Silver Charm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Andy is as wrong on this one as he was when he
> picked Barbaro to win the Criple Crown.
>
> The fact that increased spacing provides the Derby
> winner more of an opportunity to rest, it also
> provides more of an opportunity to the late
> developing new shooters and other competitiors to
> get ready and rested also. Hence making the task
> more difficult.
>
> Certainly attendance is an issue if it conflicts
> with the holiday schedule of the supporting
> community. However it is this kind of
> head-in-the-sand thinking from the Maryland Jockey
> Club that has had racing behind the curve for the
> last 40 years anyway.
>
> The fact that Andy would use his bully pulpit on
> their behalf is a little disappointing to say the
> least.

Between Citation and Secretariat 25 years went by without a triple crown winner. Then there were 3 Triple Crown Winners in 6 years.

Racing came very, very close to Triple Crown winners in 1997, 1998, 2004 and last year in my opinion. Afleet Alex was good enough. All that stopped him was a Rebel Stakes virus and a deep Churchill rail. You can interpret that Virus in the Regression equation if you wish as it was part of it.

There is nothing wrong with the Current Triple Crown spacing that a good horse and a little luck won't overcome. Changing the format will only weaken the breed as infirm six week first backers trained with drugs will be a Triple Crown Winning contenders and go off to stud with acclaim to produce even weaker and less robust runners for the classics until you're spacing them two months apart and running them at seven furlong marathons. Additionally spacing will also impact the scheduling of every other major 3YO race including the Haskell, Travers and others.

Andy Beyer can't handicap to save his life, but he knows a little about the tradition of the game. And in this case we need to go back.

Back to the Future.