Spectacular Bid

[rscarbro100]

This theory proves out in The Bid's Jockey Gold Cup against Affirmed, The Shoe ran him a slow pace & The Bid had plenty left for the last 1/4 mile but just fell short. 2 seconds or more faster than his Belmont time. Affirmed a year earlier ran a slow pace & had plenty left to win his Belmont in 2:26 4/5. All Jockies & trainers don't want their horse to set a blazing pace for the 1st mile & a quarter in a 1 1/2 mile race. Franklin screwed up here.

[rscarbro100]

Red Smith "To The Swift'

Then he went back to Barn 14, opened a can of Heinekens and said: Delp quoted:

He may not be a mile-and-a-half horse. The best horse won. I got beat, thats all. Tomorrows another day.

He took a long swallow of beer. I couldnt see any excuse for my horse at all. He was strong until he ran out of gas. Im not shocked, Im disappointed. I understand horse racing better than a lot of people do. Im always ready to lose. Ive lost a lot more than anybody.

[rscarbro100]

Then again that race with Affirmed was a really good time for a 1 1/2 mile race. Not many ever run it in 2:27 1/5. A 2:28 time is considered good. No one can deny The Bid & that ranking of his IMO should have been much better. Citation, MOW, Count Fleet & Forego were great horses with all due respect but The Bid was better in my mind & can't see them horses I mention could hang with him in my wildest imagination. He had just to much speed.

[rscarbro100]

The pin in that foot just don't add up. If he was lame he never would have ran that race. Next, after The Bid lost according to long time sport writer Red Smith Delp went back to the barn & sat on a stool with beer in hand & said. I don't believe Bid is a 1 1/2 mile horse after all. Why would he make such a statement & came back later with that pin story of his.?? That last 1/4 of a mile in the Belmont was the undoing for most all others that lost the TC. Just like the Bid.

[jkmooreelle]

The pin incident would not have made any sense if it wasn't backed by Miller and Harthill.Harthill probably found an abcess in Bids foot. The reason for the layoff after the Belmont. The more reason why I find Bids story fascinating is Bud Delp and his confidence in Bid. I also read that the Monday before the Belmont Bid had a fast workout.Some people on the backside said Bid looked tired. Bids legacy should not be tarnished because he did not win the TC.

[rscarbro100]

@jkmooreelle I agree 100% his legacy should not be tarnish because he did not win the Triple Crown. I believe why he was not ranked in the top 5 of all time was becaue he never proved he was a great 1 1/2 mile horse. What else could it be? If he did prove it he's got to be right there with Secretariat. I do feel at 4 he could have ran a 1 1/2 in a 2:26 time frame or better. My thinking was he never was well prepared enough for long distance runs. Might be wrong. Continue

[jkmooreelle]

@rscarbro100 Good article on Bid from Red Smith. Shoe realized after the JCGC that he misjudged the pace. Im glad your not one of those fans that judges a horse based on his TC series. What BID did in 1980 was simply astonishing. Breaking track records with his dominant performances coast to coast. Then closing out his career with a walkover. Thats like the other team in the super bowl saying we don't want to play them because we cant beat them. Man, what a great time for horse racing!

[rscarbro100]

@jkmooreelle I agree 100% on his astonishing record as a 4 year old. The best I believe in racing history. I am really impressed to say the least. I have said & will again say he in the top 5 of all time. They are several horses that are tough & I mean real tough to determine who is the best. I do not know for sure how Big Red would done as a 4 year old. But one thing for sure, if he was anything like what he was as a 3 year old then the lights are out for any horse being better than him IMO.

[rscarbro100]

As a 4 year old the Bid ran a 1:20 flat for 7 furlongs. Thats a just about a 11.4 clip for each furlong ran. And a 1:45 4/5 carring 130 lbs for a 1 1/8 mile. Not to mention that 1:57 4/5 for a 1 1/4 mile. The Bid, The Dr. & Big Red to 8 furlongs none faster. The Bid & Big Red none faster to 10 furlongs. Do have to mention Easy Goer that ran a mile in 1:32 2/5 as a 3 year old.

[rscarbro100]

Laurin called Watson high above & the electronic timer clocked him in 32 2/5. Laurin said most horses don't usually run it less than 34 seconds. Thats a 10.8 for each furlong. And that was after a 4 month layoff. No horse ever ran a 1 1/4 mile race & ran each 1/4 faster than the previous one. 23 second last 1/4 ran is unheard of. That is flying. He ran an exact 12 second clip each furlong in the Belmont. A 21.1 quarter in the Hopeful passing all them horses at age 2.

