1979 Kentucky Derby - Spectacular Bid

1979 Kentucky Derby broadcast with Jim Mckay and Howard Cosell..

[@kevinkilduff2064]

The Bid got even better as a 4 year old and his 4 year old season is as good or better than that of any horse in history. He truly is one of the greats.

[@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl]

Is that a joke? Secretariat would have demolished the entire field as a four year old! Bid couldnt hold Big Reds feedbag!

[@YouDontKnow-that]

@@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl So Secretariat lost to some really shitty horses during his career. Yet....yet....lol...you're saying he can't lose to Spectacular Bid? Seriously. Those are words of someone who just isn't able to think clearly. I'm guessing you're on some sort of meds but missed a dose? Spectacular Bid's fastest 10F vs Secretariat's fastest 10F - ? Spectacular Bid would have won by 8 lengths. LOL.

[@steveludwig4200]

@@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl Go ahead and be myopic if you want, but don't confuse that with REALITY. Bid is only underrated by the folks that believe a horse must win the Triple Crown to be a "great" or "generational" horse. By the experts that REALLY know horse racing history most consider Spectacular Bid to be in the same conversation with Secretariat, Citation, Man O War, etc. and certainly as good as the likes of Affirmed, Alydar, and Seattle Slew while being far better than the two most recent TC winners.

[@walterallen1687]

Nobody could top Dr Fagers four year old season

[@jm1657]

@@steveludwig4200The Bid was truly spectacular! If ever a horse lived up to his name, it was him 🌟

[@petenrita]

The Bid. The last horse I watched with interest. Last great of the golden era.

[@fredmar6436]

+Gee Mate You weren't interested in Big Brown??

[@Makado14]

The Bid deserves to be mentioned with the greats, I don't understand why he is seldom mentioned. He should have won the triple crown. Set a new world record for a mile and a quarter, handily. I could go on, but I'll just say, that if there's ANY horse who might have given Secretariat a serious challenge at a mile and a quarter, it's Spectacular Bid.

[@johnmoore9021]

Wayne Lukas said Bid "without a doubt is the greatest horse he ever saw run. Shoemaker said he was greatest he ever rode. Most racetrack insiders and bettors consider Bid all time great.

[@Makado14]

@@johnmoore9021 Thanks for giving the great horse the credit he so obviously deserved. HE EARNED IT.

[@johnhunter2294]

That would be a match race for the ages, Spectacular Bid and Secretariat at 1 1/4. The Bid, of course, holds the world record at the distance, but Secretariat unofficially tied him in the Marlboro while being galloped out the last eighth. I'd bet Secretariat as the sentimental favorite, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Spectacular Bid beat him. That said though, at any distance longer than 10 furlongs, it's Secretariat all day every day.

[@Makado14]

@@johnhunter2294 absolutely. I don't think that Spectacular Bid would have beat Secretariat, but I think that he would have given Secretariat his best competition. So sad that Secretariat didn't get a chance to race at four. He would have permanently silenced all of his naysayers and doubters.

[@johnhunter2294]

@@Makado14 I agree completely. We never got to see how good Secretariat could have become; with another year of growth and training, there'd have been no doubt who the greatest of all was. I'd still love to see that match race though, Secretariat and Spectacular Bid at 10 furlongs. It would have been, as the kids say, EPIC.

[@deniseladavis6169]

❤️what a horse what a team effort. A fan as a pre teen watched this. Always was a good sportscasters spoke with high regards to the sport

[@loryhorn7113]

Spectacular Bid & Secretariat were together at Claiborne for breeding. They would race each other quite frequently!

[@matterr69]

I saw him win at Santa Anita in January 1980 beating Flying Paster and 2 others. Huge Crowd. Then that night went to the Superbowl in Pasadena to see Steelers beat The LA Rams, quite a day!

[@mateocarrasco2990]

Look out the moment when Spectacular Bid begun charging Up and General Assembly too, both at the same time head to head... A few seconds after, General Assembly is totally tied Up and finish Up his kentucky derby performance meanwhile "the Bid" continues accelerating and takin from the rest off , a Horse of a lifetime

[@gpipeline]

That was a great race and a great call! General Assembly blitzed everyone, except for course Spectacular Bid.

[@Caroni100]

"The Kentucky Derby? There´s no an adjective able to describe its greatness" Jose Gregorio Guillot, venezuelan turfman and radio produer

[@BeveC21E]

Spectacular Bid and General Assembly, #s 1 and 2! Both from the Bold Ruler bloodline! ❤

[@cmeflywva]

General Assembly and Sir Ivor Again are both descendants of Something Royal who was the dam of Secretariat.

The Bid was a great horse.

[@9Ballr]

Spectacular!

[@lgen2458]

If Ronnie Franklin had ridden Affirmed in all three of the 1978 Triple Crown races than Alydar would have been the Triple Crown winner that year!

[@Makado14]

@@lgen2458 yea! It's been a long time coming!

