Wow! Thanks for posting that BTW. Don't know that I've ever seen a horse appear more clearly beaten turning for home hang in like that.

Yeah, that race is just about as good as it gets.

Perhaps the NTRA could take a cue from Youtube and find a way to get old races like that out to the public instead of wasting all their time screwing up the Breeder's Cup. If you have a scintilla of interest in racing anywhere in your being that race will bring it to the forefront.

thanks Andy...I had never seen that race...amazing.

also, slew beat exceller in the woodward, in track record time. slew needs no apologists for his jcgc, an incredible, albeit losing, performance.

I hadn't seen that race. I had always under-respected Slew. Until now. He was much better than I thought and that race proved it.

Imagine how far back today's horses would finish dueling two others in 22, 45, 109 in a mile and a half race.

There is some amazing footage available on Youtube, and probably one of the best things to happen this year for the racing fan no doubt!

Some of my favorites that haven't been posted yet:

Affirmed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGuXfn5FiEw

Still life photos of Triple Crown winners:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nprhskem-is

Northern Dancer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZLdc441S5k

My favorites are probably the older footage videos of Whirlaway, Citation, Dr. Fager etc that you'll never get to see anywhere else.

Hot damn! that type of stuff gives me goosebumps.

Insane fractions, Slew theoretically had no business coming back at Exceller at the end.

I forget who it was but a few months ago someone got my dander up on here when they said that Bernardini reminded them of the great Seattle Slew!
My thought was yes, in the sense that they are both horses.

have come across any of silky sullivan's races? I've only seen little bits I would love to see some of the whole races...

Same was said of Smarty Jones going into the Preakness. Lovely video of Slew's career:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZLdc441S5k

I have a videotape of his races that I bought on e-bay, but I've never been able to find anything on the internet.

I wish I could track down this issue of Sport Illustrated:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SI_Silky_58.jpg

Audio:
http://www.secondrunning.com/Silky%20Sullivan3.htm

**edit that, just found that Sports Illustrated on e-bay...gosh I love e-bay! :)

In the Woodward Slew was able to cruise along in reasonably slow fractions ( though by today's standards I'm sure they would be considered contentious ) while Exceller was forced to sit relatively close and was totally taken out of his game. In reality his second place finish, about four lengths behind Slew, was a very admirable performance.

Not quite, however, as admirable as Slew's second place effort in the JCGC.

Ha! Good one, Jim!

--Dunbar

No horse ever earned more respect in defeat than Slew did that day. Notable too was the he had to face Affirmed (and his fat stablemate, Life's Hope) on the lead as he cut those fractions. Also, just after LH backed out of the 3 way battle, Affirmed's saddle slipped badly (you see Cauthen suddenly bobble-some thought the horse was hurt) and he was done.
Seeing that again it breaks my heart what happened to Exceller.


Another nonchamp of more recent vinatge, not quite Exceller's class but a nice horse, is Heritage of Gold.

Affirmed's saddle slipped at the start which is why he couldn't be controled early and was also involved in the duel.

What about the amazing effort against all that adversity that sweetnorthernsaint had to face today!

As wide as he went and he still managed to hold on for fifth after that grueling quarter mile duel he had with the winner on the turn!

Wow, I say!!

I'd like to have seen slew try to do better!

Slew could have started backwards and beat that Sunshine Millions field. SNS was hung wide, but he had a shot to win the race if good enough. If Slew were put in that spot he would have went on and won by 5

someone posted a youtube, had one of silkys races. i think it was on equidaily....fabulous finishes or something like that, he came from so far back-unbelievable horse. i'll see if it's still there and post...

it's gone.