Steve Coburn's comments after losing the Belmont

[Windsor1]

[QUOTE=Lori B;7616331]
I’m sure that failing to apologize for his bad form was a bad case of stubborn old guy disease. Not admirable, but not unusual.

I sincerely don’t understand why everyone is so invested in this guy having to perform public penance for angry dumb words spoken in the heat of the moment.[/QUOTE]

They were not only spoken in the heat of the moment. He doubled down on them the next morning with the kid-in-a-wheelchair comment.

I wouldn’t say I was personally invested in Coburn’s apology at all, though it was nice to see. Some of us might ask why it doesn’t seem to matter to you if high-profile representatives of racing (or anyone, for that matter) exhibit poor sportsmanship. People don’t like jerks. They don’t like jerky behavior. They especially don’t like it from people who have enjoyed Coburn’s degree of success.

[Kim]

<<Tonalist won but if Tonalist hadn’t had 2 or 3 months off; I don’t think he would’ve been anything special on Belmont Day. Fate played in his favor on Saturday but I don’t expect much from him in the months to come>>

Why dislike Tonalist? Is it just because he won the Belmont?

I think he is a nice horse. I thought his performance in the PP was quite good, particularly after coming off of the lung infection. I look forward to seeing more from him.

Why can’t we appreciate that both he and CC are nice horses? I do not see why it has to be all or nothing.

[spotted_draft_x_fill]

Maybe she’s been drinking some of the “Chromies” kool-aid? It’s getting ridiculous. Everytime something new is posted about the Belmont the “chromies” start on their usual unfair, what if rants.

[Beverley]

[QUOTE=ZiggyStardust;7615887]
Regarding the point on War Admiral, I think a horse that ignores or works past pain could be truly great, or could be on it’s way to a breakdown. It’s a fine line, and the difference on one side or the other could just be luck. Or willingness to please beyond all else. In the end, it’s just a race.[/QUOTE]

Horse, like people, have vast differences in pain thresholds. I had a horse that I foxhunted for 20 years, who would try very hard to mask pain (even when he ran a stick up his frog) because he did NOT want to end his hunting day before the hounds did. Others were more forthcoming when they had even ‘little’ owies. I’m going to opine that War Admiral and California Chrome were/are gutsy horses who want to play with pain. It seems like anything other than first place in a major race is ‘nothing’ to some folks, but if I owned Chrome I’d have been tickled with fourth place under the circumstances- he gave what he had to give, you can’t ask for more than that.

[RPM]

[QUOTE=briddygirl;7613081]
I totally agree with him…how is someone going to race against and win triple crown if other horses have the option of sitting it out…[/QUOTE]

I think you’re missing the point here. The Triple Crown is not a 3-race event like a 3-day event with 3 phases. There are 3 classic races, and if you win all 3, you win the Triple Crown, but in recent years the TV people have started talking it up as a 3-phase series. It really shouldn’t be viewed as such, and it isn’t, and horses may enter any of the 3 races. The Belmont, for instance, is an older race than the Derby, which was considered an “out there in the West” race when it was inaugurated, while people had been running their horses in New York for awhile already.

I wish the TV people would go back to looking at the 3 races individually and quit harping on the Triple Crown beginning on Derby Day.

And I think it’s hilarious that they do those animated “races” before each race showing the viewers how they think it’s gonna go. As if any human could prophesy how baby horses are gonna run on the day!

[snaffle1987]

I actually think that Tonalist is a nice horse but I am looking forward to seeing what he does in the Travers

[Kim]

<<Maybe she’s been drinking some of the “Chromies” kool-aid? It’s getting ridiculous. Everytime something new is posted about the Belmont the “chromies” start on their usual unfair, what if rants. >>

Some of the online racing forums have become absolute nut zones. I am hoping it calms down soon. I like CC, but some of these self-proclaimed “Chromies” are bordering on fanatical. Now “he is just as good as Secretariat” and don’t you dare say otherwise!

Were they like this about Smarty Jones?

[spotted_draft_x_fill]

It might calm down if nothing is ever mentioned again about CC or the belmont. Other then that it will continue. Look at some of the silly responses that have been made in regards to anything Zenyatta. Some people have just totally flipped their wigs!

[ravenclaw]

[QUOTE=Kim;7616581]
Were they like this about Smarty Jones?[/QUOTE]

Smarty Jones might not have had as many nut job followers, but he had a few. I really remember the crazies coming out of the woodwork about Barbaro. Then they switched to Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. I guess Chrome has inherited them now! :lol:

[ravenclaw]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7616468]
Horse, like people, have vast differences in pain thresholds.[/QUOTE]

Adrenalin is also a factor. It can mask pain (or a significant injury) for a short time.

