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Normandy Invasion breezed 4f in :48.40 (3/56) at Saratoga on 6-16. Posted 1 day ago
Smiling Tiger posted a 3F bullet in 35:60 (1/12) at Pleasanton on June 15. Posted 2 days ago
Fort Larned runs them off their feet in the Stephen Foster!Posted 2 days ago
There will be a Pick Six carryover of $130,526 when racing resumes Sunday at Hollywood.Posted 2 days ago
Funny Proposition shocks the champ in the Fleur de Lis!Posted 2 days ago
Free World rolls in the Centaur Stakes at Indiana Downs! Posted 2 days ago
Byrama romps in the Vanity!Posted 2 days ago
The slipper fits for Sprouts in the Cinderella!Posted 2 days ago
Notacatbutallama scores in the Hill Prince! Posted 2 days ago
Dance To Bristol rolls in the Bed o' Roses Posted 2 days ago

Ride
Equipoise
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Equipoise

1928 - Horse
4 fans4

2 favorites2

[Edit]

Status:

Deceased

Owner(s):

C. V. Whitney - H. P. Whitney -

Trainer:

Freddy Hopkins

Bred:

Kentucky (USA) by H. P. Whitney - [Add Data]

Pedigree:

Pennant - Swinging by Broomstick

Rating:

8.33/10

Profile

Pedigree

Progeny

Siblings

Photos

What the Horse Racing Nation is saying about Equipoise...

Saratoga to Pay Homage to Racing Legends

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Saratoga 150 Committee today announced a new attraction designed to pay homage to the most accomplished thoroughbreds to compete at Saratoga Race Course during its 150-year history. Read More

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skipaway2000 · No Fourstardave in the inaugural class? This list is invalid! · 82 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · I thought Fourstardave would be in the first group, but he still has a street named after him. · 82 days ago ·

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A Century of the Best Thoroughbreds

Who were the greatest male and female horses by decade of the past 100 years?Read More

Show All 76 Comments
Floridaf · I can already tell you that having Zenyatta over Rachel Alexandra is going to add more fuel to the never ending debate ;-) Great list here! Talk about your all-stars! · 178 days ago ·

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jetrider331 · Wow, you know the 70's was a hell of a decade when a horse like Affirmed doesn't make it on the list. Fun list with many forgotten champions · 178 days ago ·

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ILuvTurfRacing · I noticed it's also restricted to only horses who raced in America. It doesn't even touch on the great European horses of the past 100 years like Sea Bird II, Tudor Minstrel, Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef, Nijinsky, Shergar, or even Sea The Stars and Frankel in recent years. · 178 days ago ·

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AmbitiousD · Swaps over Nashua? I guess it's a coin flip anyways. · 178 days ago ·

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footlick · It is subjective. Not sure you can leave Buckpasser out but there were so many in the 60's · 178 days ago ·

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footlick · @ILuvTurfRacing- as cocoa2 told me before, it is an American Racing site. As much as you and I appreciate Euro racing, it isn't going to more than a subcategory here. · 178 days ago ·

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kaitlinefree1 · Affirmed & Alydar didn't make the list. you know the 70's were great years for racing then. both of them deserve to be in the top 10 thoroughbreds of all time. · 178 days ago ·

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cocoa2 · Besides Forego and Damascus, I agree. · 178 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · Great list but I would put Bayakoa over Go For Wand, Personal Ensign over Lady's Secret and Invasor over Ghostzapper. · 178 days ago ·

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amino998 · Alydar>The best horse never to win a championship> That's not Top Ten worthy. · 178 days ago ·

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buckpasser · Kelso should be ahead of Dr. fager and Damascus in my opinion. Five time HOY and champion handicap horse etc. trumps any other horse's accomplishments in the 1960's. I do think Buckpasser deserved a mention. Also Omaha in the 1930s. After all he not only won the TC here but competed in top races in England something that was not done much at the time. · 178 days ago ·

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footlick · @Mike in SB- I would agree. Although I think Ghostzapper and invasor are a toss up · 178 days ago ·

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buckpasser · I also think Shuvee in the 1970s won two JCGCs. Only a handful of horses have doubled in this event. · 178 days ago ·

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zatt · Shuvee was tough to leave off, but combined Gallant Bloom and Ta Wee beat her 7 out of 8. · 178 days ago ·

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MjHawk · You are a brave man, sir! · 178 days ago ·

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buckpasser · I understand your point about Shuvee, but still she is a rare catagory of two time winners of the JCGC. After all Damascus couldn't do it. · 178 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · One of the greatest 3-year-old rivalries: Round Table, Bold Ruler, and Gallant Man, of 1957. And, none of those made it? Nevertheless, good list. Goes to show you how difficult it is to limit it to three. · 178 days ago ·

