Proposition: CITATION was THE best

[CA Michael]

Now that Secretariat has been dead for 18 years and racetrack memories of his unforgettable talent are slowly eroding, I thought it would be fun to engage in some meaningless comparisons of him and other great American champions.

The Blood Horse book "Thoroughbred Champions," published in 1999, ranks the top 100 racehorses of the 20th century as determined by a blue ribbon panel of racing secretaries and journalists. Most of these judges weren't around before the 1950's so, as far as I'm concerned, their first hand evaluations of horses before then are based just as much on book learnin' as anyone! In fact, they acknowledge as much throughout the book.

Long before Secretariat--in fact the last horse to win the Triple Crown before him--was Citation. Another 28 years before him was Man o'War. Those three horses occupy the first three positions in this Top 100: Man o'War, Secretariat, Citation.

I think they've got it all wrong.

If they had only called upon me for the correct order (as they certainly should have!) I would have gladly told them thus: 1) Citation, 2) Man o'War, 3) Secretariat.

Dust off all the glamour surrounding Secretariat and the glitter around Man o' War and we're left with the true shining star of the group: Citation.

One central fact separates Citation from the other two champs---he was not retired at the end of his 3yo season. Instead, he was pin fired for osselets, rested for a year, and brought back as a 5yo for the sole purpose of setting a new earnings record of $1 million.

If Calumet Farm had chosen to stand Citation at stud in 1949, instead of returning him to the track for another two years of racing, his race record would have stood head and shoulders above Man o' War and Secretariat. As it was, he performed gallantly and successfully while winning many good stakes races. Unfortunately, he ran into a big Irish horse named *NOOR whose defrocking of him in 1950 cast a permanent pale on his reputation.

So, for the purposes of comparison, I am comparing apples to apples: Man o'War, Secretariat and Citation on their two and three year old form only. Here's my case:

Citation raced 9 times at 2, winning 8, losing once by a length to stablemate Bewitch (champion) when his jockey was instructed not to challenge her for the lead. His campaign lasted from April to November; he won from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, winning the two premier races, the Belmont and Pimlico Futurities. He carried up to 122 lbs and defeated some very good horses in Bewitch, Better Self, Free America and Billings.

At 3, Citation was almost invincible, winning 19 of 20 starts. That's almost as many races as Man o' War and Secretariat ran in their entire lives! As an early 3yo, he pulverized 6yo Horse of the Year ARMED in the Seminole H., and also took the Flamingo and Everglades S at 9 furlongs. Dropped back to 6 furlongs, he was beaten a length by Saggy (whom he had beaten earlier by 12 lengths). Eddie Arcaro said later that he could have taken Saggy easily but wanted to save a bit for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

Citation won the 8 furlong Derby Trial on April 27, and four days later won the 10 furlong Kentucky Derby by 8 lengths over champion COALTOWN and top performer My Request. He finished the Triple Crown off easily, and threw in an 11 length win in the Jersey Derby between the Preakness and Belmont S. In that race, he equaled Count Fleet's world record (which he had taken from Man o'War). Other than his easy win in the American Derby, Citation's other wins were all against older horses, including previous 3yo champion Phalanx, 2yo filly champ First Flight and many others.

To illustrate his versatility (which IMO was far greater than either Man o'War or Secretariat), Citation won the 8 furlongs Sysonby H. (over Coaltown and First Flight) on September 29, 1948, then THREE DAYS LATER took the 16 furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup by 7 lengths (over Phalanx). After a long vacation of 2 weeks, he again beat Phalanx in the 13 furlongs Gold Cup, followed 13 days later by his walkover in the 1 3/16 mile Pimlico Special.

Shifted to California in December, Citation prepped for the Tanforan Handicap by winning a 6 furlong allowance race, then won the important big race 8 days later. Discovered to have osselets, Citation was taken back to Calumet, not to race again for 13 months.

By the end of his 3yo year, he had raced 29 times, won 27, placed twice second (and could have easily won those). He won from 4 1/2 furlongs to 2 miles, beat champion older horses with ease, could set or come from off the pace, and always won by impressive daylight margins. His trainer Jimmy Jones said that Citation was never really tested--that his talent exceeded his achievements.

These are but some of the reasons I believe Citation--not Man o'War or Secretariat--was the best horse of the last century.

