jumpin_catfish (Anonymous) says…

The only thing better than watching a horse race is being in a horse race.

notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

While I grieve for Eight Belles like any other animal lover, and I recognize that the sport of horse racing can be barbaric (anyone see the story about how losing horses at a track in Puerto Rico are often killed on the spot?), I also appreciate it's tremendous beauty.

I'm old enough to remember watching this fella win the Belmont on TV to clinch the Triple Crown:

http://www.secretariat.com/

I don't think I've ever seen anything so wonderful, so marvelous. 35 years later that run still holds the track record and, I believe, the world record for the distance. Watching him thunder down the home stretch - well, thunder isn't such a good word, since he almost seemed to *flow* down the track, almost swimming through the air, smooth as a billiard ball rolling across the felt of a pool table, fast and vibrant as an electric charge racing up a jacob's ladder - was unbelievably exciting, despite the fact that there wasn't another horse within 30 lengths of him. I've often thought that this is what the creator had in mind when he first thought 'horse,' that this was the template on which to base the construction and motion of all horses, the example of perfection that might, in some distant time, be equalled but never surpassed. He was a truly magnificent and majestic animal, and I can't help but believe that millions of people developed or deepened their love for horses after watching his amazing performance.

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

There is so much is life that seems profound..and then you see something so far beyond those times/records, it's truly out of this world.
____________-
liggyon (David Lignell) says…

Hey, Jumpin…

Do you actually mean racing in a horse race, or is it some kind of metaphor for a rat race. (You'll have to excuse me. It's Sunday night and I'm already angsting about the work week.)
–––––-
As life goes on, it will be interesting to see those old “decisions” being played out like a horse race. You didn't know how people truly felt, their preferences.
When you find out 25, 30 yrs later how they really felt, wanted, cherished..you'll realize the world that went on that you didn't know about. Human comunication, or the restrictions there on..really hamper true feelings, and what may come of that.
There is the real agnst..what might have been with others you were so much more suited for.

notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Pretty poor video quality, but worth a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoFquax2F…

Or this one from the Kentucky Derby:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RGPGVuMh…

I was just reading this interview with Penny Chenery where they asked her if the world had ever really gotten to see him run. She said it probably did that day at Belmont Park, since Turcotte had decided to just hold on and let him go. The author of the article commented that what Turcotte got from that decision was nearly having his hair set on fire.

There used to be this commercial for Belmont Park that played constantly on WOR-9 and WPIX-11 in New York City. It had Secretariat running along in slow motion with this lilting piano music (that's a pretty famous classical piece I can't remember the name of to save my life), again, I have to believe he was meant to be the prototype. And also again, somehow I doubt the creator would be overly happy with the way we treat some of her children (on 2 or 4 legs), but for those 2-1/2 minutes in June 35 years ago, she must have had a smile about a universe-wide, watching one of her kids do so well what he was made to do, meant to do, and apparently loved to do, so much better than it had ever been done - for just one of her creatures to, just once, be the absolute best he was capable of being.

riverdrifter (Anonymous) says…

I just got back from KC, having flown in from a trip to Baltimore for the races at Pimlico. My sister & her husband live there and we often go to raceday. Lots of beautiful people (er, women). Strictly small-time bettor, I had $260 to throw away at the track and my betting on the under-card races was trash, nothing. I saved $120 for the Preakness.
I bet three $40 trifectas, all with Big Brown winning. Two were complete fairy tales but the one I copied from my bro-in-law wasn't: 7-1-3. Second time I've ever hit one. A $2 bet paid $336.80. Do your own math. The gal at the window scanned my ticket and said the best thing I've ever heard at a track: “Sir, do you by any chance have a Paypal account?”
“Yes.”
I've never gone to Belmont & never will. I wish that that race would be moved to Saratoga.

I was on the infield at Pimlico when Secretariat came by the ~3/4 mile pole, pretty much alone and he made the ground shake. A Sports Illustrated photographer got a great shot of dude, looking though his blue & white blinkers about then: left eye on the rail, right eye cast off just a bit, to make sure nobody was coming up.
He was only “running” though. Yeah right.

TopJayhawk (Anonymous) says…

No I won't be watching. I'm tired of watching proud, noble animals destroy themselves for our entertainment. Something is wrong in the blue grass state. I'm thinking overbreeding.

BigAl (Anonymous) says…

justbegintowrite says: “I have dreams sometimes of taking all winners of the Triple Crown and watching them race against each other. Who do you think would win that one? I am guessing the name starts with an S!”

I don't think it would even be all that close. I think you are absolutely correct in that the name would begin with an “S”. I believe that Secretariat would win going away.

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Or maybe Swale, or Seattle slew, his proud papa.

