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Duke Ali was inducted into the Sim Hall of Fame in 2005. The SHOF says,
"To this day, Duke Ali remains a daring benchmark for the main track miler division. His story is a wonderful mix of talent, consistency, dominance, and pure climactic speed. But it's all set against a rare backdrop of Sim stardom: throughout Sim history, the common dirt miler division has always been an extremely competitive and often sea-saw group. Stars are prone to inconsistency, but Duke Ali transcended your average eight furlong stakes star. His magnificent
career stood out not only in his day, but beyond to the present. He enters the Hall Of Fame as the "Great Miler." In 2002, David37373 predicted that Duke Ali would win the Equinics Man o'War Mile. He was right. David said of Duke Ali, "PP1 - **DUKE ALI (Team Independent Unity) 6yo by Storm Cat, one of the Sims top horses, currently ranked 6th! Closing in on $3million in earnings, 18 for 38. Back on week 1152 he won a G2, SP120, wire-to-wire. Next he ran 5th in a allowance, SP90, proably a prep for the BB Classic in which he was no factor finishing last. Ran third in a stakes on week 1243, SP117 on 1 mile. And last time out he won a G2 over 1 mile, SP119 wire-to-wire. Like the lead like alot of horses, but I think he'll be the one that gets it, and should say there most of the way." |
"Bristol Rovers, while in the shadow of Allied Assault for much of his career, proved a worthy rival, and beat the champion on more than one occasion, earning nine grade 1
victories along the way. Although never finding championship honors himself, there is definitely a what could have
been feel to his four year old campaign. His accomplishments in the Equinics were notable, and his prowess over an off
turf course simply amazing - he was unbeaten in seven starts over such going. Bristol Rovers� competitive spirit
against the absolute best in his division and distinctive style of running makes him a worthy addition to the Hall." He was inducted
into the Sim Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2006, He won the Equinics Lester Piggott on the good turf to beat out a field of other Sim Hall of Fame inductees. The SHOF said, " It would be on to the Equinics in Athens, and Bristol Rovers was sent off as the favorite in a 16 horse field. He completely justified the fans� confidence, winning by 4 3/4 lengths in a gold medal performance." |
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Winterheart writes of this 2004 Eclipse Winner, "It isn't often that a horse goes undefeated and at
the level of racing Mumbai is at, it's nearly unheard of. A look at her bloodlines
(Sadler's Wells x Kingmambo x Seattle Slew) tells us that she's impeccably bred, something you'd expect of
a horse of this caliber. Kendra, a thorough breeder and trainer, did her homework when it came to sending
her mare Sound and Fury to a stallion. Sound and Fury is a Grade E mare, sired by Kingmambo out of a Seattle Slew mare.
Of forty-eight lifetime starts, Sound and Fury brought home a paycheck in half of them and won eight times.
This mare won over $200,000 in turf sprints and seems to have passed those grass abilities to her daughter."
In 2004, Mumbai won the Equinics Helinski Hopeful as a 2 yr old. Winterheart says of this win, "Then came the road to the Equinics and Mumbai's nomination to represent Vermont. This development made Kendra uneasy at first. "I was a little bit nervous when the good folks at Vermont tapped her to represent us at the Equinics, since she only had a MSW and allowance win under her belt, but she did us proud. That's when I first got an inkling of how good she might be." Mumbai won the Grade I six furlong turf stakes by besting sixteen two year olds and posting an incredible 94 SP! " |
One the Naked was an Eclipse Winner in 2000. Jeff Carlson wrote: "Talk about not getting any respect; just
look at the post time odds for ONE THE NAKED�s races this year and you will see that racing professionals as well as racing fans, just didn�t believe the little colt that could. He was 2/1 or less in only 2 of his races this year and if you were paying attention, you could have financed a new house with your winnings. ONE THE NAKED was unraced as a 2 and 3 year old, broke his maiden in his second race and from there never looked back. He danced all the dances and dodged nobody on his way to a championship season, winning the prestigious Jockey Guild Gold Cup and a division of the Equinics series and only faltered in the Breeders Bowl Classic, where he was the favorite and with a victory there, would have probably sewn up Horse of the Year honors, but we will have to wait another week, to see if that defeat affected his chances with the voters. Racing fans will have at least another year with ONE THE NAKED, as this nicely bred and beautifully conformed son of Palace Music will not be heading to the breeding shed, but will be terrorizing the main track from the east to the west. It was my pleasure to cover 2 of his Gd.I wins
in New York, and a thrill a minute to watch as he would race from well off the pace and fly down the lane with determination
and courage to the finish line. This colt has proven what can be accomplished with a lot of heart and the guidance of his
connections, John4 Stables." In 2000, He won the Hades Handicap . His trainer, John said, "The Hades Handicap had alot of questions going in. It looked like a wide open race where anything can happen. When the dust settled though it was my horse ,out of the john4 stable, ONE THE NAKED that crossed the finish line first. I knew going in that he was going to run big, but I never expected this big. " |
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In 2000, Go West Sal won the Poseidon Challenge. Wahoo said, "In a heart stopping finish Go West Sal made believers of us all as he bested this talented Olympic field of 2yo's, in his final strides. In probably the most exciting finish of the day, of which there were many, Go West Sal finally got a distance that he was bred for and exploded in the stretch to make it up in time for the win. If form alone could have given any clue as to who would win this race, the Go For Sal would have been a 3/5-1 favorite, but by never having tried this distance before there was plenty of doubt in many fans minds as the sent him postward at an incredible $7.40-1, paying $16.80 for the win over Her Freaks." |
School Kris was voted Horse of the Year in 2000.
