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Post by Pixie on May 18, 2017 10:27:53 GMT -5
So, like, Happy Birthday.
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Post by foghorn on May 18, 2017 17:10:46 GMT -5
On this day the Selective Service was established. Didn't seem to me they were too selective--I was told if I was breathing I was good to go!
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Post by stevil on May 19, 2017 7:26:33 GMT -5
On this day the Selective Service was established. Didn't seem to me they were too selective--I was told if I was breathing I was good to go! True I'm sure, but you only need to be "barely breathing" for the FBI, HSI, CBP, etc., to take a look! |
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Post by Pixie on May 20, 2017 18:48:33 GMT -5
That Sir Barton was the first Triple Crown winner in 1919? Many thought it would never be done again as the three races had been run for 44 years before there was a winner of all three. Then 3 did it in the '30s, then 4 in the '40s. Wasn't done again for 25 years when the greatest race horse of all time won in 1973. After Secretariat came Affirmed* and Seattle Slew in the '70s. Then came the longest drought, 37 years, since Sir Barton won. Many, me included, were beginning to despair of ever seeing another Triple Crown winner in our lifetimes. And finally, American Pharoah [sic] brought it home in 2015. I am predicting several more winners in the next ten years**. Just as I am predicting the release of the NORs on 18 June. Pixie
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*And we can't mention Secretariat and Affirmed without mentioning Sam the Sham (Secretariat) and especially Alydar (Affirmed). Alydar has proved to be the greatest race horse sire of all time, easily eclipsing Affirmed (and Secretariat) in the breeding shed.
**Won't happen this year, though.
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Post by gary on May 20, 2017 22:06:23 GMT -5
That Sir Barton was the first Triple Crown winner in 1919? Many thought it would never be done again as the three races had been run for 44 years before there was a winner of all three. Then 3 did it in the '30s, then 4 in the '40s. Wasn't done again for 25 years when the greatest race horse of all time won in 1973. After Secretariat came Affirmed* and Seattle Slew in the '70s. Then came the longest drought, 37 years, since Sir Barton won. Many, me included, were beginning to despair of ever seeing another Triple Crown winner in our lifetimes. And finally, American Pharoah [sic] brought it home in 2015. I am predicting several more winners in the next ten years**. Just as I am predicting the release of the NORs on 18 June. Pixie _________________ *And we can't mention Secretariat and Affirmed without mentioning Sam the Sham (Secretariat) and especially Alydar (Affirmed). Alydar has proved to be the greatest race horse sire of all time, easily eclipsing Affirmed (and Secretariat) in the breeding shed. **Won't happen this year, though. If they go awhile without a Triple Crown winner, there'll be talk again of cheapening the achievement so they get more of them. |
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Post by roymcavoy on May 20, 2017 23:17:40 GMT -5
The greatest sport statistic of all time is that Big Red ran every quarter of the 1973 Kentucky Derby faster than the prior one. That turns the idea of reverse splits on its head
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Post by Pixie on May 21, 2017 8:06:11 GMT -5
The greatest sport statistic of all time is that Big Red ran every quarter of the 1973 Kentucky Derby faster than the prior one. That turns the idea of reverse splits on its head Yes, I had forgotten about the splits. I thought it was the Belmont he did that. Secretariat was also the first horse to break the 2 minute mark at Churchill, 1:59 2/5, a record that still stands. I believe only one other winner has broken 2:00.* The Belmont was the most astonishing race I have ever seen. Secretariat won it going away by about 30 or 31 lengths. Poor Sham didn't have a chance. After Secretariat took such a commanding lead, Sham's jockey pulled him up. Instead of finishing second as he had done in the preceding two races, he finished last at Belmont. Secretariat still holds the world record for 1 1/2 miles on the dirt. _______________ *Only the race of the winner is timed. Which means Sham could have broken the 2:00 mark as well, but we will never know as there was no time for him from the electronic timer. I imagine one of his trainers timed his race, but that is probably lost to posterity. Plus, it wouldn't be an official time. |
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Post by roymcavoy on May 21, 2017 9:03:49 GMT -5
The greatest sport statistic of all time is that Big Red ran every quarter of the 1973 Kentucky Derby faster than the prior one. That turns the idea of reverse splits on its head Yes, I had forgotten about the splits. I thought it was the Belmont he did that. Secretariat was also the first horse to break the 2 minute mark at Churchill, 1:59 2/5, a record that still stands. I believe only one other winner has broken 2:00.* The Belmont was the most astonishing race I have ever seen. Secretariat won it going away by about 30 or 31 lengths. Poor Sham didn't have a chance. After Secretariat took such a commanding lead, Sham's jockey pulled him up. Instead of finishing second as he had done in the preceding two races, he finished last at Belmont. Secretariat still holds the world record for 1 1/2 miles on the dirt. _______________ *Only the race of the winner is timed. Which means Sham could have broken the 2:00 mark as well, but we will never know as there was no time for him from the electronic timer. I imagine one of his trainers timed his race, but that is probably lost to posterity. Plus, it wouldn't be an official time. All true and fascinating. Most people don't realize that these animals churn at close to 40mph for 1.5-2.5 minutes during the three triple crown races. Secretariat's Derby splits were 25.2, 24, 23.8, 23.4 and 23. I guess the ultimate proof of how strong the last quarter was is that he holds the Derby record at 1:59.4, while he does not even make the top ten in the respective quarter, half, 3/4, and mile splits for the Derby. That's a stunning stat. Big Red's quarter splits for Belmont were 23.6, 22.6, 23.6, 24.4, 24.8, and 25. Sham stayed with him till the 3/4 mark, but as you note, the blistering speed of those first three quarters wore Sham down and he finished last. It is possible Sham would have won the triple crown in 1973 had he not had the misfortune of being born in the same year as the big chestnut colt. My favorite story about the 73 Belmont is from Jack Nicklaus. He was at home watching the race on television by himself that day, and said he began openly weeping as he watched Big Red pull away from the field. I'm amazed at that reaction from an all time great of one sport to the greatness of another in a different sport. |
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Post by Ace Midnight on May 21, 2017 9:14:12 GMT -5
Probably my favorite sporting event picture ever -  |
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Post by roymcavoy on May 21, 2017 9:31:12 GMT -5
Mine too--it's on the wall in my office.
