George Washington???

[hockey2315]

I am SO mad right now. . . Those greedy #$@%^ had no business racing George at all this year after he was retired and came back so dull. . . This just shows how backwards the industry has gotten with the whole racing to breed/breeding to race thing. They took a very promising horse out of racing in his prime in Holy Roman Emperor just so they could suck some money out of somewhere. Then since George wasn't worth anything in the shed anymore they decided to try to squeeze a few more bucks out of him on the track. What was the point of even running him in the Classic where he clearly had no shot?! Not to help his stud fee. . . Not to do right by the horse. . . And is Kinane really that clueless that he rode GW hard the whole race when something was clearly wrong? Must have been that fifth place money. . . My friend, who's more of a casual fan, said to me after the races something to the effect of "I can't wait to see these horses race next time" to which I replied; "You won't." How is the sport supposed to attract fans when the big stars never last for more than a year?

[Seattleallstar]

I had no problem with GW running in the race, I just wish they kept him retired when he came up lame the first time around

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I am SO mad right now. . . Those greedy #$@%^ had no business racing George at all this year after he was retired and came back so dull. . . This just shows how backwards the industry has gotten with the whole racing to breed/breeding to race thing. They took a very promising horse out of racing in his prime in Holy Roman Emperor just so they could suck some money out of somewhere. Then since George wasn't worth anything in the shed anymore they decided to try to squeeze a few more bucks out of him on the track. What was the point of even running him in the Classic where he clearly had no shot?! Not to help his stud fee. . . Not to do right by the horse. . . And is Kinane really that clueless that he rode GW hard the whole race when something was clearly wrong? Must have been that fifth place money. . . My friend, who's more of a casual fan, said to me after the races something to the effect of "I can't wait to see these horses race next time" to which I replied; "You won't." How is the sport supposed to attract fans when the big stars never last for more than a year?

this ending makes no sense in the context of your post as a whole. you come on and complain because they ran a horse that had been retired at three, and bring him back, only to lose him. but then you want your stars around longer. which is it? or do you only want them to stay longer if they somehow have a crystal ball to tell them which horses will not take a bad step, and which will? as for kinane, that horse took a bad step late in the race. he wasn't lame all the way around. that jock is not at fault, nor is coolmore.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I am SO mad right now. . . Those greedy #$@%^ had no business racing George at all this year
"You won't." How is the sport supposed to attract fans when the big stars never last for more than a year?

You contadict yourself. On one hand racing him this season is "greedy" yet you later lament the early retirements. Because they brought GW back for reasons you felt were "greedy" they are %*$@(*&'s but had they left him in training at 4 and come back to the BCC they'd have been "sporting." By your definition all owners are greedy. They race to make money. It's the nature of the game.
If SS or HS is sterile and returned to the track next season are the owners greedy or sporting? The net result is a 4yo race horse, the fact that he spent an unsuccessful seaon in the shed before returning to the track is irrelevant. Should we be happy or angry?

I really didn't see why he was running where he was. It made no sense to me, but I have no reason to think that Coolmore sent "GW to his doom" with any intent other than his running well.