33 Years and Counting

[twogunsid]

From bloodhorse.com: Thirty-three years.

The number now stands out in bold type, an unimaginable figure; one that lifelong horse racing fans never imagined possible.

For many, 1978 seems like another lifetime ago. Heck, I was four years old at the time when Affirmed won the Triple Crown, still another eight years away from going to my first horse race. For me, it seems ridiculous that we've gone this long without a Triple Crown winner. For the generations before me it must seem like a now hopeless achievement.

But with another season in the books, there is no escaping the figure. Thirty-three years. For those that waited 25 years to see the immortal Secretariat break the Triple Crown drought, that must now seem like a walk in the park now. For the rest us, the younger generation, we now sit and wait like suffering Chicago Cubs fans, wondering if we'll ever see one in our lifetime.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/triplecrowntalk/archive/2011/06/17/33-years-and-counting.aspx

Vote for the 3 horses you feel should have won the triple crown but fell short. I voted for Specacular Bid, Risen Star and Smarty Jones.

[Condem]

1. Pleasant Colony, Spectacular Bid and Smarty Jones.

I LOVED Pleasant Colony. Saw him at the Darby and Preakness. I was severly bummed when Smarty got beat.

[twogunsid]

2. I almost picked Afleet Alex over Smarty...

Pleasant Colony was a very nice horse. I loved The Bid and I still think he was the greatest racehorse I ever saw. I'll go to my grave believing that.

[Condem]

3. I'll go to my grave thankful that I had the chance to witness Secretariat.

I still remember the seagulls at Belmont. Because they were the only living thing close to him, that day.

[twogunsid]

4. Secretariat was a great horse...

one of the immortals. I know everyone loves his Belmont, for me though, I think his Preakness showed his greatness even more. When he went after the leaders on that first turn and he dug in, his back feet thumping his girth as he powered around the track. Damn.

My love of racing started 2 years before he won the TC. I was a huge fan of his stablemate, Derby and Belmont winner, Riva Ridge.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. Spectacular Bid alone

I couldn't make a case for any of the others. Triple Crown winners are supposed to be the absolute elite, the legends, the freaks. Only Bid fell short in the 40+ years I've been old enough to follow.

Actually, I think we've been extremely fortunate that the list reads as it does, particularly considering all the second tier stiffs who managed the first two legs.

[twogunsid]

6. Other than Sir Barton I think the list of TC winners...

is a gallery of freaks. Totally dominating horses. Bid was all that although I do not think he was a true 1 1/2 mile horse. He couldn't beat Affirmed in the '79 JC Gold Cup even though he made several runs at him. His Belmont I kind of over look because of the idiot in the irons that day. That was a bad, bad ride.

I think you are probably right about the rest of the horses that almost completed the TC. I just enjoy the discussion about who coulda, shoulda woulda.

[Awsi Dooger]

7. I thought Bid would beat Affirmed

Strange race in that Bid would loom alongside several times only to have Affirmed hold him off more easily than seemed logical. Never much of a margin but the winner not in doubt.

I throw out the Belmont and don't use the Jockey Club Gold Cup to downplay Bid's ability at a mile and a half. Tight race among two greats.

Let's see, I rooted for Majestic Prince and Canonero II as a kid. But once we had the flurry of legends in the '70s I wasn't willing to accept just anyone. The only Triple Crown hopeful I rooted for in the Belmont over the past 30 years was Sunday Silence, who struck me as adaptable and courageous, like Affirmed although not quite the same level.

[twogunsid]

8. I was a huge Riva Ridge fan....

first bet I ever layed down was on Riva in the Derby. I grew up a couple of blocks from a track and, even though it was in the days before simulcasting, if you knew the right people you could find some action. My dad took me to an Irish bar next to the track and well, you can guess the rest.

Majestic Prince was a good horse but I don't remember much about him. Canonero II was a great story. He totally freaked out those Kentucky hardboots when he won the Derby and Preakness. He sure looked like a used up horse in the Belmont.

Risen Star caught my attention in '88 and looked like a great horse and had Secretariat as his sire. He had a very troubled trip in Winning Colors' Derby.

I was an Easy Goer fan but Sunday Silence took him down a notch. Sunday Silence was a cow-hocked sonuvabitch but man did he have heart.

I think over the years I have ranked Affirmed a little bit below what he deserves.

Bid was great. I would put him up against any TC winner at 1 1/4m. At 1 1/2m I'm not as confident. Maybe I'm misremembering, but didn't Coastal almost catch Bid for the place in the Gold Cup? Bid's pedigree was kinda weak on the dam side and not a lot of stamina influences in there. He was a hard knockin', tough colt that totally dominated. 26 wins from 30 starts. I'm glad I lived to see him.