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  #1  
Old 10-12-2006, 10:29 AM
blackthroatedwind blackthroatedwind is offline
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They are the enemies of racing.

This is just further confirmation. Only the breeders can defend them because they have made them staggeringly wealthy.

Pretty lame....makes me root against this horse and every horse they have.
  #2  
Old 10-12-2006, 10:34 AM
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Thunder Gulch Thunder Gulch is offline
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If true, this is terribly disappointing. Forget all of the talk about how great he may be, without racing again, Bernie comes up short of any all - time lists.
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  #3  
Old 10-12-2006, 10:43 AM
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While it would be disappointing, I don't think it has any effect on how good or great Bernardini is as a horse. If u think he's great now, why would he need another 15-20 races to prove it? Sometimes, careers are cut short but the brilliance is still evident. In racing, think Landaluce or Ruffian. In basketball, there was Len Bias. Football had Gayle Sayers. When greatness is there, it's there whether u get to see it for five races or 50. I'm not saying whether u have to believe that Bernardini is an all-time great but what I am saying is that if he did what he's been doing for another 20 races and u would proclaim him great at that point, then the talent is there now for u to call him great because if it wasn't already there now, he wouldn't be able to do it in the future. It's my feeling that more races would only confirm further to the non-believers what the believers already know.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
  #4  
Old 10-12-2006, 10:53 AM
oracle80
 
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YAWN. So who do you like in the Belmont 4th race if it comes off the turf?
  #5  
Old 10-12-2006, 10:59 AM
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philcski philcski is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
While it would be disappointing, I don't think it has any effect on how good or great Bernardini is as a horse. If u think he's great now, why would he need another 15-20 races to prove it? Sometimes, careers are cut short but the brilliance is still evident. In racing, think Landaluce or Ruffian. In basketball, there was Len Bias. Football had Gayle Sayers. When greatness is there, it's there whether u get to see it for five races or 50. I'm not saying whether u have to believe that Bernardini is an all-time great but what I am saying is that if he did what he's been doing for another 20 races and u would proclaim him great at that point, then the talent is there now for u to call him great because if it wasn't already there now, he wouldn't be able to do it in the future. It's my feeling that more races would only confirm further to the non-believers what the believers already know.
KG these examples you give were all injury (or in Bias' case, drug) related. Bernardini will be retired sound as a bell after EIGHT career starts. At what point do careers get so short that there's no emotional attachments?

I don't doubt his greatness. I've seen it live in person 4 times now. But barring injury, i want to see at least an ATTEMPT at a 4yo career.
  #6  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:05 AM
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King Glorious King Glorious is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philcski
KG these examples you give were all injury (or in Bias' case, drug) related. Bernardini will be retired sound as a bell after EIGHT career starts. At what point do careers get so short that there's no emotional attachments?

I don't doubt his greatness. I've seen it live in person 4 times now. But barring injury, i want to see at least an ATTEMPT at a 4yo career.
I agree. I want to see it too but not to PROVE his greatness but to just enjoy it over and over. I'm already of the opinion that he's one of the greatest talents that I've ever seen. The only thing I was pointing out was that it doesn't take a prolonged career in order to show brilliance. When it's there, it's usually there from the start. Those examples I gave were to say that it can be there after six races as easily as it can be there after 26. Doesn't take away from the disappointment of not getting to see it longer though. But I don't think a horse's greatness is determined by decisions that an owner makes about where to race him and for how long. Those decisions have nothing to do with his actual ability.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
  #7  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:07 AM
Gander Gander is offline
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Discreet Cat would get dusted by Bernardini. If Wanderin Boy was running against the same horses Discreet Cat has been beating up on, he too would look like a monster. Gimmee a break. A horse that runs 4 times a year shouldnt even be talked about until he runs in a race with meaning.
  #8  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:10 AM
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Cajungator26 Cajungator26 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gander
Discreet Cat would get dusted by Bernardini. If Wanderin Boy was running against the same horses Discreet Cat has been beating up on, he too would look like a monster. Gimmee a break. A horse that runs 4 times a year shouldnt even be talked about until he runs in a race with meaning.
And how is that different than the types of fields Bernardini has been facing? LMAO

