All posts by cactus SON

Horse Madness: Sweet 16 Matchup – (3) Groupie Doll v. (6) Animal Kingdom

In the spirit of March Madness, we are conducting a little experiment to determine how racing fans would evaluate the “best”, “greatest” or “most popular” (or any other criteria you think is applicable) horse of the last 5 or so years. Think of this as the “People’s Choice Awards” for racing. Use whatever criteria you think best determines which horses advance from round to round.  Let us know how you arrived at your conclusions.

How it works:  Each day from March 16 through the end of the month, we will feature one matchup. We will post career specifics and some highlight races on our site to help you in your handicapping. Then you the fans will vote– favorite the tweet if choosing horse A, retweet if selecting horse B. Voting windows will close by 10:00 p.m. each night. The horse with the most votes will advance to the next round. 

Here is the Bracket.

Today, we feature a battle of the type this format was meant to showcase. Two horses that race in different divisions, who would never meet on the race track– Groupie Doll v. Animal Kingdom.  Both these great runners were versatile, winning on multiple surfaces and tracks around the country and the world. We are really excited to see who prevails in the court of public opinion and advances to the Elite Eight.

Continue reading Horse Madness: Sweet 16 Matchup – (3) Groupie Doll v. (6) Animal Kingdom

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Horse Madness: Sweet Sixteen – Royal Delta v. Untapable

In the spirit of March Madness, we are conducting a little experiment to determine how racing fans would evaluate the “best”, “greatest” or “most popular” (or any other criteria you think is applicable) horse of the last 5 or so years. Think of this as the “People’s Choice Awards” for racing. Use whatever criteria you think best determines which horses advance from round to round.  Let us know how you arrived at your conclusions.

How it works:  Each day from March 16 through the end of the month, we will feature one matchup. We will post career specifics and some highlight races on our site to help you in your handicapping. Then you the fans will vote– favorite the tweet if choosing horse A, retweet if selecting horse B. Voting windows will close by 10:00 p.m. each night. The horse with the most votes will advance to the next round. 

Continue reading Horse Madness: Sweet Sixteen – Royal Delta v. Untapable

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Breeders’ Cup Profile: Tapestry, Filly and Mare Turf

As we approach the 31st running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, each of us will analyze one potential contender per week that we think, based on their campaign and resume, fit the profile of a Breeders’ Cup winner.

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In anticipation of next weekend’s QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, today’s BC Profile examines “Win and You’re In” Qualified and Filly and Mare Turf Contender Tapestry.

Continue reading Breeders’ Cup Profile: Tapestry, Filly and Mare Turf

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40 Days of Durkin: Sunday August 31, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

This list has long been in contemplation. What race-call do we use to mark, and celebrate the greatness that is Tom Durkin on his final day?

To use the memorable words of Tom Durkin, we knew “it’s going to be very close.” It could have been Rachel’s Woodward, You v. Carson Hollow in the Test, Hidden Lake in the Go For Wand, Cigar’s Breeders Cup Classic or Alysheba v. Ferdinand.

But in the end we came to a call that tempted history. A Triple Crown on the line, a field of great horses and a stretch drive that culminated in photo finish.

The 1998 Belmont was the closest margin of victory for any of Tom Durkin’s almost Triple Crowns. Real Quiet gained the lead at the top of the stretch, the whip was out. Durkin knew history was in the balance. “20 Years in the waiting, one furlong to go!”

Real Quiet had a lead by open lengths, but he was laboring. Durkin also saw Real Quiet’s biggest rival, Victory Gallop, starting his patented late stretch charge.  He came to Real Quiet just before the wire, and “it’s going to be very close” as the camera flashed.

Tom understood the gravity of the moment, financially and historically: “A picture is worth a thousand words, this photo is worth a $5 million. Oh no! History in the waiting, on hold, til we get that photo finish.”