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zatt · Round Table and Affirmed were among the most difficult to leave off. · 178 days ago ·

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SSilence86 · I'm very excited to see my guy on this list! · 178 days ago ·

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Armada · I think you are pretty spot on with most of these. I was wondering where Affirmed was. But I guess the 70's were so full of great horses it was hard to pick a final three. · 178 days ago ·

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josh.atkinson2 · I agree with the lists except I would switch curlin and invasor. Great list! · 178 days ago ·

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ShirleyKoeneman · i know making the list was hair pulling but forgetting dynaformer, barbaro, and afew others? · 178 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · The 1970's -- The greatest decade in racing history?? · 178 days ago ·

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grandstand · Very interesting! I agree with a good amount of the rankings. · 178 days ago ·

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kaitlinefree1 · amino998, Alydar would have clearly won the Triple Crown had it not been for Affirmed, he even beat him three times. definitely deserves to be in the top ten. · 178 days ago ·

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Trackside · In the Male category, my favorite horse from every decade is in your top three starting in the '60's. Two of them sit at number 1 · 178 days ago ·

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footlick · buckpasser- Shuvee certainly had her moments. Her wins in the JCGC when it was at 2 miles were spectacular. · 178 days ago ·

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footlick · she won the Fritzette and Selima as a 2 yr old. The Acorn, Mother Goose, CCA Oaks, Alanama, Cotillion and Ladies as a 3 yr old. Won the Beldame as a 4 yr old, and the Diana, Top Flight and JCGC as a 4 and 5 yr old. She was the second Filly TC winner, Dark Mirage being the first. A very nice resume. · 178 days ago ·

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LAZMANNICK · Great list Brian but where are the turf horses? For the males I think that the best horse in the first decade was definitely Colin. Round Table has to fit into the 50’s category somewhere. No way would I put Damascus in front of Buckpasser in the 60’s. As for Dr. Fager and Kelso, I give them a dead-heat, they were both that good. For the fillies, I would drop Gamely and insert Affectionately (beat males three times in stakes and ran a close third to Gunbow in the Met Mile). Tosmah to get an honorable mention. In the 70’s I would replace Desert Vixen with Susan’s Girl and give Shuvee an honorable mention. · 177 days ago ·

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LarryDickson · Dr. Fager, Buckpasser,Kelso · 177 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Damascus and Buckpasser was another of the tough decisions ... Buckpasser made a lot of noise against neither Dr. Fager nor Damascus, while the latter always had the good doctor to deal with. In their only meeting, Damascus defeated Buckpasser by 10 ... If this had been a Top ten list. Laz, plenty of turf horses would have made the list, but as it was, only John Henry (made it), Round Table and Dahlia (just missed) were under strong consideration. If I had gone back one more decade than the hundred years I did, you definitely would have seen names like Colin, Sysonby, Maskette and Beldame. · 177 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · Looking at the list of males I suspect the 50s and 60s would be the most difficult to sort out, as so many were within range of each other. As for Zenyatta vs Rachel although Rachel is my favorite Zenyatta with her atonishing ability to defy pace pressure was among the best. Her only loss coming to Blame who a CD was freaklishly good. Nice, very enjoyable. PS. Hard to leave Buckpasser out of the top three IMO, 15 race win streak in open company? When he faced Fager and Damascus he was beset by old injuries, although Damascus that day might have been at his absolute best and virtually unbeatable. Watching that performance was nothing less than shocking. · 177 days ago ·

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travel_vic · ANYONE familiar with like running failures over the years, and the almost IMPOSSIBILITY of her style being successful had to realize that Zenyatta should just not be. · 177 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · I know this is probably in regards to greatest horses with great track records, but,was there ever any consideration that might've come Seabiscuit's way? From what I learned of this horse's story, he brought the popularity of the sport to the nation, and was probably first in bringing the east coast-west coast rivalries to fruition. Would that not qualify for greatness? I know he raced a lot of times, many races in defeat. Also, wasn't he The Times most interesting person one year, more interesting than Hitler? I think Secretariat also was awarded this title? · 177 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · Sorry, I guess "greatest" differs from "best". My bad. · 177 days ago ·

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zatt · Absolutely, CFC, I had a very difficult time separating the top five males in the 30's, with Gallant Fox and Seabiscuit extremely close to cracking the list ... also, #6 Omaha was not too far behind. · 177 days ago ·

