Derby Trail Forums - Silverbulletday VS Rachel Alexandra through Aug of 3yo season

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

So we are supposed to ignore how fast horses run when comparing horses?

Heck - if race record and accomplishment is all that matters ... we're even supposed to ignore a hell of a lot of other handicapping factors that are far more important than race record and accomplishment.

I don't blame people who bash final time figures from a betting standpoint - because they're priced into the odds .. and sometimes figuremakers get them wrong. However, when comparing horses from the last two decades ... there is without question no better starting point than asking 'how fast is the horse .. and how were his figures earned.'

Agree. What's foolish is to completely disregard how fast a horse ran and to only measure it by the competition faced. Both are important, but does anyone want to tell me (again) how Spectacular Bid never beat much and how his seven track records (seven different tracks and multiple distances) and world record 10f don't speak to his greatness? I've heard it before. When you can't control the quality of the competition faced beyond entering the best races, so the only measure becomes the clock or figure.