And why run Discreet Cat in the DWC instead of Bernardini? Makes no sense to me... especially if the Sheik's don't care about the $$.
  #9  
Old 10-12-2006, 12:31 PM
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ateamstupid ateamstupid is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gander
Discreet Cat would get dusted by Bernardini. If Wanderin Boy was running against the same horses Discreet Cat has been beating up on, he too would look like a monster. Gimmee a break. A horse that runs 4 times a year shouldnt even be talked about until he runs in a race with meaning.
I'd be careful about that one. I'm as big a Bernardini fan as anyone, but DC may end up being better.. Seriously.
  #10  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
I agree. I want to see it too but not to PROVE his greatness but to just enjoy it over and over. I'm already of the opinion that he's one of the greatest talents that I've ever seen. The only thing I was pointing out was that it doesn't take a prolonged career in order to show brilliance. When it's there, it's usually there from the start. Those examples I gave were to say that it can be there after six races as easily as it can be there after 26. Doesn't take away from the disappointment of not getting to see it longer though. But I don't think a horse's greatness is determined by decisions that an owner makes about where to race him and for how long. Those decisions have nothing to do with his actual ability.
I agree with that. It's just that IMO, if he doesn't win the BCC, who has he faced all season long? I'm sure that some people will look at his last race as the telling race of his career. He really hasn't had much competition this whole time (although it's not his fault.)
  #11  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:11 AM
Bold Brooklynite
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
While it would be disappointing, I don't think it has any effect on how good or great Bernardini is as a horse. If u think he's great now, why would he need another 15-20 races to prove it? Sometimes, careers are cut short but the brilliance is still evident. In racing, think Landaluce or Ruffian. In basketball, there was Len Bias. Football had Gayle Sayers. When greatness is there, it's there whether u get to see it for five races or 50. I'm not saying whether u have to believe that Bernardini is an all-time great but what I am saying is that if he did what he's been doing for another 20 races and u would proclaim him great at that point, then the talent is there now for u to call him great because if it wasn't already there now, he wouldn't be able to do it in the future. It's my feeling that more races would only confirm further to the non-believers what the believers already know.
Your concept of "greatness" is a bit more ethereal than mine.

I believe greatness is a function of proven performance ... not of speculation on what might have been. Coulda/shoulda/woulda doesn't count.

As I said in my previous post ... all we can say about Bernardini ... and Lammtarra ... is that they had great 3YO campaigns.

They only faced the best horses available in one random year. The really, really great ones did a lot more ... they beat the best ones around in multiple years ... a much more difficult achievement.
  #12  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:12 AM
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Cajungator26 Cajungator26 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite
Your concept of "greatness" is a bit more ethereal than mine.

I believe greatness is a function of proven performance ... not of speculation on what might have been. Coulda/shoulda/woulda doesn't count.

As I said in my previous post ... all we can say about Bernardini ... and Lammtarra ... is that they had great 3YO campaigns.

They only faced the best horses available in one random year. The really, really great ones did a lot more ... they beat the best ones around in multiple years ... a much more difficult achievement.
I agree 100% with this post. Thank you for putting it into words that I couldn't...
  #13  
Old 10-12-2006, 11:39 AM
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King Glorious King Glorious is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite
Your concept of "greatness" is a bit more ethereal than mine.

I believe greatness is a function of proven performance ... not of speculation on what might have been. Coulda/shoulda/woulda doesn't count.

As I said in my previous post ... all we can say about Bernardini ... and Lammtarra ... is that they had great 3YO campaigns.

