He’s had ttwo starts more than Bid had years of racing.
Hirsch, Hatton, Haskin, Hovey naked up Horse Racing’s “Four H Club”!….I read a recent Hovdey column, he was comparing Flightline’s Pacific Classic with other big performances of his lifetime, and he included Princess Rooney’s tour de force, in yhe inaugural Breeders Cup— final time better than the Classic—he also compared it with Dr Fager’s Californian, I thought it was a good write up…
Pardon my phone, and my lack of proof reading!
Thats quite a foursome. I’m honored to be included. Thank you very much.
Steve you’re the emeritus, of that foursome, my all time racing paper would have Peb, of course, fir the cover, with columns of the 4-H club, I would go to YOUR column first!
Thanks agan. That is very kind of you to say.
Glad to hear you got that review copy, Steve! I’m only sorry I didn’t ask for one myself. Of course I write about HOUSES, not horses, so there’s no way I’d be able to review it or even mention it. I’m also glad you thought the book was worthwhile—the press release made it sound like it would be another attack on horse racing. Happy to hear it wasn’t.
There were no attacks at all, just facts and statements regarding the dark side of the people around the horse. Bid and horse racing remain unscathed.
Glad to hear that! I’m in the middle of reading “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks, a well-known writer whose fiction I’ve enjoyed in the past. It’s a fictionalized story about Lexington, the great 19th century sire, with flash-forwards to the present. The 19th century sections are beautifully imagined — especially the relationship between the groom and Lexington — but some of the present-day ideas make me cringe. For example, there’s a subplot about a vet who worked at the top of the sport but quit because of all the catastrophic injuries. Said vet is now going around measuring historic horse skeletons (like Lexington’s) to try to identify what made them more sound. Sounds contrived to me.
A long roundabout way to ask if you if you’ve read that!
My wife and friend just finished Horse and loved it, eespecially my wife. I hope to get to it shortly. But I hear it has anti-racing sentiments, which you dont want.
Thanks, Steve, for drawing attention to Jack Gilden’s book. Reading it will be a good pursuit till you come back from your well-deserved vacation. I am sure there are some valuable compassionate lessons in that revealing book.
I did not know about the human and social dramas unfolding behind the scenes during the exploits of one of the top 10 horses of all time.
Spectacular Bid was so dominant that seemed to scare off competition. Only four rivals showed in the 1979 Preakness (General Assembly, Flying Paster, Golden Act and Screen King). It was the smallest Preakness field since 1948 when Citation crushed three rivals in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The average number of Bid’s opponents, after the Belmont and before his famous Woodward workover, was a meager 4.4.
I am among those who believe the son of Bold Bidder was not the same in the Belmont Stakes. To me something was bothering him when he veered slightly to the left opening ample room for Coastal by the rail coming to the homestretch. In fact, Spectacular Bid defeated Coastal in the Marlboro Cup and in the Jockey Gold Cup. Coastal was retired after the Gold Cup but Bid’s supremacy was definite by then.
Spectacular Bid was the first 3-year-old to earn over one million dollars in one year and was also the first handicap horse to stay undefeated in one year since Tom Fool in 1953.
The decision to retire Spectacular Bid came less than two hours before the running of the 1980 Jockey Club Gold Cup. His syndication for a record $22 million was a determining factor to safeguard his future as a Stallion.
The only 3-year-old in that 1980 Jockey Gold Cup, Temperence Hill, won by 5.5 lengths over the 7-to-10-favorite John Henry. Temperence Hill cemented his title of champion 3-year-old with that impressive win.
Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker labeled Spectacular Bid as “the best horse I have ridden.”
It is a strong statement considering the great Jockey had ridden Northern Dancer and Buckpasser (3 times each as 3-year-olds), Swaps, Forego, Round Table, Gallant Man, Sword Dancer, John Henry, and Damascus.
Spectacular Bid was just an average sire but we can thank him for being a contributor to the excellence of sires like Bernardini…
Thanks again Steve and have a great vacation …! Hope to enjoy your comments about the Woodward and the Champagne in your next articles at Secretariat website.
Thank you Nelson. You cover a lot of ground. Thanks for sharing
I told the truth about all my father was a great horse trainer and father If I had one person I could spend a day with it would be Dad
M
I’m so happy you feel that way, Gerald. I liked your father a lot and even with the mistakes he made he is still your father and I am sure the good memories outweigh the bad oness. All the best you.
I’ll admit that I’ve always doubted that “safety pin” story. But, if Steve Haskin believes it, and it sounds like he does after his conversation with Bud Delp, that’s good enough for me.
I guess that I always suspected something far more nefarious. That maybe some gamblers got to someone in the stable or something like that.
Now, I can consider the case closed.
I just put “The Fast Ride” on a list for the next time that I make an Amazon order. Jack Gilden should send Steve Haskin a cut of his profits.
Especially if you add all the people on Facebook who said they just ordered it. lol
I don’t know what I expected, but, that program page of Spectacular Bid’s “Walkover” in the Woodward looks funny.
I remember watching that walkover on TV. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I’m glad I saw it. But that night I listened to a baseball game and I wrote in my diary that it was an excellent game because there were two teams on the field.