This morning I wondered. I know show dogs (male) seem to know that if they win, they are going to “get some”.
I wonder if the same holds true for horses. Do they know that if they win, they get more chances to breed?

I bet if you asked any horse to run a race in order to “get some” they would knock people down to get to the starting line.

tvc (Anonymous) says…

No, I have never watched it. Run for me…amuse me…I just don’t get it. It seems self-important.

tvc (Anonymous) says…

We are both projecting our feelings onto the horse. You are assuming the horse enjoys racing. I am assuming the horse has a desire to be free because I likewise have a desire for freedom. I love to ride my bicycle, but I make the choice of when, where and how fast to ride. Truthfully, neither of us knows the horses will, but we can both agree that the horses did not all agree to meet there for a little fun competitive race…that was human will.

tvc (Anonymous) says…

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. I think the same could be applied to racing.

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

tvc~ I respect your position, but do have one personal observation on whether horses love to run or compete.

Many years ago, in my home state, I had a good friend who trained racing quarter horses. Nothing big time—his horses raced over a modest circuit in the area. I used to spend a lot of time at the stables, watching Mike work with the horses, watching them train, sometimes walking them down after a workout.

One time he had me cool down an exceptional filly who had just had a good workout. I was up on another horse, leading the racing filly down a dirt lane. We had reached the end of the lane and turned back—she was breathing easily and walking at a leisurely pace.

All of a sudden, Mike came tearing out of the arena on another horse, came halfway down the lane, yelled something, turned, and galloped his mount back to the arena. I didn't hear what he said (and at this point, I don't even remember what was going on), but the racehorse beside me went from zero to 60 instantly, tore the reins out of my hand and blazed back to the arena to catch the horse she'd seen running in front of her. The cooling had to start all over again. Mike was kicking himself because (of course) he should've known better.

The sight of another horse ahead of her ignited her engines—there is no way I could've held her reins without being torn off my mount and flying behind her like a banner!

There is a lot of valid criticism about training methods, drugging, and the breeding of race horses—especially thoroughbreds with their delicate, fine legs—but make no mistake: the animal is born to run and wants to run in front. The sport of horse racing was born out of observing the horse's natural propensities, not out of humans wanting to mold a sedate animal to become a driven runner.

Notajayhawk~ I'm old enough to remember seeing Secretariat run, too, although I was too young to truly appreciate what I was seeing at the time. I loved reading your comments about him here! Yours, too, Riverdrifter. I was just telling my husband the other day, Secretariat wasn't really a horse—he was a god and a machine all rolled into one magnificent, perfect equine body. I think he could have taken Whirlaway, Citation, War Admiral, Kelso, and any other of the “greats,” before or after his time.

He absolutely loved to run and that is not anthropomorphizing, any more than it is anthropomorphizing to look at your dog's shining eyes, wriggling body, and wagging tail when you come home and conclude he's just a little glad to see you.

Yes, we decide the when & where, but no force on earth could stop one of those animals from tearing out of the gate and putting everything into getting into the homestretch ahead of the others once that gate opens.

Reform racing—don't eliminate it. Same could be said of a lot of sports and other human endeavors.

logicsound04 (Anonymous) says…

Horse racing—the only “sport” where the athletes don't get to choose if they participate or not.

I don't find a horse's natural desire to gallop a valid excuse to capitalize on that tendency by creating a human sport surrounding it.

If horses like to gallop, then raise them on a farm where they have the chance to do so at their leisure. Horses don't require a rider to enjoy galloping—let's not pretend like the horses get any benefit out of racing that they wouldn't otherwise be able to get without it.

The only way to truly reform racing is to eliminate the betting, and therefore the incentive to push your thoroughbred to the limit. And if we did that, then I suspect horseracing would go the way of the Dodo.

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Py, the story of the horse taking off really brought back a lot of memories!
I too have been on many horses that decided they needed to catch up to, out-run, or get after another horse.
I prefer the first two, being on one that decides to take a bite out of another is sometimes scary.

notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

“Thanks again! You have to wonder what he would have done if he had competition!”

There was really no competition in the Derby for him, either. Yes, he started dead last. But it's not as if he had to 'make his move' like the commentary in the clip said. Another of the comments noted that he ran each successive quarter faster than the last (I'd have to verify that, but I do know the final quarter was faster than the fourth). It's as if the other horses weren't even there - he just left the gate and kept accelerating - for 1-1/4 miles!

And incidentally, the horse that stayed with him for half the Belmont was Sham, the same horse who he edged out in the Derby. Sham was no slouch, I believe he also came in under the old Derby record when he placed. But his reward for daring to try and keep up with Big Red for the 1-1/2 mile Belmont was tiring to finish last.

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

“He absolutely loved to run and that is not anthropomorphizing, any more than it is anthropomorphizing to look at your dog's shining eyes, wriggling body, and wagging tail when you come home and conclude he's just a little glad to see you.”

