January 5, 1980: Spectacular Bid Starts a Streak in the Malibu, Nov. 11, 1978 – Spectacular Bid Wins Heritage Stakes in Philly. But he was injured by the infamous safety pin in the Belmont Stakes, and was narrowly defeated by a stronger, more mature Affirmed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1979. The author also details the heart-breaking Triple Crown run of Spectacular Bid who could have achieved racing immortality were it not for a loose safety pin in his stall. Wikipedia presents the story as fact although back when it actually happened people seriously doubted the story and for good reason. Associated Press: UNADILLA, N.Y. -- Spectacular Bid, a steel gray colt whose drive to win the Triple Crown in 1979 was derailed by a safety pin on the day of the Belmont Stakes, died at 27. A Triple Crown - Undone by a Safety Pin. In the 1½-mile Belmont, Spectacular Bid chased a speedy longshot early in the race and tired in the stretch. The greatest horse to ever look through a bridle. Peter Lee, a former journalist, maintains the blog The Way to Churchill Downs, which reports on Derby hopefuls for the coming year. In Spectacular Bid: The Last Superhorse of the Twentieth Century, Peter Lee does a masterful job of telling the entire and real story of a racing star who overcame numerous obstacles. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Author Peter Lee makes a strong argument that Spectacular Bid deserves a place among the sport's elite despite coming up short in his bid for the Triple Crown. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This work examines Spectacular Bid from his humble beginnings -- he was born in a mud puddle on a horse farm in Versailles, Kentucky -- to his recognition as one of … Trainer Bud Delp wanted Spectacular Bid to run in one more race before his 2-year-old campaign was over—the Heritage Stakes on November 11—which, if he won, would help jockey Ron Franklin […]. A safety pin was all that kept Spectacular Bid from becoming the eleventh Thoroughbred to take the Triple Crown. Peter Lee, a former journalist, maintains the blog. Forty years later, the record still stands. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Peter Lee does a masterful job telling the back story of how "The Bid," despite controversy and an ill-timed injury that cost him the Triple Crown, developed into what many still call "The perfect racehorse."" From beginning to end, it's a book that you cannot put down!" Spectacular Bid: The Last Superhorse of the Twentieth Century A safety pin was all that kept Spectacular Bid from becoming the 11th horse to take the Triple Crown in 1979. -- Jennifer S. Kelly, author of Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown, "Winning a Triple Crown is an automatic stamp of immortality -- think Secretariat, Citation, and the others -- but what about those horses that didn't quite make it? Strange Derbies: Spectacular Bid First, Great Redeemer Last — by 47 Lengths. He was bred at Buck Pond Farm, by Mrs. William Gilmore and daughter Madelyn Jason. This work examines Spectacular Bid from his humble beginnings -- he was born in a mud puddle on a horse farm in Versailles, Kentucky -- to his recognition as one of the greatest American racehorses. From the Blog. -- Steve Haskin, Blood Horse Senior Correspondent, "When I started Peter Lee's book, I knew of Spectacular Bid: the safety pin, the world record, and the failed Triple Crown run were the oft-repeated narrative about this dynamite gray champion. He is the author of The Death and Life of Mal Evans and is a regular contributor to www.pastthewire.com. Some believe it as gospel truth, others scoff at it. Three weeks later at his next start at Pimlico, an allowance race, he equalled the track record of 1:04.2. Champion race horse who came up short winning the Triple Crown in 1979. Bid was assigned 126 pounds, the heaviest in the field, and seemed ready to resume his racing career, pawing at the […], At Keystone Racetrack in Philadelphia on November 11, 1978, Bid ended an outstanding 2-year-old season with a dominating six-length victory in the Heritage Stakes. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When he returned to racing later in the year, Bill Shoemaker became his rider. The main knock against Spectacular Bid is that he never won at 1 1/2 miles. LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 30, 2019) — A safety pin is all that kept Spectacular Bid from becoming the 11th thoroughbred to take the Triple Crown in 1979. Spectacular Bid began his racing career on June 30, 1978, at Pimlico Race Course, where he came within ⁄5 of a second of the track record for 5 ⁄2 furlongs. Unfortunately, young jockey Franklin, determined to one-up his fellow jockeys after his previous tussle earlier in the week, pushed his horse too hard early on. All Rights Reserved. Unfortunately for Delp, Spectacular Bid stepped on a safety pin the morning of the Belmont Stakes and lost to Coastal, who incidentally, is a son of Majestic Prince. Where do they fit in the hierarchy of Thoroughbred racing's history? 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