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Post by Pixie on May 21, 2017 9:39:45 GMT -5
Yes, I had forgotten about the splits. I thought it was the Belmont he did that. Secretariat was also the first horse to break the 2 minute mark at Churchill, 1:59 2/5, a record that still stands. I believe only one other winner has broken 2:00.* The Belmont was the most astonishing race I have ever seen. Secretariat won it going away by about 30 or 31 lengths. Poor Sham didn't have a chance. After Secretariat took such a commanding lead, Sham's jockey pulled him up. Instead of finishing second as he had done in the preceding two races, he finished last at Belmont. Secretariat still holds the world record for 1 1/2 miles on the dirt. _______________ *Only the race of the winner is timed. Which means Sham could have broken the 2:00 mark as well, but we will never know as there was no time for him from the electronic timer. I imagine one of his trainers timed his race, but that is probably lost to posterity. Plus, it wouldn't be an official time. All true and fascinating. Most people don't realize that these animals churn at close to 40mph for 1.5-2.5 minutes during the three triple crown races. Secretariat's Derby splits were 25.2, 24, 23.8, 23.4 and 23. I guess the ultimate proof of how strong the last quarter was is that he holds the Derby record at 1:59.4, while he does not even make the top ten in the respective quarter, half, 3/4, and mile splits for the Derby. That's a stunning stat.Big Red's quarter splits for Belmont were 23.6, 22.6, 23.6, 24.4, 24.8, and 25. Sham stayed with him till the 3/4 mark, but as you note, the blistering speed of those first three quarters wore Sham down and he finished last. It is possible Sham would have won the triple crown in 1973 had he not had the misfortune of being born in the same year as the big chestnut colt.My favorite story about the 73 Belmont is from Jack Nicklaus. He was at home watching the race on television by himself that day, and said h e began openly weeping as he watched Big Red pull away from the field. I'm amazed at that reaction from an all time great of one sport to the greatness of another in a different sport. Yes, that is a stunning stat. I wasn't aware of that. Sham would have won the first two races (absent some incident) and may well have won the Belmont. He would have been able to set his own pace, and Pincay would not have had to ease off. But that was the year for Big Red. I still weep when I watch the Belmont video of the last 1/4 mile. Absolutely stunning. |
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Post by stevil on May 21, 2017 18:50:22 GMT -5
Don't know much about horses, but I do know that Wombats poop cube-shaped poop!
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Post by Pixie on May 21, 2017 19:28:03 GMT -5
Don't know much about horses, but I do know that Wombats poop cube-shaped poop! What a non-sequitur! Has to be the best (worst?) ever. |
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Post by acttwo on May 21, 2017 23:33:34 GMT -5
Don't know much about horses, but I do know that Wombats poop cube-shaped poop! Really? I don't even want to imagine how the manage that. |
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Post by bayou on May 22, 2017 7:26:27 GMT -5
that it is incorrect to put a period after the S when writing Harry S Truman. President Truman's middle name is just S. His parents couldn't agree on his middle name and both of their suggestions started with S, so they just made S his middle name. Since the S is not an abbreviation but the full name, you shouldn't put a period after it.
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Post by bayou on May 22, 2017 7:41:33 GMT -5
Don't know much about horses, but I do know that Wombats poop cube-shaped poop! Sadly, my internet search history now contains a search for Wombat poop. Thanks, stevil. |
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Post by stevil on May 22, 2017 7:44:01 GMT -5
Don't know much about horses, but I do know that Wombats poop cube-shaped poop! Sadly, my internet search history now contains a search for Wombat poop. Thanks, stevil . You are welcome. So long as it wasn't for Wombat porn, I doubt TPTB will care! |
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Post by gary on May 22, 2017 9:20:08 GMT -5
Don't know much about horses, but I do know that Wombats poop cube-shaped poop! Sadly, my internet search history now contains a search for Wombat poop. Thanks, stevil. Once you're an ALJ and are undergoing your super duper security check, that's going to take some explaining. |
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Post by bayou on May 22, 2017 9:41:43 GMT -5
Sadly, my internet search history now contains a search for Wombat poop. Thanks, stevil. Once you're an ALJ and are undergoing your super duper security check, that's going to take some explaining. Poop searches are pretty far down the list of obstacles between me and an ALJ position. |
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Post by gary on May 22, 2017 9:56:37 GMT -5
Once you're an ALJ and are undergoing your super duper security check, that's going to take some explaining. Poop searches are pretty far down the list of obstacles between me and an ALJ position. Think positively: Surmount a single cube of wombat poop and you're in. |
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