And yet there are those who profess to know something about the "Sport of Kings" who just don't get it!

My good wife, whose undergraduate degree is in English, reminded me of an obvious but overlooked thing: superlatives are all comparatives. Without a standard of reference they are meaningless.

Let's begin then with the undefeated ones. Horses that never finished second in their career. Kincesem (although her 53 wins outright and a single dead would warrant an asterisk since she raced in the Middle East), Eclipse, Tremont, St. Simon, Crucifix, Bay Middleton, Flying Childers, Herod, Hickory Ox, Ormonde, Ribot, Colin, Nearco, Asteroid, Barcaldine, Bahram (English Triple Crown winner),American Eclipse. Sensation, El Rio Rey, Regulus, Salinta, The Tetarch, Ajax,Bay Middleton, Norfolk, Golden Fleece and the relatively newer ones Landaluce, Raise a Native, Lamtarra, Rare Brick, Ruffian and Personal Ensign
Then those that lost once Native Dancer, Man O'War, Isinglass, Galopin and a few others.

The "old" English Triple Crown (as opposed to the new one which includes the King George Vi and Queen Elizabeth Stakes) winners were not too shabby either West Australian (10-9-1-0) Lord Lyon (19-15-3-1), Gladiateur (19-16-0-1) Ormonde (16-16-0-0) Common (5-4-0-1)Isinglass (12-11-1-0) Galtee More (13-11-1-0), Flying Fox (11 9-2-0), Diamond Jubilee (16-6-5-1), Rock Sand (20-16-1-3), Pommerin (10-7-1-0), Gay Crusader (10-8-2-0) Gainsborough (9-5-2-1), Bahram (9-9-0-0), Nijinshy II ((13-11-2-0). It should be noted that ONE of the many reasons that this one is not even attempted any longer is that the last two winners, NEVER raced again.

Knowledgeable horsemen, those who have been around, to a man, knowing this rich history as a distinct yardstick of reference give Secretariat a position at the top, or near top of the heap FOR A REASON: his brilliance placed him there

I work all Winter at a standard bred course. I have and am still learning about that type of racing and these past two seasons their fans bore witness to a colt that knocked their world into a new standard of reference when this little one, who started racing in the Maritime provinces of Canada, came out of there to announce to the world how brilliant he was. His race record, strangely, was EXACTLY the same as Man O'War's: 21 starts 20 victories one place.

http://previewsc.ca/trot/january-200...-paradise.html

I have talked with our stewards, placing judges, trainers, chartman, announcer and several drivers as to where this one was placed in harness race history. They know about Greyhound, Hambeltonian, Cam Fella, Niatross, Fresh Yankee and so on.

"He is one of, if not the best ever." is the concensus. Ask those in the know, with a yardstick for history, they are the sources of knowledgeable opinion.

In regards to the BloodHorse panel that picked the top 100.

There is some new information from author Bill Nack regarding the outcome of why Man'OWar was selected #1 in the The Blood-Horse poll. Mr. Nack was asked recently why Man'OWar was voted ahead of Secretariat for Horse of the Century, and Mr. Nack replied "I spent two days on the project. The final results were skewered when, I am told, one of the judges put Secretariat fourteenth on his top-100 list. I don't know who this particular voter was---individual voting has remained a secret on that panel---but it was an idiotic judgment that should have been dismissed out of hand. Had I known any voter would do such a thing, I'd have put Man o' War in fourteenth place just to counterbalance the loony. That would have leveled the playing field. Here was a horse who had broken three track records in all three Triple Crown races, including the controversial Preakness clocking, two of which records (Derby and Belmont) still stand today; whose 31-length Belmont Stakes victory, in which he earned a Beyer of 137, is by consensus regarded as the greatest performance by a racehorse in history; and yet here was a voter who concocted a list suggesting that Secretariat would have finished last, behind 13 horses, in a field made up of that voter's first 14 horses on the list. It warped the voting and thereby tainted the list."

The 7-member panel that was assembled by The Blood-Horse to choose the top thoroughbred picked ManO'War over Secretariat because Man-o-war won more races than Secretariat. ManO'War’s competition in the 1920 Belmont stakes was only one horse! If Secretariat’s race record was 30-30-0-0 but he never ran the Preakness or the Belmont do you think he would even be in the top 5? The votes were 3 first places votes for ManO'War, and 3 first place votes for Secretariat. Another reason Man-o-war was selected number one was that in the voting he was chosen second place on 4 of the other ballads. Their criteria was based on their own personal preference. Performance obviously was not a top priority.


http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/nutbush/index.html

Voting Secretariat 14th in the Top 100 racehorses of all time simply to make it such that Man o' War be named No. 1 is akin to the nitwit Boston newspaperman who in 1941 left Ted Williams off his list for MVP--despite hitting over .400 that year.

This sleight, based solely on personal animous between Ted and the reporter, set the stage for Joe Di Maggio to be named MVP.

Di Mag was my dad's all-time favorite ballplayer and 1941 was the year he hit in 56-straight games, but to leave Willaims totally off the MVP ballot was criminal.

Same here

Secretariat, simply The Greatest
 

I hope I am not out of line in bringing this up, but if Secretariat wasn't The Greatest Race Horse of All Time then my name isn't reckless.

A few things on Secretariat's behalf, as if he needed me to promote him.

