Excellent point.
1 Like
But Flightline did not have the charisma or appeal that Zenyatta seemed to have. He was an amazing horse but even California Chrome had more fans - some of them truly loud and obnoxious, but fans none the less. Maybe we need another mare to focus on like Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta. I am not sure what the answer is - but the media’s spasmodic intense interest in tragedies and outrage and little else does no one any good. Not the general public. Not racing. And most definitely not the horses.
I am just thrilled that I got to see Flightline live at the BCC at Keeneland last year. 
Exactly right.
4 Likes
Mike Smith blamed himself for Zenyatta’s loss to Blame as well.
3 Likes
Flightline was absolutely incredible. I wish they could have continued to race him.
5 Likes
The Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs has a real starting gate (4 stalls maybe?) in the museum. Naturally I had to walk through. I was amazed how tight the quarters are.
I own a couple of shares of My Racehorse and they provided videos of how gate training is done–just walking the horses around the gate, walking them through, making them stand in the gate, gradually closing one end, then both, having them break at a walk first, then trot, then canter. And everything done very softly. I thought it was fascinating.
15 Likes
To illustrate @Mara’s point, this is one of our young fillies standing in a gate for the first time (she’d already walked past it, then through it, numerous times.) The trainers at the training centers do everything they can to make the process as easy, simple, and non-stressful as possible.
(This gate had its interior padding taken out to make it look and feel roomier for the young horses. Racetrack gates are much tighter quarters than this.)
30 Likes
I’m curious…do you know how wide they actually are? I can’t imagine getting out of that fast😳. Thank you.
Yes, if you watch many of his top tier races and triple crown races; he typically has his horses out of the gate in a shot and at the head of the pack or near it into the first turn. If he can control the pace to his advantage; typically even his slightly less than exciting horses can look like superstars by the stretch with plenty of gas in the tank. American Pharoah and Justify are some of the most notables that typically had this game plan.
National Treasure doesn’t exactly have a race record thus far that screamed he would get it done on Saturday. But the race set up well for him and he controlled it. Honestly I am quite shocked they are going to turn back and run him in the Belmont; especially with potentially more talented horses rested off the derby and the fact that he practically got Blazing Sevens with a head bob; its not like he blew the field away at the Preakness distance.
@Omare; yes, Ican agree that the majority of his positives are for piss-poor barn management, protocols, and oversight within his operation. However what struck a nerve most with me is his continued dismissal-like attitude to the entire thing instead of just owning it. Which only further led to more chaos for his operation. I think he learned a valuable lesson; however I though much more highly of him prior to all of this. Someone with a stable of that type of investment shouldn’t have that level of lack of oversight.
2 Likes
I goggled the answer because I didn’t know specifically, although I’ve stood in several and they feel really narrow. They are between 24-30 inches wide inside (it probably depends on the amount of padding.)
4 Likes
We need a decent horse to stick around for longer than 5 races before retiring.
11 Likes
Flightline ran spectacularly in 6 races, but I certainly understand. Racing could have used another year of him.
1 Like
I think it’s ironic that on one thread we are lamenting how the short careers of horses are bad for the racing fan base.
Yet on another thread people are rolling their eyes at a creative way to address this very issue.
3 Likes
If you’re referring to the post I make about the National Thoroughbred League… not sure how that will keep top horses racing longer.
It may bring more attention, not necessarily the good kind, to racing in general.
I have my doubts
1 Like
There is no way to keep top horses racing longer in our current state. It is economically impossible— you have millions upon millions of dollars at stake to send them to the shed.
So to counter that, you form a “team.” Then you root for your “team,” knowing that like other sports, your roster will change.
I am so grateful you linked the article.
Don’t get me wrong, I have my doubts too and about a gazillion questions. But, it’s at least an original idea. Racing has this maddening way of never taking action. When anyone takes action, it’s usually in the form of more of the same or unsustainable band-aid solutions.
Also, I have a lot of faith in Kentucky Downs. Seeing they are on board was an automatic green light for me. That former cow pasture has had the greatest glow up in history, and it was from taking calculated risks that paid off.
4 Likes
This is a quote from the TDN article about the NTL:
Randall believes that one of the most appealing aspects of the league concept is that no horse will be retired prematurely to cash in on their value as a sire or broodmare prospect. "We want to create stars, he said. “In every other sport, when you become a star you don’t retire. You go on to have an even higher profile.”
2 Likes
Yes, I read that.
Just don’t see it panning out the way they hope/think it will
1 Like
Just a little belated shout out/ tangential connection to the race – the young woman who ponied Perform comes out of the same lesson barn I have taken lessons at (we were in the same group lesson at times). Fun to have a small, indirect link to the big time!
9 Likes
I concur with most of the posters here and would have been happier if anyone other than BB won. Trust me if I had any opinion to share you would have heard from me. I have been to Baltimore, MD and I find it to kind of a sad city. The 2020 pandemic outcome did not help Baltimore and the Preakness is not my favorite race.
I have a question for though. I have never understood how a horse can take the lead, slow down the pace, and then have enough energy to withstand horses challenges from behind them.
In theory one is running slower then the pace setter so should leave one with enough energy to prevail. I realize racing is not a physics problem, and speed is just ONE piece of the puzzle but I have never understood why trainers in olden days would add a “rabbit,” for their horse in a race to ensure a fast pace for their closer to run at. They don’t seem to do that anymore… How does this race pace setting work?
I AM NOT faking to know anything about training or strategies for racing. I am just asking this question for my own knowledge…
2 Likes
OMG somebody slap me because here I go again. Let me ask you a question. Do you get more tired if you run fast or run slow? Go try it and report back, I will wait.
11 Likes
European races more commonly show faster closing fractions than opening ones. Granted, they have far more route races than we do here, which don’t as a rule favor hot early pace.
2 Likes
