Belmont

[_SERAPH]

I just thought Santos would/could have greater control over Funny Cide. Maybe I’m wrong. I still feel had he not go to the lead and sat off the pace as he usually does that he would have had the TC. Maybe he didn’t like the slop…guess I wouldn’t like the slop either.

Extremely disappointed! I wonder if I’ll even see a TC winner in my life time? And STRONGLY feel that if you want to win the TC a horse has to race in EVERY race to have a shot! If they’re injured in the Kentucky Derby and have to take a break, too bad. And just coming in for the Belmont–no way!

How could one even say Empire Maker was the better horse when he’s had five weeks off??? Weaker horse, not better. At least Funny Cide won 2 grueling races and finished third in this one!!!

“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!!!

[joliemom]

Looked more like waterskiing than horse racing. Did anyone think FC looked like he wasn’t quite paying attention early on? His ears were up and back, up and back. Then again, with that Belmont crowd, who could.

Dang, I’d hoped for a triple crown.

BTW, did yawl know Mr. Joliemom’s real name is Pat Day? Except this one’s 6’3".

“Never trust a man in a blue trench coat, never drive a car when you’re dead.” Tom Waits

[_SERAPH]

Thank you, Master Tally! Well said…

But we’ve all been 17 before!

“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!!!

[FairWeather]

[QUOTE] Okay, I agree

nevermind…

[This message was edited by FairWeather on Jun. 13, 2003 at 01:51 PM.]

[buryinghill1]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DMK: bh1 - are you SURE you wouldn’t charge me one signed photo as payment for housesitting?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Dearest DMK, ARE YOU OFFERING? I ACCEPT!

[flshgordon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Heather:
I want to like Emprie Maker. I really do. He’s by one of my all time favorite stallions, Unbridled, and the stories of his mother are a total hoot. He’s beautiful and classy, and and . . . and I just can’t. Frankel is just such a loudmouthed classless boor. As I said on the other thread, If I’d had to listen to him say one more time that he always knew he had the best horse I was going to throw something heavy through my television. Frankel completely ruined any enjoyment I might recieve out of watching this lovely horse win.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Couldn’t have said it better myself!!!

[Adelita]

Scrimshaw was 30 lengths back? wow, I hope he’s okay…

>^.,.^<
~~Linda

~Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.~

[The_Fjord_Jockey]

Come on. You can’t tell how a horse is going to run by whether he’s “cantering in place” or looking sad before the race. We had a horse today that was being an idiot with the pony and won the race. That’s the equivalent to when someone on this forum, before Santos’ named was cleared of lighting FC up, said, “Did anyone notice the look of shock on Funny Cide’s face?”. Please.

When Jerry Bailey said Funny Cide was being “rank”, what he probably meant was that he was trying to bolt from Santos. Seemed to me that Santos gave the horse a good ride. Funny Cide looked like he handled the mud pretty well. A lot of the time, when a horse doesn’t like the track surface, their head goes up and they have a lot of action in their legs, namely the front.

Funny Cide probably burnt more energy fighting Santos than if he had led wire to wire and just gotten through it smoothly.

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. He doesn’t rank up there with the Slew, Affirmed, Citation, etc. Definetly not Secretariat. I heard someone on the radio comparing Funny Side to Secretariat. Psshh. How? There is no comparison.

Just my two cents

J
Licensed Fjord Jockey and collector of bobbleheads.

[Heather]

I want to like Emprie Maker. I really do. He’s by one of my all time favorite stallions, Unbridled, and the stories of his mother are a total hoot. He’s beautiful and classy, and and . . . and I just can’t. Frankel is just such a loudmouthed classless boor. As I said on the other thread, If I’d had to listen to him say one more time that he always knew he had the best horse I was going to throw something heavy through my television. Frankel completely ruined any enjoyment I might recieve out of watching this lovely horse win.

Funny Cide is a fab horse, and his connections are the class of the field. I hope the rest of the sport takes a lesson from them. And can someone please explain to me why finishing third means the horse didn’t have the class to get the distance? He didn’t finish 50 lengths out and dead last. It was a credible performance, though not a winning one, and I’ll agree with those who said they could tell in the post parade it wasn’t going to happen. He just looked unhappy and not ready to run.

Just a thought to the industry folks, perhaps racing would be more embraced by the populous if you put a sock in the mouth of people like Frankel, and put a sock in the mouth of those who like to pontificate on all the reasons why despite two triple crown victories a beloved horse like FUnny Cide, “isn’t classy enough.” Um, I saw the horse win, twice, impressively, and I saw him fight his heart out yesterday. Don’t tell me that horse doesn’t have class.

