The Best turf/dirt horse in the last 50 years?

[Cannon Shell]

I asked Eddie Maple one time who was the best horse you ever rode and was sure he was going to say Devils Bag. He said hands down, Secretariat. I had forgotten he rode him in Canada in his last race

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I asked Eddie Maple one time who was the best horse you ever rode and was sure he was going to say Devils Bag. He said hands down, Secretariat. I had forgotten he rode him in Canada in his last race

yeah, turcotte was suspended i believe.

As for Sec, it's a tired discussion on here and is in the reading room. Yes I think he is overrated

how absurd.
you think a long campaign makes a horse better? affirmed success was a hard knocker who was able to run for several years, doesn't make him a top horse. for him to be included in a thread about the best turf/dirt horse in the last 50 years is laughable at best.

if you're going to be a polemicist, at least make an honest effort.

[Gaelic Storm]

Vanlandingham won Grade 1's on both turf and dirt in the year he was the champion older horse. He's no Secretariat but belongs in the conversation with some of the others.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Gaelic Storm

Vanlandingham won Grade 1's on both turf and dirt in the year he was the champion older horse. He's no Secretariat but belongs in the conversation with some of the others.

after seeing some of the horses mentioned, i guess just about any belong at this point. but better than john henry? no.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Danzig

after seeing some of the horses mentioned, i guess just about any belong at this point. but better than john henry? no.

Sure seems he has to rate as #1

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by geeker2

Sure seems he has to rate as #1

i wrote that in my post since it was the original question. it seemed like it was forgotten as the actual point of the thread, at least where randall is concerned.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i wrote that in my post since it was the original question. it seemed like it was forgotten as the actual point of the thread, at least where randall is concerned.

Did you not read my stream of consciousness post? I was thinking about a horse who would be just as likely to run turf and dirt in graded stakes....plus he was a favorite of mine. Maybe you have favorites too.

[Revidere]

I'm not sure they would be put into the "best" category but here were some I remember running very well on both surfaces:

Pearl Necklace (although she never raced against the boys)
Late Bloomer
Bowl Game Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt

How about a fun horse like Effervescing? Wins the American Handicap on July 4th on the grass, then wins the Citation 5 days later on the dirt, beating eventual Eclipse award winning sprinter Dr. Patches. One of D. Wayne's first big thoroughbred accomplishments.

Best to me were Waya and Secretariat.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Did you not read my stream of consciousness post? I was thinking about a horse who would be just as likely to run turf and dirt in graded stakes....plus he was a favorite of mine. Maybe you have favorites too.

i do have favorites. however, i'm not about to call them 'great' because i like them.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Danzig

after seeing some of the horses mentioned, i guess just about any belong at this point. but better than john henry? no.

Vanlandingham actually was VERY good ( he is somewhat the horse that put Shug on the map ), though his big turf win was in the DC International over an extraordinarily boggy turf course. For some reason, I think his other big turf win was at Hollywood Park. But, make no mistake, he was very good.

[Soaring Softly]

Just for kicks, I'll throw in the name of Perrault. He finished first in the Big Cap, won the Hollywood Gold Cup, won the San Luis Rey (then GI Turf) defeating John Henry, and won the Arlington Million in 1:58 and change. He was pretty good on both surfaces.

It's tough to beat old John' though. He's still the only horse to win both the Santa Anita Handicap AND the Arlington Million twice. And in addition to his wins in the San Juan Capistrano, Oak Tree Invitational (3X), and NY's Turf Classic, he managed to throw in a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup just for fun.

I don't know about 50 years, but it's hard to think of a horse that was better on both surfaces in the last 35 or 40 years than John Henry.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Vanlandingham actually was VERY good ( he is somewhat the horse that put Shug on the map ), though his big turf win was in the DC International over an extraordinarily boggy turf course. For some reason, I think his other big turf win was at Hollywood Park. But, make no mistake, he was very good.

oh, i know he was good. you'll get no argument from me on that score.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dugout

Lure won the Wood..BC mile

Or not.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Or not.

i don't know that he even ran in the wood. won the gotham, ran in the lexington and left the triple crown trail after that effort.