Is this really a good thing?

[dean smith]

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

I understand your premise here, I do...but you're wrong in this case. The game does not need a Triple Crown winner to be it's savior. I think that needs to be put out there. In 9 out of 10 cases, if a TC winner did happen, we'd never see him again, ushered off to the shed.

IT IS GOOD FOR THE GAME WHEN THE BEST HORSES KEEP GOING TO POST.

For years, people have been clamoring for someone to actually leave their best horses in training. Someone to not duck a big race to overly coddle the horse. Over the last year, Jess Jackson, as detestable as he may be to some, left the best horse to train as a four yr old, long after his three yr old rivals, Street Sense and Hard Spun had gone home to retirement. Then, he boldy purchased Rachel Alexandra, and put her in the Preakness.

I'd rather someone like that any day of the week over a TC winner. Someone who keeps the best horses out on the track. A guy like Chip Woolley is great for the game. Ford F450 driving, broken legged cowboy, dragging his tough as nails gelding around the country in a van. He might not win a TC, but Mine That Bird is an amazing story, and a great horse. His story is not diminished because he didn't win the TC.

So, like I said, I understand your premise. I think everyone would like to see a Triple Crown winner. But, it's best for everyone that the best horses go to the post in every big race. Jess Jackson should be commended for his bold actions. Not to mention there is no guarantee the race unfolds the way it did w/out Rachel Alexandra.

OK. Now we're talking. I think everyone agrees that it's kind of discouraging to see the best horses rushed off to the breeding shed after their 3-year-old season.

So, my next question -- and keep in mind this is coming from a relatively new horse racing junkie -- is this: Why isn't a rule just made that horses cannot breed until they're 5-years-old, thus ensuring that the best either race through their fourth year or have to sit a year out? It would kind of be like the NBA's rule against going straight from high school to the pros. Both rules would be promoting better competition. There might be a shortage of mares the first few years of this rule, so maybe some kind of set of exemptions could be made, but aside from that, tell me how this would be a bad thing.

(Bracing myself for another go 'round of public scolding.)

[dean smith]

And by the way, I never said that we needed a TC winner "to save the game" or be its "savior." This is coming from you guys, who have obviously heard it time and again. I'm simply talking about the mainstream interest in the sport that increases ten-fold when the hunt for a Triple Crown is on.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dean smith

And by the way, I never said that we needed a TC winner "to save the game" or be its "savior." This is coming from you guys, who have obviously heard it time and again. I'm simply talking about the mainstream interest in the sport that increases ten-fold when the hunt for a Triple Crown is on.

Northern Dancer was the first race I watched on TV. I saw Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed/Alydar (on TV)

The Triple Crown didn't seem to interest casual non-fans until right before the last race. Just that last week or so.

People - the casual sorta fans - remember D. Wayne vs. Baffert, they loved Mrs. Gentner being hugged by Carl, they loved Afleet Alex and the Lemonade Stand, every girl with a jumping pony had a crush on Michael Matz when he first became an Olympic caliber rider - you don't need a Triple Crown.

You need something they can root for or against, that's all. They just need a little superficial knowledge readily available so they can latch onto the big public horseracing events with an opinion and an interest.

Getting them, then, to the racetrack is another thing, as they are lost there. The environment is different without a talking head telling them the story. That's where we come in, taking friends to the track.

[sumitas]

And I , as a fan , loved NY Triple Crown winner, the first in history, Tin Cup Chalice last year . What a tragic end to an inspiring story that had many more chapters to be written .

[Pedigree Ann]

It's rather sad that it took the fact that their (part-)owners are in jail and have to refund megabucks to the clients they bilked to keep two of the best older horses in training - Curlin and Einstein - beyond their 'normal' retirement ages. While Midnight Cry only retained 20% of Curlin and the majority owner (Jackson) has been allowed some leeway, Einstein is 100% owned by Midnight Cry and his net earnings go into escrow. Whether a stallion deal can be worked out for Einstein next year is entirely in the hands of the court; do they try to syndicate privately or sell him publicly at auction? Does the judge (even if he is in Kentucky) know which way would net more for the plaintiffs? Will plaintiffs who think he is worth more than they get tie him up in litigation for years?
I worry about this, because I think Einstein is the sort of stallion we need in the US - sound, versatile, and dead game. By a champion, out of a champion.