Great Preakness -- hopefully the start of a great seasonal rivalry

[King Glorious]

I was too young and not even into racing when the last three TC winners ran so I can only go by what I've read. All three were highly regarded horses prior to the Derby, hardly surprises. Not the same with I'll Have Another. Maybe it doesn't make sense but if a horse is going to become immortalized by winning the TC, I want it to be a star and this horse doesn't fit that for me. Not saying he's not a good horse because he is and there hasn't been anything lucky about his wins. He's deserved them and if he wins the Belmont, he'll deserve that too. It just bothers me that in the future, he'll be looked at as one of the sport’s greats because of the accomplishment and people won't take the time to understand that circumstances and timing often play a bigger role in making history than actual ability. People will remember I'll Have Another before Alysheba ,Sunday Silence, Risen Star, Point Given, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and others. For that silly reason, I want him to lose.

[Grey Lag]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I was too young and not even into racing when the last three TC winners ran so I can only go by what I've read. All three were highly regarded horses prior to the Derby, hardly surprises. Not the same with I'll Have Another. Maybe it doesn't make sense but if a horse is going to become immortalized by winning the TC, I want it to be a star and this horse doesn't fit that for me. Not saying he's not a good horse because he is and there hasn't been anything lucky about his wins. He's deserved them and if he wins the Belmont, he'll deserve that too. It just bothers me that in the future, he'll be looked at as one of the sport’s greats because of the accomplishment and people won't take the time to understand that circumstances and timing often play a bigger role in making history than actual ability. People will remember I'll Have Another before Alysheba ,Sunday Silence, Risen Star, Point Given, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and others. For that silly reason, I want him to lose.

By that logic there will never be another deserving TC winner since horses don't have anything like the schedules that Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed had as two and three year olds. Horses today don't race enough prior to the triple crown races to compile a resume like those horses. Secretariat had 12 races prior to the Kentucky Derby.

If I'll Have Another wins the Belmont Stakes he will have won 4 Grade I and 1 Grade II races this year while only a couple of other 3-year-olds have even won a single GI.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I was too young and not even into racing when the last three TC winners ran so I can only go by what I've read. All three were highly regarded horses prior to the Derby, hardly surprises. Not the same with I'll Have Another. Maybe it doesn't make sense but if a horse is going to become immortalized by winning the TC, I want it to be a star and this horse doesn't fit that for me. Not saying he's not a good horse because he is and there hasn't been anything lucky about his wins. He's deserved them and if he wins the Belmont, he'll deserve that too. It just bothers me that in the future, he'll be looked at as one of the sport’s greats because of the accomplishment and people won't take the time to understand that circumstances and timing often play a bigger role in making history than actual ability. People will remember I'll Have Another before Alysheba ,Sunday Silence, Risen Star, Point Given, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and others. For that silly reason, I want him to lose.

I once shared that mindset, for various ridiculous reasons. I even rooted against Alysheba, the first horse I ever saw with a chance to win the TC, in the Belmont because I didn't think he was worthy. In fact, Sunday Silence and Silver Charm were about the only two possible Triple Crown winners that I believed were worthy.

Our sport is battered and bruised. It has gone the way of boxing, and most Americans care little about it. It desperately needs something that makes it relevant to most Americans, even if for a short time. A Triple Crown winner will provide that relevancy.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

I once shared that mindset, for various ridiculous reasons. I even rooted against Alysheba, the first horse I ever saw with a chance to win the TC, in the Belmont because I didn't think he was worthy. In fact, Sunday Silence and Silver Charm were about the only two possible Triple Crown winners that I believed were worthy.

Our sport is battered and bruised. It has gone the way of boxing, and most Americans care little about it. It desperately needs something that makes it relevant to most Americans, even if for a short time. A Triple Crown winner will provide that relevancy.

Wonder how many folks will be saying that if the horse somehow wins the Belmont and is retired by year's end.

[OldDog]

I'll Have Another is reminding me a bit of Charismatic, in that no one gave him much respect until he won the Preakness. I'll Have Another will likely be a huge favorite in the Belmont. With whom will you bet against him?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Wonder how many folks will be saying that if the horse somehow wins the Belmont and is retired by year's end.

He said "if even for a short time."

The fighting about whether we can cheer for the horse is a microcosm of why racing has been relagated to the same popularity level as cycling.

[slotdirt]

Folks can cheer for whatever horse or connections they want. I'll be rooting against it, but if the horse wins on the 9th, my life won't be effected one way or the other.