[majxmom]

I had an elderly friend, now passed away, who saw Citation run in Northern California and said that he was the best horse EVER. I was too young for Citation, but for me there is no one better than Secretariat. We can only dream of what we would have seen him accomplish as a four year old if he had been given the chance. The margin in the Belmont, coupled with "The Move" in the Preakness and the fact that he ran each quarter in the Derby faster than the previous one, marks him as the most outstanding racehorse of all time for me. Plus: The crop of 1970 was also an outstanding one, providing several consecutive Horses of the Year with Secretariat and Forego. He beat a lot of good horses.

[Rokeby Forever]

Great post, Michael.

If you want to throw in another "Great" of the 20th century, how about Affirmed?

I don't know how many horses could have beaten Alydar SEVEN times - Alydar demolished fields when Affirmed wasn't entered (like winning the Whitney by nine lengths and the Bluegrass by 13 lengths). In the course of 11 weeks, Affirmed won The San Felipe, SA Derby, Hollywood Derby, and the TC....after winning 7 stakes on both coasts in 4 1/2 months as a 2 year old.

Affirmed went on to a terrific 4 year old campaign, including winning six Grade 1s and beating Spectacular Bid in the JCGC. Spectacular Bid went on to have one of the greatest seasons by a horse in history....but he couldn't touch Affirmed in the stretch on the day of the JCGC.

Affirmed wasn't the fastest horse that ever lived, but NO horse would have broken bones to win a race like Affirmed. Except for Sunday Silence, I don't think a horse has been born in the last 30 years with the heart and extreme class of Affirmed.

[majxmom]

Affirmed wasn't the fastest horse that ever lived, but NO horse would have broken bones to win a race like Affirmed.

Got to agree with that. If you hooked him, you were in trouble.

[dray33]

I too put Citation first. If not for his three year old year alone.

The thing that I can't get out of my mind is a photo of Citation with all four off the ground, and he must be 2 feet in the air. The explosion of dirt from the impact of his hoof is about a mile behind him. The jocks face is buried in his mane, he's not even watching where he's going.... just flying. I know the lure of those old black n' whites... but wow. What a horse.

[CA Michael]

Is that the photo of him winning the Belmont Futurity on the straight Widener course? The running shots I've seen of him give such a different impression than the posed pictures. In all honesty, he was not a very pretty horse, very long backed, kind of a lughead and those infamous Bull Lea hocks. A far cry from Secretariat. Yet for some reason when he was running he took on a new persona.

[wilf]

Charlie Whittingham stated that he never saw Man O'War run but that he would have had to run some to beat Phar Lap.

[CA Michael]

Yes, but Charlie was partying when he saw Phar Lap at Caliente! Horses always look faster when they are blurred.

[wallinga]

Yes, but Charlie was partying when he saw Phar Lap at Caliente! Horses always look faster when they are blurred.

Being in the presence of greatness is often a good excuse for a party, he must of been a good horse if Charlie was even able to remember him!

[Rokeby Forever]

It's not fair that the horse that's not a 1 1/4 miler is never considered "One of the best."

I think that up to a mile, you could argue that Dr Fager was the best. Would Man o'War, Citation, or Secretariat have beaten Dr Fager at 7 furlongs or at a mile on the Doctor's best day?

Best grass horse - how about Round Table? Has a horse dominated the turf (except for John Henry) as he did? Nijinksy, maybe? Could have been Secretariat - his two turf wins were both tremendous efforts.

Best filly - everyone will jump on the Ruffian bandwagon, but she never spotted weight and never faced older fillies. How about Shuvee or Ta Wee?

In sum, when you argue, "Best ever"...."Best" at what?

[CA Michael]

Rokeby,

Certainly the use of the word "best" in describing a racehorse is a judgement call. There is no quantifiable definition for it. Is the "fastest" horse the "best?" If that is true, then PENSGLITTER would be the "best" horse seen in the last 100 years. At least through 2004, Pensglitter held the American record for 2 furlongs (:20.71), a rate of speed much faster than Dr. Fager ever ran. But few people would classify Pensglitter as America's best racehorse (except maybe his breeder!). Using time as a measurement of greatness is problematic for reasons we all know--differences in track conditions, pace, and in Man o'War's case, length of jockey stirrups! Being the "best" at a given distance, or racing surface, is not reason alone to be given the unique title of THE best. It has to cover more territory than that.

I think it is difficult, if not improper, to call any horse "the best" or "the greatest" off one or two races. While Phar Lap must have been super impressive at Caliente in his one Northern Hemisphere race, the truth is that he did not defeat a stellar field that day. While he was a superstar in New Zealand and Australia, his win/loss record there came nowhere close to that of Citation, Man o'War and Secretariat. So while Whittingham's opinion of him no doubt was genuine, I just don't think it makes sense to overlook a career of outstanding performances because of one internationally hyped race.

