Frustration?
 

So the Derby is over, and the best horse won, and the second best horse suffered a terrible tragedy. The winner is a very nice horse that has accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time while overcoming physical issues. He's also trained by someone who is understandably a lightning rod for attention....both positive and negative. He is also owned by a group in a similar boat. While I have certainly never been a great fan of some of what Dutrow has been involved with, I do think it's important to note that Big Brown ran a tremendous race in his debut, and he was not trained by Mr. Dutrow at that time. He is quite simply a very talented animal and dramatically superior to those that lined up against him Saturday. Many of us bet against him Saturday, myself included, knowing full well he was very possibly superior to his rivals, but we also felt given the post and his lack of experience, his undoing was more than possible. We were wrong.....he won with alarming ease. Personally, I always find a certain satisfaction in any race won by the best horse, and never moreso than in the Kentucky Derby.

But, people are angry. Trust me, I'm an angry guy, I understand. We're upset about what happened to Eight Belles and we're upset that this unfortunate incident is now being used by ignorant zealots with an agenda against this game that we love. And, even though we know they are wrong about most of what they speak, we sadly know there is at least a hint of truth in some of what they say ( truth, in all likelihood, that they don't even understand ). We're also frustrated that nobody in power in the industry has come out rationally, or almost nobody, to attempt to quell the hysteria by those outside the industry. I, too, am frustrated by this, but I also believe we should let them burn themselves out in a few days, and know that the game will go on regardless of their opportunistic ramblings. Just as I believe that a TC winner cannot " save racing ", I also believe that a tragedy in the TC series can't destroy it.

We're also frustrated that this Derby weekend was marred by infighting within the industry that dramatically affected the disemination of the Churchill Downs signal for betting purposes. We can't understand why the industry seems to continue to act in a way that is contrary to our interests, that is the racing fans who support the game, and even though many of us do understand and sympathize with the parties involved, it's hard not to be frustrated that all too often we seem to be the ones left out in the cold. It's easy to ask why can't the industry that we financially support, ever seem to listen to us. Even if we know that in some ways that's a massive oversimplification it's not unfair for us to be at least frustrated by the end result.

But I'm not frustrated. I'm happy that Belmont is open, and there's still eleven weeks left at that beautiful racetrack, and then there's six weeks at glorious Saratoga, followed by seven more at Belmont in the Fall. I'm happy that there's a great chance that in less than five weeks there will be a huge crowd at Belmont hoping for a TC and for a few weeks in NY people will actually care about horse racing. I'm happy that I'll be frustrated on a daily basis betting on the game I love. I'm happy that horse racing exists to give me something to bitch about. I'm happy that there will be many Pick-6s coming up for me to take tough beats betting. I'm happy that my life isn't as boring as those that haven't figured out how great this game is on a daily basis.

Brilliant piece Andrew. Perfectly put. Thx for elucidating a lot of what people are thinking/feeling.

Great post, Andy. . .

I'm happy I read your post.

I have nothing to add but gotta say how much I enjoyed reading this.

I wish this were on the back pages of newspapers across the country.

Then maybe some would get it, or parts of it... start to have an understanding.

Anyway, well done.

Great post Andy. It doesn't change any of the issues in the game, but reminds me why I follow and enjoy it. Thank you.

Damn, great post Andy ...

after driving home for 10 hrs i had a similar thought...i dont care for dutrow..but im a fan of big brown and yes tried to beat him..he beat me easy..all the wile i and many knew hes just the best.. ill root for him the rest of the way....at keeneland they cut away from the breakdown of eight bells..saving many of us from an brutal sight after a outstanding run by the winner and the filly.......... im pissed at larry jones who could have easly run 1/2 in the oaks and abit at the track supers..but in the end thats racing..never perfect..and yes belmont/toga/keenlend belmont..........

Wonderful post Andy, I enjoyed it very much.

Well said sir....

Great post...

