Certainly in a long long time. Ratings aside, which were outstanding, best sporting event # since the Super Bowl and for horse racing in twenty years. The horse racing in twenty years number is almost irrelevant, like comparing apples to oranges. All of those numbers were pre-cable and on a 3 station dial for the most part.

I have read almost all the post race articles and the Big Boys stepped up and delivered: Beyer, Hovdey, Haskin, Crist and to many others to mention. They did what a Great Writer is supposed to do when the home team has laid it on the line and lost. They helped the pain begin to go away.

The view of Belmont from where I was watching was almost surreal with fans, it looked like, hanging from the rafters to catch a glimpse. New York as usual was the perfect "the biggest stage".

The sport is facing a lot of challenges but there are outlets out there now that didn't exist before, primarily "The Net". No one watches the 11:25 Sports anymore and besides when the guy has 3 minutes to talk where is he going to fit horse racing. Daily newspapers are getting smaller and smaller and smaller and......you get the point.

The powers that be (Crist and Co) are visionary's and a new breed but they need co-operation. With Satelite and The Net, Racing can get in peoples doors like never before.

When they do they need to stay there.