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Exceller
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Exceller

1973 - Horse | Deceased

4 fans

2 favorites

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Owner(s):

Nelson Bunker Hunt -

Trainer:

Charles Whittingham

Bred:

Kentucky (USA) by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard - [Add Data]

Pedigree:

Vaguely Noble - Too Bald by Bald Eagle

Rating:

8.32/10

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

Exceller

The ONLY horse EVER to defeat 2 Triple Crown winners in the same race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by TopBrass · 147 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Affirmed's saddle slipped an Cuathen almost fell off · 146 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · And Slew was involved in a vicous pace duel while Exceller laid off the pace. This still does not change the fact that Exceller was able to beat two TC winners. · 146 days ago ·

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footlick · Slew ran a very brave race, but Exceller is one of the most underrated horses in history, imo. Turf, dirt.... it just didn't matter to him. · 146 days ago ·

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driveon · I was lucky enough to see Exceller win the Canadian International as a young boy · 146 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Poor old guy wound up in the slaughter house..http://www.excellerfund.org/story-of-exceller.html · 146 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Exceller had the advantage that Slew went out far too fast early · 146 days ago ·

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LAZMANNICK · Exceller was a true router at the very highest level, and a horse that would be a huge star if competing in North America today. He was equally at home on turf and dirt. In 27 life time races, his first start was at a mile on turf, and in his final 26 starts, the shortest he ever ran was 10F. A star in Europe with 4 Group One wins in 5 Group One races. · 146 days ago ·

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likin sparks · And to add to that of his 27 races 22 were G1's with being in the money 19 times and finishing first 11 times, between racing in Europe and North America he competed against some of the greatest horses ever. · 146 days ago ·

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likin sparks · I should state to be politically correct the 27 races were stakes and an additional 6 were other than making his career starts 33 with 15 wins, 5 places, 6 shows. · 146 days ago ·

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LAZMANNICK · likin sparks. This raises a question and that’s just how many lifetime starts did Exceller actually have? The DRF lists 27, (27-13-4-6-(4 unplaced) with earnings of $1,646,942. According to the DRF his career began on Oct 1, 1975 and ended on Apr. 29, 1979. Equibase lists 33 starts (33-15-5-6 (7 unplaced) with career earnings of $1,674,587, but in counting them they only show 27 starts and his first and last start dates coincide with the DRF record. My guess is that maybe he had some schooling races in England before he had his first pari-mutual race. Any thoughts? A further correction on my post. He made 6 G1 starts in Europe with 4 of them wins and a 2nd and a 3rd. Of his 18 starts in N/A, 16 were in G1 races, including his last 13 in a row, one was in a G3 and the other was in the Turf Classic at Aqueduct, now a G1 race held at Belmont. Definitely a sensational horse, as game as they come · 146 days ago ·

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travel_vic · This animal's COMPLETE record including wins in the Gran Prix de Paris is as reported 33 15-5-6 · 145 days ago ·

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likin sparks · Yes, 33 is correct and I'll use a couple sources sometimes to confirm such as Equibase, Pedigree Online Horse Database, they have good stats on international horses. · 145 days ago ·

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What a Jockey Club Gold Cup it Was

For all of the great performances that can be found in the Jockey Club Gold Cup history, it was a runner-up finish that remains my favorite.Read More

Posted 240 days ago ·

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sjuwill · That race brings up many memories....seeing Exceller looking like an easy winner and then holding off Slew as he came on....that was quite a race Brian · 240 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · What great race Exceller and Affirmed. It is important to remember what happened to Exceller years later in 1997. http://www.excellerfund.org/story-of-exceller.html · 240 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Thank you for the link, Matt ... tragic. · 240 days ago ·

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BrianAppleton · Wow, I got so excited watching this race! I've read about it so many times but that just blew my mind...makes me question my whole idea on who was the greatest. Incredible performance by Slew...actually very moving, just amazing. · 240 days ago ·

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Lou'sfan · They said it about Zenyatta - it's much more fitting in this case - Un-Be-Lieve-Able! · 239 days ago ·

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sikorskidownthestretch · best 1 1/2 race ever ran....including Big Red's Belmont and Affirmed and Alydar's Belmont....this race was better -- 1 1/2 on a horrid track with those blistering fracions Big Red would have been gasping for air · 239 days ago ·

