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TheBigCat
06-09-08, 07:25 AM
Another year with no triple crown winner. It's been what, 29 years since Affirmed won?
Another year with no triple crown winner. It's been what, 29 years since Affirmed won?
30 years now... here's the list of the 11 horses that have won the Triple Crown.
1919: Sir Barton
1930: Gallant Fox
1935: Omaha
1937: War Admiral
1941: Whirlaway
1943: Count Fleet
1946: Assault
1948: Citation
1973: Secretariat
1977: Seattle Slew
1978: Affirmed
MaxPower
06-09-08, 05:51 PM
Big Brown only finished last because the jockey pulled him out...so it's a bit misleading.
Though the assbag that is the owner will probably have both jockey & horse shot....
I've heard some people say the race was fixed...
TheBigCat
06-10-08, 06:27 AM
Just because people say...
I'll freely admit I know nothing about horse racing other than I watch the Triple Crown races. Even then, I only watch the races themselves and watch very little of the hype.
That said... to a casual fan (me), if I believed in horse races being fixed, then that's what I think it would look like. I'm not saying it was or wasn't, just that it believably looked that way. Add in the fact that they could find nothing wrong with Big Brown and the winner was a 38-1 longshot. There's a whole lot of cash involved here and whoever had money on the winner made some serious bank.
Big Brown trainer Dutrow pins blame on jockey
By RACHEL COHEN – 6 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. still blames Kent Desormeaux for Big Brown's stunning last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, but he wouldn't object to the jockey riding the horse in his next race.
The decision of whether to change jockeys is up to co-owner Michael Iavarone, Dutrow said.
"I don't want to hurt anyone, especially Kent," Dutrow told The Associated Press on Tuesday morning in his barn at Aqueduct. "But I still don't understand what happened. I don't see the horse with a problem, so I have to direct my attention toward the ride. That's all I can come up with."
With Big Brown trying to become the first Triple Crown champion in 30 years after dominant wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Desormeaux eased up the unbeaten colt with a quarter-mile remaining in the Belmont on Saturday.
"I had no horse. He was empty," Desormeaux said after the race.
Dutrow insisted Tuesday he had found nothing wrong with Big Brown.
"Maybe next week if something starts going wrong with the horse, then I'll understand everything," he said.
Dutrow added: "As long as the horse stays the way that I see him right now, then things are just going to keep building up for me to know that it was the ride that did him in."
He said he hadn't spoken to Desormeaux, but "if he calls me I'll talk to him, sure."
If Big Brown is healthy, the plan is for him to run next in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.
Dutrow had no regrets about his bombastic proclamation that Big Brown clinching the Triple Crown was a "foregone conclusion."
"It's not like I'm going to go and cry in the corner," he said as he prepared for several of his horses to run Wednesday at Belmont. "I've got plenty to do here."
SOURCE (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gVoj6RrE9xDnKeSI5hw3-2XbK-ewD917FRBG0)
TheBigCat
06-11-08, 10:37 AM
Desormeaux said something in another interview about the horse quit 1/4 mile before he did.
Sorry to borrow from motorsports for my metaphores, but you got to understand that he's a good enough jockey to know when the horse didn't have anything in the tank, so he took his foot off. Since doping tests are routine, I just figure that Big Brown was having the equine equivalent of an off day.
I've heard alot of people saying "he just had an off day"... it still looks suspicious though.
On the surface, the trainer looks to just be laming blame on anyone but himself, but that doesn't mean he isn't right.
Warthawg1
06-12-08, 06:21 PM
As one who has been around horses all my life, I feel pretty good about putting forth the comment that they are fickle creatures.
That doesn't mean there isn't more to the story as horse owners and horse trainers can easily bet on or against their own entries, but horses can be a bit moody.
I've been horseback riding maybe a dozen times in my life... I do not claim to be an expert by any means but riding was always something I took to like a fish in water. With what little knowledge I do have though... I agree, them damned horses can be fickle as hell!!
Warthawg1
06-12-08, 07:03 PM
You should try being on the back of a horse on the side of a mountain in the Shenendoah valley when a black bear suddenly appears on the path in front of you. Then you can really appreciate the fact that a horse doing what you want is his or her choice... not yours.
jamiept
06-12-08, 07:11 PM
THey also were mentioning that Big Brown had historically been on steroids (perfectly legal), but they took him off of them a month before the Belmont
THey also were mentioning that Big Brown had historically been on steroids (perfectly legal), but they took him off of them a month before the Belmont
I remember that being mentioned, although I never heard a good explanation as to why they didn't give the shot on the 15th like they normally would have... nor do I know what effect not getting the shot may have had on the horse.
