Rapid Redux won another race Dec. 13 at Laurel Park.
"Rapid Redux," the Associated Press dispatch began," tied a North American Thoroughbred record for most victories in a calendar year, winning his 19th straight race Tuesday to match the mark set by Citation in 1948."
The Reuters version: "Rapid Redux entered rarefied air in U.S. Thoroughbred racing on Tuesday by winning his 19th race in 2011, equaling the modern-day single-season record shared by Triple Crown winner Citation."
And Blood-Horse.com: "Rapid Redux tied the modern-day United States record for wins in a single season Dec. 13."
What's wrong with all this?
Plenty.
Racing records can be contradictory, misleading, and even incorrect, and when writing about them, care needs to be taken at every turn. When Cigar was going for his 17th straight win in the 1996 Pacific Classic, it was frequently written that he was shooting for a record. Well, he was going for Citation's record, not the record. Any story to the contrary was off base.
Jon White said it best a couple of days after Rapid Redux's latest win. "There often is a lack of clarity in terms of records in horse racing," he wrote. "Just what kind of record did Rapid Redux tie? Was it a 'modern-day North American record?' Was it a 'modern-day U.S. record?' In my view, in order to be accurate, it was neither. I believe this is the most accurate way to put it: 'By winning 19 races in 2011, Rapid Redux achieved the most victories in a calendar year by a horse based in the continental U.S. since Citation in 1948.'"
As White pointed out, Camarero, running in Puerto Rico, won 29 races in 1955; Luke Blackburn (1880) and Donald Macdonald (1913) won 22 apiece in a year while running in the U.S. Roseben, an American horse, won 19 times in 1905. Even if you throw out Blackburn and Roseben as not having run in "modern day" − whatever that is − you can't discount Camarero. His 29-race season came seven years after Citation's 19-win year. Even allowing the "modern day" qualifier, if you throw Citation into that hopper, you also have to include Camarero. By any account, Puerto Rico is in North America, and 1955 is "modern day."
"Rapid Redux," the Associated Press dispatch began," tied a North American Thoroughbred record for most victories in a calendar year, winning his 19th straight race Tuesday to match the mark set by Citation in 1948."
The Reuters version: "Rapid Redux entered rarefied air in U.S. Thoroughbred racing on Tuesday by winning his 19th race in 2011, equaling the modern-day single-season record shared by Triple Crown winner Citation."
And Blood-Horse.com: "Rapid Redux tied the modern-day United States record for wins in a single season Dec. 13."
What's wrong with all this?
Plenty.
Racing records can be contradictory, misleading, and even incorrect, and when writing about them, care needs to be taken at every turn. When Cigar was going for his 17th straight win in the 1996 Pacific Classic, it was frequently written that he was shooting for a record. Well, he was going for Citation's record, not the record. Any story to the contrary was off base.
Jon White said it best a couple of days after Rapid Redux's latest win. "There often is a lack of clarity in terms of records in horse racing," he wrote. "Just what kind of record did Rapid Redux tie? Was it a 'modern-day North American record?' Was it a 'modern-day U.S. record?' In my view, in order to be accurate, it was neither. I believe this is the most accurate way to put it: 'By winning 19 races in 2011, Rapid Redux achieved the most victories in a calendar year by a horse based in the continental U.S. since Citation in 1948.'"
As White pointed out, Camarero, running in Puerto Rico, won 29 races in 1955; Luke Blackburn (1880) and Donald Macdonald (1913) won 22 apiece in a year while running in the U.S. Roseben, an American horse, won 19 times in 1905. Even if you throw out Blackburn and Roseben as not having run in "modern day" − whatever that is − you can't discount Camarero. His 29-race season came seven years after Citation's 19-win year. Even allowing the "modern day" qualifier, if you throw Citation into that hopper, you also have to include Camarero. By any account, Puerto Rico is in North America, and 1955 is "modern day."
The trainer deserves the true credit. Just finding 19 "spots" in a year to keeping winning at is a feat. To continually keep winning and avoiding moving "up" in the class ranks is nearly impossible. At bit of a gimmick though, as the purses don't justify shipping the horse all over the place. Only 1 way to stop the streak. I'll bet him to show for 100g's next out. He'll come up lame and I'll need a "rapid detox".
