ATR Hall of Fame Debate: Gio Ponti?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I think we both need to remember how lopsided the vote is in this thread. It puts things in a more proper perspective.

It's pretty silly really, but I think I can at least explain away the poll results on the belief that most of the members of this board don't go back twenty, thirty or in your case, almost forty years (in racing), so they are incapable of having a more proper perspective.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I think we both need to remember how lopsided the vote is in this thread. It puts things in a more proper perspective.

spot on

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

He's probably worth more on the track than in the breeding shed. Our turf races are a joke -- and breeders don't fall for late running American turf horses as stallions.

Gio Ponti RNA'd real cheap as a 2yo (I believe at the FT Calder 2yo sale) -- I doubt his offspring will be prime candidates for pinhookers at yearling sales either.

I appreciate your response. Would it be reasonable then to say that turf horses typically race more years than dirt horses?

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OldDog

I appreciate your response. Would it be reasonable then to say that turf horses typically race more years than dirt horses?

Generally turf horses seem to.

IMO -- Gio Ponti has stuck around for the simple fact that he's been more valuable racing than breeding.

Had he accomplished the same success in dirt racing -- he would have been whisked away a year or two ago because he would have been worth more in a breeding shed VS a campaigning on a race track.