Does a race horse have rivals???

Originally Posted by ELA

Ask Bob Fox -- who just joined this board today -- about Alydar and Affirmed. In later years, after Affirmed didn't become the superstar in the breeding shed, he ended up at Calumet Farm -- the home, of course, of Alydar.

I'll let Bob tell the story, but to answer your question; in certain cases -- yes!

Eric

Eric,
I assume you are referring to the legendary "races" they conducted with one another in the paddocks?
I've heard people at the farm would sit and watch them go and make side bets on them.
I wish someone had them on tape.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Eric,
I assume you are referring to the legendary "races" they conducted with one another in the paddocks?
I've heard people at the farm would sit and watch them go and make side bets on them.
I wish someone had them on tape.

I heard about those as well. There are some great stories out there. The one I was talking about was the day Affirmed arrived at Calumet. I am sure the story has been dramatized over the years but it was an interesting story nevertheless.

I don't know anything about horses trying harder specifically because another specific horse was in the race. However, it would not be hard for me to believe that certain horses, like in the case of Alydar and Affirmed, might have "brought out the best" in each other. Maybe it's semantics.

Eric

Originally Posted by ELA

I heard about those as well. There are some great stories out there. The one I was talking about was the day Affirmed arrived at Calumet. I am sure the story has been dramatized over the years but it was an interesting story nevertheless.

I don't know anything about horses trying harder specifically because another specific horse was in the race. However, it would not be hard for me to believe that certain horses, like in the case of Alydar and Affirmed, might have "brought out the best" in each other. Maybe it's semantics.

Eric

Anyone who hasn't the absolute pleasure of listening to Bob Fox talk about racing over the years, and the tales he can tell, is truly missing out.
Known him since I was young(Bob says however that I was never young, that I was born very old) and he taught me residual value on stallions and mares and how to figure it out.
Ask him about the time we had a gelding sold for top dollars and the guy selling blew it up because he tried to bribe the employee of a shiekh/prince.
That tough beat still nearly moves me to tears.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Anyone who hasn't the absolute pleasure of listening to Bob Fox talk about racing over the years, and the tales he can tell, is truly missing out.
Known him since I was young(Bob says however that I was never young, that I was born very old) and he taught me residual value on stallions and mares and how to figure it out.
Ask him about the time we had a gelding sold for top dollars and the guy selling blew it up because he tried to bribe the employee of a shiekh/prince.
That tough beat still nearly moves me to tears.

I know Bob Fox a long time. I am sure not as long as many because Bob is OLD and I am young. LOL. Anyway, Bob is a true historian of the game and the stories he tells are incredible. Perhaps the most incredible part is that many of the stories he tells -- when he is talking about the history -- he was part of it. The stories of Alydar and Affirmed and many others.

I do not know the story about the gelding being sold. I'll have to ask him.

Eric