Seeing as tomorrow is Kentucky Derby day, or maybe today depending upon where you hang your hat on this big blue marble, I figured it was time for a few questions of a horsey bent.

*1. Name the three stallions from which all modern registered thoroughbreds are descended .

*2.Name the first public racecourse. Where was it located and when was it opened?

*3.Name the oldest stakes race in the world. When was it first run and what was the name of the first winner?

*4. What is the name of the betting system used today at most, if not all, modern racetracks? Hint:
it's name means simply "betting amongst ourselves".

*5.The famous American champion Man-O-War campaigned only as a two year old and as three year old. During this time he ran in 21 races and won all but one, placing in his only loss. Name the only horse
to have ever beaten this great champion. Name the race, the track, and the distance.

6.Name the oldest horse ever to win a modern stakes race.

*7.Name the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby and the year.

*8.Name the two jockeys to have won the Kentucky derby five times.

*9.Name the only jockey that has won the Triple Crown twice and name the horses.

10.Name the all time "slow" record in a 2 mile steeplechase (that is the slowest winning time).

[ 05-04-2002, 06:54 AM: Message edited by: tim10001 ]

5. Upset in the Sandford Memorial by 10 lengths

7. Regret in 1915

8. Eddie Arcarco & Bill Hartack

9. Eddie Arcarco again, on Whirlaway in 1941 & Citation in 1948

Still working on the rest - give me time Tim!!!

[ 05-03-2002, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: izzi ]

All correct so far. ......All the time you need izzi.

I think it's interesting that the name of the only horse to have beaten Man-O-War has since entered the lexicon of American English to mean an startlingly unexpected result in a sporting event or political contest or any other kind of competition, for that matter.

[ 05-04-2002, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: tim10001 ]

Time not only stood still for a while there Tim it was actually running backwards, but it's romping away again now!!!

That's an unusual bit of info on the word 'upset', never heard that before!

1. Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian

2. Smithfield Track, London opened in 1174

unless it's an American racecourse that you're after Tim.

[ 05-04-2002, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: izzi ]

3. The St Leger is the world's oldest Thoroughbred race. It is the fifth and final Classic of the British Flat racing season. The St Leger held at Doncaster in September is a four-day meeting. Run over two miles, a longer distance than the Derby and the Oaks, the St Leger is more a test of stamina than speed. Racing at Doncaster in York predates the St. Leger. The Doncaster Cup has been run since 1766. Men knew the open Heath at Newmarket was a great place for driving and riding horses before the Roman's arrived. A group of sportsmen arranged a new sweepstakes race for 3 year olds over a 2 mile course at Cantley Common near Doncaster on September 24, 1776.

4. Pari-Mutual- A French word meaning "Betting amongst ourselves".

[ 05-04-2002, 03:31 AM: Message edited by: hhascup ]

izzi and hhascup, these are all correct, of course.

The other two are admittedly so obscure that I seriously doubt that anyone will come up with them.
But I'll leave them up for a while just in case
anyone would like to have a go.

Here's some info I have on the St. Leger Stakes that I think is interesting as it relates to the evolution of racing. Taken from an old tome I have entitled "Pictorial Encyclopedia of Sports" 1963 edition by Frank G. Menke

"Racing gained greatly in popularity in England all through the 18th Century, but it had one great drawback as the breeding became intesified. Contests were at four miles and most races were run on the heat system-best 2 of three. This meant that a horse had to run 8 miles, and possibly 12, under saddle in an afternoon-too grueling a task for any but those that had reached 5,6 or 7 years of age.

Breeders of race horses, thus were placed in a position of supporting a horse for many years before it had a chance to earn its oats an hay money. But a change was wrought in 1776 by Colonel St. Leger, a breeder who lived in Doncaster England. He decided that 3-year olds were strong enough to run at least 2 miles in an afternoon, and arranged a race 'for 3-year-old colts at 2 miles, 1 heat to decide'. It attracted 6 entries and the event was won by St. Leger's own horse, Sampson. The race had no name, but with it's second running in 1777, became known as 'St. Leger's Race', and has since then has been called the St. Leger, oldest stakes race in the world".

So, if it wasn't for dear old Colonel St. Leger and his desire to more quickly reap the rewards of his investment in horseflesh, the face of racing today might be very different.T

Tim, I'm from this side of the pond and don't really know what you class as a 'stakes race' over there.

I know you have the Preakness, the Belmont, the Kentucky and the St. Ledger, but are there others required to find the answer??

izzi, the way I understand it, a "stakes race" is one in which the owners of each contestant put up a certain amount of money before the race as an entry fee, which is then pooled and given to the winner as a prize, commonly known as "the purse". So, most horse races ran today, and for the last couple of hundred years, at organized racetracks around the world, are classified as "stakes races". There are exceptions to this formula in use today, but the use of this system is so ubiquitous that the phrases "stakes race" and "horse race" are almost interchangable.

So as not to torture you any further with the last two unanswered questions, which I admit are ridiculously arcane, I will give the answers now.

6. John Burwell, in 1925 started 19 races and won one, at the age of 19 years.

10. I'll give the original quote from another old sports book I have, which was the basis for my question.
"In this day of accent on speed, it is surprising to note that the all time "slow" record was set as recently as Dec 29, 1945. On that day, the aptly named Never Mind II, won a two mile steeplechase in 11 minutes 28 seconds, compared to a normal time of about four minutes. He refused at the fourth jump, and his rider returned with him to the paddock. Learning that all the other horses had fallen, the jockey returned with Never Mind II, got him over the fourth fence, finished the course, and gained the victory".

Btw, I thought it was a pretty dull race yesterday,
War Emblem was never really challenged, and went wire to wire for the win. My pick, Proud Citizen,
ran well enough for place money, so not all was lost. The derby seems like it's always such a free -for-all, so many horses, A handicapper's nightmare, but almost always a good show.

[ 05-05-2002, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: tim10001 ]

Thanks for the explanation Tim. I did try various search engines and all they could come up with were human steeplechases. As soon as I entered 'horse' into the frame even my favourite search sites couldn't cope, so I didn't get far.

Good challenge, good sport!!

I seen the Kentucky Derby on the tv this afternoon, thought it was a good race. But what do I know about horse raceing.
---
Never judge a book by it's cover