The Finalists
The Tournament of Thoroughbreds was a fantasy racing tournament involving 312 horses ranging from Hindoo (born 1878) to horses racing in 1999. The tournament was a project taken on by one of the forum members named Don who goes by the handle FastFurlong. It involved 41 heats with voting by forum members determining the winners of each. Based on the number of points earned horses would advance to another round or be eliminated. Each race was run at a 1 3/16 mile distance on a fast dirt track with various tracks being used for the different heats. Colts carried 126 lbs. and fillies 121 lbs. You can view the full details of how the tournament was set up here on the forum.
The championship heat was #41, the "Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons Stakes" held at Hollywood Park. The field in post position order was:
- SWAPS - Race Record 25-19-2-2
4yo colt / 1956 ... Jockey: Bill Shoemaker - MAN O'WAR - Race Record 21-20-1-0
3yo colt / 1920 ... Jockey: Clarence Kummer - RUFFIAN - Race Record 11-10-0-0
3yo filly / 1975 ... Jockey: Jacinto Vasquez - NATIVE DANCER - Race Record 22-21-1-0
3yo colt / 1953 ... Jockey: Eric Geurin - COUNT FLEET - Race Record 21-16-4-1
3yo colt / 1943 ... Jockey: John Longden - AFFIRMED - Race Record 29-22-5-1
3yo colt / 1978 ... Jockey: Steve Cauthen - SEATTLE SLEW - Race Record 17-14-2-0
3yo colt / 1977 ... Jockey: Jean Cruguet - CITATION - Race Record 45-32-10-2
3yo colt / 1948 ... Jockey: Eddie Arcaro - SECRETARIAT - Race Record 21-16-3-1
3yo colt / 1973 ... Jockey: Ron Turcotte - SPECTACULAR BID - Race Record 30-26-2-1
4yo colt / 1980 ... Jockey: Ronnie Franklin - WHIRLAWAY - Race Record 60-32-15-9
3yo colt / 1941 ... Jockey: Ted Atkinson - DR. FAGER - Race Record 22-18-2-1
4yo colt / 1968 ... Jockey: Braulio Baeza
Part II - The Race Call in the style of Chic Anderson
Part III - The Votes with a hypothetical chart
All photos by the author except where noted
