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Thanks, LD73. Okay, here’s my question:
The American Triple Crown winner Secretariat was known to have a big heart. At what ratio, compared to that of a normal horse, was his heart actually found to be when he was put down due to chronic illness at the age of 19? A good approximate figure will do. GL.
What is a realistic figure Jimsun? Let’s say easily twice as big as a normal heart. If it would be something like 1.7 times, it would be simply to precise and I also can’t believe it was three times bigger than a normal equine heart.
If at least twice as big isn’t good enough and three times bigger is unrealistic, then I’ll say two and half men…. I mean two and a half times.
That’s it, Ex Ruby Light! You’ve cracked it in one go!
The heart of Secretariat was found to weigh a massive 22 pounds approx! Given that the heart of a normal horse weighs about 8 or 9 pounds, maybe closer to 9, then it works out that Secretariat’s heart was about two and a half times as big! When I first read it I thought it was absolutely astonishing.
So over to you then, ERL. Very well done!
Btw, this for me leads to another question: Have they ever performed an autopsy like that on any other great horses to try find out what made them tick? I think they have preserved the skeleton of Eclipse, or something.
When Robert met John…..
In what year were Sangster and Magnier introduced to each other?
Green God Vernon’s day at Haydock – 1969 I think, could be a year wrong. The meeting was superbly written up in the Robinson book – though I suspect a little was added for reader enjoyment.
Quoth Jimsun:
Have they ever performed an autopsy like that on any other great horses to try find out what made them tick? I think they have preserved the skeleton of Eclipse, or something.
Secretariat died of laminitis but a necropsy was required by the insurance company for confirmation. The veterinarian (Thomas Swercze) was not mandated to examine the heart for the purposes of the necropsy, but thought he would take a look at it anyway. He estimated the weight to be 22lb as per Jimsun’s post.
The next heaviest racehorse heart was reportedly that of Sham at 19lb. This horse finished second to Secretariat in the 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Dr Swercze also performed Sham’s necropsy. He opined that the hearts of these two horses were far heavier than any others he had seen during his career.
Post-mortem, Eclipse was found to have a 14lb heart (as did Phar Lap). I’m guessing that Eclipse was one of a very few horses, possibly the only one, who was necropsied specifically to try and discover what made him tick.
Green God Vernon’s day at Haydock – 1969 I think, could be a year wrong
You are wrong, but I won’t tell you by how many years. The meeting though, is correct.
Seasider, I wish to thank you very much for your immense and wonderful knowledge and insight. I find your posts an absolute pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing.
Seeing that no one else is interested in having a shot at your question, ERL, I’m gonna take another wild stab at it, if I may. I’m going for the year of Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef – 1971.
Coincidently it’s been the Sprint Cup day today at Haydock. I recall, as a young school boy back then, that the Vernons Sprint Cup was one of the landmark races in the calendar, particularly after the exploits of Be Friendly a few years earlier.
A fun post, some tough questions and well done to the ones that answered correctly…
Was reading an interesting historical book on horse racing the other day and came across this little twister (among many):
Who was the first stallion to sire the winners of the Epson Derby and the Kentucky Derby in the same year?
In modern times Nijinsky achieved the feat through Shahrastani and Ferdinand in 86, but I’m guessing it would have been achieved at least once before. Ferdinand of course probably most remembered for that memorable BC classic finish with Alysheba the year after……and more sadly his grim ending after retirement. And I loved Shahrastani – followed him blindly after that proverbial full of promise first run when runner up to My Ton Ton at Newbury. Got to see him in the flesh once, when he won the Dante.
Jimsun, sorry for being late on this thread. Your answer is 100% correct. Please post your question.
Thanks, ERL.
Talented dual-purpose jockey Jim Crowley seems (to me) to divide opinions in a funny sort of way – in the way his name is or should be pronounced, particularly by commentators in the racing media.
Should Crowley be pronounced “Crow-ley” as in “a ‘crow’d of people”? Or should it be pronounced “Crow-ley” as in the black bird the “crow”?
I don’t profess to know the answer. But I do seem to recall Jim was once asked the question in an interview on SSR. And I do know which one of the two different pronunciations I personally prefer!
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