Snowchief wrote: "The key to a champion lies in consistency at the highest level and, also, all-around in good company. School Kris made just seven seasonal
starts in listed stakes events. At high-purse tracks like California, Kentucky, Louisiana and Longchamp, theatrical�s champion turf horse finished in the money in all of those seven starts, winning four of them in a sheer testament to his class. This colt belonged in the graded stakes ranks -- the theater of his prep races were against his very own rivals -- rivals who did beat him on his off days, but sure tasted his dust when he was on his mark. In a long campaign from January to December, School Kris raced and won with the very best in his division, winning from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile-and-a-quarter. It was a year-long campaign of consistency through the entire season................. " In 2000, he won the Prometheus Gift .Snowchief wrote of his victory, " The third Saturday in September was no ordinary Sim raceday. Stemming from an unique idea to capture and mirror real-world Olympics excitement, several months of preparation came finally to its grand climax: Week 788 marked 15 specially sponsored races to be hosted at Vermont. Fifteen million-dollar races, fifteen owner restricted races to be exact. Led and organized by Ladyssecret of Pastures Of Green, the event was collectively called the Sim Equinics -- a dozen resident stables were the symbolic �countries� as each sent 15 of their very best horses to participate. It was a day to mark the coming-together of the player-run sites................. "A trip back to the United States was accompanied by much pomp and circumstance as School Kris brought honor and glory to his home state of California by winning Equinic gold in the GI Prometheus Gift. " ---- Sir Arthur Cornwallis, Champion Turf Horse Tribute |
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Shagfarm writes of his 2002 Eclipse Win, "May 4, 2001: A day that will live in lonespeed's heart forever. Hotwalker Juan Pelota woke up and walked into stall 15, only to find that Tower Storm was more than ready to run. It showed later that day, in the 10f Bluegrass Derby. Breaking from post 15 in the 20 horse field, Fusaichi Devil would set the pace, but Tower Storm would stick around, and eventually head for the lead. Unbridled Fury closed like a banshee, but he wasn't enough for Tower Storm or the 116.5 SP, higher than any previous Bluegrass Derby. This win over some of the top 3yo's in the sim would propel him to the top of the class, if he weren't already there." In 2002, Tower Storm won the Equinics Silver Charm Challenger Lizzie handicapped this race and predicted: "Sixteen super 3 year old colts here, some with a little more experience than others, some with first starts as three year olds, some with more. An Eclipse Award winner going against one that just broke his maiden. The variables in this race are many, but the similarity is they are all three year olds wanting to win. It is also a horserace, and we all know what that means! Anything can happen. It is hard to bet against a Breeder's Bowl winner, as well as being an Eclipse Award winner!! At odds of 7/2 that is not bad!! So shall bet $50 WPS on #4, TOWER STORM. I do like #7 DIM DAN and #13 GOD OF THUNDER as well. Shall bet $50 to Place and Show on #7 and #13, for a total of $350 bet. Good Luck to all! And remember to keep your stick on the ice!!! " |
General's Chariot was voted Eclipse winner in both
2004 and 2005.
Kingab wrote of the 2004 Eclipse award winner: "General�s Chariot was ready to run as early as a two-year old can be,
and at the end of February when the first entries for the babies were posted, Snowchief saw no reason not to enter
her precocious colt. Using the theory that the turf is easier on a horse�s legs, she decided to enter the colt in a
four and one-half furlong maiden race on the grass in Virginia. Eight youngsters answered the bell for the early
season test, and although there were a number of royally bred colts that entered the gate, General�s Chariot
reputation preceded him. The betting money poured in on the little colt and he was sent off as the over-whelming
favorite at .60 to the dollar. From the gate The General broke smoothly and raced along the inside, always in close
striking distance to the leader, which held about a length lead throughout the race. With about half a furlong
left to run it looked as though the colt would finish second, but then jockey Larry Patterson shook the reins
and chirped to the little package of dynamite. The General accelerated at once and quickly overtook the leader
and passed the wire a half-length in front. Upon his return to the winner�s circle, Patterson explained the race.