You should try being on the back of a horse on the side of a mountain in the Shenendoah valley when a black bear suddenly appears on the path in front of you. Then you can really appreciate the fact that a horse doing what you want is his or her choice... not yours.
Understatement of the year.
Jockey hurt, horse euthanized at Churchill Downs
4 hours ago
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan received minor injuries and his horse, Vinstar, was euthanized after the horse took a spill Saturday during the first race at Churchill Downs.
Bridgmohan was taken to a Louisville hospital, but had no broken bones or serious injuries, an agent for the jockey said.
According to a statement from Churchill Downs, the 29-year-old jockey was dropped near the sixteenth pole in the six-furlong sprint when the horse appeared to take a bad step.
Bridgmohan, who rode Pyro to eighth place in this year's Kentucky Derby, appeared to be kicked by a trailing horse as he rolled under the rail.
Dr. Lafe Nichols, the state veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, said Vinstar had to be euthanized after suffering sesamoid fractures in both front legs and a dislocated right front fetlock.
The 3-year-old son of Vindication was owned by Stonestreet Stable and trained by Steve Asmussen.
A second horse was euthanized in the fourth race, according the Courier-Journal.
Naughty Fu Peg was given a lethal injection after fracturing the knee of his right foreleg during the race, the newspaper reported Saturday. The 3-year-old gelding was trained by Tim Burton for owner Sano Park.
A recent Associated Press survey found that thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. reported more than three horse deaths a day last year and 5,000 since 2003, and the vast majority were put down after suffering devastating injuries on the track.
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2008/06/23/bigbrownx-large.jpg
TheBigCat
06-27-08, 04:11 AM
What exactly are we looking at? I mean, besides a close-up of the horse's right rear hoof. For those of us not named James Herriot.
A loose shoe. Ya see how it's kinda hanging there?
I've heard 2 sides to this story... some people are using the loose shoe as the reason why Big Brown did so bad in the Belmont Stakes, while others are saying it shouldn't have made a difference.
Warthawg1
06-27-08, 04:40 PM
It really shouldn't have a made a difference physically, but it could have made a difference mentally. Physically there was no damage found to the hoof and therefore there really shouldn't have been much of a problem.
Mentally, it could have felt strange to BBrown and caused him to not go full out on it.
MaxPower
06-27-08, 04:46 PM
They run these 3 races (the triple crown ones) so close to eachother and the longest one is the last one. And you know, being the front runner, they're gonna work that poor horse. I agree with the "fickle" theory. I wouldn't put it past the horse that he just said, in his own horse way, "F-you. I ain't doing it today!".
That being said, I do not think they should give the horses more time in between races. If they are gonna be a triple crown champ they gonna hafta earn it.
MaxPower
06-27-08, 05:22 PM
I politely disagree. I think you'd get a better judge of caliber by getting each horse to run at it's prime.
If it was something starting up brand new, I may agree with your stance, but I am looking at the tradition of the Triple Crown. If you start giving horses more time now, then they will never be viewed on the same level as all the ones before.
MaxPower
06-27-08, 05:59 PM
But if you take away the steriods...like they should....then it's going to be completely different anyway.
You think they gave horses steroids back in the early 1900's?
I agree... ban the steroids... but do not change the 5 week format for the Triple Crown races.
TheBigCat
06-27-08, 06:55 PM
Were Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed on steroids?
I have no idea. I know very little about horse racing...
People keep forgetting... and this relates to all steroids in sports... the guys who do good on steroids, were competing against other people on steroids! :D
I've heard reports that it's more a problem of the label of steroids than it is a problem of actual harm to the horses.
Bottom line, there should not be a knee-jerk reaction. There should be thorough investigation into the matter.
sarahcan6
07-02-08, 09:25 AM
30 years now... here's the list of the 11 horses that have won the Triple Crown.
1919: Sir Barton
1930: Gallant Fox
1935: Omaha
1937: War Admiral
1941: Whirlaway
1943: Count Fleet
1946: Assault
1948: Citation
1973: Secretariat
1977: Seattle Slew
1978: Affirmed
hey nice list :Hippy:
Kelly Leak captures Sunland Derby
Sunland Park, NM (Sports Network) - Kelly Leak, ridden by Mike Smith, took the lead at the top of the stretch and went on to win Sunday's $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park. The three-year-old colt covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.02 on a fast track.
Kelly Leak was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the 12-horse field, the largest ever for the Sunland Derby. Morning-line favorite Mayor Marv and Advice were both 9-2 when the gates opened.