Also, Ten Most Wanted–unbelievably beautiful animal. TOok my breath away. That is all.

[Two_Toofs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Soup From the Store:
Come on. You can’t tell how a horse is going to run by whether he’s “cantering in place” or looking sad before the race. We had a horse today that was being an idiot with the pony and won the race. That’s the equivalent to when someone on this forum, before Santos’ named was cleared of lighting FC up, said, “Did anyone notice the look of shock on Funny Cide’s face?”. Please…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

From a horseman’s standpoint, I disagree with the above quote. If a horse just isn’t his or normal self pre-race, it can indeed be indicative of how they are feeling that particular day. The horse looked a bit lackluster compared to his usual pre-race self. Seeing that, coupled with that nasty track, struck a little pit in my stomach after being so hyped all day.

Not going to say it is necessarily indicative of winning or losing, but it is indeed something to take into consideration. Horse racing is not an exact science. Have you never run a horse and before you even get all the way to the paddock, you just know that they aren’t quite into it that day? Or in the contrary, have been able to feel the electricity in their step and just know they are going to give 110%?

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)

[The_Fjord_Jockey]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by drifting cloud:
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. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did he win the Triple Crown? Nope. He isn’t in the same field. Not saying he isn’t an incredible horse, but he isn’t AS incredible as the Triple Crown winners. Call it era or time frame all you want, the races are the same, the level of greatness and difficulty is the same.

Funny Cide might remind Secretariat’s owner of big red, but Funny Cide is NO Secretariat. I think you’re nuts if you disagree.

Regarding what someone else said, (I think it was dressager)…none of the Triple Crown races are “sprint” races, though they are shorter than the Belmont. Just wanted to point that out

As for sending Funny Cide early: With some horses, that’s their style of running. I don’t know about Funny Cide, but in some instances, if a horse is passed, they sulk and stop. Better to keep them up front. Sometimes if you try to hold them, they fight it (which is, if I’m not mistaken, along the line of what happened with Funny Cide). There are many reasons.

It’s hard to sit there and analyze the race and the way it was run without being an expert and avid follower, not just someone who started following the sport a few months ago. The trainers know the horses better than anyone, they’re the ones who give the instructions, and what Santos did seemed to make sense.

I think the race played out to what each horse deserved, and I don’t think Funny Cide was deprived of anything. No bob at the gate, clean break, smooth trip, fair finish. On Belmont day, Empire Maker was just the better horse.

J
Licensed Fjord Jockey and collector of bobbleheads.

[DLee1]

Bummer about Funny Cide… but…

great to see the commercials for Seabiscuit!!

Life is short, do it now. www.dianasart.com

[Glimmerglass]

It looks that there will be a very stong chance that the Travers Stakes in Saratoga on August 23rd will be another chance to see Empire Maker v. Funny Cide showdown.

Funny Cide is a forgone conclusion to race at his “second home” track for the Travers. Tagg has said that is the race he wants to win.

All indications point that Frankel will have Empire Maker in the Travers pre-race August 3rd, the Jim Dandy. It isn’t too hard to also assume that Bobby is looking for further vindication by matching EM against Funny Cide to support his argument that he’s had the better horse all along.

Add to that Ten Most Wanted looks to be a Travers entry wannabe at least right now.

What a great match up it will be as Funny Cide and Empire Maker will mature even more before that date. And if anyone thought that Belomont was a little bit pro-Funny Cide they haven’t seen anything yet

Bring it on!

[J_Turner]

I was really rooting for Funny Cide. He just didn’t take off today like he did in the othe races. Jerry Bailey said he knew he had him beat because he was being rank. I know what rank means in general, but what did he mean specific to running a race?

That horse is a trier though, did you see him try to push through his wall once he was beat a couple times. He didn’t give up.

10 Most Wanted put in a couple strides near the end the ate up the gap between he and Empire Maker. I’ve never seen two strides take a horse so far. Unfortunately, Empire Maker took the challenge.

And a quick prayer … please no “Empire Strikes Back” headlines … please…

Nigel: http://community.webshots.com/album/68326373whlDAm
Lorenzo: http://community.webshots.com/album/74700172fvoxFq
Teddy Boy: http://community.webshots.com/album/74981587sGtSKT

“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.”
– Shakespeare, Henry V

Member Sighthound Clique

[SkyBeauty]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JAGold:
And since I rarely post over here but did love watching the race – can someone tell me how flexible the trainer’s instructions or race plan typically are? How much is left up to the jockey’s discretion based on how the race shapes up? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In most cases, the trainer will give the rider some idea about what he’d like him to do, but the final choices are usually left up to the rider, since so much depends on how the race sets up after the gates open. Exceptions are things like not trying to rate if the horse is a stone front runner, or not gunning for the lead on a real closer. Those types of things a trainer expects the jock to follow to the letter.
I guess a better way to put it is that a trainer usually tells the rider any particular rules about the horse that have to be followed, then gives him a general outline for the race strategy, and then the rider takes it from there, depending on what happens in the race.

