Forde and the Ragozin guys weigh in on changing the Triple Crown

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't think that a one year reprieve should take away from the obvious need for change. Some people thought that 2007 with Curlin and Hard Spun racing in all three races and still finishing the year strong was proof that it can be done. Of course it CAN be done but the question is IS it being done? More often than not, it's not. And even in that year, Rags ran in the Belmont and only ran once more. Then we got last year and Big Brown wasn't able to finish out the year and another maiden winner won a classic for his only career stakes win. This year, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk, the Pamplemousse, and Old Fashioned (arguably four of the top six contenders going into April) didn't even get a chance to make it through the series and keep going. Another horse with just a maiden win has won the Belmont (that's four times in the past nine years). It is broke. It needs fixing.

Quite simply. I agree. Let's get away from the 100+ year old tunnel vision and improve the series.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

According to Mountaineer's track handicapper - Mine That Bird will run next in the West Virgina Derby.

[Danzig]

you're agreeing with a point that includes the statement that big brown didn't finish out the year? he raced how many more times after the belmont? now it's the t.c. series' fault that he took a chunk out of his hoof that forced him to miss the bc? exactly how many times after mid june does a horse have to run to be considered as having finished a year?

the racing isn't at fault. early retirements have far more to do with the value of the horse than the injury. they acknowledged rags could have come back, they chose to breed her instead. big brown wasn't forced into retirement, they wanted the easier money to be had from stud fees.
success in these races is what's causing retirements, not too much or too gruelling racing.
the only one of the four that's officially retired in that list of 'top contenders' is old fashioned. i want revenge and pamplemousse are on the shelf, and they say dunkirk will return-we'll see.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Danzig

you're agreeing with a point that includes the statement that big brown didn't finish out the year? he raced how many more times after the belmont? now it's the t.c. series' fault that he took a chunk out of his hoof that forced him to miss the bc? exactly how many times after mid june does a horse have to run to be considered as having finished a year?

Deb,

There's no point in trotting out reality. Never mind that Big Brown was delayed making that one start at two and then had to be put away... Never mind that he was problematic from the feet up from word go... Somehow that will be made the fault of the Triple Crown too.