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footlick · I am in agreement with Laz and icy in regards to Buckpasser. I know it was a tough decision, Brian, but as icy said, that head to head meeting is misleading as Buckpasser was not in the best shape when he ran. 15 straight wins, a single season earnings record, a Wr for a mile and winning at 2 miles is hard to ignore. But, it is all subjective and Buckpasser is a favorite of mine. · 177 days ago ·

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LAZMANNICK · You did a great job Brian in what was/is one of the most difficult things to do considering all the great horses, especially early on, that most people aren’t even familiar with. So many great horses and so few spots. · 177 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · Wow NO Dance Smartly in the 90's???.....LOL. · 177 days ago ·

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footlick · Agree with Laz also. Very difficult to narrow it down to top 3 · 177 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · Ok have to say that Holy Bull was the best horse of the 90's. Cigar and his connections can thank their lucky stars about him pulling up in the Donn. · 177 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · Good list though. JOHN HENRY BABY! what a horse. · 177 days ago ·

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yukichan · Three triple crown winners in the 30's, and 70's; four triple crown winners in the 40's (also a banner year for the ladies). Will we ever see anything remotely like that again? Makes trimming the list down to three per decade very tough!! · 177 days ago ·

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yukichan · It must have also been tough to leave off one of my all-time favs--Seabiscuit... 30's and 40's -- wowza! · 177 days ago ·

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george.obrien.3557 · A distant "neigh" is heard from the last Triple Crown winner. · 177 days ago ·

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LAZMANNICK · Brian, after reading the final line and being aware of your great love for Rachel, I can see that you approached this task with a completely open mind. Not all of us would be so honest and forthright when developing our own lists. · 177 days ago ·

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stephen.kost · No Afleet Alex? Boooooo · 177 days ago ·

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zatt · Thank you, Lazmannick ... I took this project very seriously. · 177 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · I agree with Lazmannick. Excellent compilation. The only thing that bothers me, is: Whatever happened to the Jeff Bridges look(not to take away from the current photo)? · 177 days ago ·

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travel_vic · A century is far too large a time period to suggest superiority in anything but decades. Imagine trying to compare Honus Wagner to Brooks Robinson. · 177 days ago ·

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footlick · Marcello- Dance Smartly has always been underrated, imo. · 177 days ago ·

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gocashking · Nice job, Brian. I'd rank Dance Smartly 3rd in the '90s though. · 176 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Dance Smartly was a good, though frail one. · 176 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · I would have to pick Ghostzapper over invasor by head. Zapper had one go at 10f, and did it in record time. If only we got to see him healthy enough to go another race at 10f. I don't think St.Liam would have won the BCC that year IMO. · 176 days ago ·

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RyanBrady · This is a Great list Brian, and while you & I share the same opinion on most of them I have to say we differ in tow decades for males. The two greatest horses I have ever seen in person and in racing are The Great Point Given period, and The Great Zenyatta for the females. I really wish we could of seen my generation's version of Big Red continue throughout his career after being retired after his dominating win in The 2001 Travers Stakes (G1), and being the only racehorse ever to win four $1,000,000 races in a row. He was voted the greatest horse to of never one the triple crown, and I fully agree with that after seeing him in the flesh run a paid $750,000 workout in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Also what other horses go to the track for a blowout to calm them down on the training track in between races 3 races before they are expected to run??? He was truly amazing. The 1970's had to be a hard decade to choose from Brian as so many great horses came from that golden age of racing including three triple crown winners. I would of had all three of those triple crown winners as my top 3, but respect your opinion of The Great Forego. I wish I could of seen anyone of those great horses run, but they will always be legends for us future fans to admire for many years to come. :) · 175 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Who would have voted Point Given above Spectacular Bid? · 175 days ago ·

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rla711 · Good job, lots of tough choices. I got hooked on racing with Affirmed/Alydar. Affirmed would make my list for the 1970's. I remember Ack Ack, Cougar II, Ancient Title, Typecast & Convenience as well. 1971/1972 were good years indeed. · 175 days ago ·

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travel_vic · I have the program from that great match race at Hollywood. Will have to post that · 175 days ago ·

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RyanBrady · As for that vote I was talking about with the greatest horse to of not won the Triple Crown, it was a feature among the writers among The Bloodhorse staff a few years ago for the magazine. I was a little surprised to not see Seabiscuit in the 1930's Top 3, but that is only because I am familiar with him and War Admiral. I'm sure the other two of Equipoise and Discovery have very valid reason why they are 1-2. I am going to have to do my reading on them then to understand why they were so great. :) · 175 days ago ·

