Breeders Cup 2022 - Keeneland

[penelopeandthecats]

I keep talking about the quality of horses that I used to see and what really constituted a quality field of competitors to me.

. Here is an example the 1973 Marlboro Cup where FIVE of the eight horses running were already champions and Everyone was a major Stakes 1 stakes winner ( multiple times). All of the horses had MORE than just 2 stakes victories and had run more than 6 times.

The 2022 Breeders cup does not compare to this field. I am stuck in the past of what racing used to be. But it was GREAT!

The Racing Hub Marlboro Cup of Champions
Marlboro Cup of Champions

Marlboro Cup of Champions

23 September, 2013 6:14 PM
28 Comments

[libgrrl]

I remember that well. I think I have said before that my alltime favorite racehorse was Forego. I am absolutely gutted that I never had a chance to see him at the Horse Park. The first race I remember watching on TV was Riva Ridge’s Kentucky Derby.

That said, THOSE horses were pampered as hell, compared to the horses from earlier in the last century. Exterminator had 50 wins out of 100 starts!! Forego ran 57 times – of course, he was a gelding, and I’m not too sure that folks that are quick to criticize horse sports would be too keen on the fact that they kept racing him as long he was raced, knowing how crippled he was. Stallion prospects are now (since Secretariat) more valuable as stallions than they are as racehorses. Sad, but true. I can accept that.

[penelopeandthecats]

My best friend’s favorite was Forego. I loved Cougar and Dehlia. My sister loved Wajima, Affirmed, and Seattle Slew. I was a Foolish pleasure and Genuine Risk fan and struggled with Ruffian. I loved Cigar and Alydar AND of course Seattle Slew. There were so many good horses with a high percentage rightfully ending up in the Saratoga Hall of Fame. My favorite of the old timers? Whirlaway! I loved his talent and quirkiness. He kind of reminds me of Rich Strike

I get it, it is a VERY different sport, Thanks for the reminder. I guess one had to be there to understand what “greatness” was in the sport. Most likely, I’ll never see a truly great racehorse again, AS you reminded to to it is just too expensive and the horse are just too valuable to race.

[ASB_Stars]

@libgrrl

I remember that well. I think I have said before that my alltime favorite racehorse was Forego. I am absolutely gutted that I never had a chance to see him at the Horse Park. The first race I remember watching on TV was Riva Ridge’s Kentucky Derby.

The race was incredible.

I was blessed to see Forego at the Park. I have pictures of him that I took back then. If I get a chance, I will dig them up, and post some. He was a grand horse.

[libgrrl]

I’d love to see them!!

[ASB_Stars]

@penelopeandthecats

My favorite of the old timers?

I love the trainer- Jones- describing Wacky Whirly as “nervous as a long tail cat, in a room full of rocking chairs”. Whirly did have a very long tail.

[libgrrl]

I loved reading those stories of the greats from the 19th and mid-20th centuries. I had Peter Chew’s “Kentucky Derby – the First 100 Years,” and read it OVER and OVER as a kid.

[penelopeandthecats]

. A reminder of what a great horse is. I love the old Whirly tapes.

Whirlaway

Personalities of the 13 Triple Crown Winners

[penelopeandthecats]

Here is my answer I am not the only one that feels Flightline and his competition are overrated.

.https://paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/tinky-flightline-an-all-time-great-not-so-fast-ray/

[keepthelegend]

Smoofox I am so happy that I checked in on this forum and this topic as I rarely am on here! I was your table mate on Saturday and have often thought about you since! What an amazing day that was and to meet someone who remembers all those old races and horses was so much fun. I loved your reading your recap and how polite you are to not mention the run together name we laughed about Isitingood! Of course it was meant to be “I sit in good!”

Our spot at the rail was the best place to be as it perfectly captured the iconic final turn of Flightline and Life Is Good. I watch my phone video of it literally every day!

It was so great to meet you and I think another trip is needed to Lexington!

[paint_hunter]

A colleague is from Oklahoma and he uses that phrase all the time! Never heard it until I met him. Love it!

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Good article:

GOAT Talk Matters Not in Wake of Flightline Ride

[smoofox]

@keepthelegend

Smoofox I am so happy that I checked in on this forum and this topic as I rarely am on here! I was your table mate on Saturday and have often thought about you since! What an amazing day that was and to meet someone who remembers all those old races and horses was so much fun. I loved your reading your recap and how polite you are to not mention the run together name we laughed about Isitingood! Of course it was meant to be “I sit in good!”

Our spot at the rail was the best place to be as it perfectly captured the iconic final turn of Flightline and Life Is Good. I watch my phone video of it literally every day!

It was so great to meet you and I think another trip is needed to Lexington!

OMG!! This ^ is an amazing person, y’all!!

Is I Sit In Good any better than Is It In Good? You made my day! Things have gone terribly wrong here ever since I got back and I am clinging to the memory of those magical two days.

I have amazing video of Lava Man and Hot Rod Charlie - with HRC basically keeping Lava Man calm… and Flightline as they warmed up in front of us. I need to edit the Lava video down - it is too long to post here! I did not get any vid of Flightline and Life Is Good coming around the turn - I was mesmerized and had nothing between me and them - well, except for the outside rail and a chunk of track.

Ninepoundhammer!

And yes, I need to get back to Lexington.

[bingbingbing]

Thanks for sharing. Loved reading about the different personalities. I especially got a kick out of this: Gallant Fox was extremely curious. He would sometimes pause on his walk to the track just to look around. He was left in the gate in second start of his career because he was distracted by an airplane passing by.

[ASB_Stars]

Great update on Domestic Spending. I’ve had two horses with fractured pelvis’. They both were great being ridden later. I have no clue as to how bad his injury was. It would be great if he could have a second career. He’s a bit young for retirement, unless there is no other choice.

Domestic Spending 'Happy' at Dell Ridge Farm

[Tha_Ridge]

Yeah, since he’s a gelding, I’d some to see somewhere like New Vocations have the ability to place him.