Virtual Kentucky Derby = NBC 5/2

[Plenilune]

First, here are two VERY good documentaries when Thoroughbreds were really true race horses:

Citation – who was freaking phenomenal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1803k520Mi0&t=9s

Whirlaway was amazing, brat that he was:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50pQR3AYv8

Second, TC winners prior to Secretariat ran such different conditions and careers I'm not sure how to estimate the older horses versus post 1973. That means iron versus aluminum shoes, training strategies, number of races run at two and three, lots of things. Older horses were RACED, not babied, not like today where they are raced maybe seven times a year, then of course retired at the end of their three year old lives. Older horses were sometimes raced with one week's rest and still won! Citation ran 29 times as a two year old! He won 19 from 20 races as a three year old!

Third, how is the program for the virtual race written. Is there really a random program? Or is it based on their 2 and 3 year old races and applied to the outcome? How could that be, since older horses ran more races prior to the KY Derby than post 1973? Maybe I'm way off base as I have not looked at all the horses' careers. It's just my perception that the older horses were tested, tried and true, more than post 1973.

That being said, because he's my Thoroughbred hero and sparked my love of horse racing, I want Secretariat to win. I have to admit his Preakness was my favorite, the way he passed all those horses in the first turn as if they were just jogging and he was steam rolling along.

Yet, I would be extremely happy if Citation won. Talk about a tremendous machine! Wow! Watch that video link. What a story, both human and equine. Got to give a lot of respect to both for Citation and his connections.