Victory Gallop, as most of us know, stopped Real Quiet’s run for the Triple Crown. But in the process, it gave us one of Durkin’s greatest calls; a call the epitomizes a career worth much more than $5 million to race fans who listened to him.

Thank you Tom. You are the best, there will never be another with your flair for the dramatic, vocabulary or love for the sport.

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40 Days of Durkin: August 30, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

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As the final day of Durkin approaches, we give you the call that many consider the the highlight of two of the most impressive careers in horse racing. The 2009 Woodward brought together Rachel Alexandra, a fan favorite filly taking on the boys for the 3rd time in her 3 year old season, and Tom Durkin who was about to call one of the most important and best races of his life.

Both Durkin and Rachel were already considered champions. Rachel had decimated the Kentucky Oaks, came back to win the Preakness against the boys two weeks later and beat the boys again in the Haskell. Durkin had called many big races, Derbys and Breeders Cups before this Woodward, but never had a horse in recent memory with  a nationwide following come to the races with so much to prove.

Rachel Alexandra, a 3 year old filly, had proven herself against 3 year old males already, a sign of a champion filly and making her a strong candidate for horse of the year. But her connections were not satisfied, they wanted to prove that she was without a doubt the best horse in he country and the only way to do that was to take on older males.

Rachel’s followers backed her strongly at the window, but any savvy horse fan knew that her 1-4 odds were by no means a lock. At the break she took her usual place at the front of the pack, but as Durkin noted the field gave her “no free ride”, forcing her to go :22 4/5 for the first quarter.

Rachel maintained her lead throughout the backstretch, with each horse giving her a run. As she made the top of the stretch she had already turned back three runners best efforts, but Macho Again and Bullsbay, that year’s Whitney and Stephen Foster winners respectively, still had shots to take at the big filly.

Bullsbay came first, making a move in mid-stretch. However Rachel repulsed it. But Macho Again, who benefitted from the fast fractions, was making a huge run from last. He approached Rachel just outside the 1/16th pole. Calvin Borel implored Rachel for her best run and she responded. You can hear the desperation in Durkin’s voice, as he and the crowd held their collective breath all wanting to see the great filly do the impossible.

At the line “it was going to be desperately close” as Macho Again was relentless but Rachel proved her champion status. She held off Macho Again in a dramatic stretch drive for the ages. It was the loudest crowd and applause I had ever heard at Saratoga. Bigger than any Travers winner, it did indeed “raise the rafters at the Spa”. The applause continued throughout the winner’s circle presentation, and did not end she was well down the stretch on her way to her barn.

The race, visually impressive, allowed Durkin to display all of his dramatic talents. Watch it, enjoy the race. But to truly appreciate all that is Durkin, just listen to the call. Don’t watch the race. Let him paint you the picture. His voice tells the whole story.

 

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40 Days of Durkin: Thursday August 21, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

Dramatic stretch drives have been a huge part of this list, and today’s feature race is among the most dramatic in recent memory. Although the finish of the 2004 Belmont was not “desperately close” (don’t worry that one’s coming), the on-track drama of waiting to see if the undefeated Smarty Jones could become the first Triple Crown Winner since Affirmed made the the 122,000 fans in attendance hold their collective breath.

Smarty Jones took the lead on the backstretch, and the crowd roared.  Tom Durkin noted the history of the moment at every instance. He made reference to Secretariat’s time, and how much longer Smarty had to hold on to the lead for when he hit the 5/8ths pole. Durkin noted the 26 years that had elapsed since the last Triple Crown winner, as Smarty entered the stretch with the lead.

However, Birdstone’s sustained run that began on the far turn was not lost on Durkin in the face of history. Although 4 lengths behind at the top of the stretch, Birdstone was going to make Smarty Jones “earn it”.

Smarty Jones continued to run, but obviously tired. You can hear the desperation in Durkin’s voice, as he too must have been hopeful to call a Triple Crown. But Birdstone was too strong, and passed Smarty Jones to end the historical run.

