Steve Coburn's comments after losing the Belmont

[SLW]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7613716]
What a buffoon! He equates California Chrome to a kid in a wheelchair? I hope so many people call him to tell him he is an idiot that he has to get a new phone number.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/13303/belmont-stakes-steve-coburn-does-not-apologize[/QUOTE]

Yeah, he is not advancing his point.

California Chrome’s gift to our imagination was the idea that a $10,000 colt could run competitively against traditional, royal TB’s and he did not let us down. Tonalist was sold for $195,000 in 2012 at FTSAUG and Commissioner hasn’t been sold but the average price of his sire’s yearlings is $360,000. The story isn’t about a wheelchair bound kid playing against an adult, it’s about a CA factory worker’s kid playing in every game against the Upper East Side kids who only play in a few games.

The rules were not different in 2014 and I understand Colberns frustration but he needs pipe down and let his colt bask in the well deserved adornment he earned through his gallant effort.

[JanM]

I think he’s a big mouth idiot, and the remark to his wife was vicious. I hope people stop sticking a microphone in his face, and he fades away. It wasn’t as if his horse finished second by a nose either, but fourth and not really all that close either. They’ve always had horses that entered only one or two of the TC races, so as others have said, maybe he should have thought about that earlier. Some days the horses just aren’t superstars, and this was one of them for CC, so I guess we have to wait another year, or many to see a TC win.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=ake987;7613075]
I thought Espinoza responded very professionally to antagonizing questions in the locker room. I would be upset if someone said those things to me, as I would assuredly be actively working on keeping those facts far from my mind!

I don’t necessarily disagree with the sentiment that it’s not a “fair” race, as in, not all the horses in the race are coming in with equal wear from the same campaign. That said, not much in life is fair, and while understandably upset, he reacted poorly. Calling the horses and teams that beat CC cowards was very spiteful and unprofessional. Be grateful your horse and jockey, and rest of the field, came home safe, and save your ranting for a setting where it won’t make you look like a poor sportsman and a foolish man.

ETA: What comment of Costas is being referred to? I must have missed it.[/QUOTE]

As far as “fair” goes I don’t quite understand why people in one breath pontificate on how you have to take on all comers in the other declare Secretariat’s Belmont the bestest thing ever when he was only up against four horses, one of whom was so physically and mentally worn out he didn’t race again. What would he have done against ten or twelve others or full Derby and Preakness fields with bad traffic? The more apt comparison is War Admiral, who DID manage to win the Belmont bleeding all over himself, but again he had less traffic to contend with.

And given people who make “unsportsmanly” comments are only saying what most people really think when they lose I cut them slack. No one is every sincere congratulating someone who beat them and expecting emotional people to be positive is mean. Being positive and upbeat at any time is draining and mentally exhausting. High-stress situation, an honest person’s going to lash out.

I don’t think there should be any rule against new horses, but given where Ria Antonia and Matuszak ended up they might want to think about stricter requirements to get in. All the filly accomplished was impeding other horses.

[SnicklefritzG]

"NYRA is crowing about the huge take at the betting windows. "

You bet they are. The last number I saw on the screen was over $20M just in the win pool! Never got around to counting everything else, but it would have been outrageous after adding everything up.

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=mswillie;7613753]

I hope people remember the horse as a class act, because his owner sure enough isn’t.[/QUOTE]

I think everyone would agree that the California Chrome is a very classy horse, even those who don’t follow racing regularly.

However, I think we have to be cautious about the term “owner”. Aren’t there two owners? One who has 30 or 40% stake and the other who has the rest? Which one is Coburn? The 30% owner or the 70% owner?

[Lori_B]

I don’t understand why any of you think this race is any indication of the abilities of California Chrome, since we now know he had a quarter grab at the gate. Just because some horses have raced successfully with injuries, ever in history, Chrome is supposed to have sucked it up? And the injury isn’t relevant? What are you smoking? Look. At. This. Photo.

http://longshotsblues.wordpress.com/2014/06/08/california-chrome-injured-out-of-the-gate-at-belmont-and-there-went-history/

Just because many of you are put out by Coburn’s remarks, doesn’t mean you should dismiss the horse. I hope Chrome heals and comes back and schools Tonalist in the Travers.

