Best Races Run Since 1968

[JEFF KENT]

Using VALIDATOR manual input, all 4yr olds except secretariat,retired as 3
yr. old,best lifetime 9.0-10.0 furlongs.

AFFIRMED #1 #1BL/BL L.S. 23.8=1-1 ODDS
DR.FAGER #2 #2BL/BL L.S. 19.5 =2-1
SPECTACULAR BID-SEATTLE SLEW #3 L.S.SPEC.BID 15.0 SLEW AT14.5
AT 7-2
SECRETARIAT#4 #6 ON BL/BL5.3 AT 10-1
CURLIN #6 #5 ON BL/BL AT 7-1


JEFF KENT

[Tim Y]

At the TOP end of racing the best ones laugh at pace and have a MAJOR attribute all the rest only can hope to have: ADAPTATION to whatever pace is thrown at them.

Secretariat would run away from these. His biomechanics are unique in the world. Turf, dirt, wet or dry, multiple track and world records.

[Neil S.]

First and foremost Affirmed was and is my favorite horse of all time however having seen most of the horses on this list in person Secretariat was without a doubt the greatest horse of all time. To attempt to rate the horses in some mythical race does not capture a clear picture of reality. I saw Seattle Slew race against Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup and as a 4 year old he routed a clearly overmatched and probably Triple Crown and Alydar fatigued Affirmed while paying a generous 6.20 to boot.

The conditions and the circumstances of getting all of these horses to fire their best shot on a single day is unlikely but for shear class and talent Secretariat had everything. There was not one aspect of his racing style that could truly be exploited by any of the horses you mention as great as these animals all were. Curlin has yet to prove that he even belongs in the same discussion. Perhaps I have the advantage of having played this great game for over 30 years I can speak honestly and objectively.