Very Mixed Feelings

blackthroatedwind · #1 05-17-2008, 11:29 PM

Years ago I described being a horseplayer as like having a girlfriend that nobody likes. Well, guess what? For the next few weeks my girlfriend got a lot more popular. Stop whining about it and dig it. It's a good thing.....and it won't last.

pick4 · #2 05-17-2008, 11:39 PM

Owner Finds Joy in Loyalty: Big Brown Part of Pompa's Payback
By Adam Kilgore
Washington Post Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- Paul Pompa Jr. glanced at his laptop screen Wednesday morning, eagerly checking if the e-mail he was waiting for had appeared. "Not here yet," he said. In most ways, this day was like any other for the owner of horse racing's star of the moment. Pompa woke up at his home in Warren, N.J., at 4:30 a.m. and arrived at his office in Brooklyn by 6:30. He ensured the trucks left the yard on time, then settled behind his desk, one room over from his brother Tom and his cousin Pete....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...051700282.html

NOTE: PLEASE.... DO NOT PASTE COPYWRITTEN MATERIAL IN ITS' ENTIRETY AND CERTAINLY NOT WITHOUT AT LEAST GIVING CREDIT TO THE SOURCE AND AUTHOR...

#3 05-18-2008, 12:45 AM

How can you hate on a guy like Pompa?

And Dutrow may be a rebel but he's faced tremendous adversity and is now on the verge of being the trainer of a triple crown winner.

How could you not laugh at this hilarious quote?

Quote:

On it, his massively talented colt, Big Brown, was flanked by a pair of lead ponies as they guided him back toward the winner's circle.

"Look at him," Dutrow said to NBC reporter Bob Neumeier. "He's in between two ponies. He loves it."

Dutrow cackled.

"He's like me at Scores!"

Look on the bright side...at least it isn't Jeff Mullins. He actually doesn't like gamblers.

pick4 · #4 05-18-2008, 12:59 AM

That's an excellent point you made about Jeff Mullins. However his distain for the people who pay his salary does not stop me from wagering on horses he trains.

MaTH716 · #5 05-18-2008, 08:00 AM

Maybe in 3 weeks NBC can do a feature on Dutrow at Scores!

zippyneedsawin · #6 05-19-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Maybe in 3 weeks NBC can do a feature on Dutrow at Scores!

I think NBC will conveniently 'forget' about horse racing as of now since the Belmont is on ABC this year.. that said.. maybe ABC will do the feature!

ateamstupid · #7 05-18-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Years ago I described being a horseplayer as like having a girlfriend that nobody likes. Well, guess what? For the next few weeks my girlfriend got a lot more popular. Stop whining about it and dig it. It's a good thing.....and it won't last.

Well said.

And as much antipathy as I have towards Dutrow and the IEAH douches, at least this is a horse that the networks will have a hard time forcing into being a heartwarming story, which is a good thing. Every time a horse wins a big race, there's gotta be some kinda cutesy romantic twist to it with these people. I remember hearing Smarty Jones being referred to as the colt from the "wrong side of the tracks" or something. Yeah, he was only by freaking ELUSIVE QUALITY!

cowgirlintexas · #8 05-18-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Well said.

And as much antipathy as I have towards Dutrow and the IEAH douches, at least this is a horse that the networks will have a hard time forcing into being a heartwarming story, which is a good thing. Every time a horse wins a big race, there's gotta be some kinda cutesy romantic twist to it with these people. I remember hearing Smarty Jones being referred to as the colt from the "wrong side of the tracks" or something. Yeah, he was only by freaking ELUSIVE QUALITY!

I believe they referred to him as that because of where he was based at. Philly Park/unknown trainer etc.. True about the romantic twist comment.. No "warm fuzzy" feelings with the connections of Big Brown.

ateamstupid · #9 05-18-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowgirlintexas

I believe they referred to him as that because of where he was based at. Philly Park/unknown trainer etc.. True about the romantic twist comment.. No "warm fuzzy" feelings with the connections of Big Brown.

I get it, I just thought it was ridiculous how the media tried to contort him into some scrappy underdog when he was bred to be a fine horse.

2MinsToPost · #10 05-18-2008, 12:11 PM

Just this racing fans' perspective and I believe that I am not alone with these thoughts. I don't care for the human side of Big Brown. Guess what, Big Brown did not choose to be with these people. Its not like he can say enough of this I am off to Zitos' Barn etc.. So, why should I let the people side get in the way of cheering on a horse to something that has not been done in 30 years and will create a positive buzz about this sport we all love for a long time. I am going to enjoy the next three weeks as much as I can. Gonna read all I can read. Then, when June 7th rolls around and they are loading into the gate their will be a level of excitement shared by so many that has not been reached in a long time.

Enjoy this positive time in the sport. Put aside the negatives and take in the positives. Funny thing is, I have this bad feeling about the whole deal being done for the supposed fifty million dollars. So, putting that aside I am for the horse and not the people associated with. Big Brown did not choose his fate, he just wants to beat whoever loads beside him.

Danzig · #11 05-18-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I get it, I just thought it was ridiculous how the media tried to contort him into some scrappy underdog when he was bred to be a fine horse.

sort of like seabiscuit in the movie...

horseofcourse · #12 05-19-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

sort of like seabiscuit in the movie...

yeah...that ragamuffin direct descendent of Man O War. Horridly bred!

GenuineRisk · #13 05-19-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

yeah...that ragamuffin direct descendent of Man O War. Horridly bred!

Almost as funny as the movie describing War Admiral as 18 hands. I guess the filmmakers thought Shorty versus Shorty wouldn't make for compelling drama.

GenuineRisk · #14 05-19-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I get it, I just thought it was ridiculous how the media tried to contort him into some scrappy underdog when he was bred to be a fine horse.

I may be remembering wrong, but I thought at the time Elusive Quality was bred to I'll Get Along his stud fee was about $10,000- Servis thought he was a sire who was going to have a big future, but wasn't there yet and that's why he suggested the mating- getting what he thought would be a good sire at a cheap price. So it was more a case of a future recognized blueblood.

freddymo · #15 05-19-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I may be remembering wrong, but I thought at the time Elusive Quality was bred to I'll Get Along his stud fee was about $10,000- Servis thought he was a sire who was going to have a big future, but wasn't there yet and that's why he suggested the mating- getting what he thought would be a good sire at a cheap price. So it was more a case of a future recognized blueblood.

EQ was a lot more then 10k when SJ was conceived

GenuineRisk · #16 05-19-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

EQ was a lot more then 10k when SJ was conceived

Do you know how much? I googled before I posted but I couldn't find the answer.

Wait- I just did, and his stud fee was $10,000 until 2003, when it was bumped to $30,000. Smarty having run in '04, that would mean the fee was indeed, $10,000.

Whew- I've got a good memory for useless trivia (and not much else) and was afraid even that was failing me!

Here's the link- it's an interesting piece on EQ.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...pagewanted=all