4th consecutive year of records for attendance and handle so the opposite of skimpy.
I hadn’t heard of Maclean’s Music, the sire of Cloud Computing, before now, but apparently he won his only race and posted a 114 Beyer while doing it. He was retired after complications from removing a splint. Mike Smith has said he was sure the horse was a superstar. If wishes were horses, but still, what an interesting story.
The Unbridled line is really blazing right now, especially through Empire Maker and Unbridled’s Song.
I was just as bitchy with HC back when somebody told him it was a racing term so he ran “early foot” into the ground using it in seemingly every sentence in mid 70s TC coverage so it looked like he knew something about the sport.
Think I mentioned my hatred of the substantial overuse of the cliche “new shooter” several years ago right here on COTH, by an all male panel, some as pretty as any gal and with little knowledge of the sport trying to sound " in the know". Just say fresher horse or has early speed, more informative for the casual, non horse or racing knowledgeable viewer.
I don’t discriminate, bad writing and cliche filled reporting is what it is out of anybody’s mouth, degree from prestigious school or not. Maybe a mite more tolerant when they come out of the mouths of somebody, male or female, who was walking hots instead of going to school…but they are the least likely to say “new shooter”.
Far as the race, fractions weren’t so fast you’d expect AD to back up like that and he quit before he got any dirt kicked in his face. Hope he’s OK. The telecast lacked any excitement or drama whatsoever and why they use BC, given his distaste for the sport? I understand why it’s not his favorite but it doesnt translate to enthusiasm.
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I wonder why Irish War Cry didn’t run. I know his breeding rights were sold before the Derby but his owner/breeders retained control over his racing. I thought they wanted a classic win to help with interest and his fee at stud . Perhaps he’ll run in the Belmont?
I think they are aiming for the Travers for him.
Irish War Cry owners concentrating on the Haskell. Named after their father. http://www.app.com/story/sports/horses/2017/04/27/kentucky-derby-irish-war-cry-haskell/100873336/
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So happy for Channing Hill, 3rd aboard Senior Investment. Horse was at the back of the pack with a furlong to go. Kept driving, then found a fifth gear right before the wire. He’ll be interesting to watch this season.
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I gotta admit i was rooting for Term of Art, and thought he might actually do it. Hopefully he gets some good wins.
I feel sorry for the horse who finished, I think 7th? His jockey was beating him the whole turn and stretch until almost the end of the race. Poor horse wasn’t going to move up and should have been eased, at least not whipped every stride. His jockey was wearing yellow for reference.
Didn’t Always Dreaming lug out at the start of both triple crown races? Looks like he does not come out of the starting gate in a straight line.
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No. don’t know where he went. I liked him too but his stage makeup was a little much. maybe there was a reason for such heavy foundation, etc. ?
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Thank you!
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Tom Hammond is retiring from broadcasting. I always loved his horse racing coverage-- because he KNEW what he was talking about. He grew up in Lexington, had an animal science degree from UK, and maintains an active interest in horses & racing. I liked his coverage in other sports, too (he and Larry Conley were fun to listen to Kentucky basketball games on the old JP Sports)-- his motive on-screen was to communicate clearly to the audience, not steal the attention for himself.
As for the Preakness…I knew Always Dreaming was done after Classic Empire hooked him at the start. You could see down the backstretch they were locked on to each other, taking too much out of both of them. Classic Empire surprised me that he was able to keep going, but I think Julien pushed the button a little too early in the turn and ran out of horse at the end. Cloud Computing ran a good race, nice big strong looking colt. I had McPeek’s horse Senior Investment in my top 3, and I thought he was out of it down the back stretch and through the turn. Then in the last furlong the horse really dug in and was flying at the end. I’m excited to see him at the Belmont, looks like he’ll love a mile and a half, and McPeek said as much in the Bloodhorse this morning… basically the Preakness was a prep for the Belmont for this horse.
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Thanks for the kind words about Tom. He has long been a favorite of mine, mostly because he didn’t use stupid cliches. He spoke to his audience as if they know what is going on. I think he was sick for a while a couple of years ago. I also agree abut Costas. I think he is there because he is the top dog for sports, and so makes an appearance.
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I’m not sure that Julian did push the button then; I think AD just stopped next to him. They said that they wished AD had stuck with them a little longer.
I loved Tom Hammond. Miss his broadcasts. I remember reading somewhere that he got his big break on the first BC when they had the triple-horse inquiry involving Wild Again, Gate Dancer, and Slew o’Gold after the classic. He wasn’t one of the big names on that broadcast, just there for smaller background stuff, but they had to fill air time while the stewards were deliberating, and he was one of the few who actually had knowledgeable stuff to put in during the gap about what all was going on, so they used him a good bit in that interval. The network realized, “Hey, he really knows this.”
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Wish AD was just settled back at the beginning of the race; stalked the pace a bit. I think he just ran himself completely out of gas; as did Classic Empire. He definitely looked tired. Which is not at all surprising considering he is a Pletcher horse. I hope they regroup and take him up to Saratoga for some spa time and a solid campaign later this summer
I’ve said it many times but no one trains stamina into these horses anymore. This is why the TC knocks the wind out of their sails so badly. AD looked exhausted in the post parade.
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Think I posted this on the Oaks thread but will repeat, NBCsports broadcast a 30 min special after that race about TH. It should be archived online if you want to look. It has an odd title, something about TBs and Ky but it’s mostly TH reminiscing about his career and it is absolutely gorgeous from his mid century Classic convertible to the horses in those worlds prettiest pastures.
Worth you time time to watch it. Rather soothing besides informative.
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I swear if I hear the term “new shooters” one more g–d— time…
And I was actually impressed with Classic Empire. He put away Always Dreaming (who was cooked and done well before Cloud Computing made his move and just ran out of gas hard) and he fought back even if he didn’t quite have enough left. Much more exciting race to watch.
