Smarty Jones Classic
 

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=38075

I was kinda hoping that Oaklawn would rename the Southwest or the Rebel for him, but glad to see this...

Out of curiosity, why would Oaklawn rename any stake after Smarty Jones?

Blech.






I always hated that name.

It sounds like some bumbling espionage agent .

Well, it's about TIME they named a race after Willy Wank.

Good point, they're probably pretty upset he took that 5 million dollar bonus they hoped nobody won....LOL

This naming races thing has to stop. The Zippy Chippy Classic can't be far off. (No offense to Smarty)

Hey! I'm going to suggest that to Finger Lakes right now! :)

I don't know, I don't have a problem naming races after the sport's stalwarts. I don't know about calling it a classic though. What's so classic about a race being run for the first time?

Anywho, if there is a stakes race in the USA named for Shecky Greene, why not name one for Smarty Jones?

Horses like Four Star Dave should get a races named after them. Unique horses with unique careers.

At least Zippy Chippy has humorous overtones and God knows the game can use all the fun it can get.

But, I totally agree with you. There is such a disconnect between the past and present, at least on message boards, and without an understanding of the history of the game you can't possibly understand the relative merits of the recent supposed stars.

Fourstardave does have a race named after him at Saratoga. It used to be on the Travers undercard but now runs towards the beginning of the meet. Sunday, August 5th is the date this year.

NT

Yes, that was my point.

Well, the Fourstardave used to be known as the Daryl's Joy, and considering Fourstardave's Saratoga connection that was a change that seemed more than fair ( though, of course, I never liked him ).

Fourstardave does have a race named after him.

The bigger problem I have is when a race named after an all-time great like Sir Barton is changed.

Where am I? Slot, that's why I used him as an example.

I did. He moved so pretty with such fluidity to his stride. :rolleyes: LMAO

I had to read it again to get where you were coming from.

I don't think Cigar should have that race named after him.

While I really don't care in the great scheme of things I happen to agree with you. To change the Sir Barton to the Barbaro was pandering IMO.

On the other hand, it could be argued that it a reasonable updating to appeal to new fans. However, I think it is a shame that racing has done such a poor job of remembering its history and attempting to find some way to educate fans about it. Seabiscuit is far from the only interesting story out there about racing history.

I think the Cigar Mile is a great name for the race. I also don't mind that there's a Shecky Greene Stakes run for like $40k each year even though most of today's racing fans have any idea who Shecky Greene is or was, at least the horse that is.

What am I saying? If some HBPA or track or Jockey Club wants to name a stakes race after a horse, then so be it. It's their prerogative.

Let's give Wilko a race? The One Hit Wonder race. A Grade 4.

I'll have to defer to other board experts on that topic.

Kentuckroses will be on shortly to give her analysis.

The Cigar Mile was fine, as it was previously the NYRA Mile, and changing it only added to history for a relatively new race.

Awww they should've named it the Scott Lake Handicap

One can only hope.

ThE Shuman 3 Legged Derby

I think all Thoroughbred tracks would be a better place if each had a small museum in them of the great moments in that tracks history. Racing really needs to remember when it was great and to give something good and historic for parents to show children that come to the track.

I guess for now, a lesson in how to operate the ingenious "Horse Wizard" machines will have to do.

When I started going to Saratoga as a kid, in 1975, I went in when the track opened and every day started with a " movie " about a past race or horse. I used to love those. Considering their vast video/film library and I see no reason not to attempt to reinstate this. Can't hurt.

Now we have Nader doing bits. Although I like them.

I agree. It would definitely help to educate newer fans on the history of whatever track they may be at.

Who was Barbara Fritchie anyway? Or Lazara Berrerro?

I'm going to look for the Ellis Park Country Music Theme Song/Video to sway opinions to "HELL NO!"

LOL

"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word;
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.

I mean, we have a freaking stakes named after a yellow ribbon! Smarty Jones definitely deserved a stakes race.

You're not serious? You don't know who Laz Barrerra was?

Smarty Jones deserves NOTHING. He raced, he won, he raced, he lost, he got a mild injury and his owners took the money and ran....and then blamed others.

He is the most glaring recent example of people's lack of knowledge of the history of the game.

Amen!

I don't know, the 120,000 or whatever it was on Belmont Day in 2004 would tell me Smarty Jones meant something to somebody in the greater NYC region.

Not to be overly critical, but if you don't know who Laz Barrerra was, I find it hard to even have a discussion that in any way involves the history of the game. You simply have a myopic view of the game that centers around one OK horse while ignoring the plentitude of players in this game that deserve at least as much attention....and in many cases more.

By the way, that attendance, while substantial, was phony.