Definition of "Sporting"...

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I agree that Curlin running at 4 was not sporting, he had to run him. But, after he bought Rachel Alexandra, she was being bred to Curlin regardless of what she did last Saturday. He has said he wants to win Horse of the Year with her. I believe it.

I don't know if sporting is the right word, but his purchase, and decision to run her left us with a very memorable race. I'd rather have a guy like Jackson, who will run his horse in a spot like the Preakness, because in my opinion we have far too many connections dodging each other. Don't we want and more importantly need the best running against each other if this sport is going to take the next step? Was it sporting of Mary Lou to retire a perfectly sound Birdstone at 3 because he had a chip in his ankle?

While he had to run him at 4, the way he campaigned him I feel was very sporting. It would have been very easy to run him completely on dirt, 5-6 weeks apart and still lock up the Horse of the Year.