Re: Always negative (914 Views)
Posted by:
jimbo66 (IP Logged)
Date: May 07, 2009 02:14PM
Covelj,
You are mixing a lot of horses into a group that I don't think belong mixed together.
Barbaro broke down and eventually died. You can make an argument that the big effort was part of it.
Smarty Jones was retired with a superficial injury that occurred after he was a victim of quite a bit of "race-riding" in the Belmont, where he fought off multiple pace challenges at a distance he was not well suited for. If he wasn't worth so much, he would not have been retired.
Quality Road had a quarter crack, which as an owner, you must know happens all the time. He missed a few days of training. Not a big deal, unless it happens a week before the Derby.
I am sorry and I say this with respect, but it sounds completely ridiculous to me when you talk about putting Rachel Alexander away for late in the year and the Breeders Cup. If the sport is down to that, and everybody starts believing what you and JB and others believe about big efforts ruining the horses, then the sport should end. it isn't a sport anymore. You have to be careful not to run fast when you win, but if your horse runs fast, take 4 months off.
On a related note, I hope Rachel Alexander doesn't run in the Breeders Cup, She would prove nothing by running in that race against Zenyatta on carpet. Run against Zenyatta on dirt somewhere. Or against the colts in the Preakness. Who cares about carpet results. Zenyatta, until proven otherwise, is a carpet runner.