What is (was) a race horse?

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Dixie Porter

Answer: Carry Back

Breeding - Saggy/Joppy
Trainer - Jack Price
Racing: Ran and won everywhere against all comers. Beat Kelso @ his best, fair and square.
Retired: Sound as a bell of brass.

I like the quote Billy Turner made posted by Pup. "Good horses and good sires can't be bred, they just show up". Wish I said that first.............

Fred Hooper: "Good horses make good trainers" Damn right Hoop.........

I would like to see some opinions of who were REAL race horses.

Hopefully the Grand Master will help me out here.

BTW, there are TWO reasons and ONLY TWO reasons why today's thoroughbreds are a sad joke.

1) Inbreeding
2) Drugs

Skip Away was a real racehorse.

[timmgirvan]

How about John Henry?

[sham]

Bold Ruler - as racehorse and sire, maybe the best of them all

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by sham

Bold Ruler - as racehorse and sire, maybe the best of them all

naaaah.
northern dancer or slew. i think i'd give the nod to the former, he's world-wide!!

[sham]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

naaaah.
northern dancer or slew. i think i'd give the nod to the former, he's world-wide!!

Now there is a potential topic for debate. Which was the best racehorse...which was the best sire...which was best overall, between Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, and Seattle Slew. Perhaps Native Dancer also belongs in the discussion. BTW, any of these four probably fit Dixie's criteria for real racehorses.

[paisjpq]

ruffian was a real racehorse. I don't know if she meets all of dixie's criteria but she was a real racehorse none the less.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

ruffian was a real racehorse. I don't know if she meets all of dixie's criteria but she was a real racehorse none the less.

she was that!

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

ruffian was a real racehorse. I don't know if she meets all of dixie's criteria but she was a real racehorse none the less.

What are Dixies criteria? From what I can see its merely "ran and won everywhere against all comers".

Hard for me to put Smarty Jones in with that criteria considering how little he raced.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Dixie Porter

The Grand Master is back. I appoint him to take over. I'm not gonna play teacher around here. ONLY because it's Bethani I will make this one last comment.

Ruffian was bred in DEEP PURPLE (Reveiwer/Shennanigans by Native Dancer) owned by a Blueblood, and trained by an excellent horseman (Frank Whitely).

It wasn't exactly a surprise when she could run.

The above being said, she was the GREATEST horse to ever set foot on a race track. I saw every one of her races and saw her 100's of mornings.

I knew she didn't meet your modest pedigree requirement...But I still think she deserved mention.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by sham

Now there is a potential topic for debate. Which was the best racehorse...which was the best sire...which was best overall, between Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, and Seattle Slew. Perhaps Native Dancer also belongs in the discussion. BTW, any of these four probably fit Dixie's criteria for real racehorses.

i'd say all around, i'd give it to northern dancer. when you look at what he accomplished (and the lack of mares in his book, much like bold ruler) it's just amazing. and then to have the top stakes producers all come from him--danzig with the north american record, danehill with the world record, and then sadler's wells....the diminutive stallion was a huge success--both on and off the track. and got short or long, dirt or turf...
altho seattle slew was successful (i give him the edge track-wise) i don't think he has made as big of a mark as the dancer.
i think native dancer fits as well, a fabulous runner, and raise a native has added to his legend.
bold ruler was outstanding as well...

but if you have to choose one for all around--i'd give it to the canadian sensation.

Originally Posted by Danzig188

i'd say all around, i'd give it to northern dancer. when you look at what he accomplished (and the lack of mares in his book, much like bold ruler) it's just amazing. and then to have the top stakes producers all come from him--danzig with the north american record, danehill with the world record, and then sadler's wells....the diminutive stallion was a huge success--both on and off the track. and got short or long, dirt or turf...
altho seattle slew was successful (i give him the edge track-wise) i don't think he has made as big of a mark as the dancer.
i think native dancer fits as well, a fabulous runner, and raise a native has added to his legend.
bold ruler was outstanding as well...

but if you have to choose one for all around--i'd give it to the canadian sensation.

To some extent, Slew is still a work in progress. He came on the scene thirteen years after Northern Dancer. A son with much potential is waiting in the wings: VINDICATION.

[Cajungator26]

I would say that Cicada was a real racehorse as well. I definitely wouldn't call her breeding fantastic, but she was a game filly...

[Cajungator26]

And let's not forget Exterminator.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Dixie Porter

I know you may find this astonishing, but he was before my time.

UNREAL!

(Kidding.)

[Linny]

Bid and Affirmed were professional race horses. Moderately bred they outran pedigree.
Skip Away was another, more recent example. John Henry fits as does ol' Spooky Mulder who has yet to win a graded stakes but he's a pro, no doubt. I think that Lava Man fits and his connections have been quite sporting, including a trip to Japan last fall.
The sad reality is that in today's world the only horses who stick around long enough to "take on all comers" are those of modest parentage for whom the breeding shed doesn't becon. Had Skippy been by A P Indy or Mr P or Danzig, he'd have had a much shorter career.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Linny

Bid and Affirmed were professional race horses. Moderately bred they outran pedigree.
Skip Away was another, more recent example. John Henry fits as does ol' Spooky Mulder who has yet to win a graded stakes but he's a pro, no doubt. I think that Lava Man fits and his connections have been quite sporting, including a trip to Japan last fall.
The sad reality is that in today's world the only horses who stick around long enough to "take on all comers" are those of modest parentage for whom the breeding shed doesn't becon. Had Skippy been by A P Indy or Mr P or Danzig, he'd have had a much shorter career.

That's very true... I agree completely.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Dixie Porter

Affirmed had one of the best trainers of all time. (Laz)

Buddy Delp (Bid) was a superb conditioner.

I gotta get outta here or I'll be on this thread all day.......................
I love Lava Man, but the O'Neil thing is what makes that guy go.

I threw in skip away at the beginning and you didnt address it. Does he not fit your criteria?

[MISTERGEE]

For Some Reason Forego Seems To Fit Here Very Well