His owner isn’t a slick media creature? I don’t particularly care, and I’m sure he doesn’t care what you all think either. The only really unfortunate thing is that we will never know what that race would have looked like if Chrome hadn’t been injured at the gate.

The only reason you don’t hear more outbursts like that is not because the old rich white guys who own are all princes of good manners and good sportsmanship. It’s mainly that they have more experience with dodging the hazards of a microphone at the end of their noses. I think it’s comical for you all to think that Coburn is uniquely a boor. He’s just not been trained to avoid the media.

[Gestalt]

Lori B wins!!! I think the media following these races had been hoping for a Jerry Springer moment.

That photo chills me. I’m glad that CC wasn’t injured more, this could have been a career ended.

[sk_pacer]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought each race was a separate entity unto itself, governed and administrated by the racing board of each state, and one can choose to stake a horse only in the home state or pay supplemental payments if a horse proves worthy and by the same token, stop sustaining payments if said horse is a dud or breaks down or whatever (mostly no dough).

Is each race not a part of the states in question 3YO stakes program and each race should be treated as such?

Was the CC not supplemented to each stakes race as he is California bred as opposed to Kentucky, NY or Maryland?

These races were tied together as were our Triple Crowns of trotting and pacing as a test of the horses, and entry into one or all is not mandatory nor should it be.

[FineAlready]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7613716]
What a buffoon! He equates California Chrome to a kid in a wheelchair? I hope so many people call him to tell him he is an idiot that he has to get a new phone number.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/13303/belmont-stakes-steve-coburn-does-not-apologize[/QUOTE]

I caught that too! What an idiot. Yes, your horse that just won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness is JUST LIKE a disabled child being forced to compete against the able bodied.

He doesn’t deserve a horse that nice.

[Laurierace]

[QUOTE=sk_pacer;7613812]
Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought each race was a separate entity unto itself, governed and administrated by the racing board of each state, and one can choose to stake a horse only in the home state or pay supplemental payments if a horse proves worthy and by the same token, stop sustaining payments if said horse is a dud or breaks down or whatever (mostly no dough).

Is each race not a part of the states in question 3YO stakes program and each race should be treated as such?

Was the CC not supplemented to each stakes race as he is California bred as opposed to Kentucky, NY or Maryland?

These races were tied together as were our Triple Crowns of trotting and pacing as a test of the horses, and entry into one or all is not mandatory nor should it be.[/QUOTE]

Triple Crown nominations have nothing to do with where they were born. They all do have to nominate to the series.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/triple-crown/nominations

[vineyridge]

Obviously Steve Coburn didn’t think the injury made a difference or he wouldn’t have shot his mouth off about the fresh shooters. Grabs are just as much a part of racing as wins. Luck plays a part in every race, let’s not forget.

Lets all agree that Tom Durkin did a wonderful job with the race call. We shall miss him.

[Sparrowette]

I think Steve got caught up in the hype. The media started following him around when he won the Derby, much more so after the Preakness and kept hitting him with “What If?” He had that dream, there were the “Omens” regarding dates, passed away family members, then there was the story of the trainer and Swaps… It goes on and on. When you really, really want something, it’s so easy to believe, especially with all the “omens” that were being pushed and hyped, that it would be inevitable. A done deal. It’s just how people are. Steve’s not different that way. I’ve been trying to think how I might have reacted in his situation, and all I can think of would be that I’d start wailing and blubbering like a wounded banshee. I would be incomprehensible.

Not sure what to think about the comments the next day. He may be still in denial.

My ex and I had a horse at the track back in the early '80s. She shin-bucked on the opening day of the meet. So I’ll tell Steve what the grooms said to us that day:

Welcome to racing luck.

[JGHIRETIRE]

I really agree - as long as you have so many fresh horses come in for the Belmont - it is very unlikely we will ever have another TC winner - also agree with you about breeding.

[QUOTE=FAW;7613167]
So here is what I think should change in the Triple Crown. You must enter all three races. Scratch in any of the three and you are out. No resting. I agree, a fresh race at the Belmont will be a contender to the Triple Crown 99 out of 100 times. This way, its a fair fight. All tired, all never having done the mile and a half.

