Curlin creates history
September 28th 2008 04:13
At Belmont Park Curlin won (in atrocious conditions) the $750,000 Jockey Club Cup, and in doing so became the leading money-earner in the history of US thoroughbred history. This win lifted his prizemoney won to $10,246,800 and eclipsing the $9,999,815 won by Cigar (who was retired in 1996).
(note that this win puts Curlin into the position of fifth-richest earner internationally, trailing the retired Japanese star T.M. Opera O, who tops the list with $16,200,337.)
(photo: Coglianese AP)
Of course without the inflation factor of increased prizemoney Cigar would still hold a margin (around $13 million adjusted for inflation). But there is no stillpoint in sport: swimmers swim new records as a result of pool and swimsuit technology, athletes run faster with biometric science and shoe technology; and money-winning records are always eclipsed over time. It may take another 12 years as it has between Cigar and Curlin - but it will eventually be surpassed. Stakemoney earnt is the least of all measures of worth of the racehorse (unless you are a lucky owner).
Curlin is not yet at the end of his racing career. But he is getting very close. Curlin will now be shipped to Santa Anita to see how he responds to the synthetic Pro-Ride surface there. Curlin has never been tried on a synthetic surface, and although far from disgraced at his only attempt on turf, he is at his best on dirt tracks.
The clash with Big Brown (and possibly European raiders Duke Of Marmalade and Raven’s Pass) in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita is dependent upon how well Curlin responds to the synthetic surface in training. Interestingly it is expected that the synthetic surfaces will aid the chances of European horses and prompt and promote further interest from European stables.
"He is the only one that counts. What we're employed to do is be his interpreters." - Steve Asmussen, trainer, commenting that the horse himself will ultimately decide his own fate by his ability to handle the surface.
"A decision on whether Curlin and Big Brown will finally meet is expected in the next five to 10 days. I don't want to risk a horse of Curlin's stature, we need him in the gene pool. We have to see whether Curlin likes the track. We are not trying to avoid him," - Jess Jackson, owner.
With the spate of tragic racehorse deaths in the US it is more important than ever to breed strength and durability back into the US thoroughbred. Curlin has proved to be no cotton-wool champion. This is the second year in a row that he has won the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His other major victories in the Preakness Stakes; the Breeders’ Cup Classic; the Woodward Stakes, and the Dubai World Cup, all give credence to his ranking as the best thoroughbred horse in the world.
Watch a replay of Curlin creating history winning on the muddy dirt of Belmont Park in the 2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Go Curlin!:
(note that this win puts Curlin into the position of fifth-richest earner internationally, trailing the retired Japanese star T.M. Opera O, who tops the list with $16,200,337.)
Curlin creating history
(photo: Coglianese AP)
Of course without the inflation factor of increased prizemoney Cigar would still hold a margin (around $13 million adjusted for inflation). But there is no stillpoint in sport: swimmers swim new records as a result of pool and swimsuit technology, athletes run faster with biometric science and shoe technology; and money-winning records are always eclipsed over time. It may take another 12 years as it has between Cigar and Curlin - but it will eventually be surpassed. Stakemoney earnt is the least of all measures of worth of the racehorse (unless you are a lucky owner).
Curlin is not yet at the end of his racing career. But he is getting very close. Curlin will now be shipped to Santa Anita to see how he responds to the synthetic Pro-Ride surface there. Curlin has never been tried on a synthetic surface, and although far from disgraced at his only attempt on turf, he is at his best on dirt tracks.
The clash with Big Brown (and possibly European raiders Duke Of Marmalade and Raven’s Pass) in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita is dependent upon how well Curlin responds to the synthetic surface in training. Interestingly it is expected that the synthetic surfaces will aid the chances of European horses and prompt and promote further interest from European stables.
"He is the only one that counts. What we're employed to do is be his interpreters." - Steve Asmussen, trainer, commenting that the horse himself will ultimately decide his own fate by his ability to handle the surface.
"A decision on whether Curlin and Big Brown will finally meet is expected in the next five to 10 days. I don't want to risk a horse of Curlin's stature, we need him in the gene pool. We have to see whether Curlin likes the track. We are not trying to avoid him," - Jess Jackson, owner.
With the spate of tragic racehorse deaths in the US it is more important than ever to breed strength and durability back into the US thoroughbred. Curlin has proved to be no cotton-wool champion. This is the second year in a row that he has won the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His other major victories in the Preakness Stakes; the Breeders’ Cup Classic; the Woodward Stakes, and the Dubai World Cup, all give credence to his ranking as the best thoroughbred horse in the world.
Watch a replay of Curlin creating history winning on the muddy dirt of Belmont Park in the 2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Go Curlin!:
| 28 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
