Easy Goer's 3yo season

[smartbid09]

I feel like both of these horses places in history were diminished by running against each other in 1989. If not for Sunday Silence Easy Goer would be considered one of the greatest horses of all time - right up there with Seattle Slew, Secretariat, etc. Although Easy Goer is highly regarded today, I doubt many would call him a horse worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Secretariat.

IMO Sunday Silence benefitted more than Easy Goer did from the fact they both raced in the same year. By beating such a highly touted rival Sunday Silence earned a lot of respect. Had Easy Goer raced in the triple crown in 1989 and Sunday Silence raced in 1990 theoretically both would have won the triple crown. However, no one would believe Sunday Silence was the better horse. People would say Sunday Silence could never have beaten Easy Goer. But the fact they raced together in 1989 and SS won more than Easy Goer took one horse out of the top 10 in my opinion and put another horse slightly above him in the top 40.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by smartbid09

I feel like both of these horses places in history were diminished by running against each other in 1989. If not for Sunday Silence Easy Goer would be considered one of the greatest horses of all time - right up there with Seattle Slew, Secretariat, etc. Although Easy Goer is highly regarded today, I doubt many would call him a horse worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Secretariat.

IMO Sunday Silence benefitted more than Easy Goer did from the fact they both raced in the same year. By beating such a highly touted rival Sunday Silence earned a lot of respect. Had Easy Goer raced in the triple crown in 1989 and Sunday Silence raced in 1990 theoretically both would have won the triple crown. However, no one would believe Sunday Silence was the better horse. People would say Sunday Silence could never have beaten Easy Goer. But the fact they raced together in 1989 and SS won more than Easy Goer took one horse out of the top 10 in my opinion and put another horse slightly above him in the top 40.

Neither horse stayed sound enough to have a meaningful 4yo campaign. That was probably more damaging to either horse in terms of legacy than not winning the Triple Crown.

Because they faced each other, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer were tested thoroughly on the racetrack--the only place that should matter--where their strengths were highlighted and their weaknesses exposed.

Forget them being rated too low, others are probably rated too high.

[smartbid09]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Neither horse stayed sound enough to have a meaningful 4yo campaign. That was probably more damaging to either horse in terms of legacy than not winning the Triple Crown.

Because they faced each other, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer were tested thoroughly on the racetrack--the only place that should matter--where their strengths were highlighted and their weaknesses exposed.

Forget them being rated too low, others are probably rated too high.

I hear you. Just my opinion but I completely understand how you could look at it that way

Perhaps in time I'll change my view on the situation but as of now this is the way I feel about it.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by smartbid09

I hear you. Just my opinion but I completely understand how you could look at it that way

Perhaps in time I'll change my view on the situation but as of now this is the way I feel about it.

I think your position on the rivalry is a nice summary of what I think is wrong in the game today. I understand your point, but I couldn't possibly disagree with it more.
You say it is a shame they raced in the same year because otherwise one would have accomplished more, and be ranked higher on all-time lists, and establish a greater "place in history," etc.

My point is.....nobody should care very much about that crap.

We currently live in a 2-year period of horse racing history dominated by a horse, her connections, and her fans who cared more about those stupid things than they did about seeing how good their horse actually was/could be, or in creating a great racing product. That sucks. For me horse racing is a whole lot more interesting than horse ranking.

The sport was infinitely better served by having two great horses run against each other in 1989. Go back and watch the '89 Preakness and the '89 BCC again on youtube. Then ask yourself....is it really a shame that those races happened simply because if they hadn't Easy Goer would have been highly ranked on some list? In my opinion that's ludicrous.

[smartbid09]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I think your position on the rivalry is a nice summary of what I think is wrong in the game today. I understand your point, but I couldn't possibly disagree with it more.
You say it is a shame they raced in the same year because otherwise one would have accomplished more, and be ranked higher on all-time lists, and establish a greater "place in history," etc.

My point is.....nobody should care very much about that crap.

We currently live in a 2-year period of horse racing history dominated by a horse, her connections, and her fans who cared more about those stupid things than they did about seeing how good their horse actually was/could be, or in creating a great racing product. That sucks. For me horse racing is a whole lot more interesting than horse ranking.

The sport was infinitely better served by having two great horses run against each other in 1989. Go back and watch the '89 Preakness and the '89 BCC again on youtube. Then ask yourself....is it really a shame that those races happened simply because if they hadn't Easy Goer would have been highly ranked on some list? In my opinion that's ludicrous.

Not only is this outstanding. But it's so good it has changed my opinion. Thank you for this!