Posted on 06/07/2014 4:14:03 PM PDT by kingattax
The longest wait in sports is not over.
California Chrome's bid to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978 fell short in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.
After winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes by a length and a half, the mile-and-a-half Belmont proved to be too much for Chrome, who finished fourth to winner Tonalist.
And with that, the longest drought in Triple Crown history continues.
Since Affirmed's sweep 36 years ago, 13 horses now have gone to Belmont Park with the Derby and Preakness in hand only to falter somehow, some way. Real Quiet was nipped at the wire in 1998; War Emblem stumbled out of the gate in 2002; Smarty Jones faltered down the stretch in '04; and I'll Have Another was scratched with an injury the day before the race in '12.
Now add Chrome's fade down the stretch to the list.
Still, it was an impressive run for Chrome, especially considering the horse's backstory: a modest pedigree, blue-collar owners, 77-year-old trainer who'd never sniffed a Triple Crown start until now and jockey who was believed to be past his prime.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
I do not mean to be condescending, but there simply is no comparison between a human choosing his destiny and a horse who cannot. They cannot tell us how they really feel, so we make judgements to be careful with them. Thus they do not enter every race and should not be expected to. Thus is it ridiculous to expect every horse to remain in the series, but if they don’t, the Belmont will commonly be 3 horses.
The Triple Crown was not recognized until even vaguely when War Admiral won in 1937. It is a RESULT of the importance of 3 races that happened to be scheduled near each other regularly. It was not created itself and then the races spun off for its fulfillment. There was no “TC” when Sir Barton won the races, they were each independent races. Someone made a vague comment about a “triple crown” when Gallant Fox won all 3 in 1930. It was mentioned more when his son Omaha won in ‘35. The TC was sort of recognized by War Admiral, but wasn’t really celebrated until the ‘40s. There was no trophy until after Citation won in ‘48, which meant ironically waiting 25 years to hand it out to Sec.
No, Churchill is commonly complained about. Glad he said something. I know a photographer who told the story years ago about how careless and nonchalant CD is, yet Pimlico rolls out the carpet for you and rolls over itself to do things for you.
I wonder what his view of Belmont is.
As for his unsporting comments, these aren’t the first, and i don’t agree with him.
You should go to dog shows. Lots of horse’s asses there.
Not a pretty injury. For a competitive horse, that can be a career ender. Despite not taking the crown, and injury aside, he should have some good stud life ahead of him.
No male would ever turn that down. ;-). But then again, having witnessed the process; twitch on the mare and the trainer stroking... never mind.
When he got boxed in may have been when he got nicked, it was pretty crowded there.
I imagine so. Probably not a whole lot of difference in the cultures.
Anyone who saw “Best in Show” would know that.
Three races in three months. I like it. And I agree with you on the Thoroughbreds. Had a jumper that was amazing on a speed course, but it took its toll, on him and me.
i didn’t know i needed to clarify...yes, dirt record, which is what the Triple Crown races are run on...also, Kelso was also a 7 year old gelding, not a 3 year old carrying 126 pounds as Secretariat did..also, Kelso’s race was without a starting gate,..Fiddle Isle was a 5 year old...I forgot about Monarchos going 1:59 4/5....still, Secretariats record still stands.
And you were the guy who asked me if I knew "anything about horses at all???"
Read post 122 for the answer to you're question about qualifying for the Belmont..
I see your point but since Kentucky is the cradle of the sport and still breeds many “bluebloods” they think they are the bestest and the mostest.
I see it sort of like I do the horse people in Texas. Quarterhorses...”elite”. Thoroughbreds and all others “lower class”
:) But actually in a serious tone I take issue with shows like that that promulgate complete falsehoods of how things are run, etc.
We have met very nice people in dogs, including the best of the best, but many are prima donnas with condescending views on “outsiders” (i.e., novices). All levels of the culture - elites, or every-day entrants. You never know which will be an arrogant SOB or whom will be nice and talk to you all day.
Quarter horses/cutters, damn impressive animals. They earn their keep, no question.
Interesting, I never knew they used a barrier at the DC Int so late. But usually I think of no gates as a disadvantage, as anything can happen at an open wire.
Kelso also set a WR just days before that race. Incredible, at any age (and 7 is getting too old).
But either way they did run on turf, which seems to be an advantage sometimes.
We gave up on thoroughbreds after a horrible year where we had to put down two yearlings, both with slipped stifles (different mares, same stud), my junior hunter mare (a daughter of JC Mare of the Year) who had been diagnosed with navicular disease and retired and then died while foaling, and a 4-year-old we had just sold who got a cancerous tumor on her kidney and had to be put down. It was just one heartbreak after another and my father finally said: Enough! I can't take this anymore! We sold all our breeding stock and I kept my one TB/Arab cross for showing for fun and that was my last horse. I love the breed, but I just can't take the heartbreak. If I were to ever get another horse, it would be something durable like a warmblood or a draft horse! Or a Shetland Pony... those things are bulletproof.
Saw it. Loved it.
the only thing that could never be compared was my Grandmother’s cooking.
Mongol horses are pretty tough too, aren’t they ?
A cutting horse...no argument. They actually can provide a service. Much like the “working” breed dogs do.
A quarter horse. Well, they are beautiful, strong and fast. But they usually don’t earn their keep. It takes mucho dinero to breed and upkeep them. Not that many big purses to win to offset the expense. Thoroughbreds ain’t cheap either.
They don’t call it “The Sport Of Kings” for nothing.
Especially Sham. He finished second to Secretariat at the Derby, also breaking the track record, then second again at the Preakness, then almost killed himself trying to run with the great horse at the Belmont. And was right beside him until Secretariat turned into a freight train on four legs.
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