Real Handicaps

[Calzone Lord]

"There is no other horse in the entire range of Turf history, American or foreign, that ever attempted to do anything so tremendous or came anywhere near Discovery in doing it so successfully."

Those words from a great old-timer who preferred to publicly knock top horses more often than compliment them.

For a 13-race stretch starting with the '35 Brooklyn Handicap -- Discovery was incredible. He broke the world record for 9 furlongs and 9.5 furlongs -- he obliterated top competition -- he campaigned hard and traveled -- and he gave ridiculous weight concessions to elite opposition.

Here is how Triple Crown winner Omaha faired against him with a 9lbs weight break:



3rd by 12 lengths despite a 9lbs weight break. Second place finisher King Saxon had won 14 out of his last 16 starts -- including the Met Mile as highweight last out.

It might look as though Omaha didn't fire that day -- he did. 4th place was beaten 18 lengths, 5th place was beaten 24 lengths, and 6th place beaten 26 lengths -- they all came back and won stakes. Omaha was a big success in Europe as a 4-year-old. Just missing in the Ascot Gold Cup in front of a reported crowd of over 200,000 people.


Discovery was 13-11-1-1 over his great stretch ... here are the only two horses to finish ahead of him during it.



Top Row -- getting a 29lbs weight break at 9.5 furlongs -- beat him once on August 21st. He beat Discovery again by a neck while carrying 22 less pounds on Oct 16th.

In his first two starts at Santa Anita -- Top Row set a track record at a mile and won the worlds richest horse race (SA Handicap) over a field of 14 other horses.




Whopper is the other horse. He finished a nose in front of him on October 16th while getting a 30lbs weight break.

Whopper was no bum. He came back and won a stakes race at Hialeah over 16 other horses next time out. In his last two starts above, he was 2nd in the Met Mile on May 16th and 3rd in the Suburban on May 30th. The Suburban winner Firethorn was also a 2-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner. The Suburban 2nd place finisher Granville is in the Hall of Fame as a racehorse.

Discovery unquestionably would have been the top Ragozin Sheet horse of all-time. He ran wickedly fast races over dull track and blew up great competition. He once had to give an in-form Esposa (2-time champion older female) 43 pounds.

On both the Ragozin and Thoro-Graph Sheets -- a 20lbs weight break at 10 furlongs equals eight lengths. 40lbs is a 16-length weight break on sheet figures.

[cmorioles]

Don't you just love how Omaha threw in a loss in the Withers between Triple Crown races?

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Don't you just love how Omaha threw in a loss in the Withers between Triple Crown races?

Yeah. Nothing like getting beat in the middle of a triple crown sweep.

At least he got beat by a respectable horse and quickly avenged the defeat. Rosemont, of course, beat Seabiscuit by a nose in the Santa Anita Handicap. Rosement was also a distant 3rd in the Belmont next out.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

3rd by 12 lengths despite a 9lbs weight break. Second place finisher King Saxon had won 14 out of his last 16 starts -- including the Met Mile as highweight last out.

It might look as though Omaha didn't fire that day -- he did. 4th place was beaten 18 lengths, 5th place was beaten 24 lengths, and 6th place beaten 26 lengths -- they all came back and won stakes. Omaha was a big success in Europe as a 4-year-old. Just missing in the Ascot Gold Cup in front of a reported crowd of over 200,000 people.

OK ... Omaha got robbed...and 200,000 Brits saw it.

Watch this race and tell me he did not win.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2R0jdPlsw8

Thankfully, we have photo finish cameras now.

[OldDog]

This is wonderful stuff, Doug. Thanks for posting here.

[PatCummings]

I just caught the sixth race from the Vaal in South Africa. The top weight in the handicap carried 144 pounds, while the low weight toted 114, then got an apprentice to get him down to 111. Low-weight sent off at 5-2, finished a fast closing second. Top weight showed speed and faded to 8th field of 12. Winner was 6-5 and favored throughout, carried 130, and led all the way.

Handicaps still do exist on a regular basis.

The reason they exist is the way the races are run everywhere else in the world. Horses all get ratings by a system of handicappers, employed by the courses or racing associations. The systems of ratings can differ from country to country, but every horse gets a numerical rating based on their proven ability. Conditional racing (N3L, ALWn1X), more or less, don't exist, outside of maiden races. The vast majority of races are handicaps, and the weights are based on the ratings system.

For example, a race might be open to horses rated 60 to 80. If a horse rated 61 is in, they'd be one of the low-weights. The 61 might have 2 wins lifetime, while the 79-rated might have 6 wins. But the spread in weights could be 15 pounds, maybe more. It's a different way to do it, but it basically happens the world over, save North America.

I have always thought that a meaningful ratings system would benefit, potentially, novice players. You see how horses are rated (easily understood in the sense that someone is already interpreting the form for you)...

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I just caught the sixth race from the Vaal in South Africa. The top weight in the handicap carried 144 pounds, while the low weight toted 114, then got an apprentice to get him down to 111. Low-weight sent off at 5-2, finished a fast closing second. Top weight showed speed and faded to mid pack in field of 12. Winner was 6-5 and favored throughout, carried 130, and led all the way.

The Ragozin Sheets would be fun to look at for a race like that!

[Calzone Lord]

Here is the Chart of Discovery's World Record setting Brooklyn Handicap:





This was supposed to be the eagerly awaited match-up to decide Horse of the Year.

Highweight King Saxon (winner of 14 of his last 16 races -- had dominated the Carter and Met Mile in his last two -- numerous track record setting wins) VS 3-year-old Triple Crown winner Omaha.

The track wasn't that fast. A 6.5 furlong race for cheap NY claimers was run in 1:21.60 earlier on in the card. A mile race went in 1:40.20

Discovery -- 129 Beyer (won his next start by 30 lengths. Azacur -- who had just won the SA Handicap defeating Hall of Famers Equipoise and Twenty Grand was 2nd in the match-race)

King Saxon -- 116 Beyer

Omaha -- 110 Beyer (in at 114lbs -- won back nicely the following week)

Good Goods -- 99 Beyer (4yo colt was in light at 104lbs. Came back to win several stakes. Sire of Hall of Famer Alsab)

Somebody -- 91 Beyer (4yo colt also in light at 104lbs)

Thursday -- 88 Beyer (In light at 106lbs. came back and upset Firethorn in the Riggs Handicap. Firethorn won the first of his two Jockey Club Gold Cups that year)

[Calzone Lord]

Photos of Discovery I stumbled upon:

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Don't you just love how Omaha threw in a loss in the Withers between Triple Crown races?

9 races in three months. amazing. now horses retire after two seasons and don't get that many races under their belt.