He told Snowchief that he had the leader in his sites at all times, and knew he could take him whenever he wanted.
�It�s early in the year,� he said �and I saw no reason to ask him to do too much in his first start.� Kingab writes of the General's 2005 Eclipse Winner year: " and what a remarkable year it was. Eight wins from twelve starts, and only one loss in eight sprint starts. Six graded stakes wins including three grade-ones in a division where there are very few grade-one races. He earned $1.7 million for the year, his second straight year to earn more than a million dollars. There is no way of knowing for sure, but I doubt there has ever been a more popular horse in the sim. He has now picked up his second Eclipse Award, and has just now turned four years old. No horse in sim history has ever won an Eclipse Award in three different years. Want to bet against The General being the first? " In 2004, he won the Equinics If I had a Lillehammer . Kingab wrote, "Seven weeks later Snowchief was tightening the girth of General�s Chariot in the paddock at Athens Racecourse, home of the 2004 Equinics. The spectacle of the Equinics attracts most of the best horses and trainers in the sport, as well as race fans from all over the world. Seventeen juvenile colts showed up for the very prestigious grade-one, If I Had a Lillehammer Stakes, a 6f test over a firm turf course. Seventeen horses of any age in one race can cause quite a bit of trouble, and many horses lose all chance to show their best form simply because of traffic problems. Snowchief recalls she spent most of that day worrying about the size of the field, and the very stiff competition she was facing. �Grade one races bring out the best horses there are,� she said. �In addition it was the Equinics, which everyone wants to win -- plus the prize of a quarter-million dollars was a lot more money than most of these youngsters had ever run for.� When the starter opened the gates General�s Chariot broke well from his number four post position, and his jockey, Marvin Mills, secured a nice position along the rail in fourth place, about a length or two off the battling leaders. The bulky field swung into the stretch with most of the field swinging wide, trying to secure a spot to make their run at the leaders. General�s Chariot was asked for his best as soon as the field straighted out in the lane, and by the time he reached the furlong pole he had a over a length lead on the second place horse and was widening his advantage with every stride. With the fading sun striking his beautifully dappled brown coat, the little General hit the wire with three lengths to spare over his nearest pursuer." |
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"He's raced almost 50 times and he's still going strong. I don't buy all this talk about horses being past their prime after 30 races. If you know your horse and how much rest they need, you can get them to this point." "The cool thing about Fager is that he wasn't a blueblood out of our breeding operation. We got him out of the auction. The horse originally belonged to another owner." In 2002, Fager Under Storm won the London Bridge Turf Sprint Roddick said, "He capped off his amazing season with a win in The London Bridge Turf Sprint Equinics race in Athens, in 2216. "That run was like walking on air. I kept waiting for him to reach his breaking point. We thought it might be the G.S.R. race, but he just kept on chugging. When he won the Equinics race, I figured we might have the sprinting championship in the bag. But I wasn't about to jinx him (laughs)." "From a broken down breeding barn to champion sprinter is a pretty incredible achievement," says slipstream. "It couldn't have happened to a better horse. He tries his heart out every time he's on the track. He's been beat up pretty badly, but he just kept trying. He never gave up. You don't see too many horses like that." |
Ermington Pegusus was voted Eclipse winner in both
2006.
Shagfarms wrote of Eclipse award winner: "So what does make a top three year old? According to voters, it is a combination.
It is a horse who is great at the beginning of the year. It is a horse who is great in the middle of the year. It is a horse who is great at the end of the year. It is a horse who finishes consistently in the top 3. It is a horse who puts together a magical, unbelievable race. It is a horse, this year, named Ermington Pegusus. It is the 2006 Three-Year-Old Colt of the Year.