Both CIGAR and CITATION won 16 consecutive races. Why then isn't Cigar even mentioned in the same breath as Citation when comparisons are made? It's because his totality of performances didn't measure up to Citation's complete dominance for his first two years of racing. Cigar was almost five years old before he won his first stakes race. He got good--real good--as an older horse, but still was beaten by inferior horses.

Don't forget that Citation could sprint when he had to. At age 5 he was beaten less than a length in 1:08 2/5--an American record--then came back to set an American record of 1:33 3/5 for a mile. In that race he went virtually wire to wire over the "great" sprinter BOLERO, and covered the first 6 furlongs in 1:07 3/5 !!!! And this soon after a 13 month layoff! Don't be so sure that DR. FAGER would have had his way with Citation, at any distance.

In my mind, SECRETARIAT runs a poor third to Citation and Man o'War in the race of the best. Truth--he won the Belmont by 31 astounding lengths, but not so astounding really when you look at WHO he beat that day. SHAM broke down on the far turn, and Twice a Prince and My Gallant took his place behind Big Red. Secretariat was ridden out all through the stretch, and the stragglers were gasping. Visually impressive--yes; but like Man o'War's 100 length victory margin over 'Hoodwink' in the 1920 Lawrence Realization, it was not accomplished against much of a field. Secretariat for all his great moments seemed to get beaten at just the least opportune times in others. Man o'War or Citation wouldn't have laid down to the equivalents of an ONION, PROVE OUT or ANGLE LIGHT! By all rights, those two could have and should have been undefeated in all their races at 2 and 3. Blame the jockeys, not the horses, for their three combined defeats. But Secretariat had only himself to blame for his miserable losses at 3.

Man o"War never competed outside his age group; Secretariat did, but was beaten as often as he won. By February of his 3yo year, Citation had already defeated the previous year's Horse of the Year, ARMED, in winning the Seminole H. He continued to horrify his elders throughout the season.

Although Secretariat ran a fast mile in winning the Gotham S., I think he would have been hard pressed to approach champion sprinter SHECKY GREENE at his own game that year. Man o'War ran almost uncontrollably in front all the way in his races, but whether he could have handled the top notch sprinters of his day we can only wonder. In 1948, Citation's year, the champion sprinter award was given to his 3yo stablemate COALTOWN. But Citation had taken command from him at the half mile pole in the one mile Sysonby and drew off to defeat him "eased up." Coaltown's 1949 Horse of the Year campaign only made Citation look all the more better.

The "best?" At all distances, over all surfaces, over all comers, over older horses, at different racetracks, against champion competitors, CITATION was the one and only BEST. Amen!

[Patuxet]

I loved Citation.

In my early teens I galloped horses for my uncle at Narragansett where the classic buzz on the backstretch was all about Citation. I was laid low by pneumonia and listened to his Derby on the radio through the delirium of a high fever wherein I had the hallucinatory feeling I was actually riding him.

Not long after I became interested in pedigrees and his was my primer for the force of St. Simon. Later I was involved with a son of his, Guadalcanal, a heart-breaking bridesmaid of a horse -- never a stakes winner but ran 2nd in the Travers and JC Gold Cup and 3rd in the Belmont.

I've always suspected that the fact that Citation was a relative dud at stud mitigated against him and diminished his legend, especially in the eyes of those who never really experienced him.

Thanks, Michael, for a splendid rush!

[Rokeby Forever]

Michael - There's NO doubt that Citation was one of the "Greats." I was simply asking why the 1 1/4 mile horse is always considered and not the sprinter or turfer.

Had Holy Bull not broken down, we might not have heard much about Cigar. Cigar happened to come along at the right time to dominate a weak division. I'll give him an "A" for consistency, but that's about it.

I don't think Secretariat's Belmont was his best effort - his Marlboro Cup win was. That was a star studded field he defeated in track record time.

Had he stayed sound, Count Fleet was just as good or better that those mentioned. He broke a world record for a mile in the Champagne (1:34 3/5) and was so dominate that nobody wanted to face him. He might have won 20 races in a row after the Belmont Stakes simply because nobody was around that could run with him.

[geowarrior]

Glad to see the mention of Count Fleet - I admire this horse more with everything I read about him. However we can't define the greats with 'ifs'. I do agree that Ta Wee gets insufficient respect despite her performances under astonishing weights.

[Rokeby Forever]

Ta Wee won the Interborough Handicap for fun under 142 pounds. Horseman today cry when they carry more than 120 in a Handicap. LOL!