Corinthian or Bernardini

[Betsy]

I hate the argument that Bernardini beat a weak field......huh? SNS is a very nice horse, a genuine graded stakes horse and Brother Derek is very accomplished. If they were over the top or tired going into the Preakness, then their trainers shouldn't have run them, given that they had no chance for the Triple Crown. Since both trainers had no interest in seeing their colts hurt, I assume that they were both in good shape for the Preakness. No excuse. Remember that Bernardini had had zero starts around two turns, limited racing experience period and was an unknown classwise. He won the Preakness on sheer talent alone.

I've never seen Barbaro's turf races but I was shocked at his stride in the Derby -that horse had a turf stride if any horse ever has. Too bad that he and Bernardini never got to hook up; they might have been really good for racing.

Originally Posted by Betsy

I was shocked at his stride in the Derby -that horse had a turf stride if any horse ever has. Too bad that he and Bernardini never got to hook up; they might have been really good for racing.

Another statement that I agree with every single word....Good Post!

[zippyneedsawin]

Until Corinthian comes back and accomplishes more on the track, it's Bernardini..

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

Another statement that I agree with every single word....Good Post!

Thanks, Joel. I'm completely biased towards Bernardini, so maybe this needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but........I think he could be a big shot in the arm for racing. So far, we've seen a lot of the down side of racing : Barbaro's breakdown, injuries left and right...things that make you wonder why you follow the horses in the first place (it's so frustrating). Racing deserves to have a horse like Bernardini stay healthy and do great things; it's about time, isn't it, that we stop talking about a horse's potential and start talking about his performance? Potential is not a word I like to hear in sports- it implies that the talent within the athlete goes unfulfilled. That's depressing. One good thing about Bernardini is that the Sheikh's are pretty sporting - if healthy, I see them running him as a 4 year old. That might be something to see.

Originally Posted by Betsy

Thanks, Joel. I'm completely biased towards Bernardini, so maybe this needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but........I think he could be a big shot in the arm for racing. So far, we've seen a lot of the down side of racing : Barbaro's breakdown, injuries left and right...things that make you wonder why you follow the horses in the first place (it's so frustrating). Racing deserves to have a horse like Bernardini stay healthy and do great things; it's about time, isn't it, that we stop talking about a horse's potential and start talking about his performance? Potential is not a word I like to hear in sports- it implies that the talent within the athlete goes unfulfilled. That's depressing. One good thing about Bernardini is that the Sheikh's are pretty sporting - if healthy, I see them running him as a 4 year old. That might be something to see.

Barbaro has been great for racing. The amount of support he has gotten is beyond anything any horse has ever gotten, from racing fans and non-racing fans. He is better for racing than Bernardini could ever be. Bernardini's owners don't even show up for his races.

Originally Posted by boldruler

Barbaro has been great for racing. The amount of support he has gotten is beyond anything any horse has ever gotten, from racing fans and non-racing fans. He is better for racing than Bernardini could ever be. Bernardini's owners don't even show up for his races.

Well, better in what regards?...ust because they are owned by wealthy Shieks doesn't necessarily mean that he is not a good horse for the people...I know that everybodt saw the movie "Dreamer" and that the Shieks are portrayed as the bad guys of the industry in that movie - BUT, in reality the owner is a smaller story to me...Yes, ownerships matter when there is a good blue-collar story, but I don't think Bernardini will necessarily be punished for his owners if he goes on to be great....the media will find a stoyline, trust me....we can sell all types of horses to the American public to make them love us and we willl sell him if he really excells in the national spotlight...

As for the 'better for racing' comment, yeah, we covet our Derby winners and Barbaro had a non-main stream interest like Funny Cide and Smarty Jones did, but that fades with time, too....Look at Funny Cide..he is very average now and his impact has dwindled although he still won a graded event a couple fo weeks go.....the American public grasps the star of the moment and will cling to him if he proves to be worthy...Funny Cide was certainly no Superstar IMO, but the American public didn't understand that and who cares?..the sport got good pub off of the NY gelding and his story...

I think that Bernardini will prove to be 'better for racing' because he is a horse that COULD easily change the breed....he is a beautiful speciment and a beautiful mover and is by one of the most important sires from one of the nicer blue-blood broodmares in our sport.....it is excellence at that level that WILL make him a strong influence on the breed once he retires and goes to the breeding shed....

Additionally, Barbaro's injury has also NOT been the best thing for our game IMO...I know negative publicity is better than no publicity, but when it comes to hurting animals...now there is a very, very sensative subject to the American public and I guarantee it has completely turned off a large number of casual race fans, and away from our game.....