[rscarbro100]

The Bid was a very remarkable horse. He could run with all of them to a 1 1/4 mile. Whether he could beat the Dr. to a mile or Big Red in a 1/ 1/4 mile? I say he could on any given day. The Dr. in no way better than Bid at 1 1/4 nor the Bid better than Big Red at 1 1/2 IMO. On March 14, 1973 & that was 3 days before Big Red started his 3 year old season they worked him at Bemont foi a 3/8 mile. Laurin told Ron to let him roll. Laurin at the rail clocked him in 33 2/5 seconds. Continue

[BeachMist13]

great video RIP bid and Delp

[jkmooreelle]

Delp and his connections had an experience of a lifetime. Many of us dream about.

[jkmooreelle]

Amen to that lengua92. All the debates of the great horses to run, I really think 'bid' could give Secretariat a run for his money..

[lengua92]

spectacular bid...what racehorse is the only thing i can say!

[catzcondo]

Bid actually lost 3 races, but he ran 30, many more than what we see horses run now.

[yomamadontdanz]

the bid only lost one race..the 79 belmont,when a horse actualy past him...amazing stuff and this is the sports most talented 4 year old to ever run...id like to see bid,secretaiat,affirmed,slew and ghostzapper in a mile and a quarter race!!!

[rscarbro100]

Secretariat would be the winner. He was capable of running the 1 1/4 mile in 1.57 flat on that rack Bid ran his 1.57 4/5. Secretariat ran that time in the Marlboro Cup as a 3 year old when he passed the 1 1/4 mile post in his cool down run. Just think what times he would have ran if he was a 4 or 5 year old, A horse usaully don't reach his peak until he is 5 years old.

[rscarbro100]

@yomamadontdanz It would be between The Bid & Secretariat. None of the others horses never came close to The Bid & Secretariat in a 1 1/4 mile. Bid ran his WR as a 4 year old. At 3 Big Red ran the Marlboro Cup. Won the 1 1/8 mile in WR time 1:45 2/5 & yet ran another furlong pulling up in 1:57 4/5 same time as Bids WR out in Santa Anita one of the fastest tracks in the world. If he was not pulled up & not going 8 wide in last turn its another 4 fractions faster. 1:57 flat no doubt.

[yomamadontdanz]

if only we had a time machine..rerun the 79 belmont please!

[ALYSHEBANDTHEBID]

The bid is probebly most dangerous runner ever...making moves anytime..outside..inside..on the lead..running 4 wide until the turn..u just don't know whatu going to get on the race.from the Bid..

[waffledude13]

bud delp is my grandfather

[carlykaiser]

You have no idea how awesome that is!

[waffledude13]

yea its pretty awesome but it was really upsetting when he passed away...my dad (gerald delp) was holding his hand as he passed away

[carlykaiser]

I'm very sorry. It is still very cool that he's your grandfather. I bet he had awesome stories

[BeachMist13]

well he is in a better place now

[BeachMist13]

really that's so cool

[jargenlink]

wonder what the hell was a safety pin doing in his hoof someone wanted to clean up and with the bid out it opens the door with a big pay out.

[aceswilson]

All things being equal. All rides being equal. All trips being fair and with quality of competition, the greatest racehorse of the last 100 years was seattle slew. A close second to secretariat,manowar,citation and spectacular bid.

[jena125]

how big is bid...i am geussing 16.5 hands

[flatonia]

I just found out the Buddy Delp died on Dec 29, 2006, after a bout with cancer.

For me, Delp was always part of the package that made following Spectacular Bid a treat.

He was brash, cocky, and brought a sorely needed playfullness to the sport.

R.I.P. :(

[TheHero]

Bid, like many others, ALMOST won the Triple Crown (it is really isn't so unattainable, but there seems to be a sort of jinx). He was definite a great horse, greater than the overrated Secretariat, but without a doubt, the best ever were Man o'War and Citation.

[waseom]

Spectacular Bid was definitely a great horse - there is no doubt about that - and he should have won the Triple Crown. However, referring to Secretariat as overrated is definitely a stretch. Secretariat and Man O' War were the greatest U.S. thoroughbreds of all time, which is why the in the Blood-Horse Top 100, they are #2 and #1, respectively. The Bid should've been #4, after Citation, if his jockey hadn't messed up.

