the ol' tanker said...

In Chicago many years ago, Bobby "Wrecker" Decker trained and drove a horse named Jim King that was a complete runaway but if he got enough distance on the rest of the field he couldn't be beat. Early in his career he could beat the best horses in Chicago with his raw speed. Bobby was/is a wild man and most times didn't even attempt to rate him.
Another frontender, but with less class, was a horse called "Filthy McNasty". One of the great alltime names.
the ol' tanker

posted at 1:14 PM on Apr 26th 2008

Gordon Waterstone said...

Offstride, it took me a second to remember back, but I do recall JJ's Casino who always left like a rocket. And if my memory is correct, unlike Afton Tiger who usually ran out of gas, JJ's Casino was able to hold onto his big leads and I think stretched some winning streaks together.

posted at 2:03 PM on Apr 25th 2008

Moi said...

Wellwood Hanover. Could not be controlled.

posted at 2:56 PM on Apr 24th 2008

Ron said...

I remember a higher-priced claimer named Payoff N on the Yonkers - Roosevelt circuit back in the mid-70s. Always went to the top, often by open lengths, and occasionally lasted but usually didn't. But was always fun to watch.

posted at 12:56 PM on Apr 24th 2008

offstride said...

Back in the day at Wolverine Raceway there was a Dave Cowell trainee named jj's casino ... nothing could beat him out of the gate and he would routinely open up lengths on the field, then try to hang on in the long stretch ..Maybe Gordon Waterstone will remember this one as well as Afton Tiger

posted at 10:57 AM on Apr 24th 2008

Brian said...

There was a horse in the mid eighties at the BigM callled Natchez Gambler that loved the front end and would almost always be on the front. Turned out to be a pretty nice horse making over half a million. I think they were finally able to put him in a hole, but he could really fly off the switch.

posted at 9:39 AM on Apr 24th 2008

Andrew Cohen said...

From Bob Marks:

Bring back
EXPLORER
CANNY SCOT
SWEET LUCK
FIRESWEEP
TOBY STAR
AND RIFLE BALL even though he didn't have to have the lead at all times...
Toss in Grateful Vic for good measure...

posted at 4:08 PM on Apr 23rd 2008

Andrew Cohen said...

From Gordon Waterstone, my colleague at the Horseman and Fair World:

"I remember a huge speed horse back in the 1970s that raced at the Detroit racetracks named Afton Tiger, who would week after week go like gangbusters as long as he could, sometimes—and I’m not exaggerating—distance the field by the half. But it was always hit or miss whether he’d hang on, and he’d lose way more often than he won. I remember the crowds oohing and aahing watching Afton Tiger race. It’s too bad his lines are before Pathway and it’d be too difficult to find (I actually tried a while back)."

posted at 2:06 PM on Apr 23rd 2008

Patrick Gordon said...

Steady Star was such a horse. Even though he paced in 1:52, he would get beat in 2:01.

posted at 5:40 AM on Apr 23rd 2008

Paul Siegel said...

Mattna Carter, a horse Ray Schnittker trained and drove early in his (the horse's) career was an absolute runaway. Schnittker couldn't rate the horse if his life depended on it, and as I recall, the horse's hooves literally blew apart early in his career. As a result he never fulfilled his potential.

posted at 10:07 PM on Apr 22nd 2008

Greg said...

I'm Speechless ....huge front runner ...on top by 15 at 3/4 and win by a length.....every week....sometimes cave like someone hit him in the head with a sledgehammer.

posted at 10:06 PM on Apr 22nd 2008