The well-known and somewhat obvious:

Triple Crown winner of 1973--none since--while setting track records in each race; also set world and/or track records in following important stakes:

1 3-8 miles Man o' War Stakes in **first ever** race on turf, defeating among others Tentam, who set a world record for 1 1-8 miles on grass that summer at Saratoga (1:45 and tick); set still-standing Belmont Stakes record of 2:24, besting a 16-year record set by uber great Gallant Man; still-standing Kentucky Derby record, thumping mark set by uber great Northern Dancer in 1964; still-standing records at Belmont Park going 1 1-8 miles in 1:45 and so, beating champions and uber greats such as Riva Ridge (1972 Derby winner, 1971 2 year old record holder and older champion), champion Cougar II; the very accomplished Key to the Mint; the ultra talented Onion (track record holder in own right and conqueror of Secretariat that summer at Saratoga); set since broken record in Gotham Mile win at three at Aqueduct, and just 2 ticks off track records when he won the Arlington Classic Inv., Laurel Futurity and Belmont Futurity, the latter two as a 2-year-old!!

Also handled accomplished multiple Grade I winners such as Linda's Chief, Our Native, My Gallant, Master Achiever, Stop the Music and numerous others.

Secretariat also won the two richest races of his era: the $300,000 Garden State Stakes as a juvenile, and the aforementioned $250,000 Marlboro Cup Inv. at three.

Like I said, Secretariat doesn't need me to remind folks of his greatness. But even in his greatness he still amazed me of what he did 35+ years ago.

The most remarkable, and I say most remarkable because it has never been discussed or written about in horse racing newspapers, journals, magazines or books. Not once, nada. I have looked for years and years on this matter to no avail.

What is most remarkable is that Secretariat was the greatest of all-time while also being the greatest member of the greatest foal crop of all time, the crop of 1970.

Let's begin with the money, in pre- pre- pre- inflationary and pre-racino era times when $25,000 and $50,000 stakes were the norm and $100,000-added stakes were exciting!

The 1970 foal crop produced the following millionaires: Forego ($1.93 million); Secretariat ($1.31 million); Allez France ($1.26 million); Ancient Title ($1.25 million), and Royal Glint ($1.004 million).

Others of this remarkable 1970 crop include some of the more historic and veritable names of thoroughbred horse racing:

Cafe Prince (Steeplechase), Dahlia (filly), Desert Vixen (f), La Prevoyante (f), Royal Chocolate and Mr. Prospector, in addition to, of course, the just-mentioned millionaires Secretariat, Forego, Allez France (f), Royal Glint and Ancient Title.

All are members of the Hall of Fame with the possible exception of Royal Glint.

In many hearts and minds, Chick Anderson's "moving like a tremendous machine" will live forever as the greatest call of the greatest Thoroughbred champion of all time.

A very good race caller who is sorely missed too

From the kentucky derby website:
Secretariat's quarter mile fractions:
0:25 1/5
0:24
0:23 4/5
0:23 2/5
0:23

That's a remarkable set of fractions because it is the opposite of how most horses and horse races are run. Usually, Thoroughbreds speed the fastest at the beginning of races and gradually slow as they tire. Even horses who save their big run for the stretch are likely not running faster than they were earlier, but are more likely passing tiring horses in an ever-slowing race.

Not Secretariat. He had come up with a truly remarkable speed statistic in a very long race an historic note to his Derby time record, that will be long-remembered. He had run every quarter mile faster than the one before.

And he wasn't through making history.

best steeplechasers
 

I went to several English sites asking who was the best steeplechaser and the name Kauto star didn't even make the cut.

My top 3 in my time (in no order!) = Desert Orchid, Best Mate, See More Business.
Cath, North Wales

Sorry folks! there will never be a horse as good as Red Rum. Ive watched all the video stories of the greats and the watching what Red Rum achieved against the odds is spellbounding.
There has never been a horse to match his heart, personality and the will to keep going. That horse was almost human who knew what he had to do and didn't actually know when he was beat! The Red Rum story will leave you feeling choked but proud
Rob Smith, UK

Not disputing with anyone that Arkle was truly a great horse, in his time he was the best, in the time I've watched racing Desert Orchid is the tops for me, made the King George at Kempton his own, won the Gold Cup, the Whitbread and the Irish National as well as giving Panto Prince 22lbs and beat him over 2 miles. Baz, England

All these horses are favourites of people for different reasons but Arkle has to be the best steeplechaser this century. He had the highest Timeform rating, at 212, ever awarded to a steeplechaser.

To put this in context one of the more up to date heroes, Desert Orchid, was rated 187. This means that Arkle would have given him 1st 11lbs in a handicap. And what about Persian War who also carried big weights and won, including 3 Champion Hurdles and two seconds.
Gordon Phillips, Britain

Well, the racing public has decided on a horse who has been dead for 30 years as the all time favourite! It was a pretty close vote but it shows that quality will always rise to the top. Arkle was a legend in his time and remains one to this day.

Those who were lucky enough to have seen him were delighted at the time and remain in awe of just how good he was. Simply put, he was the closeset thing to a certainty ever to grace the racing circuits of England and Ireland. Brendan Delany, Usa/Ireland

How great was Red Rum? Well if Arkle or Dessie had been given the ultimate equine test, I have no doubt Red Rum would have shown both that Aintree was his kingdom. But for injury the day before the 1978 National, who is to say he would not have won a 4th National aged 13?
Paul Kent, UK

TS: Arkle without reservation is the greatest horse ever over the sticks. It was because of him that weights had to be altered.
Robert Chadwick, USA

Arkle became the superior horse - no doubt about that - but I think it is a great shame that my old favourite Mill House gets overlooked when the great three-mile 'chasers are talked about.

I firmly believe that any horse who could give weight and beating to Arkle would have no trouble coping with the likes of Burrough Hill Lad, Desert Orchid and Best Mate !
Rick Brown, England

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/othe...ay/3503999.stm

Funny what subjectivity can do