Goldikova Streaks Towards Immortality

How great is Goldikova? Three consecutive wins in the Breeders’ Cup Mile speaks volumes. No horse has ever done it in any BC races, and my guess is it will be a very long time before anyone can match her. Remarkably, this story does not end at three for the fanstistique French mare though. Race fans were thrilled this week with the news that Goldikova will be back in training in 2011. Even better, she will be specifically aimed for Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Cup Mile again next year. Three Breeders’ Cup victories makes her a legend, a fourth would place her in the realm of the untouchables of sporting lore. Take a look at a list I have compiled (in no particular order) of the dozen greatest streaks in American sports history, and decide for yourself where four consecutive wins at the Breeders’ Cup would place the great Goldikova. *Johnny Vander Meer pitched two straight no-hitters in 1938. *Kelso won five consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cups and Horse of the Year titles from 1960-1964. *The Boston Celtics won eight consecutive NBA titles from 1959-1966. *Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,632 straight MLB games from 1982-1998. *Byron Nelson had 11 straight golf tournament wins in 1945. *The Philadelphia Flyers completed 35 games without a loss during the 1979 NHL season. *Brett Favre has started at Quarterback in 293 consecutive NFL games and still counting. *UCLA took home the NCAA basketball championship in seven consecutive seasons from 1967-1973. *Alexei Karelin had a 13-year winning streak in Greco-Roman style wrestling. *The Miami Dolphins' completed a perfect NFL season with a 17-0 mark in 1972. *Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive baseball games in 1941. *Zenyatta won the first 19 races of her career from 2007-2010. Photo Courtesy of Reed Palmer Photography