Funny Cide goes for Triple Crown Today at Belmont

This could be history in the making.

 

I'm lost.

 

This is the third time in like the last 4 years someone has gone for the Triple Crown. Relax, it probably ain't gonna happen.

Though, Funny Cide is a cool name.

 

Hasn't happened in 1978, when it happened for the second year in a row (and third time in the decade).

The Belmont will always be synonymous with Secretariat's truly amazing win there.

 

I hear it's going to be mud heaven there with all the rain.

 

Triple Crown immortality is horse racing's greatest honor. Countless horses have tried and only 11 have succeeded.
In 1919, Sir Barton was the first horse to claim the Triple Crown, capturing the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year. Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) have followed in infamy.

In order to win a Triple Crown, a horse must win three long races in five weeks, at three different tracks, in three different states. Triple Crown hopefuls must first win the Kentucky Derby, where Aristedes grabbed the inaugural "Run for the Roses" in 1875. Barring injury, the Derby winner is shipped to the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. Survivor was the first Preakness winner in 1873. A Derby-Preakness champ then has a shot at Triple Crown immortality at the Belmont Stakes. The first Belmont winner was Ruthless in 1867.

There have been 17 horses that have won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown and failed to win at the Belmont. Two of them, Burgoo King in 1932 and Bold Venture in 1936, didn't run in New York.

Each of the past three years, horses have traveled to Belmont with Triple Crown hopes. Silver Charm and Real Quiet finished second in 1997 and 1998, respectively, while Charismatic placed third last year.


I hope Funny Cide wins it, but Empire Maker is a better horse and better odd to win it 6:5 (Funny Cide 1:1).

Secretariat (1973) is still the best horse ever.

 

What about Man o' War? He didn't win the Triple Crown?

 

I don't think Man o'War won the triple crown, but I'll check again.


Man O'War
Nickname 'Big Red'
Won 20 of 21 starts
Born 29th March 1917, Nursery Stud, Lexington, Kentucky
Breeder August Belmont
Bought $50000 by Samuel Riddle of Glen Riddle Farm
Trainer Louis Feustel
Debut Belmont Park 1919
Won Lawrence Realization Stakes and Jockey Club Stakes
at odds of 1/100
Only loss Sanford Memorial Stakes
Final race beat Sir Barton, first Triple Crown winner
Total winnings $249,46

Still my favorite horse:
Thirty years ago, Secretariat ran perhaps the greatest race in history, clinching the Triple Crown with a breathtaking 31-length victory in the Belmont on June, 9, 1973. The win gave racing its first Triple since Citation in 1948 -- ending 25 years between Triple Crowns.

 

How many years since Affirmed?

25

 

At last we come to it, the great Horse Race of our time.

 

Damn. Empire Maker wins

 

Yeah I guess Empire Maker struck back.

 

I was so about to make that joke Billy Bob.

 

Hrm, my brother said horse-racing is like watching Sumo Wrestling, the build-up being the best part.

...that and they both weigh roughly the same .


Mistryl's Paramour

 

I was really pulling for Funny Cide, especially after his amazing performance at the Preakness. He obviously didn't have the stamina for the longer track, though.

I'll admit Empire Maker was running beautifully. As one of the commentators put it, you could have balanced a glass of water on his back.

 

But why would you?

 

It was a sloppy track though... guess Cide can't run well in those conditions. But from what I saw he did pretty well anyway

And I agree Secritariat was an awesome horse... however Man O'war is my personal fav... (on the stallion side) Mares, I really think that Ruffian was pretty cool

 

I was going for that Green Polka-Dot one.
It was cool.

 

But why would you?

Why would you need to balance a jockey on his back, either?

 

I'm terribly sad that there wasn't a Triple Crown. I've been waiting for about three years. Every year, I look. These past two years we almost got one. Ohhh, it irked me so much.