Stonestreet Farms just posed a fun question on FB “Hey racing fans! If you were to put together a race between two horses from any point in history, who would it be and why?”
Which lead me to wonder — there are no more match races. Why? Is the risk of injury too great? Was Ruffian vs. Foolish Pleasure the last one?
PS - My answer to Stonestreet Farms’ question was Man O War vs Secretariat. What would be yours?
Yes, it’s because people are concerned about the risk of injury. I don’t know if Ruffian’s race was the last one, but I do know that’s when owners and trainers stopped wanting to participate.
The risk of injury is too great and it isn’t really representative of who is the better horse but probably most importantly they aren’t money makers at the window for either party.
Huh. Interesting.
Per Laurierace’s comment,
I wonder if it is also a reflection of how the market has become commercialized. Bloodstock is managed almost like a market portfolio. People view racehorses as investment risks - a stallion is a syndicate, performances by siblings or half-siblings can influence value in the sales ring.
Owners have to consider factors other than “My horse is faster than Yours”. The timing would make sense - If Ruffian v. FP was the last match race in 1975 and commercialization kind of started mid-1970s.
For me it would be Count Fleet versus Secretariat. Both had dominating speed, both won the TC, and both devastated their opponents. To me that pairing would decide the greatest race horse in American history.
Two speed horses are going to duel and stagger to the line so not representative, a speed horse will get an easy lead over a closer so there won’t be any early speed for the closer to close against so not representative, two closers will walk around head to head until the quarter pole then go lights out, not representative. One horse is 1-9 and one 1-5 isn’t going to get anybody excited at the windows.
Oooh interesting choice. Most of the people on FB were picking more recent stars - Zenyatta vs Rachel, AP vs. Chrome, AP vs. Secretariat. I love the nod to a super horse from another era. Very appropriate choice for #ThrowbackThursday 
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