Spectacular Bid is a living legend, a champion very worthy of his name. He won 13 grade 1 Stakes.
"Bid" beat everyone on the east coast in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Florida Derby, Marlboro Cup Handicap, Woodward, and Haskell. A third place finish at the Belmont cost Bid the Triple Crown.
Bid also beat everyone on the west coast at the Santa Anita, California Stakes and the Charles H. Stub. He established or equaled 8 new track records, including a world record in at a mile and a quarter.
Spectacular Bid's honors include:
Champion 2 year old
Champion 3 year old
Champion older horse
Horse of the Year (1980)
Bid was retired after his glorious undefeated 1980 season, including a walkover in the Woodward at Belmont Park. (A walkover is a race where no other horse comes forward to challange. Bid meerly had to walk around the track to claim first prize.)
Overall, Spectacular captured 26 of 30 starts, with earnings of $2,781,607.
Spectacular Bid was not only a champion racehorse, but a champion sire as well. He produced 47 stakes winners with Progeny earnings of over $19.5 million. He is also a leading turf sire and a leading broodmare sire.
Spectacular Bid still resides at the Milford farm. Stud fees are $3000 per live foal.
Bid has been listed as the number 10 greatest racehorse of the 20th century.