Point Given Pictures - Art Prints of the Race Horse Point Given

He was a big horse, nicknamed “The Big Red Train” and he roared across the country. And when it ended far too soon, with an injury, his final record was 13 starts with 9 wins, 3 seconds, and no thirds and total earnings of $3,968,500.

Trained by Bob Baffert – who would later be inducted into the Thoroughbred racing’s national Hall of Fame at Saratoga – Point Given came within one race of the coveted Triple Crown.

Even though his career (13 races) was far too brief cheers went up loudly for Point Given as the towering chestnut was voted 2001 Horse of the Year honors at the Eclipse Awards (an American thoroughbred horse racing awards ceremony named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse) on February 18, 2002. While “The Big Red Train” raced from New York to California and many places in between crowds gathered to see this massive animal in his powerful splendor as he roared across the country. Point Given only had one bad day – the first Saturday in May – May 5, 2001, Kentucky Derby Day. Not the best day to underachieve. That aside he lifted the sport of horse racing onto his massively powerful shoulders beginning in March and running through August. Record attendance followed this chestnut colt wherever he raced – at the Belmont Stakes (Belmont Park) even though this was not a Triple Crown year. Also when he ran the Haskell Invitational Handicap (Monmouth Park) and at the Travers Stakes (Saratoga) – all three races are Grade 1. After an unheard of four consecutive $1 million stakes victories it all ended abruptly with a tendon strain in his left knee. It was possible that he could have rehabilitated his knee and returned to racing within six months but Prince Ahmed Salman of the Thoroughbred Corporation made the decision to retire him. His trainer, Bob Baffert, commented on his retirement, " I feel very cheated that we didn't get to see his best. " Even with this career ending blow there is little doubt that Point Given was the dominant horse of 2001. He was big, he was powerful and he was handsome. He brought a new generation of racing fans to the sport in the same way his predecessors, both large, strong and handsome, chestnuts Secretariat and Man o’War did. He even had groupies – the morning following his Travers Stakes win a woman arrived at his barn and requested to pet him. When finished she sincerely said, “This is the thrill of my life.”

Point Given was not the fastest or most durable horse in thoroughbred racing history. Most horses had more intellect that he. But his real talent was in the fractions of his races. He was able to run spectacular fractions and then make a big move down the backstretch leaving his opponents staggering under the onslaught. Only Secretariat ran a faster mile fraction in the Belmont and win. Point Given was big. Point Given was powerful. Point Given was handsome. But also, this chestnut colt, Point Given, was a racing machine.

Point Given went on to sire many leading racing thoroughbreds. OFFSPRING EARNINGS BY RACING YEAR • 2005 $180,721 • 2006 $3,023,940 • 2007 $3,560,931 • 2008 $5,482,355 • 2009 $2,556,919 • 2010 $1,610,684 (through November 7, 2010) Total: $16,415,550

See also Barbaro Art Prints and Pictures --- Secretariat Pictures and Prints
Kentucky Derby Winner Prints --- Horse Racing Pictures and Prints
Thoroughbred Racing Art Prints --- A.P. Indy Pictures and Art Prints
Cozzene Pictures and Art Prints --- Storm Cat Pictures and Art Prints
Lost in the Fog Pictures and Art Prints
Point Given Pictures and Art Prints --- Skip Away Pictures and Art Prints
Holy Bull Pictures and Art Prints --- Easy Goer Pictures and Art Prints
Sunday Silence Pictures and Art Prints --- Alydar Pictures and Art Prints
Afleet Alex Pictures and Art Prints --- Breeders Cup Pictures and Art Prints
Ladys Secret Pictures and Art Prints --- Rags To Riches Pictures and Art Prints
Saratoga Pictures and Art Prints --- Zenyatta Pictures and Art Prints