Those in attendance, including this Thorobro, were deflated. (You can read about my experience here: http://thorobros.com/?p=108)

But Durkin’s call perfectly summed up the experience. A beautiful effort from a tremendous horse to complete the nearly impossible. And Birdstone went on to prove he was a worthy adversary, as he continued his career by winning the Travers later that summer.

Could history repeat itself on Saturday, as Tonalist brings his talents to the Spa after ending Cali Chrome’s Triple Crown bid? We will be there to find out, and no matter what Tom Durkin will be there to provide a voice to what is sure to be a great and historical running of the Mid-Summer Derby.

 

 

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40 Days of Durkin: August 18, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

Today we look at the 1994 Breeders Cup Classic, won by Concern. In his call, Tom Durkin displays his incomparable skills as a race caller, by identifying Concern’s winning run that began before the half mile pole.

Concern, who placed in the Preakness and Travers earlier that year, was known as a deep closer. In the Classic, he started a sustained run on the backstretch and gained momentum all the way along the far turn. In the stretch he passed Derby winner Go for Gin and battles with Preakness winnerTabasco Cat to the wire in a dramatic last to first victory.

Concern’s run could easily been lost by a less than expert race caller, but Durkin proved his excellence once again. The call at the line, “Concern from out of the clouds” adds a memorable line to a long list of Durkin favorites.

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40 Days of Durkin: August 13, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

Today, we look at one of the most athletic performances in recent memory. Afleet Alex, a favorite in Giacomo’s Derby, came back in the 2005 Preakness and was making a tremendous run towards the lead on the turn. Just as he came up on the leader, Scrappy T, that horse bore out into his path. Scrappy T and Afleet Alex clipped heels. Afleet Alex went to his knees at the top of the stretch. Jockey Jeremy Rose was all out just to stay in the saddle.

However, Afleet Alex was not to be denied. He regained his footing, and continued pass Scrappy T and  on to win the 130th Preakness by 5 lengths. Tom Durkin’s call showed the concern for everyone else who watched that race. And his exclamation after the wire, talking about Jeremy Rose’s mindset was on point.

This race was named 2005 NTRA moment of the year, for obvious reasons. The impressive athleticism of horse and jockey were on display, and Durkin provided the backdrop for a dramatic performance for the ages.

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40 Days of Durkin: Thursday August 7, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

With the Hall of Fame induction ceremony this Friday, today we give you the call of the great champion filly Ashado’s victory in the 2005 Go For Wand “at the Spaaaaa”. She will be inducted on Friday in a ceremony, where Tom Durkin will serve as master of ceremonies.

Ashado, a champion at 3 and 4, won 7 Grade I races. But the Go for Wand was her most dominant. She made the lead all on her own, effortlessly on the far turn, and exploded through the stretch.

Durkin, recognizing the champion, was in awe of her margin of victory. A classy filly, who contended in every race she ran. Durkin’s exuberance in the stretch matches perfectly this great filly’s turn of foot.

 

 

 

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40 Days of Durkin: Monday Aug. 4, 2014

In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

Cigar’s 1995 season goes down as one of the greatest racing seasons ever. 10 for 10, 8 Grade I’s, 5 different tracks in 5 different states.

But by far the most impressive was his Breeders’ Cup Classic win at Belmont. Not only was the field he beat impressive, but as Durkin notes, Mother Nature was against him as well. The sloppy Belmont track played against his strengths, as did his difficult 11 post  but the “incomparable” Cigar would not be denied.

When Jerry Bailey “said go”, Cigar made an impressive move on the far turn. Sweeping to the front, “invincible” to any challenge by the other mere mortal horses in the field. Cigar was indeed “unbeatable” that year, and showed the world why. The time of 1:59 2/5 might have been the most impressive performance in Breeders Cup history, considering the status of the surface.

Durkin’s call will forever be stuck in this Thorobro’s mind, as an example of what horse racing excellence sounds and looks like.

 

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