~ Stephanie

If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t a lot more people happy?

[The_Fjord_Jockey]

Then don’t respond to it and let’s stick to the subject of racing, shall we?

As for DMK: It didn’t go over my head, and sorry if what I’m saying doesn’t come out as being the friendliest.

Granted, my first post could have been nicer, sure. But the second one about Funny Cide’s class was, I think, not very mean. I think my statement about a race being hard to analyze, unless you are an expert, made people think I was saying I’M an expert. Actually, not what I was saying at all. I’ve had statements I’ve made on this board be called stupid and everything else, so sorry if I’m not exactly happy right off the bat. I don’t recall ever calling anyone on this forum stupid, yet I get blasted, whereas someone says something like that to me, and no one says anything.

I am just amazed at how many posts I’ve gotten saying, “You’re only 17, what do YOU know?”. I’ve seen some REALLY ignorant posts on this forum and I’ve answered quite politely only to get slammed by others who think they know more just because they have more years. So sorry if I seem a little irritated at first. It gets old after awhile.

I truly do like people like DMK who can say things in a nice manner without slamming, and they’re the only reason I still post on this forum. Keep in mind, I’m the one who got it started, but I’ve been pretty disgusted with the attitudes on here.

But honestly…if someone has an attitude problem, so what? Let it go. Stop taking everything so seriously. And why don’t you check out some of my other posts and consider, “Gee, she seems pretty nice in those. Maybe there’s a reason she seems a little annoyed on this one?”

J
Licensed Fjord Jockey and collector of bobbleheads.

[This message was edited by Soup From the Store on Jun. 09, 2003 at 08:20 PM.]

[JinxyFish313]

I just came home from the Belmont! I’ll tell ya one thing…there wasnt a person in that place that wasnt rooting for Funny Cide. It’s a shame he didn’t come thru today but it was obvious that he just never settled in. Empire Maker ran a fabulous race, as did Ten Most Wanted(the whole crowd was like ‘who the hell is that?’ wen he made his move on the outside). 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!

‘Saanb ke rakh ni ey jovan butri
Hun mur ke na aauni bahaar’ -punjabi mc

[wanderlust]

soup- much appreciate your open-mindedness. As someone who has had to curb the inclination to speak (or type) before thinking, I can empathize with getting into a bit of hot water. You’ll grow out of it, no worries.

That said… be careful assuming and stating that people don’t know anything. You are not the only one on the board who knows racing. Trust me. You are also not the only one who knows horses. Anyone who has been around horses for most of their life (which is most people on this board) will notice things about animal behavior that are not exclusive to racing. Anyone that has ridden TB’s directly off the track will generally know the reactions they have to different stimuli. Anybody who has evented at the 3-day level will understand how you run the beginning of the steeplechase will directly affect the way the end of your steeplechase, along with the rest of your endurance phase. There is alot of crossover.

People may not know the correct racing terminology, but as observant and experienced horseman they still bring a great deal of knowledge to the table.

Edited to say that I just caught your comparison of “formula one” drivers vs. average everyday drivers to racing vs. all other equestrian sports, and you couldn’t be farther off. The people who post on this board are not backyard yay-hoos that don’t have the first idea how to rotate wormers, nevermind know what dex or lasix are. They are mostly top competitors who spend just as much time and effort keeping their horses at the peak of performance as racing stables do. There are many jumper and event trainers who very easily and successfully make the jump to training racehorses. I guess it is because they don’t know anything about training top notch athletes.

[This message was edited by Master Tally on Jun. 11, 2003 at 07:01 PM.]

[doublete]

I dont really have much to say- I just think that FC is a classy horse, the trip to the Triple Crown probablyjust took a bit more out of him than it should have. (or we wish it would have rather).
Although, I will say EM did look like the classier horse in the post parade.
What a race though.

Soup- I think the fact that everyone is taking an interest (whether they’re wrong or not is beside the point) in racing right now is a great thing. They’re trying to understand, and the knowledgable folk here need to bear with all us ‘still trying’ folk and help us out.

But, I CANT WAIT to see those three (and Peace Rules) all match up again!

Retraining and rehabbing Off Track TB’s.

[buryinghill1]

One of my alltime favorite racing photos…

http://www.championsgallery.com/Secretariat%20The%20Photo%20WM.jpg

Look at that crowd! And look at Big Red’s ears mashed back against his head - running all out…