California Chrome

[xmontrealer]

Almost surprised there is no prior thread on this subject.

I'm no horse racing expert, or even a general follower of the sport.

However, ever since i saw the great Secretariat (live on TV) capture the Triple Crown (winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes) in winning the 1973 Belmont Stakes by an astounding 31 lengths, I've been fascinated by the quest for the Triple Crown.

As is well known, no other horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, despite quite a few attempts by horses who won the first two races, but could not win the Belmont.

Well, yesterday California Chrome, who was a heavy favourite to win the Belmont, and thus the Triple Crown this year, came in at a dead heat tie for fourth. The winning horse, Tonalist, had passed by the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and therefore had relatively fresh legs for the grueling mile and a half Belmont distance. Apparently that horse seems to love the Belmont Park track, and did quite well there in previous races there this year, but with much greater rest in between races.

Disappointing for myself, and I'm sure immeasurably more so for the race fans who bet on California Chrome, and his owners and trainer. His owners after the race were quite angry and vocal about horses being allowed to run in the Belmont without first having run in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and thus being much more rested than California Chrome.

I see their point. However under the present rules there is no requirement for that. And I can understand an owner, who feels his horse is best suited to Belmont and the extra distance involved in the Belmont Stakes, might want to win that one and the prize money and prestige, etc. involved without tiring his horse out in the earlier races, especially if he feels his horse is less well suited to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness race tracks and the shorter distances involved, given the very strong competition.

All of that said, I fear it will take another super-horse such as Secretariat to come along before we will see another Triple Crown winner. Sure hope it will be in my lifetime.

 

[blackrock13]

Congrats to CC.


Secretariats 31 lengths is just off the charts.

 

[interactive]

I wanted to see CC do it as well but he was flat.
His owner was classless.
Yesterday was not the 'Triple Crown' race it was 'The Belmont' put on by NYRA. Pimlico (Preakness) also runs a 3 yr old major race as does Churhhill (The Derby). There are many 3 yr old races, plenty to come as well. These three are referred to as the triple crown. There is also a filly series called the triple tiara. Tonalist entered, ran & won The Belmont. End of.
The owner was fairly new to the game and achieved massive success and lost sight of it all. Unfortunately, rather than apologize today went went on his rant again!.
The accomplishment of winning the Derby, Preakness & Belmont in a short span of time, early in your 3 year old year and facing new comers at each point is what makes winning all three (The Triple Crown) an insumountable feat. An impossible feat. Very few have ever done it. That's why it is a big deal.
Look, they changed the rules to allow CC to wear his nasal strip.
Tonalist was unhealthy and couldn't compete in the Wood so he didn't qualify to get in the Derby (it is limited to the top 20 starters).
If my horse is a 1 1/2 specialist (the Belmont length) and hates 1 1/4 or sorter races, I am to skip a major event because it would spoil CC's owners limelight?
What if the winner of the Kentucky Derby doesn't want to run in the next two races? Do we cancel them? He lacks an understanding of the game.
Great race by the way.

Just my rant - not directed at OP

 

[Aardvark154]

The British Triple Crown: the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby, and the Saint Leger are run over a period of four months. The American Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes are run over the period of four to five weeks. Either the time period needs to be extended or there needs to be a limit placed on fresh horses running in the Belmont Stakes.

 

[interactive]

Or just stop referring to it as the 'triple crown' and accept that three races are close. Lots and lots of the 3 y.o. races are close - so much so that you have to chose which one suits your plan.
Maybe they should have them in the fall as our Canadian horses are months behind in fitness with our weather.
Look at out triple crown - 1 1/14 polytrack at Woodbine - 1 /16 dirt at Fort Erie and then 1 1/2 turf at Woodbine - that makes no sense.
Each race suits a particular type of horse. But it hs been done - and been done by a versatile horse worthy of the Canadian Triple Crown - yep - only Canadian breds can compete.

 

[Dawgger]

It is 3 separate races that make up the mythical "Triple Crown". After the Derby there is only one horse that can win it. The way the owner carried on you would think he got beat by nose in a photo. The horse just didn't have it in the Belmont. Crap he paid squat for the horse, it has won a ton of money, it will make a ton more, his sour grapes are exactly that.

 

[Nad Smith]

I can never understand why they don't change dates. The Derby is the first Saturday in May. How about the Preakness on the last Saturday in may and the Belmont on the last Saturday in June. Easy to remember and more consistent with today's practice of resting horses.

Did you know that Seabiscuit raced more than 100 times in his career? He won 38. Nowadsys a horse's career can be less than 20 races.