[@laurahoward5426]

Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest are IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

[@Caroni100]

Spectacular Bid (February 17, 1976 - June 9, 2003) * Sire: Bold Bidder * Grandsire: Bold Ruler * Dam: Spectacular * Damsire: Promised Land * Sex: Stallion * Breeder: Madeline Jason & Mrs. William Gilmore * Owner: Hawsworth Farms * Trainer: Grover Delp (R.I.P.) * Jockeys: Jorge Velasquez (2 for 2) Ronnie Franklin (12 for 15 / R.I.P.) Bill Shoemaker (12 for 13 / R.I.P.) * 30 Starts * 26 Wins * 2 Seconds * 1 Third * 1 Fourth * $ 2,781,608 earned ( Current $ 9,446,370) * 1978 American Champion 2-Year-Old Colt * 1979 American Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse * 1980 American Champion Older Male Horse * 1980 American Horse of the Year * Inducted to The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1982 * Number 10 in "Top U.S. Racehorse of the 20th. Century" The Bloodhorse Magazine List * Rest In Peace, Champion! We´ll never forget you! * Greetings from Venezuela 🇻🇪 🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿 (17 de Febrero, 1976 - 9 de Junio, 2003) * Padre: Bold Bidder * Abuelo materno: Bold Ruler * Madre: Spectacular * Abuelo materno: Promised Land * Sexo: Semental * Criador: Madeline Jason & Mrs. William Gilmore * Propietario: Hawsworth Farms * Entrenador: Grover Delp (R.I.P.) * Jinetes: Jorge Velasquez ( De 2-2) Ronnie Franklin (De 15-12 / R.I.P.) Bill Shoemaker (De 13-12 / R.I.P.) * 30 Salidas * 26 Primeros * 2 Segundos * 1 Tercero * 1 Cuarto * $ 2,781,608 producidos ($ 9,446,370 actuales) * Potro Campeón de 2 Años en Estados Unidos 1978 * Caballo Campeón de 3 años en Estados Unidos 1979 * Caballo Campeón Maduro en Estados Unidos 1980 * Caballo del año en Estados Unidos 1980 * Exaltado al Museo Nacional de las Carreras y Salón de la Fama en 1982 * Número 10 in la "Lista de los 100 Mejores Caballos de Carreras de Estados Unidos en el siglo XX" de la Revista The Bloodhorse * ¡Descansa En Paz, Campeón! ¡Nunca te olvidaremos! * Saludos desde Venezuela 🇻🇪 🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿🏇🏿

[@Makado14]

By the way, Bold Ruler was the sire of Secretariat.

[@abdallahbastouri554]

Qué molleja. Pará mí el mejor caballo que he visto

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Great info, Thanks

[@Caroni100]

@@Johnny53kgb-nsa You´re welcome, my friend. I´m a racehorse fan since I was an eight year-old kid, when I went with my father (R.I.P) in 1970 to "La Rinconada" racetrack in Caracas, Venezuela. Have a happy fall.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

@@Caroni100 Although I live maybe 20-30 minute drive to Churchill Downs, I've been to one Ky Derby, my brother and his wife took me when I was 20 year's old, the year was 1973, Secretariat won. He use to take me to the track when I was 16 year's old, but just one Derby. All around this area, into southern Indiana, all of Kentucky, each year people throw Derby party's. Grill out, plenty of food, we use to always have a bookie at the party who would take the bets, but nowadays everybody bets on-line. Good luck with the ponies. Thank you, John

[@tonysam1955]

Bid should have won the Triple Crown. He was one of the all-time best.

[@tracydavis8982]

I agree, Spectacular Bid was AWESOME, and he SHOULD have Won the 1979 Triple Crown!!!!!

[@TheChasams]

Tracy Davis agreed 🤘

[@CinemaDemocratica]

Greatest horse to not win the Triple Crown by a country mile. There isn't really a second.

[@kennethnero2011]

I’d say if he wins the triple crown he’s better than Secretariat

[@fredmar6436]

@@CinemaDemocratica Big Brown was awesome too. He proved it when he beat older horses in his last race. 3yo beating older horses is very difficult, especially in a graded stakes.

[@laurahoward5426]

The Bid couldn't have had a better groom❤

[@nickyd.4695]

Paster was highly touted but the Bid simply beat him every time they met.

[@Caroni100]

R.I.P. Ronnie Franklin, Spectacular Bid's jockey. He died on March 8, 2018 victim from a lung cáncer. A jockey who could be a star but a drug adiction ruined his career.

[@davidbracher8322]

I have the Bid ranked with Dr. Fager, Noor and Swaps as the 4 greatest of all time. The real match race of the ages would be Spectacular Bid vs Doctor Fager. A lot people think Secretariat. And that is fine. But horses should be judged by what they do in Open company. Secretariat was mediocre at the top level. Losing to horses like Prove out and Onion when he was lightweight in those races...just doesn't merit being compared to the likes of the Bid. The greatest fact about Spectacular Bid. If you throw out his injured Belmont, he was never passed in the stretch..staggering!!

