Re: Sword Dancer: ? for the board (1068 Views)
Posted by:
moosepalm (IP Logged)
Date: August 30, 2016 10:35AM
richiebee Wrote:
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> My personal opinion is that had Gryder stayed on
> the rail, Javier Castellano could
> have yanked on the reins, made a hard right turn
> to the widest lane, and still run
> away from MM and the rest of this overmatched
> field. Possibly the only way to have
> made this race interesting would have been to have
> Flintshire carry 130 pounds and
> those days are gone.
>
> Its a Chad, Chad world and the biggest challenge
> now is to keep this guy happy until
> his throwdown with the Euros at Santa Anita, where
> Flintshire suffered his only NA
> defeat.
>
> As to the use of the rabbit, Juddmonte has done it
> before, most notably with Bullet
> Train, who used to assure an honest pace for the
> great Frankel.
>
> Hard to call a race "fixed" when the favorite, who
> laid over the field on paper and
> during the running, ended up prevailing.
Predictive outcomes shouldn't determine the legality of questionable tactics. Within seconds of the conclusion of the race, I heard from respected observers on two coasts asking, "Did you see that?" We worry about all sorts of flaws and foibles that negatively affect the perception of the sport, so why is it not reasonable to question this? The poor saps who foolishly wagered on Gryder's horse still deserved his best effort to win, and perhaps they got it, but it would be comforting to know that some form of authority is at least posting a belated inquiry, even if behind closed doors.