A sh*t…George Washington is behind the curtains
Someone please tell me, isn’t, or wasn’t GW owned by the Jacksons?
Fractured and dislocated his ankle, open fracture. Euthanized on the track. Son of a bytch. 
He was bred by the Jacksons in Ireland.
Do you have confirmation he was euthanised? Jesus, what an incredible shame.
Yes, the track vet was said he was immediately euthanized on the track, per the owner’s direction.
Thanks for the clarification about the Jacksons.
One crazy day to be sure - maked sadly with such a bad conclusion in terms of the passing of George Washington (IRE).
It looks like after a few years of people forgetting who Bob Baffert was on the “big stage” we are going to be seeing much more of him in the spring of 2008!
I back a lot of Euro flesh on the turf with the supposed theory they love yielding and soft turf - to my losses.
At least I backed the late Merv Griffin’s Cobalt Blue in the pre-race to the BC carded races. Nice to see that horse rally from dead last and come on very strong. Clearly still a very classy horse and hopefully will be a big player in 2008 at 4-yrs old.
I liked the ESPN coverage, anyone else?
Clearly Curlin now takes 3-Yr old HOY win this BCC victory - but who takes Older Horse of the Year? Curlin isn’t qualified to take it. Does Layer Ron take that award on the strength of his effort at Saratoga setting the track record? As for Horse of The Year, I don’t know of Curlin will take that. He still dropped the Haskell, the Derby, and the Belmont.
Going back to some of the prior races on the BC card: big props to the “old man” English Channel in the John Deere Turf (G1-t) for the win. So many folks just counted him out and with tons on money and all the press on Dylan Thomas he was overlooked, despite having won this before.
the ironic thing is all the talk now emerging that says “… oh Dylan hates soft ground.” What the &*$&. Where was that knowledge before the race? 
As for Kip Deville what can you say - that guy has been a class act miler on the grass that anyone betting against him does at their own peril. He was all guts and glory early in the year at Keeneland against Showing Up.
Very happy to see Nick Zito who is a damn fine trainer that I just admire so much take the victory with War Pass. That guy hopefully will be next year’s Street Sense now that the jinx is moot.
You’re not serious, are you?
It’s all that was talked about for the last week in the European racing press, even had plenty of mention on stateside racing articles.
He was actually longer odds with the bookies in GB and Ire than he was on the US pari-mutuel, because of the ground.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;2764220]
You’re not serious, are you?[/QUOTE]
I am indeed. It wasn’t cited readily which is my own fault for having not dug further. However to hear people like Gary Stevens cite this info yet never brought it up over the week’s worth of nightly coverage … gee … does that make any sense? If any horse hated soft ground it should’ve been known by all. Yet he went off as the favorite, no?
Remember just a couple of months ago when he was that washed up QH training crybaby? 
Glimmer, surely you followed the run up to the Arc, where the rain earlier in the week cast a shadow over his even running in that race? And in the aftermath when everyone oohed and aahed that he won considering the going.
It’s been stated all the way through his career that he loves “top of the ground”. There are a number of articles on the BC site that mention how he would be vulnerable on less than Good ground, even O’Brien making a mention of how he likes to run “on concrete”.
Yeah, it was mentioned (about DT and the soft turf). And last week I couldn’t remember if it was Auth or DT that didn’t like it…But it was talked about today on tv.
It was nice to see Baffert and Zito back in the winners circle. But carrying the kid everywhere you go got old quick. Oh, and Ginger Punch kicked serious ass!!!
But, in the end, I am surely disappointed in the outcome of the Classic (regarding the winner). Not the fairytale I wanted. But my hat is off to Curlin. And my hat is really off to Hard Spun. He is the most underated horse of the year.
The only good news about Curlin, is maybe he will be back again next year. How the owners say “it is up to Steve” is beyond me…bc normally owners make the decision to retire! I can’t believe nobody has tried to snatch him up.
Ironic that Darley purchased like a 1/4 of the Classic field and the one he doesn’t buy, will get horse of the year.
Guess I’ll cheer for Street Sense as a daddy now.
Yup But then, it’s the only coverage I get, unless it’s on ABC/NBC/CBS.
I thought I heard mention that Dylan doesn’t like soft turf and his camp was disappointed about that?
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2764180]
I liked the ESPN coverage, anyone else?[/QUOTE]
Yeah, they did a good job.
It was funny yesterday when Joe was apologizing for their technical difficulties and blaming it on the weather! I was thinking, ‘Oh yeah, what was your excuse for the past 6 months?’
Ah! I’m regretting (only a teensy bit) that I spent the day (and my money) at the Equine Extravaganza instead of the OTB… my Colonial Downs favorites (English Channel/Kip Deville) did so well! I never would have guessed Kip would pay that much.
I just watched the race replays- all I can say about the Sprint is WOW!
BC
Curlin came very close to a track record even inthat slop–"In the process, Curlin, ridden by Robby Albarado, just missed the track record for 10 furlongs, getting the distance on a sloppy track in 2:00.59. The time was less than one tick off the Monmouth mark set by Carry Back (listed as 2:00.40) in 1962. "http://bc.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41707
SZo that was quite a good race for him.
I concur. Props to HS and his consistent solid performances.
However, I sure as heck wish Street Sense could keep running. Have the folks at Darley been warned about his thievery (see post #19)? Any word if Any Given Saturday ever got his halter back?
Was Better Talk Now always that reluctant to get on the grass and load?
Yesterday was such a great day of racing, despite the conditions. The coverage was excellent. I can’t believe it ended the way it did… but all that aside, what exciting races.
I was surprised BTN ran as well as he did in the Turf after refusing to move. As far as I’m aware, that is a new trick of his. Maybe he liked his time off more than he let on?
I think my favorite race of the day was the F&M Turf. And kudos to the jocks on the 2 horses that got carried out when Simply Perfect bolted. While they didn’t finish well, it’s not easy to regain control in that situation.
And weren’t Kip Deville’s people adorable? They made me so happy he won.
How cool was it to see the top 3 derby finishers in the top 3 again in the classic? When’s the last time that happened? Has it ever happened??
I agree with you all on Hard Spun. My hat is off to him. He deserves a lot of credit and has truly earned his retirement. I was screaming at the TV for him to hold off Curlin. I would breed to Hard Spun in a heartbeat if I could. And as much as Curlin doesn’t impress me, that was a pretty impressive finish. Anyone get a speed figure on that yet? In that slop, it has to be high.
It’s unfortunate that yesterday was the end of the greatest 3-way racing rivalry we have seen in recent years. :sadsmile:
I liked Kenny Mayne’s bit with the school kids going to the OTB or rather the introduction of horse wagering in the classroom. If I recall correctly he did a smilar bit last year.
The mix of the TVG anchor for a brief analysis with the ESPN’s portly “wagering expert” Hank Goldberg was like oil and water! Neither of them as a I recall called the race in dispute correctly anyhow
Regarding Bob Baffert’s “comeback”:
Baffert went 2 for 3 — after entering the day with a 3-for-44 Breeders’ Cup record.
Baffert, 54, has had a low profile in recent years after once dominating the sport and sending out three Kentucky Derby winners
“I’ve always been here,” the silver-haired trainer said. “I’ve just been a little quiet.”
I suspect with Zayat’s deep pockets and depper still stable, Bob will be again in the media spotlight in 2008. I wonder if D. Wayne will ever enjoy that return? The winningest Breeders’ Cup trainer didn’t for the first time this year have even one starter.