[@theearl1477]

In 1973 Secretariat set 3 Triple Crown track records that still stand today. I too give my props to Spectacular Bid. Check out Cigar. General Assembly is one of Secretariat's offspring.

[@TimesUp777]

The greatest test in horse racing is the TC and Big Red holds the record in all those races. Anyone who says he is not the greatest is out of their minds.

[@gerrin1530]

From the 90’s on it seems the Derby fields got bigger. I noticed a lot of previous Derbies 80’s or older didn’t have 15 + horses like modern Derbies.

[@MDCSWildcats86]

There was 23 in 1974 (Cannonade) and 20 in 1971 (Canonero II, part of a six horse "mutual field" you don';t see anymore).

[@stevek8829]

There's been a twenty entry limit since about that time. They used to race with more than twenty sometimes.

[@psyx7303]

I meet Ronal in the barn ,in harfort county mb 2008

[@dfygoh3215]

you never want to get in a speed dual at the Kentucky Derby

[@josepinela4636]

Era un gran Caballo !

[@Caroni100]

"¿El Derby de Kentucky? Aún no se ha creado un adjetivo que pueda describir su grandeza" José Gregorio Guillot, comentarista hípico y productor radial venezolano

[@steventesta6782]

The bid was a much better 4year old. raced against cupcakes in the derby and preakness and got a terrible ride in the Belmont.

[@pedop9818]

Bid vs Secretary?

[@potstrond]

Difficult to judge because Bid was best at 4 and Sec never ran at that age. On 3yo form it had to be Sec.

[@gpipeline]

General Assembly was no cupcake.

[@DanielSong39]

General Assembly, Golden Act, and Flying Paster were good horses

[@DanielSong39]

@@pedop9818 Bid without a doubt but Secretariat was an awesome horse too

[@agustindejesus7398]

Small field for a Derby....different than todays Derbies.

[@david1044]

Best there ever was. "The greatest horse to ever look through a bridle"

[@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl]

Thats hilarious! Put the pipe down! His speed in the Belmont was laughable!

[@david1044]

​​@@GeorgeFitness-yo8blYou are the only joke around here. The Belmont, where he ran lame? And never changed leads the entire mile and half? That Belmont? Moron

[@lisakane6708]

Isn't general assembly a son of secretariat?

[@jm1657]

Yes.

[@ipowers2927]

The Derby's of the 70's pale in comparison to what they are now in terms of the number of horses in the race. Only 9 horses in this derby. Today that number is always close or right at 20. I've always said that the Derby was the hardest of the three triple crown races because the vast majority of the horses in the derby today have no chance of winning and they clog the field and make it harder for the truly elite horses to get good enough trips to win

[@Bigrosty44]

Yeah but the horses are crap today. There is a reason they call the 70`s, the decade of champions. And this the century of no champions. And please!! are you trying tell me that Spectacular Bid wouldn't have beaten California Chrome and the 18 other stiffs. It is a funny thought for sure.

[@ipowers2927]

Bigrosty44 He has a point. Back then there weren't as many horses competing in the derby. Most derbies are full at 20 and a lot of times the better horses end up having bad trips and don't win. The playing field is a lot more even today then it was back then. It's not a coincidence that their were 3 triple crown winners in the 70's and we haven't had one since.

[@jameslarvin9712]

JoJoGunn risen star was pretty good also

[@lawrencegilmartin4483]

love the bid and his crew

[@lawrencegilmartin4483]

ipowers2927 i totally agree

[@mtnbkr3578]

according to Bud the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle...

[@marcosponce960]

Not quite, but he was very good

[@goodlooking5554]

Secretariat is the best & greatest racehorse. In 1973, Secretariat won horse racing's Triple Crown and set records that still stand today at the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Now, 39 years later, the legend has been recognized as having also set a still-standing record at the Preakness Stakes.The Maryland Racing Commission unanimously agreed Tuesday that evidence shows Secretariat's Preakness time was faster than originally recorded, said the commission's executive director, Mike Hopkins.Officials rule that 1973 winner is Preakness record-holder. The official time of 1:54 2/5 was disputed by independent timers. Using video evidence commission revises time to 1:53 flat. Triple Crown winner now owns the official record time in all three races.

[@goodlooking5554]

Ben's Cat (April 17, 2006 - July 18, 2017) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won 26 stakes races, including six victories in the Mister Diz Stakes and five in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint. He was a four-time Maryland-bred horse of the year and received the 2017 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. He was retired in June 2017 with a record of 32 wins from 63 starts and earnings of over $2.6 million. He died on July 18, 2017 due to complications related to colic surgery and was later buried at Laurel Park.

[@jm1657]

If I’m not mistaken, Bud’s actual words were that Bid “may be [[or, might be]] the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle.” He showed some restraint, knowing that proclaiming any horse to be the greatest U.S. racer ever would be a very arrogant statement. Because there’s never a single BEST racehorse.

[@enriquejavierduenas4173]

Terrible race caller