Setting the pace was Santamonicacanyon with Mayor Marv to his outside. Running in third was Valid Stripes followed closely by Mythical Power and Dumar.
Up the backstretch, Santamonicacanyon and Mayor Marv continued to battle for the lead with Mine That Bird, Mythical Power and Kelly Leak tracking the leaders.
Around the turn for home it was Santamonicacanyon on the inside with Mayor Marv to his outside and Kelly Leak three wide. Coming out of the turn and into the stretch Kelly Leak drew even with Mayor Marv as Santamonicacanyon began to tire.
Kelly Leak took control with a furlong to run and went on to post a 1 1/4 length victory over Mythical Power. Closing for third was Scorewithcater and Mine That Bird held on for fourth.
Completing the order of finish were Advice, Dumar, Mark S the Cooler, Santamonicacanyon, Infernal, Smokin' Legend, Mayor Marv and Valid Stripes.
The win was worth $480,000 plus a $100,000 bonus. Kelly Leak, owned by Blahut Racing and others, qualified for the $100,000 because he already had earnings from graded stakes races.
Kelly Leak won the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar last August, but was disqualified to fourth. He has won three of eight starts for better than $700,000.
This year Kelly Leak was third at Gulfstream Park in the Sunshine Millions Dash and in his last start he captured an allowance race at Santa Anita. As a two-year-old following the Best Pal, he finished 10th in the Del Mar Futurity and was second twice to finish 2008.
Kelly Leak returned $6.60, $4.00 and $3.40. Mythical Power paid $7.20 and $4.80, and Scorewithcater paid $5.80 to show.
03/29 20:53:47 ET
SOURCE (http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=horse/news/news.aspx?id=4223044)
http://i43.tinypic.com/2hgda2v.jpg
Yeah, that's right... I won a horse race!!!
:rotfl:
TheBigCat
03-31-09, 06:30 AM
Isn't that Jackie Earl Haley?
*runs off to IMDb*
OMG, he's still acting. And there's a final E in his middle name, Earle. He plays Rorshach in Watchmen???
So who would name their horse after Jackie Earle Haley's character in The Bad News Bears??? And don't say Tatum O'Neal.
Who is Jackie Earle Haley? I thought that was Steve Nash as a kid. ;)
TheBigCat
03-31-09, 10:01 AM
*snicker snicker snicker*
:bump:
Kentucky Derby is today.
I got it set to record but I won't watch anything but the actual race, which lasts what, 2 mins?
Anyways... I haven't heard anything about any great horses this year who might make a run at the Triple Crown. I just hope to see a good race.
TheBigCat
05-02-09, 06:04 PM
Is Kelly Leak running?
Is Kelly Leak running?
I dunno... depends on if Tatum O'Neil and Boilermakers are involved.
I did just read that the favorite, I Want Revenge, got scratched this morning from the race for lameness in an ankle. I think the betting field is wide open at this point. Not that I am a betting man... but I am sure my boss is going wild with hers today.
Wow! That was an incredible Derby today!! What a race!!!
Mine That Bird, at 50-1 odds, came out of freakin' nowhere to win it!! From the start of the race, all the way to the final turn, they were literally riding at the back of the pack. As in, last place. Talking a 19 horse field here. Going into the first turn, they were so far back, they were even trailing the field. Back there by themselves! They were nowhere near the lead. As they were rounding the final turn, the jockey let the horse loose, dropped a gear and put that baby into overdrive! They came flying along the rail, cut to the middle to pass one horse, then right back to rail. In front was a 3 way battle for the lead and MNB made a tight squeeze by them along the railing, hauling some serious ass. By the time they got to the line, it was not even close. The 3 way battle for the lead ended up being a photo finish for 2nd.
Speaking as someone who knows very little about horse racing and watches the Triple Crown races only, as a pure sports fan, this was simply amazing. For a huge 50-1 odds underdog horse to come from riding around in last for the bulk of the race to blowing away the field at the end...
Amazing... Simply, Amazing.
:clap:
It was really great. I loved how emotional the jockey got at the end. He is so cute; reminds me a little of Smeagol. LOL
It was really great. I loved how emotional the jockey got at the end. He is so cute; reminds me a little of Smeagol. LOL
Oh, I didn't watch any of that mess lol... I don't need to see a bunch of people sitting around crying because their horse won. Some of these people that are involved in this kind of racing are insane. Completely out of their freakin' gourds. :crazy:
merry slug
05-03-09, 12:47 AM
ZMOG I forgot! I think this is the first year in I-don't-know-how-long that I've missed the KD.
Who won????
eta: oop - thanks Tater! Maybe it'll be on YouTube??
