How good was LOST CODE (https://youtu.be/VHG41-M3Bc4)
The narrator, at the end of the video, makes mention of his speed figures:
\"His races as a 4yo left the figure handicappers rechecking their calculations.
One New York figure-house, which rates horses from a perfect 0 & up, assigned LOST CODE a spectacular 2 for the Razorback Handicap ... and then a unprecedented five straight 0\'s for his next five races.\"
2 Razorback Handicap
0 Oaklawn Handicap
0 Pimlico Special Handicap
0 National Jockey Club Handicap
0 Massachusetts Handicap
0 Michigan Mile & One-Eighth Handicap
Not a bad campaign ;-) BET TWICE beat him in the Pimlico Special.
What I remember about him is how much better he became when he went on lasix.
Memory is hazy, but I believe use of the diuretic wasn\'t as common. He was a good performer before, but when they added the drug he became a beast.
Seeing Sportsman\'s Park again kinda hurt. Now there is a liquor warehouse in its place. I remember when they reopened after the conversion. War Emblem beat Repent in the Illinois Derby. The best line I read about the change went - \"It is like watching races at the airport.\" They had to tear it down.
Lost Code handled Waquoit in one of the race replays. I would have liked to have seen how it went in slop or mud. I never saw a better off track runner than the big grey. That In Reality influence through Relaunch.
Thanks Pete.
Gary Irish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What I remember about him is how much better he
> became when he went on lasix.
>
> Memory is hazy, but I believe use of the diuretic
> wasn\'t as common. He was a good performer before,
> but when they added the drug he became a beast.
>
> Seeing Sportsman\'s Park again kinda hurt. Now
> there is a liquor warehouse in its place. I
> remember when they reopened after the conversion.
> War Emblem beat Repent in the Illinois Derby. The
> best line I read about the change went - \"It is
> like watching races at the airport.\" They had to
> tear it down.
>
> Lost Code handled Waquoit in one of the race
> replays. I would have liked to have seen how it
> went in slop or mud. I never saw a better off
> track runner than the big grey. That In Reality
> influence through Relaunch.
>
> Thanks Pete.
Thanks to both for posting on the nostalgia. Love going through old PPs and reminisce. These postings made me look up on Wikipedia the Michigan Mile (which they now call the Michigan Mile and One Eighth -- which was true, but I remember that back in the day they still called it the Michigan Mile even though the name was wrong). In addition to Waquoit and Lost Code, that race was won by the following horses I saw in person and loved: Sharp Gary, My Juliet, A Letter to Harry, Sensitive Prince, Fio Rito, Ends Well, and Black Tie Affair. It is hard to believe it is 29 years since the last Michigan Mile was run. Tempus Fugit.
And here is the opposite Great Redeemer (https://horsenetwork.com/2016/04/worst-kentucky-derby-starter-ever/)
And you can add to that list the immortal Rick\'s Natural Star, who went from $3500 claimers in New Mexico to the BC Turf.
I\'ve seen SHARP GARY in person as well. I can testify that he is definitely a SHARP handicapper ;-) I \"like\" him as well ;-)
I don\'t know much about Detroit Race Course. They\'re obviously best known for their Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap.
What other stakes did they offer? Not much ... unless you\'re a Michigan-Bred.
1989 American Racing Manual shows 12 stakes run at DRC the previous year. 11 were for horses bred in the state of Michigan.
Did you know ...
The Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap was once called the Michigan Mile and One-Sixteenth Handicap :-)
I knew that couldn\'t be right regarding the stakes races.
They offered more stakes, but the vast majority were for under $50K.