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I regret overlooking him because he was poised to give the performance that he did. He got far less publicity than any horse in the field in large part because the winner Rich Strike was not even supposed to run. That was a big reason why he was 80-1. But still he was a rapidly improving 3 year old which handicappers are supposed to look for in this race. Beyers (performance rating that I respect) up every race and he had the best closing Timeform in the entire field. I look for that when handicapping the races but I overlooked him and I am blaming myself for doing so.
Overlooked all around...and his pedigree indicated that he should be something special. Keen Ice, his sire, beat American Pharoah. His Damsire also damsired Mine That Bird.
Quote:
Originally Posted by otterhere
The pony rider behaved totally inappropriately. They should sue him!
The owner or trainer disagreed. Think hard, do they let rank amateurs outride at the Kentucky Derby? No. He had a 1,000 lb animal he was trying to control while getting bit. He kept the horse safe, and everyone else safe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lunetunelover
I thought that too...but then I remembered Rich Strike is now a $3 million dollar horse. You don't let $3M horses just run out their aggressions on a field with lots of other million dollar horses - that's how they end up injured and dead.
Rich Strike was definitely up in his muscles and running hot after that race. He probably needed a bit more time to calm down - or the crowd noise and all the activity stressed him out.
To an outsider (and I am one) the outriders actions probably looked much worse. In the end, it was his responsibility to get that horse under control. I don't approve of his technique necessarily, but I wasn't there.
You would if you were getting bit like the outrider was.
Rich Strike was being a jerk. And he's a 1,000 lb horse, he wasn't hurt.
Cannot wait for the Preakness this Saturday, and to see what Rich Strike (hopefully?) has in store for us.
The overhead view of the Derby was amazing.
Whenever I get a little down on life, I watch the '73 belmont with Secretariat and I still get a thrill every time I hear Chic saying that Secretariat is moving like a 'tremendous machine...'
One of my favorite quotes of all time is 'You want to know who Secretariat is in human terms? Just imagine the greatest athlete in the world. The greatest. Now make him six-foot-three, the perfect height. Make him real intelligent and kind. And on top of that, make him the best-lookin' guy to ever come down the pike. He was all those things as a horse.' -- Seth Hancock.
(The only human comparison I would ever make is Michael Jordan, but sorry, even then Secretariat has MJ beat hands down in my book.)
Cannot wait for the Preakness this Saturday, and to see what Rich Strike (hopefully?) has in store for us.
The overhead view of the Derby was amazing.
Whenever I get a little down on life, I watch the '73 belmont with Secretariat and I still get a thrill every time I hear Chic saying that Secretariat is moving like a 'tremendous machine...'
One of my favorite quotes of all time is 'You want to know who Secretariat is in human terms? Just imagine the greatest athlete in the world. The greatest. Now make him six-foot-three, the perfect height. Make him real intelligent and kind. And on top of that, make him the best-lookin' guy to ever come down the pike. He was all those things as a horse.' -- Seth Hancock.
(The only human comparison I would ever make is Michael Jordan, but sorry, even then Secretariat has MJ beat hands down in my book.)
The Preakness is not Saturday. It's always held 2 weeks after the Derby which will be May 21 this year.
This tradition or whatever needs to change. Screw the history/tradition, I don't care. It's better for all involved, especially the horses that these races be spaced out more. 4-5 weeks apart for all 3 (including the Belmont Stakes) should be the minimum and a common sense decision.
If you or anyone else wants to pull up a great race see the 1989 Preakness. I was on the rail right in front in mid-stretch and saw Sunday Silence beat Easy Goer by a nose in a thrilling stretch dual. To this day it is the best race I ever saw in person or on TV. Part of that is also because I bet Sunday Silence to win and also hit the exacta with multiple tickets.
Whenever I get a little down on life, I watch the '73 belmont with Secretariat and I still get a thrill every time I hear Chic saying that Secretariat is moving like a 'tremendous machine...'
I was too young to actually watch that race. Thank goodness for youtube on this event.
Every. Single. Time. I watch that race, I get chills.
While Big Red is not my favorite racehorse (that would be Smarty Jones) he comes in a close second for me.
The Preakness is not Saturday. It's always held 2 weeks after the Derby which will be May 21 this year.
This tradition or whatever needs to change. Screw the history/tradition, I don't care. It's better for all involved, especially the horses that these races be spaced out more. 4-5 weeks apart for all 3 (including the Belmont Stakes) should be the minimum and a common sense decision.
If you or anyone else wants to pull up a great race see the 1989 Preakness. I was on the rail right in front in mid-stretch and saw Sunday Silence beat Easy Goer by a nose in a thrilling stretch dual. To this day it is the best race I ever saw in person or on TV. Part of that is also because I bet Sunday Silence to win and also hit the exacta with multiple tickets.
Why Smarty Jones when Secretariat was indisputably the GOAT?
No Preakness or Triple Crown for Rich Strike, it was announced...
To be honest, I'm not sure why Smarty won my heart. He just did. And "meeting" him was pretty darn cool too! I now can say he chewed on my coat.
Not too surprised about no Preakness - many people think it's too tight a schedule. And it's also possible he didn't come out of the race as well as they had hoped. I haven't been following much. Guess it's time to go to Bloodhorse.com
Why Smarty Jones when Secretariat was indisputably the GOAT?
No Preakness or Triple Crown for Rich Strike, it was announced...
Thanks.
Excerpt from The Daily Racing Form:
Quote:
Both Rick Dawson, who owns Rich Strike, and Eric Reed, the colt’s trainer, said they believed running back in two weeks was not in the best interests of Rich Strike. They said giving him five weeks between starts was more suitable.
Quote:
Dawson released a statement through the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Pimlico, saying “what’s best for Ritchie,” his nickname for Rich Strike, “is what’s best for our group.”
Dawson said Rich Strike thus “will pass on running in the Preakness, and point toward the Belmont.”
Dawson said that prior to the Derby, the “race outcome” and “the condition of our horse” would drive his schedule, saying if Rich Strike “needed more recovery time,” the Belmont was appropriate.
“Obviously, with our tremendous effort & win in the Derby,” the statement read, “it’s very tempting to alter our course & run in the Preakness at Pimlico, which would be a great honor for all our group, however, after much discussion & consideration with my trainer, Eric Reed & a few others, we are going to stay with our plan.”
Reed, echoing Dawson’s statement, told Daily Racing Form, “We always want to do what’s right by the horse.”
“We felt like maybe the Preakness just isn’t the right fit for the horse,” Reed said. “The horse is fine. We’ll look forward to running in the Belmont.”
The races ARE too close together. It's not in the best interest of the horses, but then not much about horseracing is...
I agree. Good move.
That said, four years down, 33 to go. Iykwim.
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