Thursday, April 18, 2013

Best racehorses by the letters



BEST RACEHORSES BY THE LETTERS

A – ARKLE
“A” – ARKLE. Irish jump star in 1960s. 3 Chelt GCs. Record 212 Timeform. … US TC winners Affirmed & Assault close #bestracehorsesaz

B – BOLD RULER
“B” – BOLD RULER. Dominant US runner late 1950s; better stallion … Black Caviar, Brigadier Gerard, Bret Hanover were close #bestracehorsesaz

C – CARBINE
“C” – CARBINE. 19th cent AUS star won 2 Sydney Cups & Melb Cup w huge imposts. Foundation stallion. … Citation very close. #bestracehorsesaz

D – DAN PATCH
“D” – DAN PATCH. Record-setting pacer. Huge US media star early 1900s … Damascus, Dr. Fager, Deep Impact strong; not close #bestracehorsesaz

E – ECLIPSE
“E” – ECLIPSE. 18-0 lifetime (10 contested) in UK in 1769-70. Won 11 King’s Plates. Stayed up to 4 mi. … Exterminator dist #bestracehorsesaz

F – FRANKEL
“F” – FRANKEL. 14-0 mostly mile, top Timeform rating ever, tied rec 9 str G1 wins in UK 2010s … Flyingbolt, Forego close. #bestracehorsesaz

G – GOLDIKOVA
“G” – GOLDIKOVA. Won 3 straight Breeders’ Cup Miles 2008-10, 14 G1 wins in FRA, UK, US incl 9 vs boys … Gallant Fox close. #bestracehorsesaz

H – HIGHFLYER
“H” – HIGHFLYER. 14-0 in UK 1777-80 incl 2 Great Subscription Purses, 15-time UK/IRE champ sire. … Hanover close 2nd. #bestracehorsesaz

I – IMP
“I” – IMP. Durable 1899 US champ mare won 62 of 171, record setter v best colts of her era. … Torn between her & Istabraq. #bestracehorsesaz

J – JORROCKS
“J” – JORROCKS. AUS stayer won 65 (1838-52) thru age 18 w heavy imposts, 8x NSW stakes champ … John Henry was oh so close. #bestracehorsesaz

K – KINCSEM
“K” – KINCSEM. 54-0 HUN star filly, at least 11 majors in Europe 1876-79 vs boys & girls. … Kelso, Kingston Town in convo. #bestracehorsesaz

L – LADY’S SECRET
“L” – LADY’S SECRET – Front-running filly dominant in 1985-’86, won BC Distaff, US ’86 champ … Lonhro, Luke Blackburn close. #bestracehorsesaz

M – MAN O’ WAR
“M” – MAN O’ WAR. Won 21 of 22 in US 1919-20; set 3 world, 2 US, 3 track records; leading sire & icon. … Mill Reef 2nd. #bestracehorsesaz

N – NIATROSS
“N” – NIATROSS. Top pacer, 1979-80 US champ, 1st sub-1:50 mile, 15 world records. … Native Dancer, Northern Dancer close. #bestracehorsesaz

O – ORMONDE
“O” – ORMONDE. 16-0 career, won 1886 UK Triple Crown vs tough comp, acclaimed best of 19th century. … Omaha distant 2nd. #bestracehorsesaz

P – PHAR LAP
“P” – PHAR LAP. Won 1930 & ’31 Cox Plates & Melbourne Cups, 19 other WFA in AUS, mysterious death, culturally transcendent #bestracehorsesaz

Q – QUEEN’S LOGIC
“Q” – QUEEN’S LOGIC. 5-0 UK 2001-’02, 4 group, called top filly not to win classic … Quack, Quintessence in convo #bestracehorsesaz

R – RIBOT
“R” – RIBOT. 16-0, 1954 & ’55 Arc, 2x European champ, ITA's best. … Red Rum, Ruffian, Rising Fast, Round Table in distance #bestracehorsesaz

S – SECRETARIAT
“S” – SECRETARIAT. Won 1973 US TC w records still standing, won G1s on dirt & turf, US champ as 2yo & 3yo. … World record 2:24 for 1½ miles w/ furlongs of 12 1/5, 11 2/5, 11 2/5, 11 1/5, 12, 11 3/5, 12 1/5, 12 1/5, 12, 12 1/5, 12 4/5, 12 4/5 … Sunline, Sea the Stars, Seattle Slew, Sea Bird 31 lengths back #bestracehorsesaz

T – TULLOCH
“T” – TULLOCH. Stakes rec 1957 Cox Plate & 1960 Caul Cup, won 5f-2mi, 2 yrs ill. … Tremont, Tom Fool, T M Opera O in convo #bestracehorsesaz

U – UNBRIDLED
“U” – UNBRIDLED. Top US 3yo of 1990 won Kentucky Derby & Breeders’ Cup Classic, sired winner of each US TC race. … Utopia, Unconscious distant in thin field. #bestracehorsesaz

V – VARENNE
“V” – VARENNE. US trotter won 62 in 7 nations 1-1¾ mi, $8.75M, 1998-02. … Vengeance of Rain, Val d’Or, Viva Pataca in dist #bestracehorsesaz

W – WAR ADMIRAL
“W” – WAR ADMIRAL. Won 21 of 26 incl 1937 US TC, 8 majors in 1938, lost duel w/ Seabiscuit. … Whirlaway, Whistlejacket close. #bestracehorsesaz

X – XTRA HEAT
“X” – XTRA HEAT. Sprinter was top US 3yo filly in 2001. Won 26 of 35 for $2.3M+. … Xcellent, Xanadu get mention in thin field. #bestracehorsesaz

Y – YEATS
“Y” – YEATS. IRE-bred won 14 of 22 incl. 7 G1, 4x Euro champ stayer 2006-09, won 4 Ascot Gold Cups. … Your Host close. #bestracehorsesaz

Z – ZENYATTA
“Z” – ZENYATTA. Won 2008 BC Ladies Classic & ’09 BC Classic to go 19-0, 13 G1s, before only loss (’10 BC Classic). … Zev, Zarkava in convo. #bestracehorsesaz