Discovery

[The Indomitable DrugS]

This was a good 3yo in '34 (2nd in the Ky Derby, 3rd Preakness) who became a monster older horse. Winning horse of the year over a triple crown winner at age 4 - and champion older male at age 5.

He started an amazing 13 race tear in the 1935 Brooklyn Handicap.



King Saxon - who had won 14 of his last 16 races, including the Met Mile and Carter by 5 lengths last out was regarded as the best older horse in the land.

Omaha had won the triple crown that year. He won the Dwyer and Arlington Classic back-to-back in his next two after this thumping.

Basically, Discovery just demolished the best older horse in training by 8 lengths and left the triple crown winning standout 3yo 12 lengths back in 3rd place.

The time of 1:48 1/5 was a world record. Keep in mind, Bellamy Road is the only Wood Memorial winner since 2001 to run faster than 1:48 3/5 in the Wood. Tracks were slower in the 1930's - the surrounding races that day went 1:21 and change for 6.5f and 1:40 and change for a mile.

In Discovery's next start - he met up with that seasons Santa Anita Handicap winner in a match race. Azucar - who beat the great Equipoise in the ultra rich Big Cap - was defeated 30 lengths by Discovery.

Next start: Won the Stars And Stripes Handicap by 6 lengths giving 2nd place 20lbs.

Next start: Won the Butler by 1.5 lengths giving 2nd place 19lbs.

Next start: Won the Bunker Hill by 15 lengths giving 2nd place 24lbs.

Next start: Won the Arlington Handicap by 5 lengths giving 2nd place 20lbs

Next start: Won the Wilson at Saratoga by 6 lengths

Next start: Won the Merchants at Saratoga by 2 under 139lbs - 22lbs more than 2nd place.

Next start: 2nd by 1.5 lengths. Gave 29lbs in weight away to winner Top Row. Top Row made over 200K racing in the 30's - more money than Discovery made in his entire career. He won the following years Santa Anita Handicap over Rosement - and won five major races in 1935

Next start: 1st by 2 lengths in the Whitney Handicap. 2nd place finisher got 26lbs - she a soon to be two-time champion older mare and conqueror of Seabiscuit when Seabiscuit was in his prime.

Next start: 1st by 8 lengths in the Hawthorne Gold Cup

Next start: 3rd by a neck to Top Row in the Mass Cap. Top Row was the horse who made over 200K and won the following years Big Cap - this time he only got a 22lbs weight break. 2nd place finisher Whopper - a 10 time stakes winning male - got 30lbs.

Next start: 1st in the Cincy Handicap by 12 lengths - carrying 28lbs pounds more than 2nd place. The 3rd place finisher - beaten 24 lengths in a six horse field was getting a 29lbs weight break.


Obviously they wanted to make the 3yo's the stars. It's pretty amazing the weight they asked these horses to carry. Discovery carried 143lbs in the Merchants at Saratoga - he had to give 43lbs away to that years champion older mare. I don't know whats worse - giving 43lbs to a multiple champion older mare, giving 29lbs to an elite 4yo male like Top Row, or giving 13lbs to a horse who just completed a triple crown sweep. They basically tried to get these older stars beat.

Discovery is the dam sire of both Native Dancer and Bold Ruler. Which means he's like inbred multiple times to every single horse in the country.

Ruffian was triple-inbred 4-4-5 to Discovery. You'll see his name 3 times in her pedigree with blue next to it. http://www.pedigreequery.com/ruffian

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I'm just campaigning to push old Discovery into the top 700 of all-time. He's not quite there yet ...but greats such as Backtalk, It's Tea Time, Spring House (how is he not top 200?) Hooh Why, and Frost Giant, all are - and Island Sand is like 300 spots in front of him - and she hasn't raced in 7 years.

The horse was 3-for-3 in the Whitney Handicap - he won the Whitney by 10 lengths at age 3, by 10 lengths at age 5, and by 2 lengths at age 4 giving a two-time champion older mare and Seabiscuit conqueror 26lbs.

He was 3-for-3 in the Brooklyn Handicap - winning by 6 lengths at age 3 over 15-time stakes winner Dark Secret (2 Jockey Club Gold Cup wins) - winning by 8 lengths in world record time at age 4 over King Saxon (top handicap horse) and Omaha (Triple Crown winner) - and by 4 lengths under 136lbs at age 5.

He does have Uptowncharleybrown by a few positions though!