A great race by General Assembly His racing style didn't help him against the Bid at all Was it the trainer- rider or tracks that did him in He sure looks strong here at 1 1/4 mile! Did Spectacular Bid ever go on to run against Affirmed .. I know Affirmed ran against Seattle Slew
@lpvcrcd: I agree. General Assembly's race record likely would have been better had he a had/or been trained in a more stalking running style like The Bid. Spectacular Bid did run against the older Affirmed later in 1979, on October 9th, and made more a few runs at the '78 Triple Crown winner before missing by 3/4 of a length.
GenAss loved the slop. Ironically so did Smarten and Private Account. They finally got smart with Private Account and turned him into a sprinter, his natural ability, and I do believe he set a track record at Saratoga for 7F at 1 point.
Incredible that General Assembly's beyer on this race is estimated to be a 130. Only his sire, the inmortal Secretariat, got a higher one, 138 (in the Beyer)
Thanks for providing! For those who wonder, Spectacular Bid was still recovery from his hoof work post-Belmont and didn't race again until an allowance race in late AUG '79. Next he then crushed Coastal and General Assembly in the Marlboro Cup.
I have been waiting a LONG time to see this race...Sec's son did him proud...He was quick but didn't quite get there in the Triple Crown...I think he was drop dead gorgeous but not as handsome as PAPA...
Were it not for the misfortune of being born the same year as Spectaculat Bid, one of the all time greats, General Assembly would likely have been a champion at both two and three. The other competition was Coastal Flying Paster and Davona Dale. Spectacular Bid was fortunate to have passed on the Travers because he would have been running for second money. August 18, 1979 was General Assembly's day. Thanks for posting the video, I've been waiting years to see it.
Yes, he was disappointing to some, but remember who he was up against, his "waterloo", if you will, Spectacular Bid. I truly feel that GA's front-running style was a big detriment to his possible success. If he would have been a stalker or midpack runner that conserved his energy better, then I think his record would've been better as well. He certainly had the pedigree for distance running, it was just his running style that made it impossible to compete with Bid past a mile.
According to Beyer, he ran a 134 in this race (one of the highest figures ever). However, the track had a favorable rail and a speed bias that day. His ablitiy was more like 119, which he ran two weeks later when Spectacular Bid beat him in the Marlboro Cup.
I couldn't agree more! General Assembly sure was something in this race! His shining moment. Setting the track record in the mud makes his accomplishment all the more impressive. Can't beat the genes either!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jazzy! You have yourself a great weekend too!
He ran like his Daddy
jetdr 1 year ago
A great race by General Assembly His racing style didn't help him against the Bid at all Was it the trainer- rider or tracks that did him in He sure looks strong here at 1 1/4 mile! Did Spectacular Bid ever go on to run against Affirmed .. I know Affirmed ran against Seattle Slew
lpvcrcd 1 year ago
@lpvcrcd: I agree. General Assembly's race record likely would have been better had he a had/or been trained in a more stalking running style like The Bid. Spectacular Bid did run against the older Affirmed later in 1979, on October 9th, and made more a few runs at the '78 Triple Crown winner before missing by 3/4 of a length.
Take care.
cf1970 1 year ago
GenAss loved the slop. Ironically so did Smarten and Private Account. They finally got smart with Private Account and turned him into a sprinter, his natural ability, and I do believe he set a track record at Saratoga for 7F at 1 point.
joefederico 2 years ago
Incredible that General Assembly's beyer on this race is estimated to be a 130. Only his sire, the inmortal Secretariat, got a higher one, 138 (in the Beyer)
lengua92 2 years ago
GA loved the slop. He won the Vosburgh that year in near record time, also on a sloppy track.
all66books 2 years ago
imagine GA running this race on a fast track.
Nishanii 2 years ago
thats secretariats boy.
femwa 2 years ago
Unbeatable at Saratoga. Period.
Skoshi33 3 years ago
I spent a lot of time with GA - amazing horse!
I am so thankful!
thank you for this video!
dcddjc 3 years ago
CF, you've done it again!
Thank_You so much for posting this.
I've waited 28 years+ to see this race again(I saw it live on TV).
G.A.'s daddy would have been proud!
JohnFPorcaro 4 years ago
Good evening, John! You're welcome. It must have been quite the thing to witness all those years ago. The General ran the race of his life here!