Wow! That was an incredible Derby today!! What a race!!!
Mine That Bird, at 50-1 odds, came out of freakin' nowhere to win it!! From the start of the race, all the way to the final turn, they were literally riding at the back of the pack. As in, last place. Talking a 19 horse field here. Going into the first turn, they were so far back, they were even trailing the field. Back there by themselves! They were nowhere near the lead. As they were rounding the final turn, the jockey let the horse loose, dropped a gear and put that baby into overdrive! They came flying along the rail, cut to the middle to pass one horse, then right back to rail. In front was a 3 way battle for the lead and MNB made a tight squeeze by them along the railing, hauling some serious ass. By the time they got to the line, it was not even close. The 3 way battle for the lead ended up being a photo finish for 2nd.
Speaking as someone who knows very little about horse racing and watches the Triple Crown races only, as a pure sports fan, this was simply amazing. For a huge 50-1 odds underdog horse to come from riding around in last for the bulk of the race to blowing away the field at the end...
Amazing... Simply, Amazing.
:clap:
ZMOG I forgot! I think this is the first year in I-don't-know-how-long that I've missed the KD.
Who won????
eta: oop - thanks Tater! Maybe it'll be on YouTube??
There's your rundown of the action. Mine That Bird won. I'm sure if you check around on youtube later or watch some sports highlights you'd be able to catch it. It's such a short race time-wise, the sports shows might replay the entirety of the race.
I DID!!!
:yahoo: YAY for Long Shots!!!!
DHARMA815
05-03-09, 03:44 AM
I've been watching horse racing since I was a child. My parents took my brother and I to the track when we were small kids, we would take long weekends to Charles Town,WV. Hell, I could read a racing program before I could read "see spot run".
Over the last few days I had been checking out the field and none of the horses really stood out and after I Want Revenge got scratched this am, I just dumped the whole thing and went to the beach with my best friend.
Wow, am I sorry I missed it!! I completely laughed that horse off when I was checking out the field yesterday. It will be interesting to see if he can pull a repeat at the Preakness. Simply amazing! I really hope it wasn't a fluke. I hope every year for a Triple Crown Winner.
QXizgvzqiZQ
Every time I watch this, it just amazes me how far behind the field he is halfway through this race. I mean, he was nowhere NEAR the pack. That looked like a last place finishing horse to me...
...bet when that jockey cut him loose, holeeeeeeeeeee :poop:!!!
I can and will watch this replay many more times. It was that spectacular.
TheBigCat
05-03-09, 04:49 AM
Calvin Borel's victory parade around the track was almost as exciting to watch as the sprint past the field. MineThatBird walking calmly, lead along with his jockey celebrating like a teenager, giving high-fives to everybody. Borel also won the Derby two years ago atop Street Sense with the same late-surge tactic.
Borel needs to buy some teef with that purse.
TheBigCat
05-03-09, 06:07 AM
Ya think? They have uppers that screw in place nowadays. Miracle of modern dentistry.
vincentstuntdbl#23
05-03-09, 08:45 AM
I was rooting for Sunday Silence to win years ago.
What a kool name for a horse!
Plus with all the peeps hyping Easy Goer to win.
It was a fitting name. ;)
So the jockey who won the Derby isn't going to be riding the same horse in the Preakness on Saturday?
From what I hear, he dumped Mine That Bird for a "better" horse.
Huh... I guess you can change horses midstream. :drum:
Well, he rode Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks the day before. Called her a once in a lifetime horse. Leagues better than the others he believes.
If you simply look at the results, it would appear Calvin Borel made the right choice by switching horses. Rachel Alexandra did win the Preakness, after all.
I was more impressed with Mine That Bird though. What that horse did in finishing second was almost a mirror image of what happened in the Derby. It ran around in last place for the first half of the race and came on strong at the end. Coming to the line, Mine That Bird was obviously faster than Rachel Alexandra and closing fast. The reason Mine That Bird didn't win though (as it appeared to me), was the jockey taking a bad path through the pack when he made his move. He got stuck on the outside and took the long way to the front. After all that, Mine That Bird still almost caught Rachel Alexandra for the win and finished a close second.
This is not to take anything away from Rachel Alexandra though. They did run a solid race, taking the lead early and holding it till the end.
I think if Borel would have been on Mine That Bird instead of Rachel Alexandra... we'd be watching the Belmont Stakes with a shot at a true Triple Crown winner, not just the jockey (and historically who really cares about the jockey anyways? it's all about the horses). Mine That Bird had what it took to win the race and a better jockey would have gotten the horse through the pack better, allowing him the time needed to run down Rachel Alexandra there at the end.
