Swiss Skydiver wins Preakness

[Texarkana]

@Mara

Why do the Euros have such superior live racing coverage? Their camera placement and tracking is so much better than anything we ever see in the States.

Maybe because unlike US racing, Europe has accepted the fact that it’s no longer 1985?

[Texarkana]

@Where'sMyWhite

Is Improbable “better” than Authentic? Maybe but who knows who will be in the gate and where and how they’re running.

I personally think Improbable is leaps and bounds better than Authentic at this point in his career. But horses are really good at proving us wrong. :lol:

[Where_sMyWhite]

@Texarkana , that’s why we run the races… to see who is better on that day on that track and surface with that jock and starting position. :lol:

I would be inclined to agree Improbable is ‘better’ than Authentic but I would always put a bet on Swiss Skydiver regardless of Classic or Distaff.

I agree with Mara… the overhead (drone? blimp?) is totally worthless during the race IMO. To far away to really even see the color of the silks or saddle towel (and hard enough when the saddle towel are all the same color; one habit I wish the Europeans would pick up… colored towels.)

If you have some spare chump change, Expo Gold, dam of Swiss Skydiver, in foal to Catholic Boy will be offered at Keeneland November. Catholic Boy is a multiple G1 winner, both turf and dirt. 2020 was his first year at stud at a fee of $25,000.

Swiss Skydiver’s sire, Daredevil was sold to Turkey along with Super Saver late last year.

[peedin]

I yelled “go filly” during the entire race. My OTTB is a red headed mare. I have a special fondness for them…

[RHdobes563]

@Mara

I have to say I never want to see camera angles live from the blimp ever again. I don’t care how much sponsorship money they pay - that sucked. Show it afterwards if you have to, but NOT during the freaking race.

Why do the Euros have such superior live racing coverage? Their camera placement and tracking is so much better than anything we ever see in the States.

I hated it, too, and have despised the drone view in other races.

IMO, for a better view of the race, go to YouTube.com and click on the one posted by Maryland Racing rather than NBC Sports. Better race call, too, IMO.

[LaurieB]

@Mara

I have to say I never want to see camera angles live from the blimp ever again. I don’t care how much sponsorship money they pay - that sucked. Show it afterwards if you have to, but NOT during the freaking race.

Why do the Euros have such superior live racing coverage? Their camera placement and tracking is so much better than anything we ever see in the States.

For the biggest U.S races, we are at the mercy of NBC who would rather show off all their bells and whistles than provide good racing coverage.

If you want to see racing here shown the same way as it is in Europe, you need to subscribe to a channel like RTNTV which shows the track feeds, starting with when the horses enter the paddock. It’s far superior to anything shown on regular TV.

[mommy_peanut]

Some really nice photos here.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/slideshows/243904/preakness-stakes-145?utm_source=BHFB&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1K-cJMqGQN4-tNBGldT51s8lDVA5-8yb1XVwrhvtFSZqNuLfK_svR3xKA

[PeteyPie]

@mommy peanut

Some really nice photos here.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/slideshows/243904/preakness-stakes-145?utm_source=BHFB&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1K-cJMqGQN4-tNBGldT51s8lDVA5-8yb1XVwrhvtFSZqNuLfK_svR3xKA

Beautiful photos! Thanks.

In photo number 8 she looks like she has such a feminine, refined head, don’t you think?

[Pronzini]

@LaurieB

For the biggest U.S races, we are at the mercy of NBC who would rather show off all their bells and whistles than provide good racing coverage.

If you want to see racing here shown the same way as it is in Europe, you need to subscribe to a channel like RTNTV which shows the track feeds, starting with when the horses enter the paddock. It’s far superior to anything shown on regular TV.

That’s the reason I have RTN and I really recommend it. Unfortunately for the very biggest races, RTN runs into licensing problems and the only way to see these races is on whatever network bought them. The only exception I am aware of is the Derby and Twin Spires will show their track feed.

[Where_sMyWhite]

TVG shows pretty much the track feeds until they bump into NYRA or TwinSpires or NBC.

But even yesterday, TVG carried all the Pimlico races until IIRC the BE Susan and the Preakness. For those, I still watch TVG so I can see Gulfstream Park West, Laurel, Santa Anita, Keeneland, etc until TVG obligingly shows about 5 MTP and then I click over to NBC*.

