Racehorses Can Be Sore Losers

This recent photo brought back memories of a more famous one.

A half dozen strides before the finish, Whereshetoldmetogo takes issue with Firenze Fire still being in front.

In 1980, a photographer won racing's highest honor for his profession when he captured the finish of the Tremont Stakes for two-year-olds. The chestnut Great Prospector couldn't pass the grey Golden Derby, so he tried another tactic:

"The Savage" - a famous photograph

When Great Prospector retired to stud, the farm used this photo to advertise what a competitive racehorse he'd been.

It hasn't happened often, but it does occasionally. When a horse tries to bite another, in racing lingo it's called "savaging". Those with a more humorous bent might call it cheating. However, the horse doing the biting always loses, because if his head is turned to bite the horse next to him, then his nose isn't going to reach the finish line first.