Get Your Preak Off

[King Glorious]

The problem is not that Cox thinks this way (well, that is a problem, but that he’s not alone. So many have adapted this way of thinking that I almost fear that the Preakness is going to become a virtual walkover with no significant Derby also rans and a bunch of “new shooters” that have blanks in their guns. Then when there is no TC on the line, I feel like the Belmont Stakes is the dumbest race in America. It used to make sense when the Jockey Club Gold Cup was 12f so it was interesting to find out which 3yo could handle that distance and take on their elders in the fall. Now though, it’s not a Test of Champions. It’s a battle of attrition with a bunch of horses sired by sprinters and milers seeing who can survive at a distance they’ll likely never see again unless they switch to grass. Trainers don’t prepare for the TC anymore. They train only for the Derby and as much as I hate to say it, if you don’t win the Derby, the Preakness is not a good spot to return in. More likely than not, none of the horses has ever run back in two weeks in their career and to ask them to do so after what was probably their toughest race ever is a shock to their systems. I know that the argument will be that the high majority of those that win the Preakness are horses that exit the Derby (or the Oaks in the case of Rachel Alexandra) but I believe it has more to do with the lack of competition in the Preakness rather than a sign that running back that quick led to their repeat performance.

I think the best thing you said was pointing out the absolute hypocrisy in the statement, “best interest of the horse.” I hate it about 95% of the time I hear that. As if what’s in the horse’s best interests changed whether he won the Derby or lost by a neck.