Barbara Livingston: Tribute to Spectacular Bid on his 35th birthday

[second_glance]

Yes, The Bid was born 35 years ago today. As Barbara writes: "Haven't they gone by in a blink." She celebrates his life by remembering (with many photos) his 25th birthday.

http://www.drf.com/blogs/spectacular...bruary-17-2001

Spectacular Bid died two years later of a heart attack, on June 9, 2003, and he was buried near his Milfer Farm barn. The other titans of his era – Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed – had died before him. There has been no successor.

No, there hasn't. And if you are of a certain age, you might want to keep a Kleenex handy while you read this, and admire the photos one more time.

[PONYRCR]

In the article she mentions Bid having a fused ankle. Anyone know why it was fused? I thought he retired sound.

[Hermes]

It probably fused on it's own from damage that was there, as I recall he was not sound at the end, and Delp was pissed that Shoemaker let him roll around the Woodward walkover so fast.

Barbara's blog was spectacular as always.;-)

(I am awaiting the gorgeous photos she clearly has taken of Mo down in Florida, too.)

But what alarmed me in that Bid story is that they gave him a bath in 10 below weather. There is nothing intended as innocent that I hate seeing someone do more to a horse.

[curtisw]

In the early '70's Spectacular, a nice mare by Promised Land, finished second, more than once while attempting to become a stakes winner. The mare that beat her was Procne. A few years later Procne's boy--Flying Paster--couldn't quite beat Spectacular's boy--'Bid. I loved Flying Paster. I've really grown to appreciate Spectacular Bid. If he's not the best I've ever seen he's certainly in the conversation.

[the Bid]

The Bid was the greatest!

[GinTalking]

In the early '70's Spectacular, a nice mare by Promised Land, finished second, more than once while attempting to become a stakes winner. The mare that beat her was Procne. A few years later Procne's boy--Flying Paster--couldn't quite beat Spectacular's boy--'Bid. I loved Flying Paster. I've really grown to appreciate Spectacular Bid. If he's not the best I've ever seen he's certainly in the conversation.

Curtis, you and I are on the same page. In love with the plain brown wrapper who could never beat that steel gray boy. Just the other day, I was telling someone that I couldn't stand Bid (for several reasons ... mostly because of his trainer), but there was just no way you couldn't acknowledge just how good he was. If he'd retired at three, he'd have been highly thought of, but it was his four year old year that made him the horse everyone remembers.

I didn't know that about the dams though. Interesting.

[islandgirl45]

It probably fused on it's own from damage that was there, as I recall he was not sound at the end, and Delp was pissed that Shoemaker let him roll around the Woodward walkover so fast.

Barbara's blog was spectacular as always.;-)

(I am awaiting the gorgeous photos she clearly has taken of Mo down in Florida, too.)

But what alarmed me in that Bid story is that they gave him a bath in 10 below weather. There is nothing intended as innocent that I hate seeing someone do more to a horse.

Uncle Mo has an inquisitive look. He seems curious about everything going on around him. I look forward to seeing Barbara's pictures of him, too.

[EquineAnne]

I love his color. IMO, as he aged, he was even more gorgeous. He had a lovely, intelligent face as well.

[affirmed79]

This is great that BL remembers BID on his 35th birthday. I remember him so well and saw him run many times. I know i am getting old when BID would be 35 already. Wish he were buried in KY. I would go to his grave as i do Affirmed. Bid was one of the very best race horses, ever. FP was also a nice horse and i remember him well, too.

[Starine]

I agree. I am 25 and have never seen anything like the Bid in my lifetime.

[TapitsGal]

I wasn't old enough to ever see Bid race,but I do remember seeing stallion photos of him many years ago and falling in love with him then.It's hard to believe so much time has passed.

[Play The King]

Really wish I could have seen him burn up the track! I have to say though, he was absolutely a stunner! Gorgeous. I love the first picture where he has his head up and ears perked...beautiful eyes too. Barbara does justice to horses like this with her immense talent!

Jenn

[CarsonCity]

It probably fused on it's own from damage that was there, as I recall he was not sound at the end, and Delp was pissed that Shoemaker let him roll around the Woodward walkover so fast.

Barbara's blog was spectacular as always.;-)

(I am awaiting the gorgeous photos she clearly has taken of Mo down in Florida, too.)

But what alarmed me in that Bid story is that they gave him a bath in 10 below weather. There is nothing intended as innocent that I hate seeing someone do more to a horse.

A light sponge bath...probably nothing more than a hot toweling that dries very fast. I remember seeing Bid work between races at Keeneland when I was a youngster...such an honor...