How would the race call be different between NBC and what Maryland Racing provides. Don’t they both use the same official race caller, in this case Larry Collmus, during the running of the race?

[snaffle1987]

I feel like Authentic’s crooked running style (he is always bent really far to the left in the stretch) might’ve cost him here. practically brushing saddle cloths in all of the head-on photos i have seen Swiss had all the pressure on him straight out of the turn and when it almost looked like he had caught her head to head, she dug in for more. And ironically enough; she took control at the top of the stretch and had a hand ride most of the way to the wire. It was all heart. and great ride by Robby who let her take control on the far turn. almost feel like Johnny V was a bit shocked when he glanced back and she was coming on with little effort to take the lead into the turn.

thought Authentic was ran really far wide down the backstretch. overhead shots you can see he clearly left the door wide open for Swiss to come on through without any issue

I had flashbacks to the great beholder/songbird duel at the 2016 breeders cup. I haven’t screamed as loud at the TV since then but I sure did again on Saturday.

Anyone else see NY traffic to a repeat of his starting gate antics from the Derby? Clothes-lined everyone to the right of him; took out Max player who then hit Authentic pretty briskly.

[Pronzini]

@snaffle1987

I feel like Authentic’s crooked running style (he is always bent really far to the left in the stretch) might’ve cost him here. practically brushing saddle cloths in all of the head-on photos i have seen Swiss had all the pressure on him straight out of the turn and when it almost looked like he had caught her head to head, she dug in for more. And ironically enough; she took control at the top of the stretch and had a hand ride most of the way to the wire. It was all heart. and great ride by Robby who let her take control on the far turn. almost feel like Johnny V was a bit shocked when he glanced back and she was coming on with little effort to take the lead into the turn.

thought Authentic was ran really far wide down the backstretch. overhead shots you can see he clearly left the door wide open for Swiss to come on through without any issue

I had flashbacks to the great beholder/songbird duel at the 2016 breeders cup. I haven’t screamed as loud at the TV since then but I sure did again on Saturday.

Anyone else see NY traffic to a repeat of his starting gate antics from the Derby? Clothes-lined everyone to the right of him; took out Max player who then hit Authentic pretty briskly.

I’m not the biggest Robby Albarado fan in general but here I think he made the difference. This year, he is hungry in the way, say Mike Smith, just isn’t. Smith at this point in his career simply doesn’t dive inside and I can see him not willing that filly home like it is the last shot he will ever have at a big race. Smith certainly wouldn’t have spent days and days getting to know her which might have made all the difference with a headstrong opinionated filly.

Albarado for all of his checkered history was easy to root for Saturday and redemption is always a great story.

[RHdobes563]

@Where'sMyWhite

TVG shows pretty much the track feeds until they bump into NYRA or TwinSpires or NBC.

But even yesterday, TVG carried all the Pimlico races until IIRC the BE Susan and the Preakness. For those, I still watch TVG so I can see Gulfstream Park West, Laurel, Santa Anita, Keeneland, etc until TVG obligingly shows about 5 MTP and then I click over to NBC*.

How would the race call be different between NBC and what Maryland Racing provides. Don’t they both use the same official race caller, in this case Larry Collmus, during the running of the race?

I would have THOUGHT so, but in the NBC broadcast, Larry Collmus said just as Swiss Skydiver and Authenic were going under the wire, “…and is it going to be…” (hit wire) “… photo finish? Was it the filly? Swiss Skydiver, I think she did it!” The other announcer said, I googled, and I think it was Dave Rodman, “…head and head and nose and nose…SWISS SKYDIVER!”

Here is the Maryland Racing replay. You can’t hear the hoof falls, but it’s exciting–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq3F-rqjmyM

[Where_sMyWhite]

@RHdobes563

I would have THOUGHT so, but in the NBC broadcast, Larry Collmus said just as Swiss Skydiver and Authenic were going under the wire, “…and is it going to be…” (hit wire) “… photo finish? Was it the filly? Swiss Skydiver, I think she did it!” The other announcer said, I googled, and I think it was Dave Rodman, “…head and head and nose and nose…SWISS SKYDIVER!”

