Anyone not wanting California Chrome to win?

[TheVillageChicken]

It would be a feel good shot in the arm for lots of Americans if the little fellow can do it. In thoroughbred circles, he is already the equivalent of a cur dog winning the Westminster Dog Show and was born in California to a filly deemed nervous and a stallion dismissed as washed up. We will see what the extra length does to him. Whatever happens, he has been good for the broadcasters (NBC) as the audience size is set to break records.

[LittleLatinaWife]

I am sure he is over bet. So for sure he is not a value to bet. WICKED STRONG will win Imo.

[TheVillageChicken]

He didn't win but the interview with the flamboyant owner revealed him to be a whiney assed sore loser.

[CFrance]

Well, don't take it out on the horse! Most animals are better behaved than their owners. I know mine are.

[shcisamax]

I agree the owner was a whiney sore loser. Very poor equestrian form.

[BarryRX]

He didn't win but the interview with the flamboyant owner revealed him to be a whiney assed sore loser.

I agree. The epitome of poor sportsmanship. There's something else I don't understand. I don't watch horse racing except for special races like this one, so I really don't know anything about the sport. Here's my question. Why would a horse that ran for 2 minutes 3 weeks ago be any more "tired" than a horse that didn't run in the Preakness. Have these horses been so specialized by breeding that they are really that frail?

[ilovetv]

While Chrome's owner lashed out like a sore loser, the point was that the Triple Crown indicates by the word "triple" that it is a series of three races. Sitting out and resting the horse during the first 2 races doesn't seem like a series completion.


The Belmont Stakes is an American grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) horse race, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The race, nicknamed The Test of the Champion, is the third and final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown. It follows five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, on a Saturday between June 5 and June 11. The 1973 Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown winner Secretariat holds the mile and a half stakes record (which is also a track and world record on dirt) of 2:24.

Belmont Stakes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmont_Stakes)

[Taltarzac725]

While Chrome's owner lashed out like a sore loser, the point was that the Triple Crown indicates by the word "triple" that it is a series of three races. Sitting out and resting the horse during the first 2 races doesn't seem like a series completion.


The Belmont Stakes is an American grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) horse race, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The race, nicknamed The Test of the Champion, is the third and final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown. It follows five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, on a Saturday between June 5 and June 11. The 1973 Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown winner Secretariat holds the mile and a half stakes record (which is also a track and world record on dirt) of 2:24.

Belmont Stakes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmont_Stakes)


How many horses that competed in the Belmont this year also ran in the other legs of the Triple Crown? I would also like to know the history of other winners if they ran all three of the races?

[redwitch]

California Chrome's owner had some very valid points. This is not a new complaint -- it is just the first time it has been said so vocally and so stridently.

It is hard on a horse to train for three races that close together. These are not short jaunts for a race horse. Imagine a distance runner training for the Olympics and the World to be run within a month of each other. The chances of winning the World would be slim -- the body hasn't fully recovered from the first race. Same thing with a Triple Crown horse. Please note that none of the horses that participated in the Preakness placed in Belmont. A fresh horse has a much better chance of winning and usually does.

I'm sorry Chrome didn't win but really didn't think it had a chance. Heck, I was surprised he won the Preakness. Chrome is a small horse. Secretariat was a big boy -- more stamina, more strength but I think Chrome showed a lot for heart.

The biggest problem if Coburn's wishes were followed would be that the Belmont would be a one-horse race. Why would owners put their horses through the strain and risk of injury when only one horse would be a contender for the Triple Crown? As it was, I think only three horses participated in all three races (Chrome, General A Rod, Ride on Curlin).

Even so, I think the bigger error was on the jockey -- Chrome is a front runner and loves the inside. Espinosa needed to either keep Chrome on the rail or start moving him earlier. His excuse that Chrome didn't feel right from the beginning doesn't seem true to me -- Chrome ran great when he was told to run.

[kathy and al]

Restricting the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to only the original 20 entries in the Kentucky Derby ( which is the suggestion by the owner of Calif. Chrome) is totally wrong. The chance of that happening in the future is zero.
He was obviously a sore loser and obviously caught up in the moment.
What has so dramatically changed in the horse racing industry that we have gone 36 years without a triple crown winner yet in the 70's we had 3 triple crown winners in 6 years?? Tough question.

