Steve Coburn's comments after losing the Belmont

[_BrionesRider]

I haven’t read through all the comments, so please excuse me if this has already been said.

What makes the Triple Crown so impossible, so amazing, is that ONE HORSE can beat ANY horse at speed, distance, and mid distance. He can beat the sprinters, the distance racers. It’s not a tournament where you all move up, it’s the fact that one horse is so good he can win three races against competition that is rested and at the top of their specific game, whichever distance that is. That’s what makes it so hard. And it shouldn’t be changed.

[Bristol_Bay]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;7613285]
It doesn’t need to be changed.
The English Triple Crown hasn’t been won in 44 years. Racing still thrives in the British Isles.

You don’t need more TC winners to appreciate racing. It is what it is. Love it for what it is.

Those changes in other sports, like defender in hockey, backpass in soccer, etc, were changed to address negative aspects of the game that had crept in and had changed those games as a spectacle. They don’t make it easier to win the Stanley Cup or the World Cup or the Champions League. So those are bad analogies.[/QUOTE]

England still has a monarch, but that position has also changed with the times.

Those are good analogies. Enhancing the spectacle was the point. I never said make it easier to win the TC. Just make it a fair fight.

Imagine if all those millions of people who tuned in or packed the stands for the first time had walked away with the impression that racing was a thrill instead of a huge bummer, year after year.

It’s just something to consider.

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=Noms;7613888]

I think he earned the right to say whatever he wants![/QUOTE]

Yes, and we have the right to think he is a crybaby ass.

[stoicfish]

[QUOTE=Noms;7613888]
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![/QUOTE]

Well I could go out and buy a loto ticket and win.
That does not make me a good business person like people that earned the money. It does not make me smart that I could pick a winning number. And it shouldn’t make people hold me with any more respect than others that bought a ticket.

HE got lucky, that is it. He used the same method as thousands of other people who have tried there hand at racing and didn’t have good results. The sire wasn’t even their first choice according to some articles, the one they wanted was gone so they picked a cheap one.

And he didn’t make any public statements after his last win about his opinions on the three races. That his horse didn’t deserve the win because some of the best competition couldn’t be there.

And regardless of his opinions on the idea of the “Triple Crown”, you do not call the winner a coward.
The TC is special because it is hard. It was not created using 3 races, it was the idea that if a horse could win those three races, they would have the prestige of the TC. The races were in existence long before and it was 30 some years prior to the TC trophy that it was even an “idea” to link the races. (Kentucky was run in the 1800’s.)

It is disrespectful to racing history to think it should change or be different to suit some people. I wouldn’t want it changed.

[SnicklefritzG]

Art Sherman was very classy through the whole Triple Crown bid.

The man is 77 years old and he has been in racing his ENTIRE life, in many different roles. He understands the game and how to play it both with his racing string and with outside entities such as the media.

I don’t know much about Coburn, but I get the impression he is a newcomer to racing, or at the very least a guy who has only a few horses, only one of whom is racing now. I’m not surprised at some of the things he is saying because he doesn’t make his living in this industry.

Others like the trainer and the jockey MUST know how to deal with the media onslaught and negativity because if they go on a rant, they lose their credibility and possibly business with other owners.

[rudolph]

Was it cowardly for Man O’ War’s owner to skip the Derby but go to the Preakness and Belmont?

[RainyDayRide]

@SnicklefritzG;7613991

Art Sherman was very classy through the whole Triple Crown bid.

The man is 77 years old and he has been in racing his ENTIRE life, in many different roles. He understands the game and how to play it both with his racing string and with outside entities such as the medium.

and yet - at the end - even Art was succumbing to the dream. He was circumspect before the Derby and Preakness and elated afterwards.

Before the Belmont he spent 3-4 days sightseeing with Coburn and his wife, listening full time to Coburn’s “dreams.” The day before the Belmont, he said “I’m very confident about this race.”

In contrast, his son Alan, who was the one actually doing the hands-on care and training, living with the increasing media pressure and presence the past six weeks, was more restrained. In his Friday chat with the press, when asked if he was confident about the race, he made no such predictions, smiling wryly and saying, “I’d guess I’d say I was excited.” On Thursday, Alan had beamed about the Derby and Preakness experience, full of gratitude - saying that from then on out anything else would just be a bonus.

Alan, always referred to as the assistant trainer, and Delgado, the exercise rider who wore his heart on his sleeve while riding and grooming Chrome, were class acts throughout. As was Espinoza. (May Alan enjoy meeting his brand new grandson, born 6/4, when he returns to CA this week… and may Espinoza have good rides on his mounts at Santa Anita this afternoon.)

Incidentally, Funny Cide’s owner has spoken multiple times the past few days about how difficult the media presence was for him and his not-as-calm colt to handle and remarked at how much more intense it has become since then.

[LauraKY]

[QUOTE=Equine Studies;7613652]
I don’t know-could it have made a difference of a few lengths? He didn’t lose by much-I keep thinking about what could have been had he not been stepped on coming out of the gate. Wasn’t meant to be I guess.[/QUOTE]

I don’t know. Does adrenaline play a part like it does in humans? If so, I doubt he felt it.

[EventerAJ]

I thought Coburn’s post-race comments were of the sore-loser variety, but I was willing to allow him his opinion in the heat of the moment. Coming out this morning and confirming those remarks, not apologizing whatsoever, is downright inappropriate.

Act like you’ve been there before, even if you haven’t.

