Is Scrimshaw okay? 30 lengths back. I never, never would’ve thought that.
The difference between racehorses and other equine athletes is that they are taught,encouraged and rewarded for beating(getting in front of) another horse. They are in direct,horse against horse competition.
Most TB’s are bred for competitiveness in addition to athletic ability. The fastest horse in the world is useless as a racehorse if they don’t care whether they win or lose.Talent and conditioning alone won’t win races. Race trainers have to encourage this horse against horse competitiveness and control it at the same time.
Someone posted (sorry,I don’t remember who) that they didn’t understand how FC couldn’t be rated since they had no trouble rating their own TB. Racehorses usually rate well when they are not in direct competition with another horse.They will listen and relax for a rider. Put a horse next to them and it’s a different story. FC is young and extremely competitive. He goes into ‘beat the horse near me’ mode when other horses get next to him.
Anyhow,what I’m trying to say is, horse to horse,eye to eye,competitiveness is different. It’s another layer added or encouraged in a racing TB.
Damn. 
Though, as almost always in the Belmont, class will tell. That Empire Maker … he’s one gorgeous beastie.
I kept telling myself not to want it so bad. Myself wouldn’t listen.
Dear Sam: All Mr. Beezer really wants for Father’s Day is for you to give Beezer FLYING LEAD CHANGES!! 
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Is it true that every year since 1998 has seen a horse take the Derby and the Preakness but not the Belmont?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not every year. It happened in
1998 (Real Quiet)
1999 (Charismatic)
2002 (War Emblem)
2003 (Funny Cide)
It also happened in 1997 with Silver Charm.
It didn’t bother me that Funny Cide was on the lead in the Belmont. The fractions weren’t very fast, so it wasn’t like he was going to crash & burn from setting the pace. He just wasn’t the best horse on that day.
Could all the lead-swapping he was doing indicate that he just wasn’t comfortable on the track? I saw the “hitchy” steps that some people mentioned in the post parade. They didn’t concern me. Sometimes, racehorses bounce around and side step and don’t move as evenly as riding horses do.
“The power of acute observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” - George Bernard Shaw
[This message was edited by drifting cloud on Jun. 09, 2003 at 11:14 AM.]
I guess I’m not a big enough person to be able to like the horse anyway Anne. Heck, there are plenty of horses in my own sport I love, but can’t root for, because of their connections. I’m willing to accept the small minded label. 
And the savage is one of my all time favorite photos. It just gives me chills every time I think about it. And we have a copy of the Secretariat photo, signed by Ron Turcotte, here in the house. We bought it at Rolex after our homebred, a Secretariat grandson, was born.
Oh Well. … It was a great race and the best horse won. Empire Maker is a classy horse and Frankel and Bailey are superb at their jobs.
How can we be too sad when you get a result like that?
No: Creme Fraiche was the first gelding to win the Belmont. He is currently in his mid 20’s I think and living on his breeder and lifetime owner’s farm in Pennsylvania with a horse named Ring Bearer who was Champion at Devon (and another major SW owned by Mrs. Moran whose name I forget.)
I always live within my means, even if I have to borrow to do it.Soup, I had to say that I understood what you were saying, but I understand what Tally is saying as well. Yes, as a person who handled some fairly nice race horses on layup back in the dark ages, I can appreciate that a race horse is not your average equine. But as a person who spends some time in the company of world cup horses and riders, I can tell you that there isn’t a whole lot of differencee between one highly trained athlete and another, just the skills needed to do the job. But excellence is excellence regardless of discipline.
So while I don’t think that you meant it this way, it was quite easy to read this quote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> On different aspects of horse sports themselves: I guess another way of explaining the differance between pleasure horses/show horses and race horses are to look at cars…there are lots of street varieties for all sorts of drivers but handling those and driving/working on a FORMULA ONE would point out a much larger gap. Apples & oranges. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
And come away with this interpretation:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Sure, you may actually have some familiarity with a show horse, but until you work with racehorses you basically don’t have a clue what it takes to prepare a real athlete.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
When in truth, someone who has been around the top levels of several disciplines understands that you must be extremely talented (and lucky) to be a top competitor or to bring along a top competitor in any discipline. Yes, apples and oranges, but if you have a green thumb, you can grow both, and it’s not like the apple growers are intrinsically more talented than the orange growers.