[amastrike]

[QUOTE=snaffle1987;7616335]
Bob Costas ruined the trophy presentation for Tonalist’s connections by reiterating what was said in the grandstands to get a reaction. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, I saw that… loved how Tonalist’s connections stayed classy and shut him down. But does Costas have a history of doing/saying stupid things?

[Lori_B]

Windsor1, I don’t care because I’m not in charge of deportment, at Belmont or anywhere else, and I figure that people shoot their mouth off about things they care about. I’m glad Steve Coburn is passionate about his horse, and the success he, his co-owner, and his excellent trainer and jockey have had were exciting to watch, and with luck are not over yet.

You all seem so accustomed to an airbrushed, press-trained, managed public face on everyone that when you see somewhat normal (imperfect, emotional, loudmouthed) human behavior, you all have a nutty. Which makes me roll my eyes.

Coburn’s outburst was poorly timed and unsportsmanlike, but not worth the level of vitriol and recrimination he has had directed at him. I don’t admire his behavior, but I find it entirely understandable and not surprising. And I despise the weird repeated requests for him to apologize on television, like I said, it creeps me out. Like Robin Roberts is running a confessional or something.

[Windsor1]

[QUOTE=Lori B;7616683]
Windsor1, I don’t care because I’m not in charge of deportment, at Belmont or anywhere else[/QUOTE]

Well that explains it. As Racetrack Deportment Specialists, the rest of us just can’t help being aghasted. Though I did not know one had to be a deportment professional in order to call out bad behavior.

@Lori B;7616683

You all seem so accustomed to an airbrushed, press-trained, managed public face on everyone that when you see somewhat normal (imperfect, emotional, loudmouthed) human behavior, you all have a nutty. Which makes me roll my eyes.

And suggesting that we’re all “having a nutty” instead of criticizing unsportsmanlike comments makes me roll mine. You’d sound more credible if you didn’t dramatically overstate everyone’s else’s reaction to make your point. A lot of people were disappointed or pissed off or shocked by Coburn’s remarks (those spoken immediately after the race and the day after). I doubt that, in our consternation, any of us birthed anything or pooped anything or required a trip to the emergency room.

@Lori B;7616683

And I despise the weird repeated requests for him to apologize on television, like I said, it creeps me out.

At least we can agree on that much. Anyone who demands an apology out of anyone but a child doesn’t understand what an apology is.

[Laurierace]

Wait? You can be deported for saying something stupid? Even if you are an American? This changes everything. Time to delete all my posts and change my name!

[caffeinated]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7616746]
Wait? You can be deported for saying something stupid? [/QUOTE]

I’m tired so forgive me if you’re just making a pun, but:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deportment?s=t

noun 1. demeanor; conduct; behavior.

2. the conduct or obedience of a child in school, as graded by a teacher

If it was just a pun I’m going to go get more coffee before my brain melts.

[wildlifer]

[QUOTE=ridingagain;7614237]
Wildlifer - love this!!! Can I use it as a tag line (if I figure out how to do it)!

:lol:[/QUOTE]

Hahaha, sure, glad to entertain – it’s my personal horse philosophy to remind myself to not completely lose my…stuff…when I have to scratch the week before an event I’ve already sunk $500 that I can’t afford to lose into. Because my horse got excited and pulled a muscle. headdesk Once I learned this truth of horse ownership, it helped lower my blood pressure a bit.

Truth 2: Your horse will never be lame again if you retire him to trail/pleasure riding & will be completely fine leaping and galloping about the pasture. Albeit a small sample size, I posit that there is a direct correlation between probability of equine injury and intent to sign an entry form.

[Iride]

[QUOTE=wildlifer;7616772]

Truth 2: Your horse will never be lame again if you retire him to trail/pleasure riding & will be completely fine leaping and galloping about the pasture.[/QUOTE]

Holy cow. If only THAT were true. :lol:

[wildlifer]

LOL, good point, it’s all relative. Perhaps it should be modified to say “he will no longer hurt himself as long as you make no plans or goals for him.” Sometimes. See Truth #1.

[Laurierace]

This could be the last word on the subject and we could move on but that is probably wishful thinking.
http://thisishorseracing.com/news/index.php/the-inside-rail/entry/apologies-accepted

[spotted_draft_x_fill]

That was cute. Although I could see some taking it the wrong way