I do also agree, breeding has changed the sport from endurance to speed.[/QUOTE]

[Drvmb1ggl3]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;7613850]
Obviously Steve Coburn didn’t think the injury made a difference or he wouldn’t have shot his mouth off about the fresh shooters. Grabs are just as much a part of racing as wins. Luck plays a part in every race, let’s not forget.

Lets all agree that Tom Durkin did a wonderful job with the race call. We shall miss him.[/QUOTE]

Where did you hear the Durkin call?
Collmus called for NBC. Durkin was the on track caller.

[re-runs]

Sure, I was disappointed that we didn`t have a TC winner this time.

I agree with grayarabs, I like their comparison with Three Day eventing and letting some horses avoid roads and tracks and then letting them go cross country to challenge the horses that are tired from meeting all the legs of the competition.

It looked like CC bumped the edge of the starting gate when he was breaking.

Id like to note that this is a very centered horse, not overly emotional, but a thinking animal, not like some tbs that run entirely on adrenaline on race day. If that is the case, the injury would effect CC more because he would be more aware of it and it would interfere with how he ran the race. I feel for that horse. Some people would call it lack of "heart" but running on adrenaline is something akin to fear. Ever witness a deer run for half a mile eventhough he has been shot through the heart? He is running on adrenaline. I have had tbs off the track all of my life and "many" if not most are adrenaline junkies, its in their genes. Just an observation.

As for the jock…in hindsight and me sitting here from the cheap seats and with no talent for riding in races…I was thinking…“Why doesn`t he just go the the front with that post position and stay there? It would be the shortest way around.” If the horse to him felt like he was tired, why would he go to the outside, on the turn no less, where it is even more difficult to gain ground? Oh well, easy for me to speculate. Just another observation.

It was an emotional day, especially for the owners. The trainer is a seasoned hand at this sport and can put losing into perspective. All trainers experience disappointment and I think he handled it with dignity. The owners are pretty new to the sport and I can understand their disappointment too. Such a buildup for so long and all the sacrifices it took to get that far. I would be emotionally spent. I say give him a pass for his comments.

[amastrike]

I didn’t watch the Derby or Preakness. When they were on the backstretch last night, I was pretty darn sure CC wasn’t going to win. He was not running easily. He wasn’t exactly laboring, but he wasn’t cruising along. Now we know he was injured coming out of the gate and that’s likely why he wasn’t able to run comfortably.

Anyone else waiting for Coburn to start blaming Matterhorn for injuring his horse and insisting on a do-over?

I could not disagree with his whining about horses needing to run all 3 races more. The Triple Crown winner is exceptional. He beats every horse he comes across in those three races, period. If the rules were changed (or rather, created) to suit Coburn, then we might as well throw the Triple Crown away, because it will mean nothing.

The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont are three individual races. Owners and trainers can enter their horses in whichever races they think best suit the horses. If a horse does best on a long distance, why should the horse be forced to run the Derby and Preakness just so he gets a chance at a long distance G1 race? If a horse is recovering from an injury and misses the Derby, why should he have to miss two more races when he’s fit and healthy enough to run them?

Coburn made the mistake of thinking it was a done deal. He probably already ordered his “California Chrome - 2014 Triple Crown Winner” t-shirts. He learned the hard way, the Belmont isn’t just a formality. It’s a horse race. Or maybe he took the comparisons to Secretariat too seriously and was expecting CC to canter along to a 31 length win. Foolish man never considered the possibility that his horse was not going to be the best horse that day.

I don’t buy his “it’s not fair to the horses” spiel for a second. He means it’s not fair to HIM.

Coburn is a useless waste of space. On the one hand, I want CC to keep racing because I hate seeing horses retire to stud after barely a year of racing; but on the other hand I want Coburn to go away. Maybe we’ll get lucky and his wife will take him out back and shoot him.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

[QUOTE=re-runs;7613865]
Sure, I was disappointed that we didn`t have a TC winner this time.

I agree with grayarabs, I like their comparison with Three Day eventing and letting some horses avoid roads and tracks and then letting them go cross country to challenge the horses that are tired from meeting all the legs of the competition.

It looked like CC bumped the edge of the starting gate when he was breaking.