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annmatt · There’s a little more to the story. I first dug into the story about the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup when Zenyatta lost to Blame last year in the BCC10. Several stories compared that race to the 1978 JCGC. One account I read said Karen Taylor exclaimed: “I cried not because he lost, but because he tried so hard!" Andy Beyer, who had often dissed Slew, finally saw in the loss his true greatness in his effort in this race. His comment has been related several ways, but the one that I like was "Exceller may have won the race, but Slew won the debate!" (He made a similar comment just after the BCC10 about Zenyatta.) What makes this story even more remarkable is Slew had taken ill in January of that year. At one point, it was feared he might die. He did recover and a few months later, he won a couple of allowances before going on a tear beating Affirmed and he also beat Exceller in the Woodward a few weeks earlier. A race that started as another match up of the two TC winners and the race strategy that had been set up for that scenario got turned on its head. The drama, the players, the history of that era just make that race so special. It also highlights something about the commitment owners had to actually running their horses. Here was Seattle Slew, 1977 winner of the Triple Crown, being allowed to continue his career into his 4yo year! When he became ill, it would certainly have been understood had they chosen to retire him then. That they brought him back is truly a remarkable part of the story. He was Champion Older Male that year! · 237 days ago ·

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Floridaf · What an amazing race! Exceller may have won it, but Seattle Slew certainly did not make it easy. I wish we saw races like this on a frequent basis still. · 147 days ago ·

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travel_vic · The Slew crew were nuts....Recall when Slew O'Gold needed bute in the inaugural BC Classic. The ones who had screamed the most about its use, overloaded the poor guy and he was sick from the high dose, all to get him to that race. It was obvious mid srtretch that he had nothing in the tank anyway. Hypocrites who rad too many of thier wone press clippings · 146 days ago ·

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Exceller

Surprising that there are no comments on him

Posted by LarryDickson · 281 days ago ·

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JohnByrd · What a great horse, and his victory over Seattle Slew and Affirmed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup may be one of the great races of all time. It certainly was historical! · 222 days ago ·

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likin sparks · It's good to remember his accomplishments and he was great, his ending was heart breaking though. · 222 days ago ·

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Goldikova is Grade One

She is the only horse ever to win three Breeders' Cup races of any kind. In three months she will no doubt be favored to win an almost unbelievable fourth consecutive BC Mile. She races against males more often than against her own gender. As if we needed any more proof of the greatness of Goldikova...Read More

Posted 299 days ago ·

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ScottDick · Those statistics and the company she keeps is incredible. Her talent is second to none, male-female, dirt, turf,or synthetic. She is at the top of the list when it comes to the current greats! · 299 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · Very Impressive company! · 299 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · Longevity and Excellence = Grade One for Goldikova! · 299 days ago ·

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cpsoren121 · Can't wait to see her in person at the BC! · 299 days ago ·

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ScottDick · One of my favorite memories from last Bc, was the video of her handler running along with her during the stretch run of the turf mile! Incredible · 299 days ago ·

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annmatt · What is really remarkable, if she wins the BC Mile, she will have won 8 Grade 1 races in just two events: 4 for the Mile and 4 for the Prix Rothschild! · 299 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · She may or may not be the favorite in this year's BC Turf Mile. Alot of interest is being paid to the possibility she may run against Frankel in the QE II Stakes at Royal Ascot in October. Canford Cliffs, whom had a lot of trouble in his race with Frankel, is also eyeing that race. It all three run then the BC Turf Mile might be anticlimatic. Give credit where credit is due. Goldikova just won her 14th Grade 1 race which breaks the tie between Zenyatta and Bayakoa, whom each had 13 Grade 1 wins each. · 299 days ago ·

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Winplacsho · I can't wait to see her run either. The most shocking name on that list to me is Skip Away. He was a very nice horse, but I never thought he had that many Grade 1 wins. · 299 days ago ·

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footlick · New York Vinnie- I wouldn't really count on her running in the QE II, as it would be a tough race physically and I believe only 2 weeks before the BC. Since winning the BC is their goal, I don't think this race would suit that purpose. Remember after the Queen Anne, Freddie also said he would be there for the Sussex, and then thought about it and kept her home for the Rothschild. Sir Henry has already said that he was not sending Frankel nor Midday to Churchill as he was not pleased with their turf course last year. · 298 days ago ·

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KyOaksRunner · I really hope the turf comes up firm for the Prix Jacques le Marois in a couple of weeks, that would make Group 1 #15 if she wins! Rooting for her all the way. · 298 days ago ·

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CraigBradshaw · she's a very impressive horse at one mile. she'll be in very competitive company this november if all the suspects show up. · 249 days ago ·

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