[BarryRX]

I just think that the toughest trophy to win in sports should only go to a super horse. For me, the beauty of the Triple Crown is that it requires both speed and endurance. Nowadays horses are mainly bred for speed alone, which makes sense because most races are shorter than The Belmont. The winning times for the 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes have been getting slower and slower. Who knows if any horse will ever break Secreteriats record of 2:24, but shouldn't a triple crown winner be able to finish within 15 lenghts (about 3 seconds) of that time? Tonalist would have been about 20 lenghts back of Big Red.

[Taltarzac725]

I just think that the toughest trophy to win in sports should only go to a super horse. For me, the beauty of the Triple Crown is that it requires both speed and endurance. Nowadays horses are mainly bred for speed alone, which makes sense because most races are shorter than The Belmont. The winning times for the 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes have been getting slower and slower. Who knows if any horse will ever break Secreteriat's record of 2:24, but shouldn't a triple crown winner be able to finish within 15 lengths (about 3 seconds) of that time? Tonalist would have been about 20 lengths back of Big Red.

https://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016464.html

Interesting statistic. 2:24. Great movie, too.

[2BNTV]

Short answer is no.

There is something special in sports, when wanting to see something happen, that only happens, every 20, 30, 40 or years years or so.

Secretariat was a great horse that won the Belmont by 26 lenghts. We won't never see that kind of performance again!!!!

CA Chrome fell short of the mark. I'm not a horserace expert, but my impression is that CA Chrome needed to get out in front on the rail, where he felt more comfortable. I think he expended a lot of energy trying to get to the outside. If he could have stayed on the rail, maybe he would have had the energy to win.

Just sayin........

[shcisamax]

It is hard on a horse to train for three races that close together. These are not short jaunts for a race horse. Imagine a distance runner training for the Olympics and the World to be run within a month of each other. The chances of winning the World would be slim -- the body hasn't fully recovered from the first race. Same thing with a Triple Crown horse. Please note that none of the horses that participated in the Preakness placed in Belmont. A fresh horse has a much better chance of winning and usually does.


So true. And that is what makes a triple crown so spectacular.

[Biker Dog]

I also believe the horses should have to have raced in the first 2 races to be eligible to race in the Belmont. That would make it a fair and true TRIPLE CROWN race.

My thoughts only.

[BarryRX]

In 1973, Big Red beat 12 horses in the Derby. He beat 6 horses in the Preakness, of which only 2 were in the Derby, and he beat 4 horses in the Belmont of which only one was in both the Derby and the Preakness and two were in the Preakness. What I see as the big difference is that California Chrome had to compete in the Belmont against 10 other horses versus the 4 other horses that Big Red had to beat. Of course, had he been able to run the Belmont in 2:24 it wouldn't have mattered how many horses were racing against him.

[kathy and al]

In 1973, Big Red beat 12 horses in the Derby. He beat 6 horses in the Preakness, of which only 2 were in the Derby, and he beat 4 horses in the Belmont of which only one was in both the Derby and the Preakness and two were in the Preakness. What I see as the big difference is that California Chrome had to compete in the Belmont against 10 other horses versus the 4 other horses that Big Red had to beat. Of course, had he been able to run the Belmont in 2:24 it wouldn't have mattered how many horses were racing against him.

Barry, whether Big Red competed against 4 horses, 11 horses, or 20 horses in the Belmont it would not have made a difference. The '73 Belmont has gone down in history as the greatest thoroughbred race ever and will continue that way forever IMHO.
We are merely comparing a really good runner (Calif. Chrome) to perhaps the greatest runner of all time.
Just boggles my mind that this owner of CC could mouth off so badly in front of the entire world at probably the worst possible time. He will come to understand that his theory is so very wrong.

[BarryRX]

Barry, whether Big Red competed against 4 horses, 11 horses, or 20 horses in the Belmont it would not have made a difference. The '73 Belmont has gone down in history as the greatest thoroughbred race ever and will continue that way forever IMHO.
We are merely comparing a really good runner (Calif. Chrome) to perhaps the greatest runner of all time.
Just boggles my mind that this owner of CC could mouth off so badly in front of the entire world at probably the worst possible time. He will come to understand that his theory is so very wrong.