[snibbornhoj]

Blood Horse never specified what criteria it used to rate the horses. If race records were of prime importance, Sec does not belong at #2, Citation does. If time was the major consideration, Sec and Swaps should be tied for first, with several other horses tied for second. But time is the least important aspect of a horse's career. Placing MoW and Sec as 1 and 2 entails a huge contradiction on BH's part now, doesn't it? Think about it.

[JTeufel]

IF Spectacular Bid would have won the Belmont he would have gone down as THE GREATEST ever in American racing-even over Secretariat. The numerous track records, his racing record itself, his perfect 4 year old season, the courageous loss to Affirmed no matter (at 3)...He is still in at number 10 in Blood Horse magazines top 100 ever. Fastest at mile and a quarter over the lot.

[Kelse99]

I dont think so, he may have broke track records but Secretariat and Man O War broke world records

[JTeufel]

Please get your facts right and give The Bid the credit he deserves...He owns the world record for a mile and a quarter at 1.57 4/5.

[Kelse99]

My mistake, soz

But saying if he had won the Belmont he would have been the greatest ever is abit over the top, he would have been an all time great but not the greatest one race wouldnt have made all the difference, it still wouldnt have made up for his loss to Affirmed a horse that is not in the same league as many other Triple Crown winners like Secretariat.

[jumptheoxer]

Bid's record: 30 starts 26-2-1; his only "off the board" finish was a 4th at the age of 2. Even today: That horse set track or world records eight times on five different racetracks. He would have won the Breeders' Cup three years in a row had it existed. The facts speak for themselves. He still holds the world record for 1 1/4 mi on the dirt [Santa Anita] as well as the seven-furlong track mark and the 1 1/16 record at Laurel, which he set as a two-year-old.

[JTeufel]

You are probably right about the Breeders Cup...The Bid would have crushed any horse in '80 of course and if he would have raced in '81 and '82 he would have beaten Temperance Hill or Pleasant Colony easily. No great horses really until Spend a Buck in '85. In response to Secretariat who probably was the greatest, at least the Bid never lost to an Onion! Long live the Bid's legacy!

[bon1042]

After losing to "an onion" (Turcotte by the way knew something was wrong w/him) Sec had fever/temp of 103 and it got worse, when worked him he was sweating so they stopped. Had to reluctantly scratch him fm Travers. So don't be do god damn hurtfully sarcastic. Have a little empathy for the horse.

[bon1042]

That's right, on dirt, though. A horse named Double Discount set turf record in 1977 3 yrs earlier at same time of 1:57 4/5. Sec still holds 1 1/2 dirt, if horse racing guide on horsehats dot com is current.

[JTeufel]

I respect your opinion for sure, but, all racing experts agree that he is an all time great for definate.

[Kelse99]

yeah, i definatley agree with an all time great! he was an amzing animal, the most inbred Kentucky Derby winner ever he must have been incredibly special to over come that!

[snibbornhoj]

I think Bid was a better horse than Sec without a doubt. Those who go ga-ga over time are revealing what neophytes they are. Bid had a better race record than Sec, carried more weight than Sec, and set times records, too! And with a normal size heart!

[JSanity01]

Bid was great, but he wasnt better then Sec. Sec didnt even race as a 4 year old. if he did, just imagine how much weight he would have had to carry, and probably would have put on a great 4 year old season, maybe even an undefeated season. u cant use times to compare greatest. some of the world records are held by horses u cant even remember. for example the world record for 6 furlongs is 1:06 and 4/5 i think, by a horse i cant even remember his name.

[jkmooreelle]

No doubt about it.Spectacular Bid is one of the greatest if not the greatest of all time!

[rscarbro100]

@jkmooreelle @jkmooreelle Bid was a great horse at 4 years of age. Asked the Shoe who was the best he ever seen. The answer "Swaps". Even though Bid was one of my favorites of all time the pin in foot is hard to swallow since I watched that race over & over a thousand times. I saw nothing wrong with him.. That fast pace even though not near as fast as Big Red done him in. Slower pace with the Shoe aboard & Affirmed still beat him even though Affirmed one of the greats of all time.

