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Skip Away was a real racehorse.

How about John Henry?

Bold Ruler - as racehorse and sire, maybe the best of them all

naaaah.
northern dancer or slew. i think i'd give the nod to the former, he's world-wide!!

Now there is a potential topic for debate. Which was the best racehorse...which was the best sire...which was best overall, between Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, and Seattle Slew. Perhaps Native Dancer also belongs in the discussion. BTW, any of these four probably fit Dixie's criteria for real racehorses.

ruffian was a real racehorse. I don't know if she meets all of dixie's criteria but she was a real racehorse none the less.

i'd say all around, i'd give it to northern dancer. when you look at what he accomplished (and the lack of mares in his book, much like bold ruler) it's just amazing. and then to have the top stakes producers all come from him--danzig with the north american record, danehill with the world record, and then sadler's wells....the diminutive stallion was a huge success--both on and off the track. and got short or long, dirt or turf...
altho seattle slew was successful (i give him the edge track-wise) i don't think he has made as big of a mark as the dancer.
i think native dancer fits as well, a fabulous runner, and raise a native has added to his legend.
bold ruler was outstanding as well...

but if you have to choose one for all around--i'd give it to the canadian sensation.

she was that!

What are Dixies criteria? From what I can see its merely "ran and won everywhere against all comers".

Hard for me to put Smarty Jones in with that criteria considering how little he raced.

actually smarty raced a fair amount for the amount of time he was actually active. he was just getting started...and of course he ran over several tracks, at differing distances each time.
shame they couldn't bring him back for another year.....
where are people like the wolfsons, the meyerhoffs and the turners these days????

true but when I see the term all-comers I take that to mean that the horse at least must have won in open company against the best of the day, and not only in age restricted races.

Spectacular Bid wasn't the greatest sire, but he was a real racehorse on the track.

Agree, great example I think of a real racehorse. Raced and won everywhere over several years against anyone and everyone.

You could have been more clear about what your criteria were.

I would say that Cicada was a real racehorse as well. I definitely wouldn't call her breeding fantastic, but she was a game filly...

And let's not forget Exterminator. :D

Bid and Affirmed were professional race horses. Moderately bred they outran pedigree.
Skip Away was another, more recent example. John Henry fits as does ol' Spooky Mulder who has yet to win a graded stakes but he's a pro, no doubt. I think that Lava Man fits and his connections have been quite sporting, including a trip to Japan last fall.
The sad reality is that in today's world the only horses who stick around long enough to "take on all comers" are those of modest parentage for whom the breeding shed doesn't becon. Had Skippy been by A P Indy or Mr P or Danzig, he'd have had a much shorter career.

That's very true... I agree completely.