As for California Chrome-- I wanted him to win. I thought he’d proved himself the best spring 3 y/o of the crop thus far. I had minor reservations about his pedigree for the distance, but I felt his training and preparation might overcome it. However, it was not meant to be. I don’t think the jockey or the grabbed quarter cost him the race; he “lacked needed response” at the top of the lane, he finished evenly but empty without his usual kick.

Give Clement and Pletcher some credit for taking getting their “fresh horses” fit and prepared for a mile an a half. And give credit to Tonalist and Commissioner, two horses who truly lived up to their breeding. Going into the race, I had those two circled as real distance pedigrees with physicals to match. Tonalist reminds me greatly of Sightseeing (Pulpit - Resort, by Pleasant Colony), a former favorite of mine.

EVERYBODY wants a Triple Crown winner. Prior to those comments yesterday, CC and his DAP team had almost unlimited support and admiration from fans and rivals alike. But you can’t change the rules of the game just to suit yourself. Tip your big hat to the winner and say “Better luck next time,” and live up to your own horse’s class.

[Toadie_s_mom]

I’m really disappointed that Coburn didn’t come out this morning and apologize for his comments made “in the heat of the moment”. That would have meant SOMETHING!

[SnicklefritzG]

@RainyDayRide;7614020

and yet - at the end - even Art was succumbing to the dream. He was circumspect before the Derby and Preakness and elated afterwards.

I think most would succumb to the dream of a triple crown victory if they were placed in that position.

what I was talking about is how Art remained classy throughout the entire triple crown bid and didn’t go off on any rants.

[LauraKY]

[QUOTE=FineAlready;7613813]
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.[/QUOTE]

What an asshat.

[PeteyPie]

[QUOTE=Lori B;7613796]
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.[/QUOTE]

I agree with everything you said, but in addition to having more experience with PR, it is unusual for the losing owners to have a microphone at the end of their noses immediately after the race and in the extreme heat of emotion. Usually, the microphone is in front of the winning owners.

I don’t agree with Coburn, he knew going in how the race was structured and it wasn’t a classy reaction, but I give him a pass. He’s just a guy, he’s not a politician, and I don’t really care if his personality is a little bit larger than life. He’s not the only one who wants changes in the Triple Crown structure, just the one in the limelight. His partner is a class act and so is the trainer; the horse is class all the way.

This whole thing has made me aware of the differences in field sizes in past races won by Triple Crown winners. I was not aware of this, and I am now of the opinion that if any changes are made, they should only be to the size of the number of entries at the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. I don’t even like the huge entry numbers in the Kentucky Derby. I think they should reduce the field and get rid of the second gate.

As for California Chrome’s abilities, he has proven himself with his impressive successes. Also, regarding his pedigree, I expect in ten years we will be looking back at some nice sire stats on Lucky Pulpit and perhaps even more good results for Love the Chase, and we will be revising our classification of California Chrome’s pedigree. A stallion is not a great sire until he is.

Interesting article on Pulpit’s influence and success as a sire of sires:
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/shared_content.cfm?id=195

[Noms]

[QUOTE=stoicfish;7613988]
Well I could go out and buy a loto ticket and win.
That does not make me a good business person like people that earned the money. It does not make me smart that I could pick a winning number. And it shouldn’t make people hold me with any more respect than others that bought a ticket.

HE got lucky, that is it. He used the same method as thousands of other people who have tried there hand at racing and didn’t have good results. The sire wasn’t even their first choice according to some articles, the one they wanted was gone so they picked a cheap one.

And he didn’t make any public statements after his last win about his opinions on the three races. That his horse didn’t deserve the win because some of the best competition couldn’t be there.

And regardless of his opinions on the idea of the “Triple Crown”, you do not call the winner a coward.
The TC is special because it is hard. It was not created using 3 races, it was the idea that if a horse could win those three races, they would have the prestige of the TC. The races were in existence long before and it was 30 some years prior to the TC trophy that it was even an “idea” to link the races. (Kentucky was run in the 1800’s.)

It is disrespectful to racing history to think it should change or be different to suit some people. I wouldn’t want it changed.[/QUOTE]

He was given the platform because of what he did, and thats it. An accomplishment that only a few dozen have made. He earned it.

That chaffes a lot of people, obviously.

[Noms]

[QUOTE=LauraKY;7614027]
I don’t know. Does adrenaline play a part like it does in humans? If so, I doubt he felt it.[/QUOTE]

Nonsense.

[Noms]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;7614043]
I think most would succumb to the dream of a triple crown victory if they were placed in that position.

what I was talking about is how Art remained classy throughout the entire triple crown bid and didn’t go off on any rants.[/QUOTE]

Wanna bet? He just didnt do it publicly.

[RainyDayRide]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;7614043]
I think most would succumb to the dream of a triple crown victory if they were placed in that position.

what I was talking about is how Art remained classy throughout the entire triple crown bid and didn’t go off on any rants.[/QUOTE]

I agree… Art and his sons were very classy. I just meant that even he was losing a bit of perspective at the end. Glad he had such a good time revisiting childhood haunts while he was back in NYC.

[SnicklefritzG]

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.

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=Noms;7614070]
Wanna bet? He just didnt do it publicly.[/QUOTE]

Noms, I think you can quit with the sarcasm. We are all talking about the public rants because that’s all that most of us will ever see.

[re-runs]

“Was it cowardly for Man O’ War’s owner to skip the Derby but go to the Preakness and Belmont?”

Not really a useful comparison IMO.

Man O`War was sick at Derby time and that is the reason he did not run otherwise, I am sure he would have won. He only lost one race in his whole career and that was due to jockey failure, he got hemmed in.