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 ...
No, also General a Rod.
7 horses - just about a record recently - came from the Derby. Nice to see actually. More than half the field was in the TC trail.
It was funny watching his wife try to shut him up.
you make a great point.
That’s too bad. Now he’s twice the loser.
I agree. But I’m disappointed CA Chrome didn’t win.
The owner said it best. You’ll never see another triple crown winner again if they don’t stop letting horses into the Preakness and Belmont who didn’t start the triple crown at Kentucky. .
yes he did, he sounded like a crybaby
That interview in the winner circle with the winning owner just now was an absolute disgrace!
NBC is scumb
That owner deserved his props and the ceremony that goes with winning such a prestigious race, in the winner circle of gods sake!
That garbage idiot bob cost as calls him out as a cheater! Really?!
What a POS that bob costus is
And to that looser whiner dap clown, you should have listened to your wife that was standing behind you, poking you to shut your mouth on air.
Now you look like a pathetic cry baby and will not bode well.
Sorry for the rant....
I’ve been around horse racing my whole life and asking a guy how he had the opacity to screw up the narrative by daring to win is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.
Maybe they should give the losers a participation trophy
What did he do? I didn't watch the post-race interviews.
(Mental note: Steal the word "beclowned")
Boooooooooooooo!!!!
He’s right. Horses that did not start the first two races should not be alowed to race the third. Been saying that for years
They meant the second biggest. lol
The difference in distances between the courses is significant. Chromie did fine and will pay back his owners many times over in the coming years. He is one of the very best horses around.
Would it have mattered to Secretariat? The Triple Crown is rare for a reason.
Did Chrome have a target on him? Damn right he did, that’s life.
Unusual name. Tonal-ist; one that creates a tone. Tongualist; One that causes use of tounge or talk.
Them’s the rules and they all know it going into the Belmont. If you think it's unfair, don't show up.
I came very close to giving it up after the Eight Belles and Barbaro tragedies.
.
The Triple Crown is not a real event....It consists of three INDEPENDENT races.
Would you limit the US Open only to players that play in The Masters?
It’s perfectly fair. It’s race has their own rules for qualification and always has. If owners REALLY want to win the Crown they’ll start homing their horse they think can contend at Belmont. Most Crown winners had stabled there, ALL had previously won there. It’s the longest hardest track, the horse needs to be up for it BEFORE the Derby or they will not win the Crown. Chrome’s owner should complain about himself, he didn’t properly prep the horse.
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