ATR Hall of Fame Debate: Gio Ponti?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Manila is certainly top 3 turf horses I've seen in my lifetime (well, racing lifetime, since around 84).

I have no idea how it took so long to get him in the HOF. Well, I do, because people are generally idiots, but still.

As I said before, GP in the HOF? *&@% *#

Part of the delay with Manila -- and many other deserving horses/trainers/jocks -- was the quirky way the HOF was admitting candidates..

[Calzone Lord]

Gio Ponti's lifetime PP's:

[Seattleallstar]

I put Gio Ponti in the Medaglia D'oro category. Was a good race horse and won its share of big races, but never really won when it counted and when faced with the absolute best.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Seattleallstar

I put Gio Ponti in the Medaglia D'oro category. Was a good race horse and won its share of big races, but never really won when it counted and when faced with the absolute best.

Never won when it counted? Two Shadwells, the Manhattan, two Man O' Wars, the Kilroe, the Arlington Million, those don't 'count'?

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Never won when it counted? Two Shadwells, the Manhattan, two Man O' Wars, the Kilroe, the Arlington Million, those don't 'count'?

What about Lava Man?

3 Hollywood Gold Cup, 2 Santa Anita Handicaps, 1 Pacific Classic ... a Grade 1 winner on dirt, turf, and synthetic.

His collection of wins absolutely dwars Gio Ponti and his resume was mostly all dirt.

He should have been a 1st ballot Hall of Famer if Gio Ponti is a lock to get in.

[postpicker]

Lava Man will get in, but it will be curious to see how he is treated, because of the never winning outside of California angle. Look how long it took Sky Beauty to get in and she basically had the same rap against her. No one is saying Gio and BTN are first ballot, but I think they will eventually get in. First ballot will be reserved for the extraordinary horses like the tag team in five years when they become eligible, Rachel and Zenyatta.

[Rudeboyelvis]

32 posts into a HoF debate before a Zenyatta reference - it's getting better.




Maybe the barometer should be ANY horse that ever finished within a length of Zenyatta gets in - no problem,,, Gio Pointi would make it (barely) on that criteria alone.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Never won when it counted? Two Shadwells, the Manhattan, two Man O' Wars, the Kilroe, the Arlington Million, those don't 'count'?

Campaigning till you are 6 and not winning a BC race is an issue.