And yes, we do bring up your age and that probably isn’t fair. But I promise you it is in a more indulgent manner (which I grant, is probably just as annoying). I personally don’t know why I wasn’t killed by several people (parents included) when I was younger. But if I hadn’t grown out of it, I am sure I would have been.
Call your village. Their idiot is missing…
I was very bummed that Funny Cide didn’t win. Did you see the class his owner’s showed when he didn’t win? I thought they were very dignified.
Did anyone else notice what a lovely creature Ten Most Wanted is? He looks like a horse I’d want to go XC on. Uphill and Gorgeous!
“No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle…” Winston Churchill
Yes, I know. And the reason may have been…
Darlyn
http://www.fairviewhorsecenter.com
Are We Having Fun Yet?
I don’t care how sappy this sounds but it truly broke my heart to see Funny Cide run that way…he almost ALWAYS stays off the lead by 2-3 horses and makes his strike as they’re coming around to the homestretch!
I’ve watched every race that he has run and also know that a similar mistake was made in the earlier race that EM beat him at…he chased down the speed horse upfront and didn’t have anything left in the tank for the final drive home. I, too, thought that the jockey and trainer learned from that mistake as was obvious in the two BRILLIANT trips he had in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness…
Sorry, I’m not BUYING!
“The world needs Dreamers and the world needs Doers;
But above all, the world needs Dreamer’s who Do.”
Valkryie Warrior Woman-- Proud Member of the Thread Killers Clique!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Freebird:
I hate to start a flame war here, but I am getting rather sick of the “know it all attitude” from some (not naming any name…). I think that ALL posters on this racing forum should be made to feel welcome, and to not have to be afraid to post there comments, thoughts and questions, no matter how absurd others on here may think they are. How else could we all learn? I applaud those who want to learn more about racing, that is what we NEED most - to educate the public on racing, and it’s good points.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
>>>>>insert hearty applause smiley thing here<<<<<<
Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)
I have noticed it so often in previous TC’s, that I actually said to my husband that I hope they don’t take him right to the front. and I chanted it while he was in the gate. and then I said “oh cr*p” before the first turn when he took the front.
Darlyn
http://www.fairviewhorsecenter.com
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Well hell. I am disappointed Funny Cide didn’t win, but that’s horse racing. I could tell about halfway through the race that FC wasn’t going to win. He didn’t “kick” when he should have kicked. Down the backstretch, I thought he looked like a tired horse. I don’t know if he was tired from fighting Santos or from the whole Triple Crown trail. I thought it was interesting that Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted ran so much better…and they were both more rested coming into the race.
I still love Funny Cide. His race wasn’t a clunker like War Emblem’s Belmont. Winning the Derby and Preakness and being 3rd in the Belmont is nothing to be ashamed of.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Guess that just goes to show you, Funny Cide isn’t that class of horse. Would have been cool if he was, but he isn’t.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I STRONGLY disagree. How can you say this just because he ran 3rd to two other very good horses in a Grade 1 race??? His wins in the Derby and Preakness showed exactly how much class he has, and he will show his class in future races.
Speaking of class, Barclay Tagg and Sackatoga Stable have as much class as Funny Cide. It was clear they were disappointed, but they still clapped for the winner and said nice things. A far cry from Bobby Frankel, who has been throwing sour grapes since the Derby.
Oh, and regarding comparing FC to Secretariat…I never did this, but Penny Chenery (Secretariat’s owner) said Funny Cide reminds her of another big, red horse she used to know. I think she is more qualified to make comparisons than anyone on this bulletin board.
“The power of acute observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” - George Bernard Shaw
[This message was edited by drifting cloud on Jun. 08, 2003 at 12:29 PM.]
