Big Red - The Horse God Built

We all know my ongoing obsession with everything equine.  I only got to see Secretariat run live once plus some of the big races on television where you couldn't see the color as that incredibly strong redhead cleaned up the track leaving the other so called thoroughbreds in his dust.

Now Disney has done the story of his life and it will be in theaters on October 8.



His record time for the Kentucky Derby still stands after 37 years. Then he won the Preakness before going on to become a legend. For the 1973 Belmont, people suspect there may have been other horses in the race, but you sure couldn't prove it by the finish line pictures.



The full story of his life was told in the book: Secretariat, The Horse That God Built. Now he comes to the screen. So go watch a miracle.

Big Red

Man O War



The Belmont Stakes will run this Saturday, June 9, 2007. The Belmont Stakes is considered the third jewel in racing's triple crown which will not be won this year. On another June 9 in 1973 an almost unbelievable horse won the triple crown.

When you say "Big Red" around anyone who loves horse racing, you are almost always talking about one of two horses: Man O War or Secretariat. They were both glorious Chestnut in color and the instant you looked at either one, you knew you were looking at a champion.

Even though I was only three at the time, I can remember hearing my father mention Man O War when he died in 1947, but by that time his racing days had been over for over 25 years and of course I never saw him run.

I was fortunate enough to see Secretariat run twice. The films below show him winning the three legs of the triple crown in 1973, and you can get a small feel of just how magnificent he was. What you can't see is the horse that really didn't like to go in the gate. He often hung at the back of the pack and right when you thought he might have waited to long, the horse exploded!!!.

There is no way to express what it was like to be on your feet screaming as Big Red made his move. It was almost as if all the other horses put on the brakes to let him run by in the fast lane, and wherever he was was the fast lane. People were often literally crying.

Which horse was "the greatest" there is no way of knowing, but there is a fantasy race of the greatest Hall of Fame horses up to the time it was written and well worth your time to read it. Here is the list with their jockeys.

SWAPS - Race Record 25-19-2-2
4yo colt / 1956 ... Jockey: Bill Shoemaker

MAN O'WAR - Race Record 21-20-1-0
3yo colt / 1920 ... Jockey: Clarence Kummer

RUFFIAN - Race Record 11-10-0-0
3yo filly / 1975 ... Jockey: Jacinto Vasquez

NATIVE DANCER - Race Record 22-21-1-0
3yo colt / 1953 ... Jockey: Eric Geurin

COUNT FLEET - Race Record 21-16-4-1
3yo colt / 1943 ... Jockey: John Longden

AFFIRMED - Race Record 29-22-5-1
3yo colt / 1978 ... Jockey: Steve Cauthen

SEATTLE SLEW - Race Record 17-14-2-0
3yo colt / 1977 ... Jockey: Jean Cruguet

CITATION - Race Record 45-32-10-2
3yo colt / 1948 ... Jockey: Eddie Arcaro

SECRETARIAT - Race Record 21-16-3-1
3yo colt / 1973 ... Jockey: Ron Turcotte

SPECTACULAR BID - Race Record 30-26-2-1
4yo colt / 1980 ... Jockey: Ronnie Franklin

WHIRLAWAY - Race Record 60-32-15-9
3yo colt / 1941 ... Jockey: Ted Atkinson

DR. FAGER - Race Record 22-18-2-1
4yo colt / 1968 ... Jockey: Braulio Baeza

Secretariat



The Secretariat Triple Crown

Kentucky Derby




Preakness




And Finally ... The Belmont

Crowning Glories

And the winner of the Preakness is: Curlin







Street Sense


Barbaro

On Saturday there will be two horses on people's minds. It will be one year since Barbaro was going for the second jewel in the triple crown at the Preakness. It will be impossible for those who saw the tragic accident that eventually ended his life not to remember the great Kentucky Derby winner and the months of treatment that made the whole nation aware of a magnificent animal. Pimilico has renamed the Sir Barton Stakes in his honor. The Barbaro Stakes will run just before the Preakness.

Going off from post position 8 in the Preakness will be Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. He will be competing against eight other horses who are the best of their generation. Can Street Sense take the second leg and wear the black eyed susans as well as he wore the roses? If he wins, will we finally have a triple crown winner wearing a blanket of carnations at The Belmont?

For those who want to bet or just know the who what and where, here is the Preakness field with their jockeys and odds

1 Mint Slewlap 30/1 Desormeux

2 Xchanger 15/1 Bravo

3 Circular Quay 8/1 Velazquez

4 Curlin 7/2 Albarado

5 King of the Roxy 12/1 Gomez

6 Flying First Class 20/1 Guidry

7 Hard Spun 5/2 Pino

8 Street Sense 7/5 Borel

9 C P West 20/1 Prado


For those who like to join in on traditions, here is your meal and beverage for the Preakness


Maryland Crab Cakes

1 lb. Crab meat (preferably back-fin)
1/4 c. Mayonnaise
2 T. Parsley, minced
1/2 t. Salt
1/2 c. Soft bread crumbs
2 Eggs, beaten
5 drops Tabasco sauce
fine cracker crumbs
1 stick Butter (can substitute margarine or oil)
Optional for those who prefer more zing: 1 T. horseradish

Combine all ingredients except crumbs and butter and mix together lightly. Form into desired size cakes but do not pack firmly then pat lightly with cracker crumbs. Chill for an hour so they are easier to handle.

Heat butter in a large skillet and fry cakes until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

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Black-Eyed Susan
Traditional drink of the Preakness

2 oz. Grand Marnier
1/2 oz. White Creme de Menthe
1/2 oz. Brandy
Crushed ice
Pour liquors over crushed ice in a shaker,
shake well and pour into a glass.