CD renames La Troienne (And now renames the Louisville La Troienne!)

[Danzig]

i heard the news while driving home; i agreed with steve that it was a dumb idea. explained to my son how it was similar to sir barton being taken away for barbaro, and that there are actually two barbaro stakes now. at any rate, i also think if they wanted to honor eight belles, fine-but not at the expense of a mare the likes of la troienne.
i'd have rather a track that saw eight belles at her best honor her with a race, rather than where she broke down.

and really, enough with the 'had she run in the oaks' crap. hindsight leads us nowhere.

[Cannon Shell]

Naming a race after a horse that brokedown and died in your biggest race without ever having done anything else particularly notable would seem to be an idiotic move. Now every year we can bring up those wonderful memories and explain to newcomers how Eight Belles snapped not one but two legs after getting beat in the Derby. I mean there is just SO much upside to doing this. Hell the connections aren't even locals that they are pandering to.

I know the names of stakes races is not that important in the grand scheme of things but IMO this is not a particularly smart move.

[Linny]

Honestly, I always thought that the La Troienne should be run at KEE because she was a great broodmare and I think of KEE as a "breeders track." Maybe KEE and the Lexington elite will adopt the name.

[joeydb]

I agree with Steve's comments yesterday about this, and the discarding of our history in this sport. Not a good idea.

But even more, I doubt the wisdom of renaming a stakes on Derby Day. Which is more likely: a reverent reflection on Eight Belles and acknowledgement of her legacy or just an "Oh my God...I remember that...this sport is so cruel to horses" type of impulse from the casual race watcher on TV?

I don't think it was a smart thing to link it to Derby Day, regardless of whether it was a renaming in place of La Troienne or if it were a new stakes. It's like renaming the Daytona 500 the "Dale Earnhardt 500". It's not a good idea to remind everyone of the tragedies that are unavoidable in the sport.

BTW I liked Earnhardt -- rest in peace, but you guys see the point I'm trying to make.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by joeydb

I agree with Steve's comments yesterday about this, and the discarding of our history in this sport. Not a good idea.

But even more, I doubt the wisdom of renaming a stakes on Derby Day. Which is more likely: a reverent reflection on Eight Belles and acknowledgement of her legacy or just an "Oh my God...I remember that...this sport is so cruel to horses" type of impulse from the casual race watcher on TV?

I don't think it was a smart thing to link it to Derby Day, regardless of whether it was a renaming in place of La Troienne or if it were a new stakes. It's like renaming the Daytona 500 the "Dale Earnhardt 500". It's not a good idea to remind everyone of the tragedies that are unavoidable in the sport.

BTW I liked Earnhardt -- rest in peace, but you guys see the point I'm trying to make.

I do see your point and agree 100%

[justindew]

How much time went by before the creation of The Go For Wand and The Ruffian?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by justindew

How much time went by before the creation of The Go For Wand and The Ruffian?

The difference is that those horses were major stakes winners on the NY circuit and Hall of fame horses who rightfully should have had races named for them. Eight Belles claim to fame is she broke her legs.

[Echo Farm]

Originally Posted by justindew

How much time went by before the creation of The Go For Wand and The Ruffian?

The Ruffian Handicap was created the year after Ruffian's death, 1976. It doesn't appear that it was a renamed race.

The Go For Wand, like the races for Eight Belles and Barbaro, was a renamed race. The Maskette , named for a HOF filly, was renamed For Go For Wand, 2 years after her death. At least Go For Wand had previously won the Maskette, which gives some connection.