What I noticed with Funny Cide in the post parade, is that he was cross-cantering. I don’t know if that’s normal for him, while being held by the lead pony, or not. He was on his left lead behind and right lead in front, if I recall. Don’t know if it means anything or not - just an observation.
“B***h in training”
I’m not a big racing fan but this was one of the most exciting days of my life. It woulda been the first time I have seen a horse take the Triple Crown. It is sad. He didn’t look to happy in the mud. Empire Maker deserved it. Would Funny Cide have been the first gelding to win it?
~Isabel~
“If the world was truly a rational place, men would ride sidesaddle.”
http://community.webshots.com/user/icecream831
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Is n’ Stormy:
I’m not a big racing fan but this was one of the most exciting days of my life. It woulda been the first time I have seen a horse take the Triple Crown. It is sad. He didn’t look to happy in the mud. Empire Maker deserved it. Would Funny Cide have been the first gelding to win it?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
He’d not only have been the first gelding to win the Triple Crown, he’s the first ever to have a shot at it. Heck, from 1919 to 1959 geldings weren’t even allowed to run in the Belmont!
~ Stephanie
If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t a lot more people happy?
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JinxyFish313:
I was however very sad to see much of the crowd ‘boo’ Jerry Bailey and Empire Maker upon their return to the gap, but I guess that’s New York for you!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yep, they booed him as he came out on to the track too. Not exactly a shining moment in the NY racing tradition. But Funny Cide’s owners more than make up for them in the Class Department.
Funny thing about TMW - he and EM were my favorites for the Derby with EM a narrow but uncertain favorite - but I have been remiss about following about TMW anything since the Derby. I just knew he put in a lackluster performance in that race (big party, couldn’t hear anything). But when I heard that he was bumped hard in the gate (at the Derby), knocked his back out and visited a chiro since then, I*told my sister, "You know, he could just swoop in off the pace and take it from EM AND FC!
Call your village. Their idiot is missing…
I was reading through my book on Secretariat today and it mentioned that this horse had the build of both a distance horse (for the Belmont) and a sprinter (for the first two)… the book also mentioned that it takes a very different type of horse to win the Belmont.
From the NYRA- (paraphrased)
A distance horse is generally longer in the body (takes longer strides) whereas sprinters are short coupled and heavily muscles (shorter strides).
Secretariat had the body length of a long striding (distance) horse and the heavy muscles of a sprinter.
Is this true?
Also, Secretariat has always been my favorite, but someone once told me he wasn’t anything special. If he raced successfully over long distances and those that were shorter AND raced on the grass, wouldn’t that make him very good (even if he didn’t win the Triple Crown)?
Dressager
You can’t dance and stay uptight
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fleur:
Is it true that every year since 1998 has seen a horse take the Derby and the Preakness but not the Belmont?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
There’ve been 9 since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978:
Spectacular Bid (1979)
Pleasant Colony (1981)
Alysheba (1987)
Sunday Silence (1989)
Silver Charm (1997)
Real Quiet (1998)
Charisma (1999)
War Emblem (2002)
Funny Cide (2003)
With all the foals lost in KY with MRLS, isn’t 2004 the first year we’ll be missing those lost in the Triple Crown races? Wonder if a TC winner was lost, or if we’ll have a TC winner because the Belmont or Derby winner was lost and someone else will now come through?
P.S., It’s great to see so much sentiment inspired by FC…the sport needs a horse we can follow (let’s hear it for geldings! Now wouldn’t it be fantastic if ONLY great tried & true colts were bred…and not sent to the finacially less risky breeding shed so soon?).
I personally yelled at the Pimlico screen for FC and my eyes welled up when they showed Santos’ son in tears. That’s part of what makes me love this sport. But I also played the 6-1 exacta ($44.)…but I rooted & yelled for FC…wished I’d gone 1-6 ($100+)…but I cheered for FC. 
Looking forward to seeing EM & FC run together again!
J
Licensed Fjord Jockey and collector of bobbleheads.
