Originally Posted by
Devilwin
Calumet Farms had one of the best three year old classes in 1948, with TC winner Citation, Coaltown, and the filly Bewitch. What a great class, all three in the Blood Horse top 100. In their careers, Citation won 32 races, Coaltown 23, and Bewitch 20.
I would have loved to have seen the battles in '57 between Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, Round Table and Iron Liege. There was a class of champions if there ever was one.
And what about Damascus? And Native Dancer? And I loved Riva Ridge, who ( in spite of the lack of mention in that terrible movie by Disney on Secretariat) by winning the Derby and Belmont in 1972 was the horse that saved Meadow Stable, not the surpassing Secretariat, as was shown in the movie. I hated that movie. I think the greatest racer of all time deserved better, it was nowhere near as good as Seabiscuit. Both movies were rife with bad info. In Seabiscuit, they kept referring to War Admiral as a huge monster of a horse, when in fact, both horses were just over 15 hands, and Seabiscuit was actually heavier. It also made it look like Riddle was ducking Seabiscuit, when in fact Howard scratched Seabiscuit twice when they were scheduled to run.
I was talking to a guy a few weeks ago who declared the mighty filly Ruffian could have beaten Secretariat. I laughed at the notion. I mean, she was probably the greatest filly ever, but beating big Red was a bit much to ask. And speaking of her, I don't believe ( we will never know, sadly) that she would have beaten Foolish Pleasure. Foolish Pleasure was a gutsy, hard running horse that hated to trail another horse.