If there is actually a Triple Crown winner this year, I may REALLY start believing in the 2012 prophecy.
Wow, what a race. I didn't even think I'll Have Another stood a chance until the home stretch. Talk about a close one. Even with a pretty fast track, it just seems I'll Have Another likes to race with a leader in his sights. Impressive. I still don't like to think about the possibility of a Triple Crown winner actually happening, though. I would just jinx it. As a kid I used to get really invested in it, but now I try to be reserved... still... still
I never watch horse racing. I have been to a track once over seas and had fun with friends gambling over it. But this is one of those sports history moments I'll keep my eye on to see it happen(or not). On another note as it crossed my mind, if you have not seen the film Let It Ride I highly recommend you do so.
I hold out no hope for I'll Have Another to win the Belmont. I've been denied seeing one of my top 3 sports dreams come to fruition way too many times in my life. That said, the Preakness was very exciting. I agree; I didn't think he had a chance, either. He was still making up ground with 100 yards to go. I thought I'd missed it, too, because I turned on my TV late and I thought I saw the end of the race, so I switched to HD quickly because I know it's behind SD... but fortunately I'd been mistaken and I caught the start.
The "problem" with the Belmont is that it's like an extra 1/4 mile longer than the other two tracks, right?
1/4 longer than the Derby, which is a bit longer than the Preakness... although considering that he has run the leader down from behind both times that might not hurt I'll Have Another.
Yah, typically it's a combination of two issues -- being overtaken (where it wouldn't happen in a shorter race) or tiring too soon. But there's always hope!
Could an Arena mod please change the title to Triple Crown Races: The Belmont? There was news out of Belmont yesterday that I'll Have Another almost lost his chance before even getting to Saturday. A loose horse during a morning workout almost ran him over. Supposedly he is fine and I didn't see a video so I don't know if it was as close as they say, but it sounded like the horse clipped one of the boots on his leg (for protection) and they had varied their routine since they normally work on the rail and they were off the rail just enough for the other horse to slip by.
You owe me another brownie. That would have been a real shame. I hope that he's good to go for the race.
Good article from someone who doesn't want I'll Have Another to win. Pretty much sums up my conflicting thoughts right now. I want to see a triple crown winner very badly. I've been following racing since I was little and grew up reading the Thoroughbred books. It isn't the horse's fault, but man his connections are scum. Truth be told more will remember the horse and not so much the connections. I'm so conflicted.
My picks: Win: Union Rags Place: I'll Have Another Show: Street Life I want there to be a TC winner this year. I haven't experienced it in my lifetime and would like to. I'll keep my opinion vague here because I'm going off of what I've learned in reading discussions on another message board from people who are more knowledgeable about racing than I am and I know some of it might be incorrect, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find top horses who *don't* have some sort of questionable human connections, whether it's trainer violations or something else entirely. Several popular horses in recent years have gone through this same thing: love the horse, don't like the human(s). Actually with the discussions I've read, people seem to be questioning why certain human connections get ostracized and some don't for doing similar things. Come to think of it, I think I've heard more good things than bad about some of IHA's connections because of Lava Man. Whether all those connections are the same, I don't know. I realize my facts are lacking, but this is all just my general impressions and unknowledgeable opinion, nothing more. I know nothing about the human sides of past TC winners like Affirmed or Omaha or the like (though I just learned today that Sir Barton was given cocaine). I know about Secretariat's simply because the human side is so publicized even today. Maybe that human publicity will happen if IHA wins the TC, but I think most casual racing fans will remember the horse longer than the people. With all the hoopla about how Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra were the shot in the arm the industry needed to bring back the casual racing fans, I think a TC win either this year or soon would have an even bigger effect. (I still have some of my Thoroughbred books! Even painted a model to look like Ashleigh's Wonder. )
I'll Have Another's Belmont might not happen. OMG. I just saw news that they're holding a press conference at 1 today to say whether or not he's running. Rumors of a tendon injury are circulating. "A 1:00 p.m. press conference has been called at Belmont Park to announce the status of I’ll Have Another for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam will speak at the press conference. HRTV has tweeted a rumor that the Triple Crown candidate has a tendon injury. The horse went to the track at 5:45 a.m. June 8, differing from his daily routine of going to the track at 8:30 to do his training in the days leading up to the Belmont Stakes. Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70429/ill-have-anothers-belmont-status-in-doubt#ixzz1xDb550Ne "
The Thoroughbred Times is reporting that I'll Have Another has been retired from racing due to the injury. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/06/08/ill-have-another-likely-out.aspx Very sad to hear this. I'm glad they're doing right by the horse and not racing him in the Belmont while injured though. Revised picks: Win: Union Rags Place: Street Life Show: Five Sixteen
