How timely a question..
Did you know that ABC did something similar this week by running a race with all of the previous Triple Crown winners?
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireSt...derby-70475141
Guess who won? No Beyer Speed Figures were apparently available for Sir Barton though.
But as to your question, it had me wondering on a few questions:
1) What distance would you run the race?
2) Would you run it at equal weights or a handicap?
3) Any other horses?
Many of these horses were 'stuck' running classic distances because much of the money was there, and to be honest, horses get a better fighting chance when they have time to overcome a poor start or a bad post position, in a longer race. Some of these horses, you might not even know how good a sprinter they really were since they didn't sprint much after their 2YO season. Secretariat won the Gotham at 1 mile in 1:33.2 .. really fast for a young 3YO (Bay Shore at 7f was won, but was slower on a sloppy track); he never raced under a mile again.
How would a 4YO Secretariat, who started slowly, do at 6f? That Gotham holds up really well when you consider his running style. Secretariat lost 6 races thought! But when he was on, he was brilliant as any horse ever. Too valuable to run as a 4YO, but it would have been fun to see him against a great Forego.
Man O War won everything, but you can't compare the times from 100 years ago; track technology has improved greatly. He didn't run under a mile after the age of 2. And the breed is different now; the horses are more refined, run fewer races (get injured more), don't run that often as 2YOs.
Forego, believe it or not, was a sprinter who came from behind. Wicked at 7f; he won the Vosburgh. But he won at all distances. Big long horse. Great fun.
Citation was a marvelous 2 and 3 year old, but not so much as a 4 and 5 year old; got checks, but not a high win percentage.
Count Fleet was an immense talent. Only ran at 2 and 3. Won his last race (in the slop) as a 2 YO by 30 lengths. Won his last race (the Belmont) as a 3YO by 25 lengths. Didn't break his maiden till his 4th race. Just takes a little time for some.
Swaps was a really good horse, who lost very few races. He won the Kentucky Derby his year, but was not entered in the Preakness or the Belmont because it was too expensive for his connections.
Kelso, the great gelding, was perhaps the greatest handicap horse ever. Took on all comers.
I would vote for a 1 1/8 mile race at Belmont (1 turn); perhaps with Handicap Weights. Of course, that would depend a bit on what age the horse was when the weight was picked. Is it a 3YO Secretariat vs. a 4YO Forego and a 5YO Kelso?
Larry
DevilHorse