In the contest folder -- I'm picking out 10 to 30 horses a day who I feel have a 0.00% chance of winning. I'm doing it a day in advance and before scratches.
As it stands right now -- these 'Bums' as I call them -- have compiled a record of 112 starts, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, and 2 fourths.
One of the bums who is racing on Monday is a 10-year-old named Marco Be Good -- he is sprinting 5 furlongs at Parx for a 5k claiming tag.
Marco Be Good has a lifetime record of 83-11-10-9 and career earnings of over $571,000. His finest moment from his glory days as a racer came when he won the Grade 3 Hillander Stakes at Woodbine over Atticus Kristy.
The win gave excellent young jockey Justin Stein his first stakes win at Woodbine.
The prime of a race-horse -- especially a fast one who isn't carefully managed -- is very short.
Marco Be Good was a Graded Stakes winner at age 4. A stakes winner at age 5. Stakes placed at age 6. Stakes placed at age 7. A multiple winner at age 8. And a desperate winner at age 9.
All that is left for the old pro is his short burst of speed. For the right type of trainer (Scooter Davis could have a field day with this horse but it most likely wouldn't end pretty) or in the right spot (Beulah $3,500 N1 year) he can still win again.
However, Marco Be Good is set to answer the bell for the 84th career time tomorrow. Last time out, he pressed a pace set by a wire-to-wire winner, and faded dismally through the pack on the friendly going at Presque Isle without visible excuse. He won't make the early lead tomorrow either, the horse on the far outside is a rocketship out of the gate.
Long washed up, Marco Be Good, a horse who has made six figures on dirt, six figures on turf, and six figures on synthetic... has been reduced to ridicule and mockery.
