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That’s a big statement, isn’t it?
Who would you say is the single most remarkable horse in training today?
Is it Kauto Star, twice a Gold Cup winner and four time King of Kempton?
Is it Denman, whose weight-carrying performance in the Hennessey was perhaps the greatest of all time?
Is it Big Buck’s, a horse that can’t stop winning?
Is it Imperial Commander, current Gold Cup holder, and unstoppable in the Cotswolds?
Is it Binocular, who came back from an injury to win the Champion Hurdle – a race he had been all but ruled out of a couple of weeks before?
I would say it was none of these horses.
I would say it was *drumroll*….*fanfare*.
Forpadydeplasterer.
How many horses can match that consistency? How many other horses can come second SIX times in a row.
Any horse can win a race. It takes a certain equine genius to come second ALL THE BLEEDIN’ TIME.
Forpadydeplasterer, I, and many others (I hope!), salute you.
You have taken coming second to a whole new level.
FLD
BlueSky @pghenn.bsky.social
So don't run, just like the others always do
The old grey warhorse Saratoga Ridge was notorious for finishing second, and he actually had a bit of a fan following due to it. In 1996 he ran 16 races and was second in 10 of them. He won plenty, too, but he seemed to like to slow down at the very last moment and make his opponents try to catch him.
We also ought to salute Youmzain for his knack of placing in the best of company.
Is Sonny Somers still around?
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Is Sonny Somers still around?
You mean the steeplechaser born in 1962? He’d be 48, so no.
Mick The Man!!
Didn’t Paddy beat that yoke in a maiden hurdle at Ballybrit? He must have caught something off him!
Mick The Man!!
Didn’t Paddy beat that yoke in a maiden hurdle at Ballybrit? He must have caught something off him!
My memory is failing me! He did beat him but it was at Navan
How about 2nd 9 times and 3rd twice out of 22 national hunt starts and never won! Eleven out of 22. That is 50% in the frame and never won.Market Mariner.Got more fun out of him than any other horse I was connected with.Beaten 4 times in photo finishes no less.Of course he is not in training today.Tendon trouble in both front legs ended his career.
Back in the early 80’s, I seem to remember Michael Stoute had a 3yo called Childown that finished (I think) second EIGHT times in a row before winning!
Mike
Miss Woodford,
Yes, I know, but wouldn’t it be just like him…..My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Back in the early 80’s, I seem to remember Michael Stoute had a 3yo called Childown that finished (I think) second EIGHT times in a row before winning!
I remember Childown as a hurdler but he won about six in a row. I think he fell at the first fence in the triumph hurdle (ridden by John Francome) but never got up from the fall
Howabout, Carryonharry. Still running and winning South East area Ladies Opens at the age of 15 or 16. No doubt Jeremy will see him at Penshurst on Saturday. He used to be at Pond House and fell at the first in a Grand National once upon a wee while ago.
Amusing memories.. but surely the post is titled "…in training today"??!
Yeah, but it’s always the 80’s in my mind…
Mike
Howabout, Carryonharry. Still running and winning South East area Ladies Opens at the age of 15 or 16. No doubt Jeremy will see him at Penshurst on Saturday.
That’s the hope! Prospects for him will probably be contingent on which of the Joe Turner phalanx turns out there and which at Fakenham PTP 24 hours later instead. I’d have thought maybe King Bu Berlais and Leatherback will go to Penshurst, as the hat-trick seeking Assassino (half-brother of Binocular, no less) went close enough at Fakenham last term to presume he can go one better there.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Surely for the last couple of years, that title has to go to Caracciola. A flat career that began in Germany as a 2-y-old, a hurdle career that started with a win as a 3-y-old at Newbury and includes runs in all the najor 2M handicaps, and a chase career that includes appearances in the Arkle and the Grand Annual.
Then late in life, he returns to the flat, wins the Cesarewitch as an 11-y-old, and the Queen Alexandra as a 12-y-old, as well as becoming the oldest recorded winner of a Listed race.
That’s a pretty remarkable combination of flexibility, soundness and longevity.
AP
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