Was Flightline's Pacific Classic the best performance since Secretariat's Belmont (as Bill Finley asked in The Week in Review in Monday's TDN)? Although it was great, the obvious answer is no, because we have witnessed many incredible races over the last nearly 50 years. But comparing and contrasting racehorses (and their best performances), and wondering how they stack up against each other, is part of what makes horse racing exciting and interesting. Secretariat's stupendous effort in the last leg of the Triple Crown was very likely the best performance by a racehorse. Flightline's stunning effort (specifically, the margin of victory) may have looked slightly better due to substandard competition.
Secretariat broke Gallant Man's 16-year-old track record by 2 3/5th seconds while running 2:24 in his historic tour de force in the 1973 Belmont S., at the demanding 12-furlong distance. Flightline missed the track record by less than 1/5th second in his 1:59 2/5 romp at 10-furlongs.
Many other horses over the years have run 1:59 2/5, or better, for 10-furlongs, including Spectacular Bid (world record), Quack, Secretariat, Affirmed, J.O. Tobin, Ghostzapper, Skip Away, Alysheba, In Excess, Candy Ride, Game On Dude, Best Pal, Gentlemen, Crystal Water, Ancient Title, Kennedy Road, Native Diver, and John Henry (via DQ…but he was only a nose behind). The list goes on and on, actually. Oh, and let us not forget Ancient Title's powerhouse victory in the 1977 Del Mar H., when it was contested at “120 feet less than 10-furlongs” and he ran 1:55 2/5, which the Los Angeles Times projected translated to 1:57 3/5 for the distance, which would have been a world record.
Obviously, many excellent horses have equaled or bettered Flightline's 10-furlong time, but Secretariat's 2:24 accomplishment stands alone for the 12-furlong distance, as no one has approached his time record. The closest anyone has come was Prove Out (while defeating Secretariat) in the 1973 Woodward S. in 2:25 4/5. Easy Goer clocked in at 2:26 in his Belmont S. win over Sunday Silence, while Hechizado and Nasty And Bold matched that clocking in respective Brooklyn H. victories.
American horses of the 21st Century do not compete nearly as often as their 20th Century counterparts. Should any of today's hothouse flowers be compared to the greats of the past who raced constantly? The heroes of the 1970's were battle-tested and danced every dance. During a 3-month period in 1972, the great Susan's Girl ran eight times! Also, in 1972 Cougar II won an 11-furlong turf race in 2:11 (New American record) and was wheeled back 3 weeks later to win at 8 1/2 furlongs on dirt in 1:39 1/5 (missing the world record by 1/5th second), which is a phenomenal achievement. At the end of 1973, Secretariat ran Sept. 15, Sept. 29, Oct. 8, and Oct. 28! These horses didn't need three to six months between starts! How would today's best fare with that kind of schedule?
Over the last 10 years or so, California Chrome, Arrogate, American Pharoah, Justify, or Flightline have been crowned “the best of all-time,” or “the best horse since Secretariat.” If you know the history of the sport you understand that many excellent racehorses have come along in the time span between Secretariat, in 1973, and now. However, it seems that all these horses are ignored, and only Secretariat is remembered. Secretariat and whoever the new “greatest horse of all time” is at the moment.
Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Ruffian, and many other all-time greats, stepped into the spotlight in the wake of Secretariat's 1970's reign. However, the most astonishing thing is that when today's flavor-of-the-month bandwagon comes along, it's bad enough that the four champions mentioned above are ignored, but what's worse is that the best horse since Secretariat–Spectacular Bid–is forgotten.
Spectacular Bid was a perfect 24 for 24 in the middle-distance range of 7 to 10 furlongs, and his career total was 30 starts, 26 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third. He set multiple track records and even a world record. How does he get ignored or dismissed as these other horses are crowned heir apparent to Secretariat?
Leapfrogging over a horse like Spectacular Bid is unthinkable.
It's important to remember the great horses and performances of the past to put things in perspective and to consider that what you're witnessing now may or may not be the greatest thing that ever happened. But the discussion about great horses is fun, and Flightline surely is part of that debate.
Although the field that Flightline beat this weekend was not very strong, as evidenced by the fact that it took Country Grammer, who didn't offer his best effort, 2:03 to negotiate 10 furlongs, and the others 2:04 and much worse. Still, that takes nothing away from Flightline, because he certainly is sublime. I share the excitement and enthusiasm about him. From the standpoint of sheer talent and ability, he's as good as a horse can possibly get…maybe better.
Mike Sekulic, Thousand Oaks, CA
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