catherine Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm hoping this does not bring on a severe case of
> colic, but, here goes ...
>
> CTC wrote "However, it appears he feels like true
> race fans feel" ...
>
> Who the f%$! voted you the arbiter of what true
> race fans feel? If there is such a club, and if
> you decide what we all feel, I resign effective
> immediately!
>
> Those "true race fans" feel that "Changing the
> Format would cheapen the accomplishment and
> belittle what the great horses of the past
> achieved."
>
> Claptrap! How does anything that happens today
> diminish what happened in 1973 or 1948? You would
> have to have the simplest of minds, the most
> feeble excuse for an intellect, to think that were
> so. Changing the spacing in 2007 might diminish
> the accomplishment ... in 2007 or 2008. But it
> would have no bearing on what was accomplished 33
> or 58 years ago.
>
> Calling you a miserable excuse for a human being
> would be a mistake. It cheapens the
> accomplishments of all the other miserable excuses
> for human beings.
>
>

Dear Catherine,

Did you really attempt to apply logic to this debate?

Let me explain this in detail so the logic flows. Relax, I'm a professional and have experience at this.

1. The greats of yesteryear ran 20 or more races for the most part. Many of them were multiple year champions. Great horses do that or at least they did, before the Triple Crown race spacing was changed. That last sentence was technique, try to hang in here and not become overly befuddled.

2. If a future Barbaro bred wins the Derby in late April, the Preakness in June and the Belmont in August, (at 1 and 3/16's miles by the way), they may call him the first Triple Crown Champion since Affirmed. To the young and inexperienced he will be the equal of Affirmed. After all, he won the Triple Crown just like Affirmed. Breeders will vie for the Stallion Services and millions in Syndication will be earned for the privilage of breeding to this Stamina specimen.

3. Old and experienced horse fans may understand that there is no comparison between Affirmed's exploits and Barbaro II's exploits, but they will be mentioned in the same breath and those drawn to the wonderful world of Horse racing will see them as having accomplished the same great feat.

4. The conclusion is coming so this is the important part where you pay close attention.

5. Knowledgeable horse fans will certainly understand that winning the Triple Crown in 2010 does not compare with winning the Triple Crown in 1978, however that won't be publicized by the Networks or media. Whats important to those folks is a Champion and obviously you can't have a champion without a Triple Crown winner, even if you have to manufacture that Triple Crown win to sell a story, draw the fans, or make a hype come true. No worries that it changes the feat of winning the Triple Crown and lessens what that current Triple Crown winner actually is.

6. This is the big finish now, if you're chewing gum set it aside for just a moment.

7. So in that regard will the Triple Crown mean as much as it use to and if not how can you call Barbaro II a Triple Crown winner? Or in other words, Did Mark McGwire really set the record for Home Runs in a season before Barry Bonds allegedly set the record for Home Runs in a season? And who today holds Babe Ruth and Roger Maris in as high regard for their single season accomplishments? Or in other words were their monumental accomplishments overcome by the changed circumstances of artiface?

Now, you can put the gum back in and nod your head like you really do understand.

Hope you didn't stay with Bro Derek for that Preakness. Although, you did seem to be going the right direction against him in the Derby. That is before you went with him, if I recall correctly.