[jkmooreelle]

@rscarbro100 I read on your earlier post that Shoe said that Dr Fager the best he ever seen. Shoe did ride Swaps.I have seen Shoe on the '89 Breeders Cup telecast and have read on numerous interviews. Shoe said The Bid is the best he ever rode 'hands down'.Re; The Belmont he never switched leads something was wrong. Its backed up be Mack Miller who had horses near Bid's stall validated the pin along with the late Dr Alex Harthill who performed the procedure on Bid after the Belmont.

[rscarbro100]

@jkmooreelle The best he ever rode does not mean best he ever seen The Shoe did rate the Dr. the best ever seen. Delp removed the pin before the race so he said. What procedure did Dr. Harthill perform on the Bid? Lost to Affirmed. Was there a pin in that race? Not sure whether he said Swaps was best he ever rode or best ever seen. That statement may have been made before he ever rode the Bid. Not sure. One thing for sure the Shoe never said the Bid was the best he ever seen.

[SECby31]

@JTeufel Yes, fastest 1 1/4 on a super fast track in California. So what?! Sec set an unofficial time matching that as a THREE YEAR OLD on a slower track. Any smart person watching HOW Sec won KD and Belmont would deduce that the big red colt would defeat mighty Bid over 1 1/4 and leave him in his dust over 1 1/2. Remember Sec hadn't peaked yet when forced to call it quits. Scary indeed!

[JTeufel]

@SECby31 I am scratching my head at "so what"....You implying I am not smart is a bit silly. The Bid's WR still stands, you cannot say there are no fast tracks anymore any circumstance, face it man the record could have been broken since then. but it hasn't. I was a teenager when the Bid ran, saw him at Monmouth as I only lived down the road from there. The WR is impressive. End of story.

[SECby31]

@JTeufel I shouldn't have belittled Bid's WR, but your "Onion" bit rubbed the wrong way. Yes, Sec was ill in that race, and showed what he could do when healthy against an "Onion" a few weeks later. By the way, which WR do you think will be broken first - the 1 1/4 on dirt or the 1 1/2? I have always valued quality over quantity, and the sheer variety of Sec's wins has never been surpassed - from the outside (many times giving up ground, yet powering through) from the inside, on the lead, cont..

[JTeufel]

@SECby31 ok I see what you mean about the Onion comment but it was light hearted. I certainly do not dislike big red, he was amazing I was six when he won the TC and watched it on if I am right in saying ABC WW of sports...11/4 will be broken first, not enough races in USA at 1/1/2...by the way the effort against Affirmed although a loss for the Bid was amazing I am sure you would agree. Would have been nice if big red ran at 4.....

[rscarbro100]

@JTeufel We already seen Secretariat could run a 1 1/4 mile in 1:57 4/5 'Pulling Up' in the Marlboro Cup.Source Daily Racing Manual. SI Whitney Towerr said the track did not fancy R.R. or Cougar who liked nothing but real fast. The Bid was fast but he ran that 1:57 4/5 as a 4 yr. old on a track rated as one of the fastest in the country was done from the chute. The Bid was more matured & faster as a 4 yr. old. A horse does not reach his maturity until he is 4 & sometimes 5.

[jkmooreelle]

@SECby31 Neither one of the records you mentioned will never be broken. Secretariat, Spectacular Bid and Dr Fager are the three fastest horses I have ever seen in my life. For any horse to break the sub 2 minute mile and quarter is remarkable anyways.

[SECby31]

@JTeufel from way back (I can't remember the race as a 2 yr old when he made a frightening move from last to first, and the early charge at Preakness is legendary), and all this know-how by the age of three. He was a magician on the track and was retired before even reaching his peak. Spectacular Bid is a legend who achieved great things on the track, but Secretariat is in a class of his own.

[kcaputo007]

Right horse , wrong time ,in history , if he was racing today how popular would he be?? But whenn u coome after Slew , Affiirmed and Alaydar no one remembers ur name , well not many anyway

[JSanity01]

unless ur name is Cigar.

[Kelse99]

Huh hum the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle is Sea Bird

[cf1970]

The only word to sum up the "Bid" is...Spectacular! Truly a great champion. Only very bad luck stopped him from winning the triple crown.

[jumptheoxer]

It was said best: "The greatest horse to look through a bridle". He easily would've set the Preakness record had he not been pushed 16' feet off the rail by Angel Cordero Jr on the back stretch. Still holds the 1 1/4 mi record time on dirt in North America.