I'll Have Another injured, withdrawn, retired..

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Dear ateamstupid : There is a huge difference here between the fan who will tune-in or come to Belmont on Saturday afternoon and the fans like those here on Derby Trail that will show up on next Wednesday.

The casual fan will see the oversight that the industry applies in making sure that these horses are properly handled and prepared. By "industry", the casual fan has no idea what the "NYSRWB" might be, but the casual fan will know that the trainer is responsible for the horse - and that the trainer, owner, and other principles made the call in favor of an injured horse as opposed to chasing a title. That will be positively received by the casual fan.

The casual fan doesn't give two craps about racing unless the Triple Crown is on the line or a horse breaks down, so yes, it's a benefit that I'll Have Another didn't run hurt, but they'll just pay attention to something else now. The detention barn nonsense cast a pall over the race that didn't need to be there and although I'm sure it had nothing to do with the injury itself, it was a ridiculous precedent to set and a decision likely made in deference to the Times hit-pieces that have somehow managed to mold the racing narrative in the past year. The good will engendered by IHA living to see another day is negligible at best in the eyes of most, who are made to believe more and more every day that the sport is completely corrupt and teeming with cheaters.