Definition of "Sporting"...

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Jess Jackson is more sporting than the other big owners.

Why did Darley have to retire Bernardini? Do they need the stud money?

Jackson is like the only guy who runs his horses and I will be VERY surprised if she is not running at 4.

Agree - Bernardini, Hard Spun and Street Sense all being retired is very unsporty!

[Bobby Fischer]

you guys are ruining the saintly image I have of these owners

[Ogygian]

I forgot another example of "sporting"...Steve giving out outstanding handicapping advice, posting his "Plays" for all to see and being happy when others hit, even though it may have reduced his own winnings. Now thats "sporting".

[Danzig]

jess jackson isn't my favorite person...but i don't care why he bought rachel. i wanted to see her take on colts, and she did. his motives mean nothing to me at this point. at least he did what her original owners would not, test her. it certainly hasn't hurt-that along with mine that bird/calvin in the derby has done a lot for racing and p.r. in the last few weeks.

the only thing bothering me at this point is the call by some to retire rachel. i wish they'd stfu already. we get a good horse, and people want her gone. we need less of that thinking, not more.

[Linny]

He bought the filly for $10m and paid $100k to nominate her. He won about $660k on Saturday. How is that GREED? He could have bought her and won the Acorn or Mother Goose or CCAOaks. He chose to put HIS filly in a spot where she would be challenged. Is that not the point of racing at the highest level? Is that not why we complain when connections duck the tough spots?

He may crave the attention and the spotlight but he is paying very good money for it.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Linny

He bought the filly for $10m and paid $100k to nominate her. He won about $660k on Saturday. How is that GREED? He could have bought her and won the Acorn or Mother Goose or CCAOaks. He chose to put HIS filly in a spot where she would be challenged. Is that not the point of racing at the highest level? Is that not why we complain when connections duck the tough spots?

He may crave the attention and the spotlight but he is paying very good money for it.

Well said.

The original post is so ridiculous, I don't know where to start. So far he's minus-$9,572,000 on the Rachel Alexandra deal, gave us one of the great Preaknesses in recent memory, brought tremendous exposure and interest to racing, and this is ... greed?

Say what you will about Jackson, but don't just say anything. Jeez.

[eajinabi]

Lava Man - Gelding
Evening Attire - Gelding
Funny Cide - Gelding

Giving up your balls for the sport is what I call SPORTING

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Well said.

The original post is so ridiculous, I don't know where to start. So far he's minus-$9,572,000 on the Rachel Alexandra deal, gave us one of the great Preaknesses in recent memory, brought tremendous exposure and interest to racing, and this is ... greed?

Say what you will ab but don't just say anything. Jeez.

No actually he is not out anything as the horse as an asset is more valuable after winning the Preakness than before. Greed has nothing to do with his purchase. Ego is the only reason. The biggest problem that most people in the business have with Jackson is that he has hardly been successful in the business. The fact that he has enough money to buy ready made horses like Curlin or RA does not prove that he knows more than everyone else does as he asserts during his "lectures" on the business or breeding. Who is his best horse that wasnt bought after a 15 or 20 length win? The truth is that guys like this get involved to fulfill their egos. If Jess Jackson doesnt buy RA or Curlin he is just another fairly anonymous billionaire. Instead he gets an interview with Bob Costas on national tv and is called a great sportsman by the sheep who follow racing. I am not saying that any of this is a negative for the sport but lets call him what he is, an egotistical billionaire who loves the spotlight.

[Linny]

Clearly Jackson loves the spotlight and has the money to but stock that will keep him there.
IfsRA really worth$10M (or was she 2 weeks ago)? Realistically, she is by a young sire with no BMS record. Her family is solid but hardly glamourous. If Jackson chooses to race the offspring she produces, that slims the margin even more as a Curlin X Rachel Alexandra page would certainly draw a big price. Sure she's "priceless" now but had she not run in or won the Preakness, not exactly.

He is like many rich men (and women) who buy what they want whether a racehorse or work of art or a rare gem. They want it because they want something that is one of a kind. When Samuel Riddle was offered a million dollars for Man O' War (a rare sum in the 20's, certainly for a horse) he said (I paraphrase) "Many men have a million dollars, only I have Man O' War." That sums it up.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I am not saying that any of this is a negative for the sport but lets call him what he is, an egotistical billionaire who loves the spotlight.

Which is pretty much what I said. He's obviously an egomaniac, but to call what he did w/RA and Curlin "greedy" and "unsportsmanlike" is scary dumb.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Agree - Bernardini, Hard Spun and Street Sense all being retired is very unsporty!

At least those three made some sense. What the hell did they retire Henny Hughes for? McLaughlin was going to run him in the Met Mile and then see if he could stretch out from there. Could have added to his value a ton.

[randallscott35]

It's a word choice as Dahoss said....When someone supplements and wants to run and belongs there, like she did, then I hope they get paid. I want to see horses run, not screw. He didn't have to run Curlin in the Classic and he did. I'm glad Curlin got Horse of the Year.

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

At least those three made some sense. What the hell did they retire Henny Hughes for? McLaughlin was going to run him in the Met Mile and then see if he could stretch out from there. Could have added to his value a ton.

you are right. Instead he goes out with that dismal Breeders Cup Sprint.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

you are right. Instead he goes out with that dismal Breeders Cup Sprint.

Perhaps the fact he was limping after the race may have had something to do with it?