They only faced the best horses available in one random year. The really, really great ones did a lot more ... they beat the best ones around in multiple years ... a much more difficult achievement.
I can appreciate this sentiment. To an extent, I agree with u. I would call Bernardini one of the all-time greats.......but wouldn't put him in the Hall of Fame. To me, that is a place that should be reserved for those that combined accomplishments with ability and with durability. I think in order to be a hall of famer, u have to have been a champion in more than one year. But simply on ability, I think that can be seen and judged much earlier. That's not to say that I would put a horse up there after just breaking his maiden or winning some nw2x allowance but if u've demonstrated clearly that u are at the top of the game, even if it's only for one year, that's enough for me. Also, even though he might only be beating the best of this year, if he were to win the Classic, he'd be beating some of the best of multiple years. Lava Man was clearly one of the best of last year and some of the 3yo's that he's beaten this year will be among the best in coming years.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
  #14  
Old 10-12-2006, 05:10 PM
Bold Brooklynite
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
I can appreciate this sentiment. To an extent, I agree with u. I would call Bernardini one of the all-time greats.......but wouldn't put him in the Hall of Fame. To me, that is a place that should be reserved for those that combined accomplishments with ability and with durability. I think in order to be a hall of famer, u have to have been a champion in more than one year. But simply on ability, I think that can be seen and judged much earlier. That's not to say that I would put a horse up there after just breaking his maiden or winning some nw2x allowance but if u've demonstrated clearly that u are at the top of the game, even if it's only for one year, that's enough for me. Also, even though he might only be beating the best of this year, if he were to win the Classic, he'd be beating some of the best of multiple years. Lava Man was clearly one of the best of last year and some of the 3yo's that he's beaten this year will be among the best in coming years.
To me it's the reverse ...

... Hall Of Fame has a lower threshhold than "great."

It's the hall of "fame" after all ... not the hall of "greatness."
  #15  
Old 10-12-2006, 02:36 PM
JJP JJP is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
While it would be disappointing, I don't think it has any effect on how good or great Bernardini is as a horse. If u think he's great now, why would he need another 15-20 races to prove it? Sometimes, careers are cut short but the brilliance is still evident. In racing, think Landaluce or Ruffian. In basketball, there was Len Bias. Football had Gayle Sayers. When greatness is there, it's there whether u get to see it for five races or 50. I'm not saying whether u have to believe that Bernardini is an all-time great but what I am saying is that if he did what he's been doing for another 20 races and u would proclaim him great at that point, then the talent is there now for u to call him great because if it wasn't already there now, he wouldn't be able to do it in the future. It's my feeling that more races would only confirm further to the non-believers what the believers already know.
I don't think we can attach the word "brilliance" or "greatness" to Len Bias or any other top of the line college player who never plays a game in the pros. There's been too many so-called "great" college players who were anything but when they tried the next level. We'll never know if Bias would've been great, or a bust.
  #16  
Old 10-12-2006, 02:40 PM
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King Glorious King Glorious is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JJP
I don't think we can attach the word "brilliance" or "greatness" to Len Bias or any other top of the line college player who never plays a game in the pros. There's been too many so-called "great" college players who were anything but when they tried the next level. We'll never know if Bias would've been great, or a bust.
Perhaps that's true. But I've heard it from some people who's authority I greatly respect that he was the real deal.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
  #17  
Old 10-12-2006, 02:41 PM
Downthestretch55 Downthestretch55 is offline
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S2s,
I kinda understand what you're saying.
Seems to me that some folks have much more of a problem with the owners than the horse.
Maybe they're unable to make the distinction.

btw...I also hate disguised racism.
  #18  
Old 10-12-2006, 02:42 PM
blackthroatedwind blackthroatedwind is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Downthestretch55
S2s,
I kinda understand what you're saying.
Seems to me that some folks have much more of a problem with the owners than the horse.
Maybe they're unable to make the distinction.

btw...I also hate disguised racism.
You want to call me a racist too????????

Then say it to me.

The internet really makes people brave........and stupid apparently.
  #19  
Old 10-12-2006, 02:44 PM
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A Country Of Strangers

Great book, falls into these "lines" as this thread turns
  #20  
Old 10-12-2006, 02:46 PM
Downthestretch55 Downthestretch55 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind
You want to call me a racist too????????

Then say it to me.

The internet really makes people brave........and stupid apparently.
Never did I say that.
If that's what you read, go back and reread my post.
I never mentioned a name.
Am I to blame for something you thought you heard me say?
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