It's too bad we'll never know.
If the media plays it right... we could have some good attention for the Belmont Stakes if they play up the Mine That Bird vs. Rachel Alexandra (and Calvin Borel) angle. The Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races and the way Mine That Bird was closing at the end of the Preakness, had it been the length of the Belmont Stakes, that horse would have caught Rachel Alexandra for the win.
I guess we'll find out in three weeks.
Preakness winner to rest
ELMONT, N.Y. -- Rachel Alexandra, who became the fifth filly to win the Preakness Stakes, will not run in the 141st Belmont Stakes here on June 6, her connections announced late Friday afternoon.
As a result, Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, will once again be aboard Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown.
Though it was widely thought that Rachel Alexandra would not run in the Belmont, owner Jess Jackson fueled hopes that she would run by not announcing a decision last Monday after the filly had her first work back from the race. But on Friday, Jackson ended speculation by saying he believes the filly would benefit from more time between races.
"We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes - we feel the same,'' Jackson said in a press release. "But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks' rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well-being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.''
Rachel Alexandra is 5 for 5 this year, including wins in the Fair Grounds Oaks (March 14), Fantasy at Oaklawn Park (April 5), Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs (May 1), and Preakness Stakes (May 16). Jackson, and his business partner, Harold McCormick, purchased Rachel Alexandra privately from her previous owners, Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer, after the Kentucky Oaks and turned her over to trainer Steve Asmussen. He supplemented her to the Preakness for a cost of $100,000 and she rewarded him and his partner
Though Jackson's statement Friday didn't specifically address what Rachel Alexandra's next start would be, he had previously said that the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose at Belmont on June 27 would be her next start if she skipped the Belmont Stakes. Also, according to New York Racing Association president Charles Hayward, Jackson told NYRA racing secretary P.J. Campo personally on Friday that Rachel Alexandra would run in a race at Belmont Park this meet.
Hayward said the absence of Rachel Alexandra would likely cost the Belmont significantly in attendance. With Rachel Alexandra in the race, Hayward estimated a crowd of between 80,000 to 90,000. Without her, he believes the crowd will be 50,000 to 60,000. In 2007, when the filly Rags to Riches beat the boys, the attendance was 46,870, partly because her connections didn't announce their plans until five days before the race. Last year, when Big Brown was going for the Triple Crown, the attendance was 94,476.
"Obviously, it takes a lot of juice out of it,'' Hayward said of Rachel Alexandra's absence. "P.J. still thinks he's going to get 10 or 11 and it'll be an interesting race. . . . It's not going to be what it was if the filly had come.''
As of Friday, the Belmont field was expected to include Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Miner's Escape, Mine That Bird, Mr. Hot Stuff, and Summer Bird. Nowhere to Hide is possible.
Chip Woolley, the trainer of Mine That Bird, said that Jackson called him personally Friday to tell him that Rachel Alexandra would not be running and that Borel would be available to ride his gelding.
"That was a very classy thing to do,'' Woolley said. "We're glad to have Calvin and glad to have this part cleared up.''
Woolley said he had some mixed emotions about not facing the filly, who beat Mine That Bird by one length in the Preakness.
"It'd be good for racing, but at the same time one less horse is better for my horse,'' Woolley said. "It's kind of a blessing. We're happy from that aspect. It's a shame on the other hand you couldn't have another great race like the Preakness.''
Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains the possible Belmont pacesetter Charitable Man, also expressed mixed emotions about Rachel Alexandra not running.
"I'm sad for racing in a way, but I'm thankful we don't have to run against her because she's a very good filly,'' McLaughlin said. "It was a hard decision yet a correct decision regarding the filly's concern. Hats off to them for trying to do the right thing.''
Borel, who will be riding in his first Belmont Stakes, will attempt to become the first jockey to sweep all three Triple Crown races aboard more than one horse.
"Now that this decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes," Borel said in a statement to NYRA. "I would like to thank Chip Woolley, and [owners] Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach for being so gracious and allowing us to wait for this decision. We also thank Mr. Jackson for letting everyone know earlier than anticipated about the decision whether to run Rachel Alexandra.''
SOURCE (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown09/news/story?id=4215967)
Mile and 1/2 is a looooooong way for any filly.
Well... no "Calvin Crown" for Borel.
Mine That Bird actually got beat by his brother.
Still a good race all in all... but it lost some of it's weight due to Rachel Alexandra not being in the race.
...and with that, I suppose I am done with horse racing until next year's races.
I will close it down on this note:
WVT2MPNCqgM
Possibly the greatest match race ever.
7Vd2VNpI00w
Jockeys are overrated! :rotfl:
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