� In 2006, he won the Equinics George Woolf . Shagfarms said, "Down Under Racing put their Equinics hopes in the hands of this lightly raced three-year-old to open the 2006 racing season. Erm had been away from the track for 7 weeks, which his owner felt was a good idea, as it enabled him to be fresh for the huge race. When there are 20 horses in a race, it helps to be as fresh as possible. You need the best jump you can get, and you need a little bit of luck. Going off at 15/1, the bettors wrote off Erm in this race. A barely raced 2yo had no business being in a Grade 1 Equinics race to start his three year old year. Unfortunately for the competition, no one told Erm that. He took the pattern that he learned as a Juvenile, dropping as far back as 10-1/2 lengths at the halfway point of the eight furlong George Woolf for jockey R. Foster before showing any signs of life. But once he did, he came flying with a storm. At the finish line, he saw himself with a very slight, but very satisfying win." |
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And we found all of this full circle in the �King of the Big Dances,� squirrel�s majestic chestnut son of Deputy Minister, 5-time Grade 1 winner, Equinics hero, twin-Classics conqueror, champion older horse on dirt, and devoted fan favorite. Don�t we all love to watch a rising sun? ." Snowchief also writes of his 2007 HOY award, "They say timing is everything in show business. Squirrel4's Solar Song, a 5yo son of Deputy Minister, started out the year fast, only to slow down in a hurry. The 2006 Champion Older Horse on Dirt and Sim Horse of the Year lagged a bit then picked up some new life by mid-summer. The hero of the Breeders Bowl Classic and conqueror of DelPenn Day sped up like a rocket to the very atmosphere in autumn. And Solar Song, our '07 champion handicap horse kept on rising with a showman's timing in his final bow of the racing season. All because champions shall be crowned and the champion of all champions shall be crowned in one dramatic final phrase: Solar Song: 2007 Sim Horse Of The Year" In 2006, Solar Storm won the Equinics Eddie Arcaro Snowchief said, " Storming home through a full field of nineteen talented runners, including Wonderboy Cougar, who had beaten him in the Topicount Special and eight other graded stakes winners, Solar Song emerged the winner by 2 3/4 lengths, and posted a sparkling 111 SF for the 10 furlongs. " |
Cold Storage was voted Eclipse winner in 2006
Trot wrote of the Eclipse award winner: "It was November 4, 2006, the biggest racing day of the year, the Breeders Bowl.
There were many questions surrounding COLD STORAGE�s chances to capture the biggest race of her career. She had never been
the distance of 11 furlongs; had maintained a vigorous four-year old campaign, and was coming off an uncharacteristic race
in the Flower Pot, losing for the first time in her career after opening up as much as a 4 length lead. Reunited with
jockey H Harzheim, and assigned post 14, it was imperative Harzheim break well to quickly gain early position along the rail. On her inside was her Rich and Famous rival, DEVIL�S SLIDE, who narrowly missed catching her that day, and now had the benefit of an extra furlong to reverse the outcome and draw a measure of revenge. Anxiously waiting, just two stalls over, stood KISS OF BETRAYAL (IRE), an up and coming youngster who would like nothing better than to make her mark in racing history by upsetting the world�s top ranked filly. When the gates opened it was COLD STORAGE doing what she�s done so many times before. Four, seven, eight and a half lengths in front, there would be no challenges this day, Harzheim peeking over his shoulder before tapping the explosive filly on the shoulder, then putting the whip away and coasting to a two and a quarter length Breeders Bowl victory.
Jockey H Harzheim � "On the first turn I knew we were controlling pace. Turning for home, when no one was coming to me, I knew we were going to win the race. Give this filly a pace she can control, and she is impossible to catch." With no more questions left to answer, COLD STORAGE earned the greatest honor that can be bestowed on any thoroughbred, racing immortality" In 2006, she won the Equinics Bob Champion. Trot said, "COLD STORAGE�s journey to the 2006 Eclipse Award for Older Turf Mares got off to a fast start when she employed her usual front running tactics to win the G-1 Bob Champion Equincs. There was some media concern early in the week that the probability of a yielding racing surface at the San Siro Racecourse in Italy would hinder the fillies� chances; after all she had never been tested over a yielding surface. Confident in COLD STORAGE�s ability, her connections were convinced her front running style would work to her advantage. Never challenged; the imposing roan filly carried a 5-length lead into the stretch under the confident handling of H Harzheim, and was hand ridden to the wire." |
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In 2006, Xtremely Gold won the Angel Cordero. Maverick said, " Her first win for the residency would come in the Angel Cordero Jr-G1 where she was once again paired against Sacrilege. Both horses had very similar back of the pack running styles but Xtremely Gold had a chip on her shoulder and was out to prove who the better mare was. As the gate flung open, both horses gave up ground almost immediately and Xtremely Gold fell back to 12th while Sacrilege took the 10th position. It stayed this way throughout most of the race but as the final turn approached Xtremely Gold started to make her move and came charging through the pack as the clear leader for the stretch run. She finished under a hand ride with an easy finish of 5 � lengths and a career tying best 105 SR. " |
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| Mike's voice breaks into my memories.He is saying,
"The Flame announces the arrival of the 5Th Equinic Games. Althetes will face each other under the banner
of Sportsmanship and
respect. " I hurry in to join the crowd. |