Originally Posted by jpops757

If they would have known about his fertility problem, would they kept him in training and raced him 3-4 times a year in the top races?

Originally Posted by Cardus

When I saw him in April 2005, he looked terrific. One of the stable hands said that they let him out for most of the night and he loves it. John Henry was situated next to him; he wasn't up for visitors on that Friday morning. Very swaybacked then.

There was an embarrassing element to the Horse Park at that time, though: away from the main barn -- in which Cigar, John Henry, and another well-known horse whose name escapes me were stabled -- there was a smaller barn with one horse from eight types of breed. Each horse was considered the "representative" of that breed. The Thoroughbred "rep?" Da Hoss!

I couldn't believe it! A genuine champion as a museum piece. Awful! He should have been in big barn with the other champs. This was over a year ago, so hopefully, that has changed.

How game was he in 1998?

"This is the best comeback since Lazarus!"

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

The last time I went (it's been a long time), Bold Forbes was still alive. It was cool to see him up close.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Bold Forbes was a fine animal. His gutty Belmont win was memorable.

I saw his first US race.

Originally Posted by Cardus

When I saw him in April 2005, he looked terrific. One of the stable hands said that they let him out for most of the night and he loves it. John Henry was situated next to him; he wasn't up for visitors on that Friday morning. Very swaybacked then.

There was an embarrassing element to the Horse Park at that time, though: away from the main barn -- in which Cigar, John Henry, and another well-known horse whose name escapes me were stabled -- there was a smaller barn with one horse from eight types of breed. Each horse was considered the "representative" of that breed. The Thoroughbred "rep?" Da Hoss!

I couldn't believe it! A genuine champion as a museum piece. Awful! He should have been in big barn with the other champs. This was over a year ago, so hopefully, that has changed.

How game was he in 1998?

"This is the best comeback since Lazarus!"

Originally Posted by Cardus

When I saw him in April 2005, he looked terrific. One of the stable hands said that they let him out for most of the night and he loves it. John Henry was situated next to him; he wasn't up for visitors on that Friday morning. Very swaybacked then.

There was an embarrassing element to the Horse Park at that time, though: away from the main barn -- in which Cigar, John Henry, and another well-known horse whose name escapes me were stabled -- there was a smaller barn with one horse from eight types of breed. Each horse was considered the "representative" of that breed. The Thoroughbred "rep?" Da Hoss!

I couldn't believe it! A genuine champion as a museum piece. Awful! He should have been in big barn with the other champs. This was over a year ago, so hopefully, that has changed.

How game was he in 1998?

"This is the best comeback since Lazarus!"

Originally Posted by jpops757

If they would have known about his fertility problem, would they kept him in training and raced him 3-4 times a year in the top races?

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Only if they wanted him to continually lose...

Just a quick glance at the top races of 1997, I think Cigar would have had a very rough time of it.

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

This might come off as me being a super fan or something, but I go back every so often and watch that replay of the '98 mile. Da Hoss is my all time favorite horse, obviously, and am planning a trip next year to get take a look at him.

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Da Hoss's daddy, Gone West, sired a nice one that stands in NY.
He's named Western Expression and stands at High Cliff Farm.
You can see him if you go to nybreds.com, click on the HighCliff link (right side) and click on their stallions. Western Expression has produced many winners. See their "press room".
DTS

Originally Posted by Charismatic1

Or his opponents may have had a very tough time with him. Sure, he lost a couple races in '96, but he SHOULD have won the Classic had he not been 6-7 wide around both turns. He still only lost by a head or neck. That's the case of Bailey riding like he knew he had the best horse a little too much. He might've been clearly the best horse, but anyone's going to have trouble winning the Classic at 10 furlongs running 12 furlongs.