Have a good weekend!
cf1970 4 years ago
Wow! now thats one exiting race!!! Secretariat sure passed his speed on to his foals!!
cloudtailforever 4 years ago
That was the Bold Ruler in his breeding.
Jude74 3 years ago
Thanks for providing! For those who wonder, Spectacular Bid was still recovery from his hoof work post-Belmont and didn't race again until an allowance race in late AUG '79. Next he then crushed Coastal and General Assembly in the Marlboro Cup.
jumptheoxer 4 years ago
Sure thing. Thanks for stopping by!
cf1970 4 years ago
CF,
I have been waiting a LONG time to see this race...Sec's son did him proud...He was quick but didn't quite get there in the Triple Crown...I think he was drop dead gorgeous but not as handsome as PAPA...
lol.....Thanks again...
shellpen10 4 years ago 2
Hi Shell! I concur; a special horse, but not the all-around horse that Secretariat was. He sure was a looker!
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
Were it not for the misfortune of being born the same year as Spectaculat Bid, one of the all time greats, General Assembly would likely have been a champion at both two and three. The other competition was Coastal Flying Paster and Davona Dale. Spectacular Bid was fortunate to have passed on the Travers because he would have been running for second money. August 18, 1979 was General Assembly's day. Thanks for posting the video, I've been waiting years to see it.
Nick2You2 4 years ago
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.
cf1970 4 years ago
I agree, I loved The Bid, but he would not have caught the General that day.
JohnFPorcaro 4 years ago
why not ..he beat him every time they raced
televin 3 years ago
That is true. Up until that point, Bid had not run a 2:00 mile & 1/4.
Even though he would brake the World record in that event.
I just think on that day, on a sloppy track,IMHO, GA would have still won.
JohnFPorcaro 3 years ago
This race is amazing to watch !
A great horse !
Thanx for posting !
zacor96 4 years ago 4
Agreed! What a beauty he was.
Thanks for the comments, and for watching.
cf1970 4 years ago
This race reminded me so much of Secretariat's belmont where he was drawing away from the group, totally awesome lol ^^ Gorgeous horse as well =D
sugarpuppy137 4 years ago
Yes, it sure does! Gotta love those chestnuts! =D
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
WOW! He sure does look like his daddy in this race. What a beautiful horse! Thanks ever so much for posting this amazing race!
ruffian72 4 years ago 3
Happy you liked it! General Assembly sure did his papa proud here!
God bless.
cf1970 4 years ago
Dominant performance, and on a sloppy track, to boot!
gfn02 4 years ago 5
Totally agree. He ran his heart out and etched his place in racing history.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
yes, this was a huge effort but for the most part he was a bit dissappointing throughout his career
STU676 4 years ago
Yes, he was disappointing to some, but remember who he was up against, his "waterloo", if you will, Spectacular Bid. I truly feel that GA's front-running style was a big detriment to his possible success. If he would have been a stalker or midpack runner that conserved his energy better, then I think his record would've been better as well. He certainly had the pedigree for distance running, it was just his running style that made it impossible to compete with Bid past a mile.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
Good lord. Imagine if that was a fast track!
carlykaiser 4 years ago 5
Yes, a dry, fast track surely would have yielded at sub 2 minute time. I'd guess about 1:59 1/5.
cf1970 4 years ago
CF, to this day he still holds the stakes record.
JohnFPorcaro 4 years ago
He looks like his daddy in this race.
According to Beyer, he ran a 134 in this race (one of the highest figures ever). However, the track had a favorable rail and a speed bias that day. His ablitiy was more like 119, which he ran two weeks later when Spectacular Bid beat him in the Marlboro Cup.
Great to watch it. Thanks.
CrdShk 4 years ago 4
Sure thing. Glad you enjoyed the video.
cf1970 4 years ago
Wow ! This is a fabulous race to watch !
You can tell General Assembly had so much power and a tremendous amout of stamina.
And being the son of our much beloved SECRETARIAT makes him all the more special to me :)
Thank you for posting this great footage cf !
I hope you will have a great weekend !
Jazzgirl8888 4 years ago 21
I couldn't agree more! General Assembly sure was something in this race! His shining moment. Setting the track record in the mud makes his accomplishment all the more impressive. Can't beat the genes either!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jazzy! You have yourself a great weekend too!
cf1970 4 years ago