Here is the Maryland Racing replay. You can’t hear the hoof falls, but it’s exciting–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq3F-rqjmyM

Interesting as I would have thought just one race caller. Although Columbus I believe has been introduced as the voice of the Triple Crown (IIRC).

Collmus is getting around. He called Del Mar’s earlier meet and will be calling the Del Mar fall met. Trevor Denman, who is the usual Del Mar race caller, I believed declined to travel (which I totally understand).

late add:

I just watched the race video linked to on the Equibase page and yeah, doesn’t sound like Larry Collmus. :o

As for a hand ride by Albarado down the stretch. I didn’t see it… he was switching the whip between hands and didn’t look to me like he was fanning it at her.

Still like watching the reply. Gutty stretch run between two really good horses.

[ravenclaw]

@PeteyPie

Wow, did you see her equibase page? She was a $35,000 Keeneland bargain.

I read something that said she was in the 9th session of the Keeneland sale.

Does anyone know how tall she is? I have seen head-on shots that show she has a wider chest than Authentic, but she doesn’t look especially tall to me.

[BAC]

@RHdobes563

I hated it, too, and have despised the drone view in other races.

IMO, for a better view of the race, go to YouTube.com and click on the one posted by Maryland Racing rather than NBC Sports. Better race call, too, IMO.

Thanks for that tip, that is a better view than NBC’s coverage. Can you believe I misread the post time in our local paper and turned on the TV just as the race had ended? :eek:

[irish_horse]

Loved this race, so gutsy! The speed was incredible. For those more in the know, so you think the “standard” Preakness scheduling of middle of May being pushed out to October, thus the horses having four more months of growing/training were a factor in that faster speed? I do think all of this year Triple Crown races are going to have an asterisk next to them, but have still enjoyed watching.

[snaffle1987]

@Pronzini

I’m not the biggest Robby Albarado fan in general but here I think he made the difference. This year, he is hungry in the way, say Mike Smith, just isn’t. Smith at this point in his career simply doesn’t dive inside and I can see him not willing that filly home like it is the last shot he will ever have at a big race. Smith certainly wouldn’t have spent days and days getting to know her which might have made all the difference with a headstrong opinionated filly.

Albarado for all of his checkered history was easy to root for Saturday and redemption is always a great story.

having flashbacks to Calvin Bo-rail here. one of the greatest rides in any triple crown race was him on Mine that Bird practically riding on top of the rail fence to come through an almost non existent hole. he rode Rachel Alexandra similarly. putting it all on the line and knowing what type of horse is sitting under him. I always respected Calvin for that.

[snaffle1987]

@irish_horse

Loved this race, so gutsy! The speed was incredible. For those more in the know, so you think the “standard” Preakness scheduling of middle of May being pushed out to October, thus the horses having four more months of growing/training were a factor in that faster speed? I do think all of this year Triple Crown races are going to have an asterisk next to them, but have still enjoyed watching.

I think so; But also look how many races Swiss has under her belt compared to most of her Colt-counterparts in the race (this year). She has have a very “hot” schedule for a 3 yr old and she has had plenty of time to gather experience. Authentic was bouncing out of his skin prior to the race, he was tuned to run. I don’t think he would’ve been the horse to win the Derby had it have been in May.

I think both horses looked fabulous in the Preakness. Props to Authentic for keeping up with her and only losing by a head. I am just not a fan of his running style and overall looks. narrow chest and he runs so crooked his head is practically in Swiss’ travelling path. I think his crooked nature tends to have himself carry more to the middle of the track as well. Hence running where he did down the backside as well as running middle of the track in the derby… had there been a horse closer to his flank mid-stretch he could’ve been in trouble there as well. I am surprised Johnny V continues to hit him left handed given his nature.

[skydy]

@BAC

Thanks for that tip, that is a better view than NBC’s coverage. Can you believe I misread the post time in our local paper and turned on the TV just as the race had ended? :eek:

I had to watch the replay as well (I was distracted.) Sometimes it’s better that way, so I don’t have to worry about breakdowns or jockey injuries.

NBC really doesn’t cover racing well for people who actually care about the horse part of horse racing. No paddock coverage, no mention of the horse’s breeding…