Steve Haskin mentions Ronnie Franklin’s trouble with drugs and alcohol. If I remember correctly, Ronnie Franklin got arrested for having drugs out in California in of all places, the parking lot at Disneyland. I don’t remember if it was pot or cocaine. It doesn’t matter. I always wondered what Franklin was doing out in California because I’m almost positive that Bill Shoemaker rode Spectacular Bid in all 3 of the races that I saw. Maybe he was out here for “Bid’s” record-breaking run at Hollywood Park. Who knows? Anyway, that Disneyland arrest was a big story in California at the time.
Thats true, Well publicized and its in the book
He was there to accept eclipse award for champion apprentice jockey
It was for smoking pot, in the parking lot….at least that was how it was told, in the newspapers….those folded things, that contained the news…
I was at Santa Anita for 3 of Spectacular Bid’s wins over Flying Paster that winter. I have to admit that I bet on “Paster” every single time. I’m very hardheaded. I was impressed by how hard Flying Paster tried in each of those losses. But, to be honest, “Paster” never really threatened Spectacular Bid in any of those races IMO. One of my racetrack buddies bet a one way $20 exacta in each of those 3 races, “Bid” over “Paster”, and for years held that over my head. I have to hand it to him, at least he made some money. I may as well of thrown my money out into the street. It’s OK. My bankroll back in those days was only $100 and I had the great privilege of seeing the great Spectacular Bid beat a very good Cal-bred in Flying Paster.
I always say that Spectacular Bid was the best horse that I ever saw in person. I saw Secretariat on TV in 1973, but, never in person. BTW, that was a Black & White TV and very small by today’s standards.
I saw Zenyatta a couple of times in person and she was pretty “great” herself. Once at Santa Anita and once at Del Mar. I wish that Zenyatta would have raced back East a couple of times. She raced at Oaklawn and I think her only loss to Blame was at Churchill. It’s a shame that she never got to Belmont or Saratoga.
I only saw Bid once, his world record Strub, and when I saw how much horse Shoe had at the head of the stretch I was amazed. …I didn’t bet, my brother bet a $5 exacta that paid $13.50 (I think)….to this day he says it was the easiest money he ever made, at the track!
I especially enjoy these columns where you transport us back, Steve. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, warts and all. I know people were still people and money was still money, but the horses were racehorses, not potential revenue streams.
Thanks, Todd. Well said
The 1975 crop was a strong one, the 1979 Marlboro Cup was one-two-three three year olds after Laz decided to keep Affirmed in the barn, not wanting to face Bid giving that much weight….
12 furlongs dirt was the only distance Bid got beat, at two and three—from 6 1/2 fur to 10 fur— Spectacular Bid was 26 for 26, track records workd records, one that still stands…..
(1976 crop!)..
Steve, I have my own story of the only time I saw Bid in person….I’ve posted versions if it several times, so I’ll just make a few points. You saw Flying Paster training often, and he was a running machine …Bid trained early, in the dark……at least that’s what I was told….my favorite picture of Bid, save the one you took with your daughter…was him finishing the Big Cap in a hard rain—he looked like the best horse to ever look thru a bridle, in that picture..
My take on his Belmont loss….I think Bid’s defeat had less to do with a safety pin…and more to do with the 1979 Triple Crown gruel—before the 1980 Malibu Gordon Campbell talked about that Derby surface, which played very slow all day. …he said Flying Paster lost 75 lbs, from his Derby run, there was a one turn mile on the under card, that went 1:38 3/5, and Bid went 2:02 2/5, his Derby margin from 1st to 3rd identical to Secretariat’s– by 2 1/2…Sham by 8……Bid by 2 1/2… General Assembly by 8…..Bid did his over a deep, cuppy surface, I contend that it took a lot out of them, and then in the Preakness Franklin finished hard, on Bid, where Shoe might’ve saved horse, for the Belmont, I think Bid was a tired animal….and it started with that bizarre Churchill sutface…..
I can’t wait to get that book! There HAD to be a reason they were riding Franklin, after that SCARY Florida Derby ride! Here was this FREAK.. and there’s Pincay…there’s Shoemaker …there’s Jorge Velasquez and Cordero—-and Delp rides Franklin! Co-dependancy makes sense!
Loved this column, Steve. I look forward to every one of them. I am going to buy the book. Thank you for the lovely column.
thanks Suzie. Hope you enjoy it
Great article, Steve. You certainly have a way of telling the tale.
Thankyou Jerre. I you want an interesting tale buy this book.
What a great introduction to what is most likely a superb book. Thanks for sharing. I was 8 years old during his 1980 campaign. I vaguely remember my great uncle talking about the Bid. He seemed to me like a mythical creature.
It’s not your usual horse biography.
Steve,
You’ve totally sold me – I’m ordering the book. And you’ve also put a nice final touch on the preposterous “Flightline better than the Bid” that’s beeing promoted on another major horse racing site. Not…even….close.
The last ghostly giant of the Golden Age of racing.
Thanks Charlene. Hope you enjoy it
Steve,
The back story is what I come here for and this one is a humdinger. I’ve ordered it to read.
Thanks for the heads up.
Great, Jo Anne. Hope you enjoy it
You’re right. We’ll never see the likes of him again. I’m very glad I got see him and lived through what we old timers call the GOLDEN YEARS. The game has changed. We can’t compare the horses of today to that age when they don’t have the resume. Unfortunately no matter what we see now from what they call great now won’t measure up to the TITANS of that era and it’s not the horses fault. It’s the owners and trainers are keeping them that step below!