Who do you think is/was the best racehorse of the past 10 years?

Question

The points go to the best justified answer.

Answer 1

Ghostzapper, with Skip Away a close second. Ghostzapper was considered the fastest horse in 30+ years by several of the industries top experts in speed handicapping (he topped the Sheets and ran some of the fastest Beyer and Ragozin numbers). In his limited starts he won at 6 distances from 6-10f including four G-1 wins at 6.5, 8, 9 and 10f and lost by two noses in a fifth G-1 at 7f. He currently holds the stakes record for the Breeder's Cup Classic in 1:59.02 over what is considered one of if not the deepest Classic field in history. He beat two Horses of the Year, two Dubai World Cup winners and the winners of all three Triple Crown races (among others) during his career and did it consistantly in brilliantly fast times.

Skip Away held the previous BC Classic record of 1:59.16 set in 1997. Unlike Ghostzapper's year, the 1997 field was considered one of the weakest on record. Skip finished off the board in 1998, another year considered especially deep in talent. Skip Away had tremendous speed but is remembered more for his durability. He ran 38 races over four years and was awarded a championship in three of those years. Skippy didn't win all the time (around 47% of his starts) but he was in the money almost 90% of the time. He was tough, classy and consistant. But as in most of his races he finishes second here.

I'll add Giant's Causeway to finish the top 3. He won 9 of his 13 races and finished second in the other four. He dominated European racing by winning the Prix de Salamandre, Juddmonte International, Coral-Eclipse, Sussex, Irish Champion and St. James Palace (all Group 1s). He defeated Breeder's Cup race winners Fantastic Light, Sakhee and Kalanisi as well as Breeder's Cup placed Dansili. In his first and only start on dirt the Giant ran American Tiznow to within a neck of victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic.

Lol Birddawg everyone's entitled to their opinions. But leading up to the '04 Classic there were many turf writers and experts who expressed that sentiment. Everyone acknowledged that Ghostzapper was a potential freak. Pleasantly Perfect won 3 of 4 starts that year, Roses in May was riding a 5 race win streak, Funny Cide won the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Azeri was running the fastest speed figures of her career, throw in multiple G-1 winner/placed Perfect Drift, Birdstone and Dynever and it was a very, very good field. Pleasantly Perfect and Roses in May were far better than 'solid' handicappers, it's just that Ghostzapper ran away from them so easily as to make them appear to be that way ;)

As for your list of top sprinters I don't know how Pico Central and Speightstown don't figure on it. I saw many of the ones you listed and these two were much, much better.

Answer 2

Good question. I may have to say Ghostzapper on dirt. Because he was dominant at sprint and route races. I think other top dirt handicap horses would be Candy Ride, Dubai Millenium, Tiznow.

Tiznow of course couldnt sprint so I have to deduct points. ON the other hand, I think hed put GZapper away at a mile and a half, so it depends on how you define it. But at the classic 1 1/4 distance, any one of those four.

Pure Sprinting: The top ones are Kona Gold, Left Bank, Swept Overboard, Orientate, Ghostzapper, Squirtle Squirt, Forest Danger and Strong Hope.

GreyTmom: regarding your comment on GZappers field being a strong one, I dont think it really was. Only in name, becuase it had the derby winner funny cide, the horse of the year, Azeri, the ddefending BC champ, pleasantly perfect, but if you really look at it, it was just another solid BC field, with Roses in May and Pleasantly perfect being the two solid handicap contenders, not spectacular just solid.

Answer 3

Barbaro, who was headed for great things when a broken leg stopped her from racing. Barabaro has shown so much fortitude towards not giving up. A great horse.

Answer 4

Best Pal no pedigree made some money