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travel_vic · many breeder purists don't like those NOT bred to the purple like Stymie and John henry · 175 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · Merry Christmas to the HRN staff, and, in particular, the Zipse family. Thanks for providing this website, and letting us share the Sport of Kings. · 175 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Thank you, CauseForConcern ... On behalf of all the great people that make this website go, we wish you a Merry Christmas! · 175 days ago ·

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footlick · And a happy holiday season to the staff and contrubutors of HRN · 175 days ago ·

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DickieBean · A.P. Indy should have been selected for the 1990's. He was a much better horse then Holy Bull and Skip Away · 174 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Sire, yes, runner ... I don't think so. · 174 days ago ·

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dipak1 · i go for CURLIN for 2000! · 174 days ago ·

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mkstorm · Didn't see Affirmed on this list? Is Rachel Alexandra really worthy based on one racing season where she barely held off the likes of Mine That Bird and Macho Again and never stepped up to race in a single Breeders Cup race?? · 174 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · I would have to call upon the historians for further backing, but, Rachel Alexandra won three Grade 1's against boys, all in a sixteen-week span. I don't know if a filly/mare has ever beaten the boys three times in that short of a time span. Sandwiched in between those three races, was a stakes-record breaking Mother Goose, eclipsing the legendary Ruffian's record. Her 8-race win streak encompassed six different states. I know that Cigar won in 8 different states(including Dubai as a state) during his sixteen-race streak, but Zenyatta only won in two states during her 20-race streak. Not sure what the most states won in, is, during any streak, but she mustn't be too far off the record. And, Tom Durken called her "Rachel Alexandra The Great". Durken has seen many great ones, so, that compliment has to be at the top of the heap. · 174 days ago ·

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travel_vic · If Affirmed is not on a list I have lost all suggestion that the judge has any credibility whatsoever. · 174 days ago ·

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amino998 · CauseForConcern-Citing Tom Durkin's "clever" race call--seriously grasping at straws. · 174 days ago ·

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CauseForConcern · I never called it "clever", but, if that's the way you interpret it, cool!!!! · 174 days ago ·

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PhonyJJ · I agree with your statement, Laz. I thought the same thing. I too, truly respect Zatt's take on the famous females of the 2000's. · 173 days ago ·

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racingrooter · Affirmed is my favorite race horse ever - but that top 3 in the 70's is a tough group to crack. · 173 days ago ·

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travel_vic · the laws of randomness require that people realize all things great have NO linear acitivty to them. Some eras have many more representatives as do others · 173 days ago ·

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Junebug719 · Very nice choices/// As always, everyone has their favorite and there are "favorites" of each person. But thanks for the list... I miss watching them · 173 days ago ·

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CharleneWerden · I keep hearing how the 70's were so greatest but what about the 40's with Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Citation?? I haven't noticed anyone's list but mine would start out with the greatest, Man O' War! · 172 days ago ·

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Seabiscuit, Steve Cauthen, Aristides, Regret - May 17th

Seabiscuit, owned by Charles S. Howard, succumbed to a heart attack at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, Ca.Read More

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The Whitney's Greatest Champions

This Saturday, August 6, 2011, the 84th running of The Whitney Handicap (G1) will take place at one of the great race tracks in the country, Saratoga. Here’s a look back at some of the great champions of the race ...Read More

Show All 7 Comments
zatt · It takes some time to work through this entire rundown, but well worth it. The list of Whitney winners is truly remarkable. A few that stand out in my memory were of course the Onion upset, Alydar's romp, Java Gold's coming out party, one of my favorites winning - Lady's Secret, and the thrilling win by Invasor. Great piece, Rick! · 686 days ago ·

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Bluegrass · Thanks Brian, It was a lot of fun researching all of those great champions. Thanks for the kind words. · 686 days ago ·

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zxswordxz · Discovery was a beast...Whenever I think of Secretariat...Discovery bloodline comes to mind... · 686 days ago ·

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History · I agree with Brian...great job!!! · 685 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · Great history of a great race. My personal favorite winner of the Whitney is Invasor. He doesn't get the respect he deserves as one of the best horses of the last decade. Last years Whitney was one of the best races of the year, just hope this one is as good. · 685 days ago ·

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skipaway2000 · Commentator!! Amazing horse - and I did not remember his Whitneys were years apart! WOW! · 685 days ago ·

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SherriLytle · Love this!!! · 508 days ago ·

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Equipoise

Dubbed "The Chocolate Soldier" by his fans Equipoise has a past performance history of 51 29 10 4. His career was greatly restricted by hoof problems, but he was still voted United States Horse of the Year honors in both 1932 and 1933. U.S. Champion Older Male Horse in 1932, 1933, and 1934. If anyone can find any video on this amazing horse, please add them in.