It was an absolutely incredible comeback. Leon makes a tremendous shift to the right to get around one horse on the inside with another just outside to make it the final stretch run possible. That was one gutsy horse in Rich Strike. Even though only one deeper long shot has won the Derby, this is why you don't want to bet on horse racing, because horses are very unpredictable and very much affected by conditions and horses around them. Note the overall time was 3 seconds behind Secretariat's Derby record of 1:59 2/5. Tenth all-time is Fusaichi Pegasus at 2:01.12, so this 2:02 and change was not particularly fast. In 1973, Secretariat was first with the Churchill Downs record, Sham 2nd at 1:59 4/5, and only Monarchos in 2001 has also broken 2:00, with 1:59.97. Third fastest Derby winner is Northern Dancer from 1964. Then Spend A Buck in 1985 and Decidedly from 1962. So, four of the top six were from 1962-73. They ought really to reconceive how they train horses.
There have been some fabulous comebacks brought to our attention, and, like some, I'll opt for the races when humans fight to the line. One more example of a tremendous human comeback was Drew Hunter's 1600 leg in the high school boys DMR at the 2016 Penn Relays, winning it for Loudoun Valley HS by .001 sec:
Drew Hunter did the impossible at the 2016 Penn Relays, getting the baton at least 50 meters behind the leader, he ran the 2nd fastest mile anchor leg in the...
1973 Grand National - Crisp .This Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of the champion Crisp's battle with Red Rum.At the 30th and final fence, Crisp was sti...
The Dave Wottle analogy is pretty good. Field was dying from a too fast start - extreme good fortune not to be boxed in. This being the horses, there is always darker reasons why this may have happened - bookies doing the happy dance always makes you wonder....
The Dave Wottle analogy is pretty good. Field was dying from a too fast start - extreme good fortune not to be boxed in. This being the horses, there is always darker reasons why this may have happened - bookies doing the happy dance always makes you wonder....
The leaders went through the 1/2 mile at 45.3 seconds! That's a 1:53.25 pace and way too fast. Secretariat holds the record at 1:59.4. Those horses went out way too fast.
Rich Strike was smarter and was at the back at the 1/2 mile by at least two seconds.
It will be harder to win the Preakness, but Rich Strike's time of 2:02.61 shows that he will be in the fight. It will be fun to watch. Everyone will be pulling for the underdog.
If you want to know who has no clue about how thoroughbred horses, look for the people saying it's animal abuse. Ignorance at it's best. Are there cases where horses are mistreated? Sure, but the vast majority are treated better than the grooms.
Physically yes thats an amazing comeback. But the horse is not trying to win in the same way a person is. The horse doesn't even know the finish line. I'm just not moved in the same way I would be if people were racing on foot, bike or even by car.
Albeit, a horse may not know where the finish line is, but they are well aware they are racing and want to win.
2013 Great North Run- Bekele holds off Farah and laughs to the finish. Not on par with this but in terms of intensity, this has to be it for road racing
I have to go with Dave Wottle at Munich in 1972. He ran a tactically brilliant race, didn't get carried away with the initial pace and timed his kick perfectly. What Rich Strike did was awesome but I think it gets a halo because of the 80-1 odds. Wottle had tied the world record at the US Olympic Trials so he wasn't as much of a surprise to be in contention although not the favorite due to lack of 800M experience. He went from last to first and was still in last halfway through the race and won by .3 seconds having passed the first 3 runners with less than 40 meters.
One of the closet finishes to 4x400m relay final you’ll ever see.The Zurich 2014 European Athletics Championships saw incredible final lap performances from ...
never ran that fast before although was improving every time.
it went nuts after the race.. trying to bite the leash or bite the other horse of tender for like foreverrr. that horse was so so emo. by natural or unnatural causes.
He does know the finish line and the houses are a lot smarter than you think - they frick’in love to run and race each other! That victory was SO INCREDIBLE I’m still shaking over it. That lady second over take when he couldn’t go on the inside was genius riding & racing!!! This horse wasnt even supported to be in the race and was only a substitute last second thing.
Physically yes thats an amazing comeback. But the horse is not trying to win in the same way a person is. The horse doesn't even know the finish line. I'm just not moved in the same way I would be if people were racing on foot, bike or even by car.
I feel the opposite? If there is no finish line what inspires that horse to kick for the finish a la Dave Wottle. And BTW, so much for being boxed. Horse was boxed in like 5 times on the way to win.
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