Derby VS Twin Spires - '71-to-'80

[The Indomitable DrugS]

For a time in the old days - they would run an 8.5f race for 3-year-olds called 'The Twin Spires Purse' one race before the KY Derby every year. The Twin Spires would translate into about a 75K ungraded Stakes today .. though it's placement late on the Derby card would make it an attractive race.

I have charts for the '71 through '80 runnings - minus '72. Believe it or not - one year, the Twin Spires actually went faster than Derby....


1980: Twin Spires: 1:44.40 (Stutz Blackhawk 1.25 lengths over Sun Catcher) Derby: 2:02.00 (Genuine Risk)

1979: 1:46.00 (Seethreepeo by 6 lengths over Good and Early) - Derby: 2:02.40 (Spectacular Bid)

1978: 1:43.40 (Batonnier by 8 lengths over Julep Cup) - Derby: 2:01.20 (Affirmed)

1977: 1:44.60 (Satan's Thunder dead-heat with A letter to Harry) - 2:02.20 Seattle Slew

1976: 1:44.80 (No Link Neck over Dream N' be Lucky) - Bold Forbes 2:01.60

1975: 1:44.40 (Ruggle's Ferry by 7 over Marauding) - Foolish Pleasure 2:02.00

1974: 1:43.40 (Silver Florin by 6 over Don't be late Jim) - 2:04.00 Cannonade

1973: 1:43.80 (Knightly Dawn by 2 over Crimson Falcon) - 1:59.40 Secretariat

1972: No result charts

1971: 1:43.60 (Nalees Man by 4 over Secret Control) - 2:03.20 (Canonero II)


By speed figure - fastest Kentucky Derby winners in relation to the Twin Spires winner:

Secretariat +39 over Knightly Dawn
Spectacular Bid +34 over Seethreepeo
Bold Forbes +30 over No Link
Foolish Pleasure +23 over Ruggle's Ferry
Seattle Slew +23 over Dead Heat winners
Genuine Risk +23 over Stutz Blackhawk
Affirmed +19 over Batonnier
Cannonero II +5 over Nalees Man
Cannonade -4 VS Silver Florin

I believe Silver Florin was the lone Twin Spires winner to subquently win two Graded Stakes that year. And the Derby that year did have a record field size - but still - Jesus the '74 Derby was a slow race.

Affirmed really gets cheated in this comparison because 8-length winner Batonnier was a solid horse - winning the Gr 3 Illinois Derby and running 2nd in the Grade 1 Swaps. Batonnier is maybe best known for siring Cavonnier - who came within a nose of winning the KY Derby.


Here's the relationship between Derby winner over Twin Spires 2nd place finisher - from fastest to slowest.


Spectacular Bid +44
Secretariat +42
Foolish Pleasure +35
Affirmed +32
Bold Forbes +30
Genuine Risk +25
Seattle Slew +23
Cannonero II +12
Cannonade +6

Foolish Pleasure might be best remembered for being the other horse in the match race against Ruffian where Ruffian broke down - but damn - he was a pretty friggen nice race horse.

After Foolish Pleasure won the KY Derby - his record stood at 11 wins from 12 starts. 9 of those 11 wins coming in Stakes race. He won the Wood Memorial from the 15 post-position in his final Derby prep. He was voted the 2-year-old champion the year prior.

Though he failed to win the Preakness and Belmont and was not a great older horse - he did have a win over the great Forego on his resume and was a multiple Grade 1 winning 4-year-old.