139th Kentucky Derby - Page 2

Big Red isn't in this race.:) There'll never be another Secretariat, he was a freak of nature. But Will Take Charge is similar in his race.

Look who showed up on the backside this morning to meet Will Take Charge ...Secretariat's jockey Ron Turcotte ! See Carlin I knew it !! 



 

lol @ BE4U. Maybe he'll take the reins as well ;-) .  Secretariat or no, he's an explosive horse; can't wait to see him in the Derby.   Really though, it all leaves me in awe of nature.  For all the millions spent breeding thoroughbreds, we haven't been able to reproduce the likes of the great ones.  I guess all you can do is set yourself up on fertile ground, and hope to catch lightning in a bottle if it comes your way.  Unfortunately, I suspect genetic engineering is around the corner.

Joanro, that is a very, very cool story about watching Secretariat run while you were in the track bar!  LOL, I wasn't of drinking age then myself, but I sure do remember watching him run! For a horse crazy girl it was the ultimate. I just have to share this picture of a picture, lol, a numbered print of Secretariat, signed by Ron Turcotte, it was given to me by my folks, from some, charity silent auction, I believe. Maybe BE4U can verify the signature as real? LOL

I'm not up on who is who for this years race, so I'm taking notes from y'all!

Genetics are elusive to the point of exasperation when a horse like Secretariat hasn't been recreated...too bad they didn't have cloning at the time. Look at all the PBR bulls being cloned, hell, they've been so successful in that endeavor that a lotof bulls are virtually unridable.
I remember reading that on autopsy, Secretariat's heart was gigantic by all standards of horse hearts.

@Joanro  - yes, from what I understand, the same doctor performed the necropsy of both Sham, and Secretariat.  Though Secretariat's heart was not weighed, it was estimated to be 22 lbs, using Sham's verified 18lb heart as reference.  The oversized heart, or "X factor", is supposed to be passed on through the mare only, and is often cited as the reason Secretariat didn't reproduce himself, though was thought of as a moderate success as a broodmare sire.  I agree with you, that he was a freak, because the endurance afforded by that huge heart alone would not necessarily have produced a great race horse.

I think alot has to do with the day and age, what is legal and what isn't. Back then with Secretariat there wasn't as many laws on the tracks about what to give and what not to give a horse, drug wise. Pretty much anything could be given back then and the horse after winning didn't get tested.

Today ..  giving a horse a drug you have to give it so many days or hours out so it passes the test barn after a race. That's a HUGE difference from back in the day when say clenbuterol could be given on the way to frontside for a race.

Clenbuterol is an illegal drug now .. not illegal to use but illegal to race on.

That's why most horses break track records training now adays and not in the races. The actual races have slower times then breezeing during training hours believe it or not. Back in the day with Secretariat .. the public seen his best in the races.

JMO.

Broodmare producer is indeed what Secretariat was known for. I will say that, his babies were the most tractable and easiest to break and train...I remember commenting on one two year old colt I started under saddle could be a dressage horse, he was so easy to respond to any request, and they were solid as far as nerves and temperament...the same every day. But they wanted race horses out of them...fate would have it thatmanyof his colts end up as jumpers and even barrel racers. Also, I remember his babies were gorgeous with beautiful conformation to complement the excellent temperament and brains. Unlike babies from a horse named Full Pocket...you get any of his babies to break, you could be sure they'd be a bucker! No sweat taking Secretariat babies to the starting gate, they were calm and wouldn't be mashing your legs.

My wife always bets the favorites. Even when she wins a trifecta, it's hardly ever a large payoff. Now, I love the longshot. When I win a tri, it's massive. Money won, is so much sweeter than money worked for and earned.
   Today, I made a healthy on line wager, on "GOLDENCENTS". I wheeled him,  and have him as my key horse in different bets . While not a huge longshot, he could get a nice purse, specially if my other horse "MYLUTE", is with him.  GOLDENCENTS, is  trained by Doug (Drug) O'Neill.   Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino is a part owner and the rider, Kevin Krigger (Virgin Islands), seeks to be the first African-American rider to win the Derby since 1902.  Might be an Omen.