triple crown
grrlscientist | August 18, 2008tags: racehorses, Genuine Risk, Kentucky Derby, horse racing, streaming video
Genuine Risk, pictured at age 30, was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. She was living at the Newstead Farm in Upperville, Va. when she died.
Image: Carol T. Powers for The New York Times.
The bright chestnut filly named Genuine Risk thrilled me when she won the Kentucky Derby in 1980 with commanding style. Not only did she win, but she ran the last quarter mile of the race faster than any other horse ever had, except the amazing Secretariat, who went on to win the Triple Crown of American horseracing in…
grrlscientist | June 9, 2008tags: Big Brown, Belmont Stakes 2008, horseracing, horses, sports mysteries, Triple Crown
Big Brown, pulled up by Kent Desormeaux, has been examined by veterinarians. "No one can figure this out," his co-owner Michael Iavarone said.
Image: Barton Silverman, The New York Times [larger view].
I don't know about you guys, but even though I have stated repeatedly that Big Brown is NOT a great horse, that he is simply one of a very poor crop of racehorses, I was very disturbed to see him struggling in the Belmont Stakes, and watching him fight jockey Kent Desormeaux as he was pulled up. So…
grrlscientist | June 7, 2008tags: Big Brown, horseracing, Triple Crown, streaming video
Big Brown fights with his jockey, Kent Desormeaux, in the stretch before he crosses the finish line last in the 140th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. on Saturday, June 7, 2008.
Image: Chang W. Lee, NYTimes.
Big Brown was the favorite to win to today's Belmont Stakes, the 140th time this classic race has been run. Big Brown started from the far inside post position and ran against eight rivals in the 1.5 mile (2.41 kilometers) race, often referred to as the "Test of a Champion." The record for this race, 2:24, was…
grrlscientist | June 7, 2008tags: Affirmed, Alydar, horseracing, Triple Crown, streaming video
This is Affirmed's 1978 Belmont Stakes win which gave him horseracing's most recent Triple Crown win. This particular race is often cited as being the most exciting Belmont win in history. Remarkably, this was the first time in history that the same two horses, Affirmed and Alydar, finished one-two in all three of these races. This, combined with Affirmed's very small margins of victory in all three races (a combined total of less than two lengths), made many people think of Alydar as the first true runner-up to the Triple…
grrlscientist | June 7, 2008tags: Seattle Slew, horseracing, Triple Crown, streaming video
Here's a video of Seattle Slew's victory in the Belmost Stakes in 1977 -- the speedy Seattle Slew was the first horse to win horseracing's Triple Crown while remaining undefeated. He also turned in a fast time, despite the crappy track conditions that he ran on. If Big Brown manages to win today's Belmont Stakes, he will become just the second racehorse to win the Triple Crown while remaining undefeated [3:04].
Seattle Slew was not expected to be a great racehorse, so he was sold at public auction -- the first Triple Crown winner…
grrlscientist | June 7, 2008tags: Secretariat, horseracing, Triple Crown, streaming video
I hope that Big Brown wins today's Belmont Stakes here in New York, and in fact, I think he will win, especially since his only potential contender of note, Casino Drive, was scratched this morning. If Big Brown manages to win today, he will become only the 12th horse in more than 125 years to win the Triple Crown winner, and our first in 30 years. But do I think that Big Brown is of the same caliber as Secretariat? Not a chance. Big Brown is simply the best individual among a very poor crop of race horses (with the exception of…
grrlscientist | May 29, 2008tags: My Guy Barbaro, horse racing, horses, Kentucky Derby, Edgar Prado, John Eisenberg, book review
Like most of America, I fell under the spell of the talented athlete, Barbaro. I was riveted by his brilliance and ability. Despite Barbaro's tragic end, I wanted to read a book that told his story, that gave him a voice without being maudlin or poorly-written. So thanks to one of my readers who kindly purchased this book for me, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse (NYC:…