[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

In racing, opinions do get either substantiated or invalidated by fact, and it is the ones with good opinions that will prevail over those with bad ones.

I would say that I basically disagree with everything in your post and I would also say that history backs me up. Yes, I think Cigar improved because he went to the dirt. Yes, I think Wait a While improved because she was shifted to the turf. I believe that neither would ( or would have ) transfered their surface improvement if switched back to the other surface.

I do not mean this question to be condescending, and admire your enthusiasm for the game, but I am curious...do you bet? And if the answer is yes....do you bet enough money so that losing can be at least a little painful? Once again, it is NO measure of a person whether or not they bet, or how much if they do, but somehow it feels like these opinions of yours have never felt the pain they would receive at the windows.

I don't bet nearly as much as I used to because it did get too painful. There were plenty of good wins. Plenty of tough losses. When I do bet, I try to bet on the horse I think is the best horse period and will appreciate the distance of the race. So yes, I do back my wild opinions with my money.

I think it's interesting that u say opinions get substantiated or invalidated by facts. I suppose u would say that if they ran Ouija Board in the Classic and she lost by 10, it would support your opinion. U could say "see, I knew she couldn't do anything in this spot" and feel validated. I, however, don't see it that way. Because she might lose there doesn't mean that she would have won in the other spot. And a loss still doesn't take away from the impetus behind the decision in the first place, which was to take on a new challenge. I still admire that. I don't think that u go into new challenges feeling like u have to win in order for it to be a successful decision. I come from a basketball background and many times I've taken a big shot and missed. But I was wide open and the opportunity presented itself so I had to take it. I said in previous thread about Lava Man that I think u have to dare to be great even when it's easy to settle for being good. A horse like Ouija Board, her position is set at this moment. It won't rise with a win in the F/M Turf and it won't suffer with a loss in the Classic. But with a win or top showing in the Classic, her place in history, whatever that is, will be elevated. And even if she were to win the Classic, I still don't feel like my opinion would be validated because I'm not looking at the result for validation. My opinion is only in regards to the decision making that put u in the position in the first place. To each his own though.