Id like to note that this is a very centered horse, not overly emotional, but a thinking animal, not like some tbs that run entirely on adrenaline on race day. If that is the case, the injury would effect CC more because he would be more aware of it and it would interfere with how he ran the race. I feel for that horse. Some people would call it lack of "heart" but running on adrenaline is something akin to fear. Ever witness a deer run for half a mile eventhough he has been shot through the heart? He is running on adrenaline. I have had tbs off the track all of my life and "many" if not most are adrenaline junkies, its in their genes. Just an observation.

As for the jock…in hindsight and me sitting here from the cheap seats and with no talent for riding in races…I was thinking…“Why doesn`t he just go the the front with that post position and stay there? It would be the shortest way around.” If the horse to him felt like he was tired, why would he go to the outside, on the turn no less, where it is even more difficult to gain ground? Oh well, easy for me to speculate. Just another observation.

It was an emotional day, especially for the owners. The trainer is a seasoned hand at this sport and can put losing into perspective. All trainers experience disappointment and I think he handled it with dignity. The owners are pretty new to the sport and I can understand their disappointment too. Such a buildup for so long and all the sacrifices it took to get that far. I would be emotionally spent. I say give him a pass for his comments.[/QUOTE]

For the love of god, would you people stop.
The comparison to 3DE and roads and tracks is a dumb comparison.
The Derby, Preakness, and Belmont are three COMPLETELY SEPARATE races. They have their own SEPARATE histories. You can enter each race SEPARATELY.
A Three Day Event is one complete competition. Not three/four separate competitions. A better analogy would be the grand slam of eventing… winning Badminton, Burghley and Rolex. Is there a rule that says a horse/rider have to enter all three competitions? No, of course there isn’t, because that would be dumb.
For a Tennis player to win a grand slam, do all the other players have to enter Aussie, French, US opens and Wimdeldon? No they don’t. They can skip one if they want.

[vineyridge]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;7613864]
Where did you hear the Durkin call?
Collmus called for NBC. Durkin was the on track caller.[/QUOTE]

Blood Horse video replay. I’m assuming that the caller is Durkin because of the voice.

[Noms]

For all of you Coburn haters, he has done what thousands of people with billions of dollars will NEVER EVER do. He succeded with his first mare, and her first foal, he’s done what rich dum dums who endlessley obsess over with hundreds of mares and millions of dollars spent on stud fees cant do.

I think he earned the right to say whatever he wants!

[Mardi]

[QUOTE=jenm;7613136]

But we can all sure as heck bet he wouldn’t have made remarks about the TC being “unfair” if California Chrome had won![/QUOTE]

He may not have made the same remarks, but his opinion would remain the same. Because his point was about what was fair to the horses (all of them)
who were in it for the long haul.

People say he wasn’t “professional”. Mr. Coburn isn’t a professional - the trainers and jockeys are. They’re very familiar with the emotional rollercoaster of racing with OTHER people’s horses. Coburn is an owner of a very young 3yr old horse that he and his partners have brought along and invested in financially and emotionally. Without the owners, there is no horse racing, no jockeys, no trainers.

As the owner, he’s perfectly entitled to be irritated, frustrated, disappointed. Again, his message was clear (although people are focusing on how it was delivered): it was about what was fair to the horses…the horses who have been running in all 3 races in a brief amount of time. They only reason they’re racing and traveling in that short amount of time is for the TC, otherwise they wouldn’t be. It’s not how his horse is normally managed. So to have his horse beaten by another who wasn’t in it for the long haul, and didn’t take the same risk, is naturally disappointing, and chances are, many of us would feel the same way.

Maybe some of us would have gone home and ranted there. We all react differently in different situations. Stick a microphone and tv camera in my face right after my nice horse lost that race and I probably wouldn’t have been much better. My response would be honest and in the moment, just like his was.

Mr. Coburn is who he is. Yes he knew the game when he signed up, but I hope he never changes, and I certainly hope he doesn’t apologize. He hasn’t hurt racing - in fact he’s started a worthwhile conversation about how race horses are managed. He’s not a poor sport. He’s offended no one. He’s a guy who is committed to a horse who had a chance to win the Triple Crown (!)… but was beaten instead by a more rested horse.

Try that on for a moment and see how it feels.