Top 5 greatest failures I've seen among racehorses

Antitrust32 · #1 10-16-2009, 09:58 AM

I think that grey Canadian horse (i think a stronach) that won the Withers I believe and everyone was saying he was going to be the next Bernardini. I think he would qualify.

Sightseek · #2 10-16-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I think that grey Canadian horse (i think a stronach) that won the Withers I believe and everyone was saying he was going to be the next Bernardini. I think he would qualify.

Harlem Rocker?

DaTruth · #3 10-16-2009, 10:13 AM

I really enjoy your various lists. Thank you for posting them. One thing I will note about the above list is all the horses had competent trainers. Their detours from the path to greatness were the results of circumstances more than boneheaded training decisions. That might be a good topic for a future list-budding superhorses ruined by their trainers.

The Indomitable DrugS · #4 10-16-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaTruth

I really enjoy your various lists. Thank you for posting them. One thing I will note about the above list is all the horses had competent trainers. Their detours from the path to greatness were the results of circumstances more than boneheaded training decisions. That might be a good topic for a future list-budding superhorses ruined by their trainers.

Yeah - a lot of trainers have sabotaged some pretty decent horses.

I think you'll see a lot more of that now than before ... the reason is because of synthetic surfaces. You'll see horses who are much better on one particular surface wasting away on a surface that isn't there preferred surface.

#5 10-16-2009, 10:24 AM

Neil Howard and competence is a questionable combination.

LARHAGE · #6 10-16-2009, 10:34 AM

Geesh Discreet Cat has a well documented throat problem after returning from Dubai, I would hardly call him a failure. I also look for him to have a hugely successful stud career, he was a very nice horse.

The Indomitable DrugS · #7 10-16-2009, 11:16 AM

I think he will be a very good stallion as well.

War Pass is another who I think might rank top 5 on a lot of lists. I wasn't as big a fan of his good races as the huge numbers would suggest ... but he still was an outstanding 2yo - who came apart at 3.

Antitrust32 · #8 10-16-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Harlem Rocker?

yes

The Indomitable DrugS · #9 10-16-2009, 10:19 AM

Harlem Rocker crossed the wire first in the Cigar Mile the last time he raced. The Cigar is the same track and distance as the Withers. I would say he was a failure ... but no way did he ever appear on the path to greatness.

Getting back to Afternoon Deelites ... the 111 Beyer he got in the Hollywood Futurity is, to the best of my knowledge, the fastest two-turn dirt number ever published for a 2yo on a fast track.

I think most people would have guessed Street Sense's 10 length BC Juvie win would be the fastest .. but that was only a 108.

It's not just the figure for AD though ... that was his first lifetime start in a route race. He won the race with disdainful ease in 1:40 3/5ths and looked like routing would be his thing and not sprinting. 2nd place was beaten 6.5 lengths. 3rd place beaten 16.5 lengths.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c08XH52OHc

The winner was being compared to Seattle Slew ... but it was the obliterated 2nd place finisher who would sweep the Fla Derby, Ky Derby, Belmont, and Travers as a 3yo the following year.