Belmont Blues (1 Viewer)

[tdubel]

Oh well, another year and counting and No Triple Crown Winner. Big horse racing fan and I really thought Big Brown was the one, today he looked like a different horse, WOW> We saw him at the Preakness up close and personal (my seats are on the finish line) and he looked like the second coming of Secretariat, today he looked like a training pony. What a shame, there is something beautiful and immortal about Triple Crown Winners.

TD

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

It looked like he was favoring that problem foot. The jockey pulled up on him in the stretch.

 

[tdubel]

Ya, that's what I saw too.

I remember when I was a little guy back in 1979, the Maryland owned Spectacular Bid going for the Triple. Boy, you talk about tears, I think the entire State was in disbelief when he lost at Belmont due to the safety pin in the hoof and jockey error. I remember school was almost out and the Monday in school was like a day of mourning. Funny thing is, the Bid went on to a 4 yr old season where he was unbeaten and his final race was a walkover and ended up being one of the most winning horses ever.

TD

 

[jazzeum]

The speculation is that the steroids had a lot to do with his early success. At any rate it takes a special horse to win the Triple Crown. The first horse that I remember and was one of those also rans was Kauai King back in the mid 60s. What a great horse. I was very disappointed when he didn't win the Belmont. He still sticks out in my memory.

 

[jazzeum]

Another great horse was Canonero II, losing to Pass Catcher in 1971.

 

[gk5717]

Brad, your showing your age, come on admit it, you remember when the horse was the main mode of transportation!
Gary

 

[jazzeum]

What can I say Gary, I was 16 when Kauai King won the Derby and Preakness in 1966 and it was exciting. I had that SI cover for years (until my mother tossed it when I was in college )

 

[Leadmen]

I was bummed out after the race. I was really hoping Big Brown would be a Triple Crown Winner. That Belmont is a bummer on the leading horses. Leadmen

 

[Spitfrnd]

It looked like he was favoring that problem foot. The jockey pulled up on him in the stretch.

The hoof crack was a non issue. The jockey pulled him because he just wasn't feeling right and was clearly not his normal self. There are more reasons that you can imagine for that to happen. Sometimes they can have a bit of something that just makes them feel like not performing, as can humans. The difference is we generally can't understand what they are telling us about what it is. He is still a great horse in my book and it is really not likely the steriods made that much difference.

Crying shame though, I was ready to finally see another TC winner. Barbaro would have done it if he hadn't been injured.

 

[jazzeum]

Sometimes something sets you off in the morning and it can affect your whole day. I'm sure this has happened to all of us. Who says it can't happen to horses.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Sometimes something sets you off in the morning and it can affect your whole day. I'm sure this has happened to all of us. Who says it can't happen to horses.

I can say for sure it does happen to horses. I have seen it many times over the years I have owned them. Also, a sudden change in temperature, especially cool to hot, can affect them just as much as it does us and just like us, some are more sensitive to it than others.