The Belmont - Page 2

Not fifth...dead heat for forth.

Chrome received a gash to it's right foot during the race...

here is a link to the article, which also contains a picture of the injury...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RAC_CALIFORNIA_CHROME_INJURY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-06-07-22-42-24

Disappointing :(

Chrome looked like he was out for a jog. I thought his owners bitter remarks were in poor sportsmanship.....even if what he said is true.

ML.....The gash looks like he over reached in his stride and caught the back of his front foot with his back foot. I have had horses do that. It's not an injury that would typically slow them down unless the wound is laid wide open and even then not by much.

Sounds like the setup for a grudge match could be coming up at the Breeder's Cup. Is Tonalist going to be there?

"Chrome looked like he was out for a jog." 

I thought the same thing. Going to the saddling area and then riders up, the horse is kept so controlled, he doesn't have a chance to build adrenaline for the race...look how lathered Tonalist was allowed to get on the way to the track. Plus, Chrome's jockey prided himself in pulling Chrome up each race when he knew they had it won...before crossing the finish line, "saving the horse for another race". Teaches a horse to lose a longer race than he's ordinarily in. The last half mile, to him, was just cooling down time. That's my opinion based on my experience galloping horses.

Joan.....I hadn't heard that remark from the jockey, but your right.

How can they expect the horse to keep trying to win at a distance he's never run before when he's used to quitting before the wire?

Did you notice that the jockey had Chrome in a tight hold (standing almost vertical in the stirrups) most of the way? I thought the jockey should have gotten the whip out (for a tap) to wake him up sooner, then ridden him instead of sitting on him down the stretch. Looked like he only asked Chrome once (to late) to get up and go.

BEE....nah....I bet they retire him. 

Hey, yeah. Go to LA Times California Chrome falls short.

Shows some really good pics of the race. One where Tonalist and the second place horse are coming to the wire...look under Tonalist's front leg....C Chrome is there, jock standing up, hands on his withers like he's out for a gallop. Too bad. You never know what is real and what isn't when it comes to racing and high stakes, big bets. Didn't look to me like the jock was riding a race at all.

The Belmont has always been the toughest race to win. It separates the sheep from the goats. And being up against fresh horses didn't stop Secretariat from winning, going away! 

IMO, the truly great will not lose, no matter which horses they are up against.

Sunsilver, the Belmont not the Preakness....I know that was just a mis-speak.:-)

Secretariat was a freak of nature.

There have been fewer triple crown winners than horses beaten by fresh horses. It's cheating to come in as a triple crown contender then skip two races to come in fresh and trained for only one race. 

They should stop calling it the TRIPLE CROWN if a horse is allowed to enter only one.....

I think a lot of trainers and owners think it but no one has ever said it out load......especially as publicly as Chrome's owner did.

What do you think......will New York change the date as Maryland is considering doing?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/changing-the-dates--not-the-rules--publiclyis-the-best-way-to-fix-horse-racing-s-triple-crown-210620100.html

I see it as a good thing for all concerned, horse owners, trainers and the image of the racing industry.

Earning the title of Triple Crown Winner would remain a challenge, but not an unattainable title as it currently stands.