just because you lay on a cross, don't expect me to do the nailing.

Dude, your capitalization of every single word is the single most retarded thing on this board.

I'd rather listen to three hours of pg1985 explain all his exotic wagers than read a post of yours.

Why didn't you capitalize every word in the thread title?

Fleet Street Dancer...that was easy.

Big shoes to follow

The Japan Cup is a much bigger race, but lets face it he doesn't fit well with the top turf horses, Japan Cup or the Arc. To me the Japan dirt cup would still be a challenge despite its lesser status, because of the surface and travel issues.

My preference would be for him to repeat in the classic, but I think the guy wanted to avoid the Classic at all costs in order to make a statement and not have Curlin be the horse that legitimizes artificial surfaces at the top level.

FYI, Vermillion won it last year, I watched the race because Student Council ran in it and finished well back.

If that is true, I have a new hero.

i don't know if its true of course. just speculation based on what he has said and done.

think about it, if you are not a proponent of AWT and you have the number one horse in the world, you're going to try to keep him off it.

Personally I find their entire campaign strange. They had the Arc as the goal and had no backup options as seemingly they believed him to be invincible. I believe that Assmussen is more afraid of the surface than Jackson. By not running the statement they make will soon be forgotten simply because virtually no one will see his final race in Japan and the news coverage will be close to nil here. This is not exactly a tour de force or ending his career with a bang if he inded is going to stud after this year. I am not opposed to the Japan Cup Dirt in any manner except if I have the "best" horse in the world who is supposedly soley running for his legacy, that race is way down the list of important races.

Yeah but if you are 78 you arent going to live long enough to see them ripped out

true but Jackson knows that if Curlin adds a Classic victory on the new Santa Anita "mystery mix", to his victories at Monmouth and Dubai, that he will in effect be giving cover to other jurisdictions considering a change, and legitimizing the SA surface. He might not want to be remembered as the guy that helped to push it forward.

I agree though, that they are in a box now. How to end his career on a smashing high note without running in the Classic?

What is so great about the Classic this year? Black Ruby might be able to take it.

Honestly Jim the decision to go to synthetic will have very little to do on what happens or does not happen on the track. The "perception" that the syntheic tracks are safer and the "cover your ass" attitude that is prevelant in most businesses now is what will ultimately guide most jurisdictions. I do believe on wet surfaces there is no doubt that a properly installed and maintained synthetic is safer than dirt. For the other 90% of the days, not so much. But if one more semi high profile horse gets hurt on the dirt, watch how fast that track moves to a synthetic. And despite the greatest efforts and advances we will never stop breakdowns completely.

Careful... you're sounding like Sumitas... next thing you know you're going to tell me you bought all the Golden Missles in the sale

Big shoes to fill

You will have to change your drinking habits as well
as your shoe size.

I did not just type this. I did not.

60-70 hours a week? What were you on vacation that week Steve? :D

He's just pissed you asked Mott about losing Miesque's Approval. Thought J.J. and Perotta were gonna have a Ron Burgundy moment(My favorite ATRAB moment, aside from the guy who said the horses who are slaughtered don't feel the gun shot to the brain. Like he polled them!)

If some of you (you know who you are) don't stop this jibberish (biggest word I could come up with) I'll get my red headed wife of 25 years to post on here and then you'll really see some whining!

The show is awesome.

Spyder