Very Mixed Feelings

cowgirlintexas · #1 05-05-2008, 11:09 PM

Reminds me a bit of when Slew was going for the triple and all the negative stuff surrounding his owners/trainer etc. I hated reading the B.S but still enjoyed seeing the horse win.

Split Rock · #2 05-06-2008, 12:14 AM

Very interesting and passionate opinions here.

Big Brown is a very talented colt. There is little doubt in that. However, he is trained and owned by people that make my skin crawl.

I have no problem with a guy like Dutrow doing drugs himself. Makes no difference to me. I do have a serious problem with him drugging his horses and winning purses at the expense of other accomplished horseman. It forces trainers (and owners) into a moral decision about whether to stay honest and lose and pair up with the "dark side" in order to win.

I still get chills watching Easy Goer/Sunday Silence or Ferninand/Alysheba or Secretariat. So, as a horse racing fan, I cannot help feel that Big Brown is where he is based in part (and probably a large part) on the fact that he has illegal substances helping him. Do I know that for a fact? Of course not. But where there is smoke, there is usually fire. Anyone handicapping Rick Dutrow (and his brother) can easily see there is an uncommon skill at winning with anything. Seasoned horse players are not idiots and are probably more adapt at spotting falsities than any outside investigator.

As far as the owners go, not a lot to say other than they appear to have zero class and have little interest in the betterment of the game. They want to make money, which is fine, but their actions and attitudes are hard to believe. Very smug, self important and arrogant. In a game like horse racing, where most owners fit that bill (rich, arrogant, etc) it is amazingly impressive that these owners can stand out in that category.

The whole thing (Dutrow, IAEH, drugs, breakdowns, excessive whipping, no ADW options on many tracks, high takeout in all pools, charging for admission, lack of technology improvements) just makes me turned off to the game. As a sport, it hardly reaches the national map. It won't be long until the Kentucky Derby is broadcast on ESPN, then on TNT, then maybe on the GAME network. Go out and look at ESPN and try and find it on their hyperlinks. It shows up with Mixed Martial Arts, Lacrosse and the WNBA...and after the AFL. Not even sure what the AFL is....

Danzig · #3 05-06-2008, 07:47 AM

arena football league i bet.

MaTH716 · #4 05-17-2008, 07:10 PM

I was kind of wishy washy leading up for the Preakness this week. After watching the race, I am on the bandwagon and have a case of TC fever. I still think that this is a bad year for 3-year olds, but the way that he disposed of that field was ridiculous. I thought for a sec that they might get him going in the the turn, then I saw Kent give a look behind him and next thing I knew he was going going gone. I hope he comes out of the race ok and goes to Belmont with his A-game. I am even considering taking my son.

I have to admit, I didn't watch the Dutrow and the corporation accept the trophy and thankfully it seemed that all the horses came home ok. Both of those factors make me able just to focus on the horse's remarkable performance. Obviously, that wasn't the case 2 weeks ago. Even though the rest of the field might not be that strong doesn't change the fact that BB destroyed them after racing 2 weeks ago. Same thing goes for the Belmont, if he does it it will be 3 wins in 5 weeks. The mixed feelings are gone, I am hoping to see history in 3 weeks!

geeker2 · #5 05-17-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

The mixed feelings are gone, I am hoping to see history in 3 weeks!

716 I agree..this is now exciting and as a big fan how can you not help it!

Danzig · #6 05-17-2008, 07:23 PM

i'm still unexcited. nice horse...but having seen spectacular bid try and fail, and others since then who i thought were better than this guy.....well, if he wins it, props to him. but we've been here a LOT. a lot, and with horses who were just as eye popping in their wins...i remember when penny chenery loaned secretariats overgirth to the smarty folks. oooops.

cowgirlintexas · #7 05-17-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

i'm still unexcited. nice horse...but having seen spectacular bid try and fail, and others since then who i thought were better than this guy.....well, if he wins it, props to him. but we've been here a LOT. a lot, and with horses who were just as eye popping in their wins...i remember when penny chenery loaned secretariats overgirth to the smarty folks. oooops.

Well, thats true too... However there's still hope, and after the sadness of the Derby I am ready for some excitement. Go Big Brown!!

Rileyoriley · #8 05-17-2008, 07:28 PM

I'm rooting for Casino Drive to be the 3rd offspring of Better Than Honour to win the Belmont. As far as I know, Better Than Honour has never been suspended from the breeding shed for drug infractions.
May not be a TC winner but still history being made.