Look, a lot of what you guys said is true, but there is more to it than that. First of all, even assuming that the vet info released is true (not a sure thing) there was bruising in all 4 legs. I actually was supposed to write an article for the Thoroughbred Daily News about this, but haven't gotten around to it-- I suppose now I'll have to.

The point is this-- take a look at the horses that have run in all 3 legs of the Triple Crown over the last 10 years or so. They don't necessarily immediately break down, and sometimes run well once or twice again over the summer. But they are never the same, and have done very little of note from Labor day of their 3yo years on. There are some minor one race exceptions (Silver Charm and Real Quiet, for example) and Skip Away, and one other big exception that I have some familiarity with-- but Victory Gallop only ran twice before the Derby, and still only got to run 4 times as a four year old before he gave way.

There is absolutely no reason the Triple Crown should be contested over a 5 week period, and it's costing the game its stars. Ideally it should be 8 weeks, but even if they won't go that far, the two weeks between the Derby And Preakness is punitive-- it just destroys horses.



TGJB