When Secretariat ran there were 5 all together. A very small field.
Someone posted earlier that the Belmont was opened up after that so that more horses would enter.
[QUOTE=grayarabs;7614339]
How many horses were in the Belmont the last few times we had a TC winner?[/QUOTE]
In 1930 when Gallant Fox ran there were 4 horses.
I read somewhere that the largest Belmont field with a TC winner was seven.
[QUOTE=wildlifer;7614152]
(3) Dude, it’s horses. They are giant walking suicide machines of heartbreak. [/QUOTE]
That is the most apt statement I’ve ever read about horses. 
[QUOTE=ridingagain;7614237]
Wildlifer - love this!!! Can I use it as a tag line (if I figure out how to do it)!
:lol:[/QUOTE]
I was going to ask but you beat me to it. One of the best statements ever. :lol:
[QUOTE=JGHIRETIRE;7614344]
When Secretariat ran there were 5 all together. A very small field.
Someone posted earlier that the Belmont was opened up after that so that more horses would enter.[/QUOTE]
The Belmont was never “opened up”. It has always been a race open to any 3yo.
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;7614076]
I also think the media is in large part to blame for this. What do we know about Coburn? He speaks his mind. That was absolutely clear in the comments that he made after the win at the Preakness.
A ratings hungry media would love to push the microphone in front of the face of a guy who they pretty well knew would be upset and say something very strong after the loss. That is the kind of thing that helps generate viewings, increase ratings, sell copy, etc.
While I don’t agree with the way Coburn communicated his feelings after Belmont, I do feel somewhat bad for him because I think the media went after him knowing what his weakness was. Kind of reminds me of the way the paparrazzi chase after certain celebrities to the point someone has to take a restraining order out on them or until somebody gets punched out and sent to the hospital. If you want an alcoholic to stay sober, you don’t set up an open bar at an AAA meeting. You keep them separated from the things that show their weaknesses.[/QUOTE]
This, bob Costas is an a$$
It was eight with Seattle Slew. But why enter a horse in such a grueling race if you believe he has no chance of beating a Secretariat, Affirmed/Alydar/, Citation, Count Fleet, Assault, etc. In general, the truly great horses don’t sneak up on the horse racing public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFtK-UuKyRU
Documentary about the Triple Crown - the most horses in the Belmont was 8.
They have been drug testing for a long time, even longer in California where several TC winners raced before their Classic campaigns circa early 70s.
Just for the record, I had the winner but coupled in an exacta box with Wicked Strong. No diss on CC, just liked the connexion and pedigree on the winner and WS better then CCs times. No payoff anyway…
The appropriate losers speech is " Congrats on a good effort, see you in Saratoga and this fall in the Breeders cup", challenge the winner to do it again…not sniveling about rich people and million dollar horses-suck it up and come back like the “rich” people always have.
IMO it wasn’t that CC doesn’t have 10 furlongs in him, he didn’t even have 8 or even 7 yesterday. He looked line a worn down Hunter waiting for riders up. Elegant and alert with a soft eye, Donna caught it, almost too quiet. Not like he was going to eat any challenger alive- horse was used up. He had a chance, did not fire.
And when do we get rid of Costas? He hates racing because of personal reasons. It shows. There is a difference between probing interviews and demeaning, insulting jabs.
So, anybody know if CC will rest up and show up for the Travers? Fall campaign? Or slink off and avoid a rematch?
Would one benefit to lengthening the time between races be that it would be kinder (not the right word but i can’t think of another) when many horses have owners that are going to make them run in all three? I wonder if there is any relationship between the hard campaign early in the three year old year and longevity (probably not) – but it seems like a few never come back the same.
No, it is Saratoga Race Course which has been described as “The Graveyard of Champions,” not the Belmont Stakes.
Quote Originally Posted by Dewey View Post
“Are you sure? I always heard that Samuel Riddle didn’t run him because he thought early May was too soon to ask a three-year-old to go 1 1/4 miles. I also read that he changed his mind for War Admiral’s Triple Crown run.”
I stand corrected !
Riddle had the horse`s best interest in mind and decided not to run him in the Derby for the reason you state. I doubt if his strategy was anything other than to preserve the horse.
Horse racing like old age, isn`t for the weak hearted. So many variables.
Still was hoping for a Triple Crown though.
I stood in awe as I watched a retired Seattle Slew get a bath and walked down the barn aisle to take a peak at Affirmed taking a snooze in his stall. I will never forget the excitement of looking over those greats and studying their conformation and trying to figure out 'why them". I want to feel that way again before I leave this earth.
A TC would have been good for racing and a real spirit lifter for many.
Since I can’t claim wildlifer’s quote as a signature, I made if my Facebook status (attributing it as a quote, of course).
Instead of “easier” what if we say “better for the horses” ?
[QUOTE=findeight;7614485]
So, anybody know if CC will rest up and show up for the Travers? Fall campaign? Or slink off and avoid a rematch?[/QUOTE]
Hoping to see him at Del Mar, and if not, then Breeder’s Cup at Santa Anita.
It didn’t seem to harm the winners of the TC, most, if not all of whom, went on to race during the rest of their 3 and 4 years. They won many of those races, too.
It SHOULD take a super horse to win the Triple Crown. It’s no harder or easier now than it was between Assault and Secretariat.
Maybe the reason we don’t have TC winners today are the Dancers.
Just to lighten things up, this is a quote from an article posted on ABC News:
“Frenchman Christophe Clement, who won his first Triple Crown race with Totalist, declined to comment on Coburn’s remarks.”
And rightly so, ABC, since his horse’s name is Tonalist.
I really think the answer is not changing the rules, but breeding for stamina. Check out Belair Stud’s record - 2 triple crowns (Gallant Fox and Omaha) and another (Nashua) who won two of the three. Mr. Woodward bred for stamina, because he felt that a great horse should prevail over a mile and a half. It certainly worked for him.
From my understanding they are going to stay in CA for the rest of the year with him. After he recovers and rests they are talking about the BC with a prep race of some sort before it- Willie mentioned to a friend of mine that it would possibly be the Pacific Classic at Del Mar but that runs at the end of August so don’t know if he will be ready for it if they rest him for as long as was stated in a interview with Sherman.
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