Smarty Jones Classic

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by mes5107

I didn't realize that Smarty Jones gave horseracing such a black eye. I'm sure that some people make him out to be more than he was, and it probably gets a little tiresome to hear. However, Philly Park had been pushing for slots for quite some time without any luck, and then a lot of legislators changed their stances on keeping the track afloat right around the same time that Smarty Jones was hitting his stride. Perhaps it was a coincidence, I can't prove or disprove that.

I don't think he in any way gave racing a black eye, but he created quite a dychotomy among fans, in that the hysteria surrounding him created a lot of hype, and many long time racing fans simply never saw it.

He was a good horse, and his Preakness was terrific, but for some of us it gets tiresome being told things like " if you don't think Smarty Jones is great you don't know anything about horseracing. "

I saw a lot of good horses, and saw them prove it on the racetrack, and I will never apologize for excluding Smarty Jones from their elevated status. Hell, he wasn't even in Skip Away's league.