Really tough racehorses

[Deartoall81]

There is a similar thread about tough horses on the stallions forum, but that is about vicious horses: let's talk really gritty racehorses, the type who ran all day - and repeated the following week!

My nominee isHAMBURG b.h. 1895 (Hanover - Lady Reel).
This horse performed deeds as a 2yo even 4yos would have a hard time replicating!
He made his first start June 9, 1897, and the last September 16, making 16 starts in all. he won 12, was 2nd 3 times, 6 of his starts were in September alone!
Anyway, his individual stats are simply mindboggling:

July 5 - Great Trial Stakes - 122 lbs - w-t-w
July 10 - Double Event Stakes (section 2)* - 129 lbs - w-t-w

August(?) - Congress Hall Stakes* - 134 lbs, gave 15 lbs to runner-up
Agusut(?) - Grand Union Hotel Stakes - 129 lbs, beaten a head by Archduke (117 lbs)
August 17 - Rising Generation Stakes* - 127 lbs, beat Central Trust (122 lbs), & Julius Caesar (111 lbs)
August 21 - Electric Handicap (!) - 132 lbs, beat Handball (120 lbs), First Fruit (88 lbs)

September 1 - Flight Stakes - tried to give the 4yo Requital 5 lbs by scale. Requital beat him 2 lengths, but he was 10 lengths in front of the next horse
September 6 (he had a race between this and previous) Autumn Stakes* -- 129 lbs
September 11 - Great Eastern Handicap (this race was the most impressive) - 135 lbs (!) - stood at barrier for half an hour, went w-t-w, beating Kitefoot, and George Keene (both 111 lbs); the lightweight in the field got 40 lbs from him.
September ?? - Prospect Stakes* - 127 lbs
September 16 - Excelsior Stakes

*"allowance" race
Hamburg raced only 5 times at 3, but his last two races (he won both) were at 13f, and 18f; which rather belied his earlier rep as a "mere sprinter".

(sources: "Names In Pedigrees" by Joe Palmer, and "The History of Horse Racing in America" by William Robertson)

[BenB]

There was an thread earlier on this year, with a tremendous lot of posts,
about this subject or related subjects.
What do you think of 11 year old gelding with some 130 starts +, and still sound.

[louis finochio]

Hi Ben: What was the gelding's name? Thanks, Louis.

[JimbleBrimble]

Hi,

I submit that while those stats look great by the standards of American racing today, they don't really stand out for that era. It is difficult to have a standard by which to appreciate the runners of old.

Horses in other countries still race far more often at times than the standards you're used to in North America.

I'd be more in awe over a runner who raced nine times in October twenty years ago than by such horses of yester-century.

How do you know that one of those oldsters qualifies for your awe?

[Keith]

Lexington Park by Quadrangle-Sunny Morn by Princequillo. Growing up at Charles Town and Shenandoah Downs I have seen him race in his later years. Look at his record 209 starts 41 wins 35 places 29 shows. He set a couple of track records and ran until he was too old to race. He is a half brother to the dam of the great broodmare Sultry Sun. Another tough horse is Crying For More by I'm For More-Crying Jag by Lose Weeper. He ran 192 times 53 wins 32 places 29 shows. Of course there are the great racehorses.

Kelso by Your Host-Maid of Flight by Count Fleet
John Henry by Ole Bob Bowers-Once Double by Double Jay
Exterminator by McGhee-Fair Empress by Jim Gore
Forego by Forli-Lady Golconda by Hasty Road
Seabiscuit by Hard Tack-Swing On by Whisk Broom
Phar Lap by by Night Raid-Entreaty by Winkie
Red Rum by Quorum-Mared by Magic Red


Keith