Simulated replay. This post describes a season played out with sports simulation software. Scores, standings and winners are the simulation's results, not the real historical record.
Another summer is upon us, and before we take a look at how the baseball season is shaping up, let's take a look back at the three most important races of the horse racing season. While no horse was able to claim victory in all three races, each singular competition was a thrilling sight in its own right. The results of all three races are below.1907 Kentucky Derby
The Field (Odds in Parenthesis):
Pink Star (15-1)
Zal (8-1)
Ovelando (3-1)
Red Gauntlet (1.5-1)
Wool Sandals (3-1)
Orlandwick (10-1)
After two horses withdrew from the Derby hours before posting, six strong competitors were ready to race for glory in Kentucky. Red Gauntlet was the prohibitive favorite, followed by Wool Sandals and Ovelando. Behind those three were Zal, and longshots Orlandwick and Pink Star, who most people believed would need a bit of luck if they were going to be able to place within the top three finishers of the race.
From the beginning, Red Gauntlet was able to get out to an early lead. As the favorite broke away from the pack, Pink Star did his best to catch the leader, and went into the halfway mark of the race in second place. Zal and Wool Sandals were hot on Pink Star's heels, while Ovelando and Orlandwick had struggled out of the starting gate and were already well behind.
As the lead horses came down the final stretch, it was clear that the race belonged to Red Gauntlet. The strong start proved to be the difference maker for the champion of the Kentucky Derby, as he finished an impressive six lengths ahead of second place Wool Sandals. Meanwhile, Pink Star's solid beginning to the race had died out, and the young horse was obviously starting to tire. This decrease in speed allowed both Wool Sandals and Zal to pass, and Zal finished the race in third, with Pink Star right behind. Ovelando finished the race in fifth place, while Orlandwick rounded out the field with a disappointing sixth place showing.
Final Race Standings:
Win-Red Gauntlet (2:03.8)
Place-Wool Sandals
Show-Zal
1907 Preakness Stakes
The Field (Odds in Parenthesis):
Don Enrique (15-1)
Ethon (3-1)
Zambesi (2-1)
Don Creole (4-1)
Dan Buhre (8-1)
Senator Clay (7-1)
The Knight (40-1)
With seven horses entering the field at the Preakness Stakes, the air was ripe with anticipation to see who would be able to claim the prize at one of the biggest horse races of the year. The three favorites were Zambesi, Ethon and Don Creole, but just behind them in odds with Senator Clay and Dan Buhre, who each had a solid chance of coming away with a victory as well. Behind those five was Don Enrique, who was seen as a far more unlikely winner, and much further behind him in odds was The Knight, a late addition to the race that very few people were placing money on.
When the race began, Ethon and Don Enrique were able to jump out in front of the pack. Directly behind them were Don Creole and Dan Buhre, and in the back of the pack were Senator Clay, Zambesi and The Knight. At the midway point of the race, Ethon was beginning to pull away from the field, which was comprised of Don Enrique, Don Creole and Senator Clay. Still lagging behind were Zambesi, The Knight and Dan Buhre, who had started to slow as the group reached the half mile marker.
Ethon's lead only grew as the horse made the turn down the final stretch, and he crossed the finish line four lengths ahead of Don Creole to win the Preakness Stakes. Right behind Don Creole was Don Enrique, who had shown signs of fatigue near the end of the race. Coming in fourth place was Senator Clay, while Zambesi was unable to recover from his slow start. The favorite horse coming into the race, Zambesi finished a meager fifth, ahead of just Dan Buhre and The Knight.
Final Race Standings:
Win-Ethon (1:43.6)
Place-Don Creole
Show-Don Enrique
1907 Belmont Stakes
The Field (Odds in Parenthesis):
Peter Pan (0.7-1)
Superman (0.7-1)
Frank Gill (1.6-1)
Paumonok (5-1)
Hickory (15-1)
While only five horses made the trip to Belmont Park for the 1907 running of the Belmont Stakes, the fans in attendance were still hoping for an excellent race. Coming into race day, there were two favorites: Peter Pan and Superman, who each had seen considerable betting action as the race drew near. Behind them in the oddsmakers eyes was Frank Gill, a horse with great starting speed, but questionable stamina. Rounding out the group of five were Paumonok and Hickory, the horse with the longest odds out of everyone that had been entered into the Belmont.
At the start, Peter Pan jumped out to an excellent start, as he gained a solid lead over his competitors. His stablemate Superman, on the other hand, stumbled coming out of the starting gate and was left looking at Frank Gill and Paumonok streaking after the leader. Behind Superman was Hickory, who had also struggled at the start, but unlike Superman, Hickory lacked the necessary speed to catch up to the rest of the group. As Peter Pan neared the midway point of the race, his lead had increased, and while Frank Gill, Superman and Paumonok were trying as best they could, it looked clear that no one would be able to catch the leader.
The only way that Peter Pan was going to lose the Belmont Stakes was if something terrible were to happen down the home stretch. Luckily for everyone involved, nothing did happen, and Peter Pan glided to an easy victory, earning the glory of winning the Belmont. Frank Gill's jockey was able to keep his horse's stamina up, and he rode his horse to a second place finish. Paumonok fought off the challenge of Superman to finish third, and Superman crossed the line right behind in fourth place. Finishing off the race was Hickory, who was never able to recover from the early stumble at the starting gate.
Final Race Standings:
Win-Peter Pan (2:17.8)
Place-Frank Gill
Show-Paumonok
Peter Pan, the winner of the 1907 Belmont Stakes