In the Belmont, when Turcotte stood up in the saddle, you can almost imagine Secretariat thinking “Hey, sit your butt down, we're still going here. Let's go around again!”

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

“I wonder if the same holds true for horses. Do they know that if they win, they get more chances to breed?”

They don't even have to win. Sometimes they just have to have the right bloodlines. I found this story on Secretariat's website - it's about his half brother Straight Flush, foaled from the same mare but sired by Riva Ridge. Apparently he was built just like his older sibling, but didn't have the same spark. It's a little sad, that he almost went to the dog food can, but wonderful that he was saved and allowed to live out his life - he just died last year at 32. I know there's organizations that rescue greyhounds, I didn't realize anyone cared about any of these old horses.

http://www.secretariat.com/brother.html

(BTW, Ronda - Secretariat was a biter.)

riverdrifter (Anonymous) says…

“All horse players die broke.” -Damon Runyun
Eh, maybe. Not so far.

What Kentucky Derby winner is buried in Kansas? Googlers not allowed!
Oh, well, have at it…

riverdrifter (Anonymous) says…

We leave flowers, as do many others, more than ever before, on Derby Day in May at this grave site in PV.

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrin
http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/…

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

oh great, this will make you cry.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/pet/manow…

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

And a photo for the men, Lady Godivas
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1988242/…

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

You got me, MD! Get out the hankies!

As a child, I read everything about horses that I could get my hands on, and Man O' War really captured my heart and imagination. It's good to know that that Big Red is still not forgotten.

I didn't realize that the birthdays of Man O' War and Secretariat were just a day apart (give or take a few years!), which is another coincidence to go along with their shared chestnut coloring and phenomenal track abilities. Reincarnation, anyone? ;-)

Some more reading: http://horseracing.about.com/cs/famousho…

Ronda, I think retired racing thoroughbreds would be too high-strung to be retrained as therapy horses for kids, but surely they could have some purpose in their retirement years and are deserving of respect and loving care. I'm all for your collective horse retirement farm! Now we just need some backers with deep pockets. Anyone know if Bill Gates has a soft spot for horses? Dang… he could save them all from the glue factory and still have enough pocket change left to feed every starving child in Africa, Myanmar, China, and India for a year!

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

That's funny—my friends and I used to pretend we were horses, too. Or pretend we were riding them. Sometimes our bikes were our horses.

If you take to hanging around the track, trolling for wealthy horse-farm funders, don't forget your big hat! ;-)

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Pywacket says
Reincarnation, anyone? ;-)
–––––-
I can't remember which dog right now, but I had a dog that I was certain was a reincarnated human of high intelligence. I wish I could remember the reasons, as this sounds silly standing alone, but at the time, I would mention that to my friends who knew the dog, and they would laugh, but nod eagerly, understanding how if it could happen, that it was likely with that dog.

Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

You made me remember this about a post R_I made on BBQ. They were talking rubs, and he posted, cherry jello.
It stuck me in a funny, clicking in my brain as in there is more to this that makes it humorous.
I finally remembered that jello is made from hides (etc) and to “coat” the ribs/meat with jello was kind of like taking off a coat to put it right back on.

notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

“I didn't realize that the birthdays of Man O' War and Secretariat were just a day apart (give or take a few years!), which is another coincidence to go along with their shared chestnut coloring and phenomenal track abilities. Reincarnation, anyone?”

I read somewhere - might have been in the story I linked to about Secretariat's brother - that all thoroughbreds have the same 'official' birthday.

Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

notajayhawk~ That is correct! I remember being puzzled by that January 1 rule when I first learned about it as a kid. Now I look at it just as a “cut-off” date for deciding which year a colt or filly can run in which races—sort of like kids' baseball (if your child will be 8 by June 15th, he'll be in such-and-such league…).

I do love hats, Ronda. I don't wear them so much in Kansas, as I hate dealing with the wind, but when I was younger, I wore hats all the time—caps, fedoras, vintage 30s and 40s hats (my faves!). I'm not so much for the big picture hats (or garden hats, as they're sometimes called). Maybe because they were over-used in the 70s. I remember having to wear one of those in at least a couple of 70s weddings I was in. Those, and the awful bridesmaid dresses, were useless after the ceremony.

Current favorite hat: little brown houndstooth newsboy cap with unique detailing and luscious apple-green satin lining. Wore it around all fall and will probably pull it out again in September, since I don't give a rat's …. whether something is still in fashion or not. I don't have a spring hat, but I always try on a couple if I have a few idle minutes to waste at Dillards or Macy's.

I adore the outrageous hats Audrey Hepburn wore in “Breakfast at Tiffany's.” Now, if I had a face like that, I could see framing it in a big picture hat! ;-)