Update on DS
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This is so encouraging!
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I did not realize until now that Domestic Spending is a gelding. Hope he makes a great recovery and has a great life of leisure.
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At Lanes End, there is a muck tub and shovel in front of each and every stall in the stallion barn, so I suspect you are right!
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I am sorry, but claims made here cannot be supported by facts. First of all, he does not believe that the older champions would not enter the race rested, ready, and at their best. At the end of the race, racing luck as much as talent chance will choose the winner. There is no way of knowing which horse would prevail in such a competition
He mentions that this race had a “b” group. Even much I adore Richie, I must concur. Two of the horses in this group stood out significantly from the rest. (Leaving out Epicenter.) He defeated an average group of horses in reality. By itself, his performance was breathtaking, but let’s not pretend that he defeated potential Hall of Famers. In my opinion that was a pretty weak group of horses, talent-wise. I have seen stronger races in the past.
The most impressive Breeders Cup I saw was Zenyatta’s victory. her style of racing was such that she was a disadvantage and of course, a mare competing against the male group. She still won!!!
AGREED. And her second Breeders Cup was actually more impressive, considering the ground she made up when Mike Smith had her too far back. I still believe he did not think that the first flight of horses (including Blame) were as far ahead of the second group as they were… and still - she almost did it. Smith knew he screwed up…
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Can you be more specific? I am not sure that I understand what you are saying.
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Awesome Again in 1998 faced probably the most accomplished field ever in a Classic.
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AGREE! I remember the Belmont Champion Series which was by invitation only that proceeded the Breeders Cups. Only the most accomplished horses were INVITED to compete in those races. Talk about Talent!!! The Marlboro Classic was the equivalent of the Breeders Cup Classic, those horses were amazing, no tier 2 competitors in any of the races. I get it … times and racing have changed.
I am so tired of people comparing Flightline to Secretariat. Even now confirming that his stride is bigger than Big Red. In all honesty; they’re not even comparable and Big Red is in a field of his own.
I think Flightline is a very impressive horse. Impressive enough to be emotion inducing. But for me, horses like Gun Runner and Curlin have far more impressive career stats than Flightline. and American Pharoahs’ Classic was much more emotion inducing to me considering all he had accomplished by that point.
One of my favorite Breeders Cup races is Songbird vs Beholder. One of the best races to ever play out at the track.
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Agreed 100%! He is impressive in part. because those he raced against were NOT that impressive. It’s kind of like a gold medal Olympics sprinter or miler racing me. Flightline was impressive himself and I would have loved to have seen more of him, but that is it.
Flightline was managed VERY well and his trainer understood him VERY well, but it is not very impressive to me if the horse can make it to the track to race only three times a year. If he was better than Secretariat, then why was he not competitive as a Three-year-old and why didn’t he win the Triple Crown; last year?
Also, we have no idea what Secretariat would have been like as a 4-year-old! He would have had the time to grow and mature more, we only know him as a three-year-old. It seems kind of weird to be comparing a 4 yr old older horse to a still-growing 3-year-old colt.
Did I mention Scretaiart did dirt and turf? Not many horses can do that! I am tired of the comparisons too. Particularly when they make no sense.
How many track records did Flightline set? Secretriat I think still has at least three and that is nearly 50 years ago.
I’m amused by everyone who complains about people comparing the two horses and who then, in their next sentence, proceeds to compare them as well.
All great racehorses are different from one another. They run against different horses, during different decades, on tracks with differing conditions (and under different medication rules and the enforcement thereof.)
I can understand why people who are not horse people (ie the general public) pooh-pooh Flightline out of ignorance. However, every TB enthusiast who looks at his movement, his conformation, his breeding and his attitude, is duly impressed by him and most don’t feel the need to bicker about comparisons to horses past. I am grateful to have seen so many great racehorses run in my lifetime (including Secretariat’s incredible Belmont win) and can’t imagine wanting to disparage any of them.
Flightline is an extraordinary TB racehorse and we are lucky to have seen him race. He has beaten the best horses of his time and I wish we could have seen him race for longer, but he really has nothing left to prove at this point.
I hope he’ll pass on his ability and his conformation.
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Have to say I am still crying over Cody’s Wish. Found myself re-watching the replays this morning bawling my eyes out all over again.
Mega props to Bill Mott and his team and Godolphin for allowing Cody and his family to enjoy this horse and come and visit him as they wish. It speaks volumes of the class of their operation. Even the jock said in the paddock that the horse would not stop for photos and was dragging them over to the wheelchair and it wasn’t until they let him see Cody that he settled down and would politely stand for all the photos they wanted. I was crying as they came down the stretch but the tears started flowing when all of the broadcasters couldn’t speak themselves. So very special
for those that would like to re-watch the full Dirt Mile and the presentation here it is:
Breeders’ Cup 2022: Dirt Mile (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports - YouTube
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He is so beautifully balanced and just floats over the ground.
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Thanks for sharing, but can’t open your links. Take care.
I am trying to “gift” the article. See if this works.
Thanks. That’s the one I was trying to “gift”.
So the link worked? I can’t tell because I subscribe to the NYTimes and would be able to see it anyway.
I thought it was sensible and well-written. The writer, Joe Drape, has not been kind to horse racing in the past and never goes overboard for horses. As I have stated before, I am not going to compare Flightline to other horses–I just enjoyed him as he is/was. When he took off in the Pacific Classic I was in my living room crying my eyes off. Luckily, DH is used to that sort of thing.
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