I agree with you. That's why I said that if chrome had run the race in 2:24 like big red did, it wouldn't have mattered. I was just responding to the people that think the same horses should run in all three races. That didn't happen in 1973 either. Chrome is a good horse, but not great. I doubt if we will ever see the combination of great speed and great endurance that we saw in Secretariat.

[kathy and al]

I agree with you. That's why I said that if chrome had run the race in 2:24 like big red did, it wouldn't have mattered. I was just responding to the people that think the same horses should run in all three races. That didn't happen in 1973 either. Chrome is a good horse, but not great. I doubt if we will ever see the combination of great speed and great endurance that we saw in Secretariat.

I agree 100%. Thanks for the reply.

[zcaveman]

I also believe the horses should have to have raced in the first 2 races to be eligible to race in the Belmont. That would make it a fair and true TRIPLE CROWN race.

My thoughts only.

I agree with you.

Which means that only the top 10 (or is it 12) in NASCAR should run in the last race for the championship.

I think they do it for golf and the Million dollar prize at the end of the golf year. Only the winners play. But I could be wrong. Nothing new.

Z

[Patty55]

I didn't see the race but from what I've read/heard CA Chrome was injured out of the starting gate.

To compare this "sport" to NASCAR or golf is IMO just wrong. If you push too hard in NASCAR you end up with what, a blown engine? Push too hard for the triple crown in racing you have Barbaro.

I was at the Belmont when Charismatic broke down, haven't been since, will never go back. To me the entire thing is sickening. The betting is sickening, you want to gamble put your money on a hand of cards, play a slot machine, buy a lotto ticket but don't bet on the life of a living animal.

After Barbaro was put down Bo Derek was on a talk show (maybe Larry King) and she said she'd been to the winners circle many times and the horses don't have a mark on the. You know what, maybe she should have walked a little further to the losers circle... saw the scars from pin firing, saw the bowed tendons, the horses standing in buckets of ice.

This is nothing like NASCAR or golf.

[CFrance]

I didn't see the race but from what I've read/heard CA Chrome was injured out of the starting gate.

To compare this "sport" to NASCAR or golf is IMO just wrong. If you push too hard in NASCAR you end up with what, a blown engine? Push too hard for the triple crown in racing you have Barbaro.

I was at the Belmont when Charismatic broke down, haven't been since, will never go back. To me the entire thing is sickening. The betting is sickening, you want to gamble put your money on a hand of cards, play a slot machine, buy a lotto ticket but don't bet on the life of a living animal.

After Barbaro was put down Bo Derek was on a talk show (maybe Larry King) and she said she'd been to the winners circle many times and the horses don't have a mark on the. You know what, maybe she should have walked a little further to the losers circle... saw the scars from pin firing, saw the bowed tendons, the horses standing in buckets of ice.

This is nothing like NASCAR or golf.
Well said. Thank you. The whole thing is barbaric.

[kathy and al]

I didn't see the race but from what I've read/heard CA Chrome was injured out of the starting gate.

To compare this "sport" to NASCAR or golf is IMO just wrong. If you push too hard in NASCAR you end up with what, a blown engine? Push too hard for the triple crown in racing you have Barbaro.

I was at the Belmont when Charismatic broke down, haven't been since, will never go back. To me the entire thing is sickening. The betting is sickening, you want to gamble put your money on a hand of cards, play a slot machine, buy a lotto ticket but don't bet on the life of a living animal.

After Barbaro was put down Bo Derek was on a talk show (maybe Larry King) and she said she'd been to the winners circle many times and the horses don't have a mark on the. You know what, maybe she should have walked a little further to the losers circle... saw the scars from pin firing, saw the bowed tendons, the horses standing in buckets of ice.

This is nothing like NASCAR or golf.

Patty: Your comments are right on and I was about to post exactly the same thing as it pertains to comparing NASCAR, golf, or any other sport to horse racing. Since Sat. we've been hearing all of the comments of mostly non-going track people who compare the rules and regulations of horse racing to any other sport. Sorry, can't happen.
I assume from the terms that you use in your post that you have experience in the thoroughbred racing industry and your comments are well taken. However I believe horse racing is here to stay for a long while--as is NASCAR, golf, baseball, basketball and football.