Great post.

Excellent.

outstanding piece Andy. Would love to see this make the papers across the land to counter all the negative fallout.

Excellent post and a great read. I can't find anything I disagree with.

Ditto what everyone else said.

NY racing is the best
 

i can't wait to get to belmont park! and to bring my daughters to saratoga in august. thx

Well said.

Well said!

Perfectly stated and heartfelt ...I have exhausted my pretentious ass cruising the internet to try to correct and bring rationality to this hearbreaking situation ... Nothing will bring the filly back, and perhaps there is no explanation but that it was an accident ...
It infuriates me that those who see a race or two a year are ready with explanations, damnations and other ations ...
And yes, there is some truth even in the ranting of the PETA people and other hysterics ...
Nobody wants to see this happen ... And nobody doesn't want speed without safety ...

Huzzah!

Very well put Andy. A great read.

Outstanding piece, Andy... couldn't have voiced what I was thinking it better. Would love to see it in an op/ed in the Times, which has printed some things this week which were not in their best character.

Thanks again for a truly heartfelt read.

Very well put Andy...this IS the greatest sport :)

As everyone has said, great post. Agree with every word. :)

Excellent piece...should be a letter to the editor in papers across the country.

Outstanding, this belongs in the paper or on the news instead of the peta drivel being dished out.

Thanks Andy, very well said.

My girlfriend asked me tonight what I thought about all this national media noise about Eight Belles and how cruel racing is and blah blah. Purposely, I have been trying to avoid it because I know it's just another uninformed, lazy, headline grabbing story after another, from people who don't know the game or the animals.

Hell, I don't claim to know the game that well. I love the animals and I like my gambling now and then. That's why I am here. To me, I'd like to see one of these reporters/columinsts out there on a sweltering August Wednesday in Minnesota at Cantebury or a cold November Monday at Suffolk Downs in $5,000 NWX2 claiming event. I'd like to see them when some 6 yr old gelding breaks down in a race like that at a track like those. Not to diminsh Eight Belles' life or her career, but she is no different than that 6 yr old gelding. If they were there to report the demise of that gelding, than hey, maybe they had some business sensationalizing Eight Belles passing.

But of course, that will never be the case. Don't get me started on the whole advance wager bullsh**t. :rolleyes:

This is the best piece I have read anywhere. In four paragraphs you have captured our feelings and put a mirror to our souls. Outstanding!!

a mirror to our souls...



:rolleyes:

not as good as vocal nuts

This race brought many suspicions harbored by many to the fore. Questions that will remain on the minds of many for some time.

i hate to be one to pile on, and be redundant, but that was fantastic. you should be a regular columnist somewhere in the industry. every point was spot on and very concisely summed up a frustrating weekend. great job.

Maybe I'm very naive but I'm having a hard time buying that undetectable drugs played a role in this years derby...or for that matter the races in Dubai

why? because the trainers aren't stupid??

they may have been on the up and up. fact is, many will wonder and doubt, because of the trainers of record.

Andy

Thank you for putting it into words. I have for days been trying to write my thoughts on the last few days and you said it a lot better than I could ever hope to.
Thanks
Joe

no.....because drug testing technology has become quite advanced

The best day of the year in this sport shouldn't make me this nauseous. I agree with everything Andy said but I wish I shared his optimism.

tracks have to know what to test for.
biancone never had a positive for cobra venom. there's no test for it. he only got busted because they found a vial in his fridge.

and the 'not stupid' line comes from assmussens famous defense for his six month suspension for an overage. what, do you think i'm stupid?

Agree 100%..I went from jumpimg up and down in joy to wanting to throw up in 20 seconds... Felt the same when Barbaro broke his leg. Was hoping not to have that feeling again so soon. Thank You Andy for the words that none of us could say in quite that way. I, as most of us on here hope to see it published for all the public to see. You have risen from the bottom page in my book, to the front cover.