California Chrome's owner just blew any goodwill.

miraja2 · #1 06-07-2014, 07:58 PM

A lot of the non-horse racing people on social media seem to think he made a good argument. All of the horse racing people strenuously disagree.

I don't condemn the guy toooo much. Obviously it's a tough moment to do an interview. But if a person is going to relish all the positive media attention as much as that guy has the past few weeks, he should probably be prepared to be at least a little gracious when the media comes calling in a tough moment.

Many Others · #2 06-07-2014, 08:06 PM

He should have been more prepared, there's no situation where a No Comment won't suffice in expressing your feelings good or bad sigh...

Merlinsky · #3 06-07-2014, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

A lot of the non-horse racing people on social media seem to think he made a good argument. All of the horse racing people strenuously disagree.

I don't condemn the guy toooo much. Obviously it's a tough moment to do an interview. But if a person is going to relish all the positive media attention as much as that guy has the past few weeks, he should probably be prepared to be at least a little gracious when the media comes calling in a tough moment.

He probably would've been gracious if he'd lost the Preakness since the Derby was his big dream and it came true. Then you don't win the Preakness but you're the little guy who had a great moment. He starts feeling his media oats, all of them telling him what a great story he is, and he starts to believe the hype. Despite the story and the press, though, this just didn't have the heat behind it that Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, or even Big Brown had. I don't think it was the California-ness of it all. Didn't stop Zenyatta hype. Not sure what to blame it on, but I did notice that.

My parents were all 'yeah he's right' and have always tried to grumble that not enough horses run in all 3 races, that they ought to require participation or something. I try to tell them that's not a thing and wouldn't work, but they never get it. I told them Tonalist and Commissioner's owners would've gone in the Derby if they could've, it wasn't like they ditched it with healthy points-eligible horses.

declansharbor · #4 06-07-2014, 08:12 PM

The ol' built-in, manufactured excuse as a defense mechanism.

Salt, if you ask me.

Frost King · #5 06-07-2014, 08:15 PM

Do you really believe that the "Triple Crown Racing Gods" we're going to let him in the room?

3kings · #6 06-07-2014, 08:15 PM

I loved the horse and the story. In the end cheaply bred horse and owners.

10 pnt move up · #7 06-07-2014, 08:28 PM

The happiest people of all today are the blue blood breeders....last thing they wanted was some hick to spoil their party. I dont even know who the owners of that horse are but my guess is they are not some new shooter to the game and probably have some of that blue blood.

Coburn was awesome, sounded like lots of people I have been around at the track when their horse loses.

Left Bank · #8 06-07-2014, 08:43 PM

SO, it will be interesting to see if, after making such comments, if this crew will campaign Chrome in the other upcoming 3 year old races. Will they take on all comers at Monmouth, or Saratoga, or will they take their ball and go home to softer competition in southern California state bred races?

Danzig · #9 06-07-2014, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left Bank

SO, it will be interesting to see if, after making such comments, if this crew will campaign Chrome in the other upcoming 3 year old races. Will they take on all comers at Monmouth, or Saratoga, or will they take their ball and go home to softer competition in southern California state bred races?

Why would they do that? The horse has proven he belongs in top tier racing. Of course you race him as such.

I doubt the comments lose him much goodwill. Of course he was devastated, a lot of people say things in the heat of the moment they later regret. In his view, it used to be horses ran in all three. So, most tc winners beat the same competition three times. Would affirmed have won the Belmont over alydar had the latter skipped the Preakness? An intriguing rhetorical question..

fpsoxfan · #10 06-07-2014, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arizonadave

How many of us,as horseplayers, have said dumb things about other horses,jockeys and owners when we lose.Its part of the game.Look at some of the posts in this forum when a person loses. We are lucky that there isn't a mic stuck in our face.

Agree....I'm willing to give him a pass, it's just his argument was ridiculous.

geeker2 · #11 06-07-2014, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arizonadave

How many of us,as horseplayers, have said dumb things about other horses,jockeys and owners when we lose.Its part of the game.Look at some of the posts in this forum when a person loses. We are lucky that there isn't a mic stuck in our face.

When you get old you say sh$t..I agree he should get a pass. ..

10 pnt move up · #12 06-07-2014, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left Bank

SO, it will be interesting to see if, after making such comments, if this crew will campaign Chrome in the other upcoming 3 year old races. Will they take on all comers at Monmouth, or Saratoga, or will they take their ball and go home to softer competition in southern California state bred races?

Yea this horse has not taken on all comers to date. 3 races in 5 weeks in Ky, Md, and NY.......and now if he races back where he is from he would be ducking something?

Danzig · #13 06-07-2014, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Yea this horse has not taken on all comers to date. 3 races in 5 weeks in Ky, Md, and NY.......and now if he races back where he is from he would be ducking something?

And they ran him in the Santa Anita derby even tho they didn't need to. They're not afraid to race.

richard burch · #14 06-08-2014, 01:28 AM

i think what needs to change is that we tie all three races together as the name "triple crown" implies. it does seem strange that we only care about how many points a horse has for the derby and then totally disregard the other 2 races. by have designated horses for the triple crown it becomes more of a playoff type scenario.

what about nominating 23-25 horses that are eligible to run in any or all of the 3 races. start with 20 for he derby. there are always defections for the preakness and the next 5 can get in if they want or wait for the belmont. this would give the reserve horses rest but they also may have not run for 6 weeks so they dont get a clear fitness edge. you can still keep the weeks between them and the distances the same.

and if it ends up being a 6 horse field in the belmont so be it. secretariat and affirmed didn't have big fields to beat either.