Algorithms, Creative Cause both retire

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

The odds aren't that crazy. It's been building to this each year.

It was 'building to this' after 18 of 19 starters from the 2011 Derby came back and ran this year?

In fact, a total of 31 horses made appearances in at least 1 of the 2011 Triple Crown races... 27 have run in 2012. Only Archarcharch (KD), Dance City (PS), Flashpoint (PS) and Prime Cut (BS) failed to come back to run in 2012.

[Linny]

I read last week that Flashpoint is being brought out of retirement.

This year has been very strange. Obviously Paynter nearly died and has an excuse if he never runs again, but Matz told me point blank that he disagreed with the retirement of Union Rags and it seems that several others were chewed up by the Pletcher juggernaut. I find it hard to believe that in this market there is a huge demand for most of these colts at stud.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Linny

I read last week that Flashpoint is being brought out of retirement.

This year has been very strange. Obviously Paynter nearly died and has an excuse if he never runs again, but Matz told me point blank that he disagreed with the retirement of Union Rags and it seems that several others were chewed up by the Pletcher juggernaut. I find it hard to believe that in this market there is a huge demand for most of these colts at stud.

there might not be a huge demand. but is it still more profitable for an owner for many of these compared to staying in training, and the expenses of racing? i wonder how many mares covered/stud fee makes it the better choice as far as bottom line.

[OldDog]

This was in DRF a few weeks ago

http://www.drf.com/news/injuries-tak...year-old-stars

Research into a decade’s worth of Triple Crown hopefuls and competitors shows that this crop actually has not lost a radically high number of horses before autumn. But the fact that nearly all the class’s most talented horses have fallen has invigorated discussion about the sturdiness of the modern Thoroughbred and the toll caused by the Triple Crown season.

Though not by an extreme amount, the rate of 3-year-old attrition in 2012 is on pace to be the highest in at least a decade, and the temptation is to fit the situation into what has become a common racing narrative – the demise of the Thoroughbred. Horses aren’t as tough as they used to be, this line of thinking goes. Drugs have weakened the breed. But it’s hard to pin the 2012 burnout rate on any one factor, and statistics from the last decade don’t even strongly support the idea that this is anything more than an especially unfortunate year.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Kasept

It was 'building to this' after 18 of 19 starters from the 2011 Derby came back and ran this year?

In fact, a total of 31 horses made appearances in at least 1 of the 2011 Triple Crown races... 27 have run in 2012. Only Archarcharch (KD), Dance City (PS), Flashpoint (PS) and Prime Cut (BS) failed to come back to run in 2012.

definitely an odd year, thankfully. i'm not getting why some of the recent retirees weren't considered for next year. i wonder if next years bc site has something to do with it? the bc is a big goal for many, are they not as interested because of ca being chosen again? might be worth some research to see if west coast bc's have a higher instance of people skipping compared to other sites.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Kasept

It was 'building to this' after 18 of 19 starters from the 2011 Derby came back and ran this year?

In fact, a total of 31 horses made appearances in at least 1 of the 2011 Triple Crown races... 27 have run in 2012. Only Archarcharch (KD), Dance City (PS), Flashpoint (PS) and Prime Cut (BS) failed to come back to run in 2012.

I stand corrected. I guess it was more of just a feeling that many of the top ones from each class are going down more often than they used to. Even from the Derby starters from last year, with 18 of 19 coming back this year, that doesn't talk about the fact that a few of them missed the second half of the year, including the the top three from the race.