[Taltarzac725]

I didn't see the race but from what I've read/heard CA Chrome was injured out of the starting gate.

To compare this "sport" to NASCAR or golf is IMO just wrong. If you push too hard in NASCAR you end up with what, a blown engine? Push too hard for the triple crown in racing you have Barbaro.

I was at the Belmont when Charismatic broke down, haven't been since, will never go back. To me the entire thing is sickening. The betting is sickening, you want to gamble put your money on a hand of cards, play a slot machine, buy a lotto ticket but don't bet on the life of a living animal.

After Barbaro was put down Bo Derek was on a talk show (maybe Larry King) and she said she'd been to the winners circle many times and the horses don't have a mark on the. You know what, maybe she should have walked a little further to the losers circle... saw the scars from pin firing, saw the bowed tendons, the horses standing in buckets of ice.

This is nothing like NASCAR or golf.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_(horse)

Good to hear about your experience at the Belmont. It looks like the jockey saved Charismatic's life by holding him back.

[zcaveman]

I didn't see the race but from what I've read/heard CA Chrome was injured out of the starting gate.

To compare this "sport" to NASCAR or golf is IMO just wrong. If you push too hard in NASCAR you end up with what, a blown engine? Push too hard for the triple crown in racing you have Barbaro.

I was at the Belmont when Charismatic broke down, haven't been since, will never go back. To me the entire thing is sickening. The betting is sickening, you want to gamble put your money on a hand of cards, play a slot machine, buy a lotto ticket but don't bet on the life of a living animal.

After Barbaro was put down Bo Derek was on a talk show (maybe Larry King) and she said she'd been to the winners circle many times and the horses don't have a mark on the. You know what, maybe she should have walked a little further to the losers circle... saw the scars from pin firing, saw the bowed tendons, the horses standing in buckets of ice.

This is nothing like NASCAR or golf.

My comment had nothing to do with comparing horse racing to NASCAR or GOLF. I was merely agreeing with a comment by Biker Dog that the horses in the triple crown should have to race in all legs of the triple crown. Winning the last leg without racing in the other two is like putting in a spoiler in the race.

Z

[Patty55]

My comment had nothing to do with comparing horse racing to NASCAR or GOLF. I was merely agreeing with a comment by Biker Dog that the horses in the triple crown should have to race in all legs of the triple crown. Winning the last leg without racing in the other two is like putting in a spoiler in the race.

Z

This is not directed at you, just my opinion.

Maybe instead of worrying about setting records and who is a "spoiler" the focus should be on the well being of the animal.

I could be wrong, but I believe that the last match race was Ruffian's. I don't think it was outlawed, it just isn't done.

Currently, you must win all three races to win the triple crown. So, how would this work? You don't win the first two so you scratch the Belmont rather than risk your horse. I'm not getting this.

[zcaveman]

This is not directed at you, just my opinion.

Maybe instead of worrying about setting records and who is a "spoiler" the focus should be on the well being of the animal.

I could be wrong, but I believe that the last match race was Ruffian's. I don't think it was outlawed, it just isn't done.

Currently, you must win all three races to win the triple crown. So, how would this work? You don't win the first two so you scratch the Belmont rather than risk your horse. I'm not getting this.

Churchill is all qualifiers. Preakness is the best 15. Belmont is the best 10. Winner is the winner. If he wins all three he is the triple crown winner. If not, we don't have a triple crown winner.

It is a matter of elimination.

Z

[kathy and al]

Churchill is all qualifiers. Preakness is the best 15. Belmont is the best 10. Winner is the winner. If he wins all three he is the triple crown winner. If not, we don't have a triple crown winner.

It is a matter of elimination.

Z

Although your theory may be correct I believe under this system you would probably have a Belmont field of maybe 3 or 4 runners. Due to a number of reasons all horses from the Derby might not run (or want to run) in the Preakness and not all horses from the Preakness would wind up attempting a 1 1/2 mile race in NY.
As I mentioned in a previous post I am sure that the current structure for triple crown entries will be in place for a long period of time. Just my opinion.

[Patty55]

And with this scenario, the purses would be nothing, wagering would be down-everybody loves a longshot. Maybe we could turn it into bragging rights contest-that would work for me, my distaste for the "sport" is when the money comes into it.