Famous colts in Horse Racing
Horse racing has always proved to be the centre of great attraction for sports fan across the globe who are eager to gamble. However, the excitement and entertainment has often been accompanied by numerous controversies and some analysts do not view it as a fair game. Only in 2008, the revenue generated through betting in sports was recorded at a total value of $115 billion.
It was during the 17th century when the Newmarket course was constructed in the U.S. This was when horse racing started to establish itself as a sport in America.
Since then, betting has been introduced to horse racing to make it more interesting. It can be conducted through an online system in addition to traditional methods of betting with a bookmaker. The members of this activity dictate the market conditions of the exchange on the basis of odds set on individual horses for particular races.
However, various Animal Protection Societies in America such as the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have criticized the sport of horse racing. These organizations claim that the sport promotes animal cruelty since there are physical dangers involved in these races. Moreover, they are of the view that anything the animals are made to do against their will is a subject of animal cruelty. The living conditions in which the horse races and stallions are kept in are also considered to be abusive by some people. Meanwhile, others think that riding itself is an abusive act. Due to all these allegations, horse racing came under the purview of public law.
Due to increased media and public attention, the horses came into the limelight. One of the most well known colts in the history of horse racing are as follows:
Affirmed
One of the mere 11 horses to have won the Belmont, Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby, Affirmed is a talented thoroughbred race horse and the winner of the last Triple Crown Stakes. He is considered as one of the finest race horses in the history of the sport.
Secretariat
Secretariat remains one of the best if not the best racing colts. He was born in 1970 and has a majestic appeal to his stride on the track. The enthusiasm that surrounds Secretariat even before a major race is analogous to that of LeBron James from the NBA. However, Secretariat has always been able to justify that enthusiasm during his contests in which he has exhibited outstanding sprinting skills. One of his greatest performances includes the one at the Triple Crown, where he set a world record which is still untapped by any other race horse. This horse has made it to the cover of the Times, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated in the same week – proving how popular he is. This greatly added to his popularity.
Northern Dancer
In his athletic career, Northern Dancer has been able to cross his earnings from a value of half a million dollars. When the colt was jockeyed by Bill Hartack, it proved to be the most valuable tournament of his career. This tournament included the Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby, Flamingo Stakes and the Blue Grass Stakes. He made it to the first place in all these races. In 1964, Northern Dancer was given the title of Eclipse Award as a 3-year-old champion.
Cigar
Cigar is known to be one of the most prosperous and successful colts in the horse racing industry till date. He has impressed sports analysts and horse racing fans in the past by making a consecutive 15 win streak. One of the greatest horses on the basis of his brilliant performance, Cigar surpassed the value of 10 million dollars in career earnings. The racing colt was just 187 dollars away from making it to the eight figures earning mark.
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