Now, some goods things will and have come from that incident, but it is hard for someone to state that Barabaro will prove to be a greater contributor to this game than Bernardini...that is just my point..

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

I think that Bernardini will prove to be 'better for racing' because he is a horse that COULD easily change the breed....he is a beautiful speciment and a beautiful mover and is by one of the most important sires from one of the nicer blue-blood broodmares in our sport.....it is excellence at that level that WILL make him a strong influence on the breed once he retires and goes to the breeding shed....

God I think I will throw up. Really, this statement is absolutely nauseating.

Horses like Smarty Jones and Funny Cide are loved because they are not deemed blue bloods.

Originally Posted by pgardn

God I think I will throw up. Really, this statement is absolutely nauseating.

Horses like Smarty Jones and Funny Cide are loved because they are not deemed blue bloods.

I consider breeding higher quality horses to add a greater dynamic to racing(which is what Bernardini has a real chance to do...remember, he will get all of Goldolphins best mares that are from the Northern Dancer sireline) is 'better for racing' (as he quoted in making his point) than the attention and notice the sport got for Barbaro....would you really argue that? A casual racing fan probably won't remember who won the '06 Derby in ten years...just a fact....it would take a hint such as "the horse that broke his leg" - and THAT is what they will associate Barabaro with...that is just the cold, hard facts man...

Additionally, horse players who wager on the sport make the game go round, not casual horse fans that only care to watch the Derby and MAYBE the Breeders' Cup....As a very involved horse player who is consistantly supporting this game, I want to see dynamic race horses that go on top make a significant imapct on the breed....I want to bet the future stars out of the regally-bred and talented Bernardini...that is what the lifeblood of out industry - the gambler - wants...

I'm not saying that Barbaro DOES NOT have the impact that Bernardini does or will, but my point is that it is too early to say one way or the other and that you could make a very strong point for Bernardini here......that is my point and its only an opinion....

Originally Posted by pgardn

God I think I will throw up. Really, this statement is absolutely nauseating.

Horses like Smarty Jones and Funny Cide are loved because they are not deemed blue bloods.

Elusive Quality stands for $100K and Distorted Humor stands for $150K...Yes, they are well-bred horses........they were blue-collar horses because the story that the media ran with was their blue-collar connections....that doesn't always have to be the same ole song....as a matter of fact, we need another angle...the 'blue-collar connections' angle has been played out in recent years, although it is still a nice angle...

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by pgardn

God I think I will throw up. Really, this statement is absolutely nauseating.

Horses like Smarty Jones and Funny Cide are loved because they are not deemed blue bloods.

So what you're saying is that racing fans only latch onto horses that are not viewed as bluebloods? Well, even if that is the case, I don't care. Horses like Bernardini are just as deserving of affection as the those you mentioned above, and if the public doesn't latch onto him, then fine. I don't care; I love the horse and he has a chance to do great things. If fans don't appreciate him (that's IF Bernardini lives up to his promise), well - that's their issue. I don't see any reason why Smarty Jones and Funny Cide are better for the sport than Bernardini; a great horse is a great horse, period.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by boldruler

Barbaro has been great for racing. The amount of support he has gotten is beyond anything any horse has ever gotten, from racing fans and non-racing fans. He is better for racing than Bernardini could ever be. Bernardini's owners don't even show up for his races.

Now I'm sorry, that sounds like sour grapes. It's a real shame that Barbaro broke down, but I will not make him into something greater than he was, nor will I tear down Bernardini or his owners because of it. Bernardini could dominate the summer and fall races and some fans will begrudge him credit because he will not have beaten Barbaro. I just have to at that. I'm very glad that Barbaro has gotten support from racing and non-racing fans - this could be a very heartwarming story - but sheesh - does Bernardini have to break down to prove how popular he might be? I hope this colt goes on to dominate and to be honest, not just because I love him and feel he has all the promise in the world. It's getting so that I want to stick it to the fans who feel the need (I'm not referring to you necessarily, but to the the fans with Barbaro-colored glasses on) to tear down a talented colt. I despise hypocrites (again, not you)- racing fans clamor for stars and when there is one in their midst, they don't want him to be great because of their own love for another horse.

I also meant in my other post that their would be anti-Sheikh sentiment; for that reason alone, Bernardini will never be as popular as Barbaro. I'm sure the Sheikh loves his horses as much as the Jacksons and that's what counts with me.

Sorry for the rant, but I feel like I can vent here without fear of being attacked (as happens on other boards).......