Gander, I know what you're saying, but isn't it their job to bring up these points? If only MVP's and TC winners could criticize, then sports shows would be very boring or we would lose a lot of programs.

Well, you can bet your bottom dollar one of them was Kent on Real Quiet. But it wasn't moving too early, it was not watching his back as Vic Gallop was creeping in, I think he had enough gas in the tank to hold him off, just didn't see him comming. As for the other, McCarron said it himself, he Fed up the ride on Alysheba, so it could have been him.

Smarty was the one. I don't know that I ever would have considered Real Quiet an all time great so that worked itself out.

All time great or not, he was waltzing matilda down the stretch and got clipped at the end, he did not see him comming.

RQ was totally gassed and Desormeaux knew it. He intentionally steered him off the rail to impede Victory Gallop and the stewards went on record as saying they would have taken him down if VG didn't get his nose on the wire first. Imagine the uproar over that, first Triple Crown in 22 years getting dq'd, no matter how obvious it was.

Alysheba lost the Belmont by about 10 lengths. Van Berg has criticized McCarron's ride and thinks that Alysheba should have been on the lead. I don't care where McCarron had the horse. He lost the race by 10 lengths. If he would have been 3 lengths closer to the lead, do you think that would have made up 10 lengths? Van berg's criticism of McCarron's ride is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. If Alysheba would have had a jet engine underneath him, he still would not have beaten Bet Twice that day.

This is dead on. If I remember correctly Bailey specifically stated he and someone else were going to run up Smarty Jones and Elliot to goad them into a speed duel, because they knew Smarty was tough to handle.

I can almost guarantee Bailey was smiling all the way to the jocks room when Birdstone came up and nipped Smarty at the line.

Bailey is really mean. He was just jealous of stewart elliot and smarty. He made smarty lose on purpose. That was really mean.:mad:

Yeah, Bailey was talking about his own ride on Smarty.

Jerry can be a nice guy when he wants to, but deep down, he's a jealous prick who can't stand to see anyone have glory but him.

I am no Bailey fan at all, BUT I do have to defend him a little for the 04 Belmont. If he had allowed a 1/5 shot like Smarty have an uncontested lead in a race (especially a horse that he knows is tough to handle) he would not have been doing his job. I don't think he was JUST trying to beat Smarty Jones, I think he was trying to win the race with Eddington. Bailey didn't just try to engage in an all-out speed duel. He pressed the pace, forced Smarty to work early, and then he tried to settle Eddington in behind the pace. Are you guys really suggesting that Bailey was more interested in beating Smarty then winning the race himself? No way. He was trying to win the race (which is his job) and in order to do that he knew he had to beat Smarty Jones.....so he tried to do that. Just like any other race where a horse is a HUGE favorite, all of the other jocks are going to try to compromise that horse in some way....if they don't, they aren't doing their job.

I dont think Bailey was thinking of Elliott at all. The two horses that came to mind were Real Quiet and Charismatic. Antleys ride on Charismatic wasnt that good at all. Now what Antley did after the finish line was simply amazing.

Why do you think Bailey never rode Eddington again?

His instructions that day were not to press the pace with Eddington. That was Purge's job.

If he were really just trying to win the race, why would Hennig permanently have him taken off the horse afterwards?

By the way, I suggest you watch the race again...Smarty wasn't on the lead through the first half-mile...Purge was. So I don't know how he could have gotten an "uncontested lead" when he wasn't even up front...Purge then stopped after four furlongs and Bailey sacrificed Eddington make sure Smarty didn't get away after Purge quit...there's no rider alive who goes into the Belmont with a plan to make their move with one mile to go...

He knew what he was doing...he was trying his best to deny Smarty, and more importantly, Stewart Elliott, the Triple Crown.

Joey, welcome back bro. Good to see you again.

Same here, Kev...

I try not to get suckered into this debate, but that race still really irks me.

I hear ya there. Im not here to debate it either. Just wanted to say hello. Been a while.

Yes Purge was on the lead early but he folded early like you say, which would have left Smarty alone on the lead down the backstretch. As for Bailey being taken off the horse, maybe the trainer just thought he needed a change, or he might have believed (as you do) that Jerry Bailey is a jockey who purposely compromises his own horse's chances in G1 races. That doesn't mean that he is right.
Listen I know I'm in the minority on this one, and I wanted Smarty to win it too. I just think Bailey made a strategic decision that he thought would help him win.

Dude no one takes Jerry Bailey off a horse "just to make a rider switch." Bailey had instructions and he disobeyed them. But whatever, you're entitled to your opinion.

This is right on, Bailey as presumptious as he is and as much of a jerk he sometimes seems to be, he is no dope...so if Purge bit it on the early lead, and Smarty took over why would Bailey worry. Why wouldnt he just put Eddington up under Purge if that was the case and make a run with his own horse when Purge backed up? Bailey disobeyed the orders of the trainer and knew it and disobeyed them for likely what Ateam is stating here.

Also, I've met Stew Elliott and he's a pretty nice guy. Why anyone would not want to see the man succeed is beyond me.

That being said his ride in the Belmont left something to be desired, if he had taken an approach like Jeremy Rose did with Afleet Alex, the TC drought would have been over. But, who knows, maybe Stew couldnt handle Smarty enough to get him to settle.

van berg was right ....... he strangled him the whole way, it was brutal.

Bailey actually made a reference to the 04 Belmont ride on two ocassions on the broadcast. Once was the 2x in 10 years comment and the other and I forget the quote was flat out directed at the 04 Belmont....