Thoughts on the Triple Crown

[bdw0617]

This is almost too funny. Someone wrote on an earlier thread about how great a trainer Frank Whiteley was, in comparison to Asmussen.

Let's put this in context of the current discussion re. entering horses to exclude Rachel:
Whiteley is the fellow who entered his rabbit (Hedevar) against Dr Fager to help set up the race's pace so his closer (Damascus) had a chance. How is that (entering a rabbit) any different than entering multiple horses to exclude their most feared opponent? Either it's fair or it isn't. If not, than no one should be able to enter more than one horse in a race (trainer or owner). Talk about double standards.

Some trainers and owners will go to any lengths to win. Drugs, doping, milkshakes, vet's magic elixir ... you name it. Odd how we haven't heard much about Jeff Mullins on the national scene since he was busted in New York, isn't it?

As far as RA goes, it was the Preakness. Not the Derby. Big difference, IMO. I wonder if she'd had to face the boys in compiling sufficient graded earnings in order to get into the Derby and run there, if she'd still have enough left in the tank to run like she did in the Preakness. Of course, that's just conjecture; we'll never know. She was clearly best last Saturday.

Still a lot of racing to come this year. Sure hope she's not retired early, with one of those mystery injuries ... Glad Jess Jackson hasn't displayed a tendency to that kind of behavior in the past.

umm.. it's different becuase even though Whtiney entered the rabbit.. dr fager got a chance to prove himself.

[ASB]

Not to mention that I said nothing of it being "fair" or "unfair". It's just incredibly bad sportsmanship, of which the conspiring group admitted to once they had a change of "heart" after being slammed in the press and in industry circles.

Give your horse the best chance to run his race, but don't exclude other horses because you want to duck, especially in the TC races. Come on!

[ASB]

Hey Bdw, you build websites, don't you? Check out the "would this make sense to anyone else" thread in the general forum. Maybe you can give a perspective from a content logistics point of view.

[bdw0617]

sure do

black17media.com

[Vicbrenan]

hmm sorry... But I dont think RA ruined the TC by winning the preakness... As others have said, she entered and won fair and square... And MTB simply did not win. And to me, the true TC winner should be winning it no matter who he/she races against...

I dont want to see this sport turn into something fake based on how people want things to play out.

It needs to be real, the horses need to race, and in the end there is either a winner or there isn't.

[Twingirl]

My emotional self is with Karen.
My practical side is with BDW.



I sure would feel a little better if RA runs in the Belmont.

Otherwise, I kinda wonder why Jackson would just enter her in "one" TC race....it's sort of an odd thing to do in a race that is a SERIES race.

I guess to me, if the horses don't race in it as a series, then it's just another race.

Please explain to me HOW we'll ever have another Triple Crown winner if the connections all just enter their horses in "one" of the TC races ?
I mean, what if everyone just did that?

May as well just make them separate races, like the Travers, instead of keeping them a series.

[Twingirl]

It needs to be real, the horses need to race, and in the end there is either a winner or there isn't.

How can it be "real" if the connections just "cherry pick" one race out of the 3 race series?

I don't expect to ever see another TC winner in my lifetime, and this is just another reason I won't..

[Aug27]

Owners & trainers enter multiple horses in a given race in order to increase their likelihood of winning. It is that simple. (And obvious ... to me anyway.) I guess it was poor sportsmanship for all of those multiple horse entries in the Derby over the years: Grindstone/Editors Note, General Challenge/Excellent Meeting, etc.

If they want to give themselves the best shot of winning the Belmont, MTB's connections ought to enter a rabbit, in order to ensure an honest pace. We've seen the Commendable and Da Tara (and others) runnings, where lone speed steals it on the front end. Mike Smith said he thinks MTB can win the Belmont with the right pace scenario. I think the unspoken thought being they can't let RA lope along uncontested on the front end.

[wangkw]

It needs to be real, the horses need to race, and in the end there is either a winner or there isn't.

How can it be "real" if the connections just "cherry pick" one race out of the 3 race series?

I don't expect to ever see another TC winner in my lifetime, and this is just another reason I won't..

Should expect to see a TC in lifetime..unless you are very senior.

[madelyn]

The history of the TC is full of horses who didn't run in all three. It is also full of multiple entries by a single owner/trainer. What happened in the 70's to permit the TC to be won Three Times In One Decade?

I don't think "sportsmanship" is really a major factor in deciding to run your horse in a race worth over a mil if you think the horse is ready and can win. Jess Jackson purchase Rachel Alexandra to run her in the Preakness and beyond, and as a significant addition to his broodmare band. His money, his horse, his right to do so. Look how many TC's have been "ruined" by another horse.

[oliverstoned]

The history of the TC is full of horses who didn't run in all three. It is also full of multiple entries by a single owner/trainer. What happened in the 70's to permit the TC to be won Three Times In One Decade?

I don't think "sportsmanship" is really a major factor in deciding to run your horse in a race worth over a mil if you think the horse is ready and can win. Jess Jackson purchase Rachel Alexandra to run her in the Preakness and beyond, and as a significant addition to his broodmare band. His money, his horse, his right to do so. Look how many TC's have been "ruined" by another horse.

Yeah we could've had Sham gunning for the TC if it wasn't for that darn Secretariat horse.

[madelyn]

... or Alydar if only he was not born the same year as Affirmed.

[oliverstoned]

[quote="madelyn"]... or Alydar if only he was not born the same year as Affirmed.[/quote

Easy Goer or Sunday Silence, like you say the list could go on and on.

[madelyn]

I think Mine That Bird's sire, Birdstone, ruined the TC for Smarty Jones that year...

[oliverstoned]

I think Mine That Bird's sire, Birdstone, ruined the TC for Smarty Jones that year...

Sure did got booed in the winners circle. Victory Gallop ruins Real Quiet by a nose, a nose!
Two I wish, deserved and were worthy to win the TC are Spectacular Bid and Native Dancer.