Disingenuous means that I was not being truthful when I shared my feelings.

I know what MY feelings would have been. I actually felt them without being involved. Why would I share anything that wasn't coming from the heart?

All kinds of things can make some days more difficult than others. A spat with your wife. A kid that's totally underachieving in school. Just feeling lousy.

A professional, which I consider myself, sets that all aside and does his very best especially on super important days like today.

That still doesn't take away the sting of losing a chance at getting to chronicle history.

I wish I had a better way of explaining that to you because you're still not getting what I'm trying to share.

Look you're an announcer and a very good one I might add. Every racecaller has a bucket list of races he'd like to call. What's your number one? Let's say for you it might be the Pennsylvania Derby or maybe the Dubai World Cup. You've known for 3 weeks you're going to have that opportunity then 48 hours before you get the bad news. You're out. You can still call one on the undercard but not the one you've waiting and preparing for. Constantly thinking about. Human nature dictates that you'll have to rally emotionally, stay focused and pep talk yourself into doing the best possible job.

I've called 250 Grade 1 races. While none the stature of the Belmont I've been privlidged to call some greats. There have now been 102 3yo Classics run since the last Triple Crown winner. Of those, 11 horses had a chance to achieve immortality. Those 11 calls were much more important than the other 23 Belmonts. To get the chance to have the 12th be the first in 34 years only to have it ripped away two days before. Would for me, in this context only, make just a regular Belmont seem relatively insignificant as crazy as that might sound. I'd be calling one of the most important races of my life with remorse in my heart.

I hope you and the 85,000 there had a great time. Not one of you. Not one walked out without thinking and probably saying, Yeah but, what if.

This Belmont was terrific. I'm sure the day was great fun. In 50 years it will mean nothing more than another non triple crown alive chance. In 50 and even a 100 years this race will be remembered first and foremost for a horse that didn't run. Sucks I know. But that's the way it is.

I think nobody cares any more about the Grade One's they call than me. I put my heart and soul into them all. It wouldn't have been totally there on this one. Part of my heart would have been in I'll Have Another's stall.
Part of my soul would have been wondering at age 53 would I ever get the chance again.

As a racecaller yourself I cannot fathom how you don't get that.

Good debate. Appreciate your thoughts.