How did you like the Triple Crown Race this year and the Belmont in particular? Steve Colburn even with his mouth getting out of control got racing more publicity than it has had in years. No horses were hurt or had any career ending injuries which brings sadness and poor publicity. Just an irate owner than was mad because he lost. I have had a few of those, just without microphones or cameras in front of their face.
I thought CC was obviously a top horse. I thought he won the Derby at the draw for post as he had a huge advantage in the five hole. For his type of running it was the perfect spot. Same in the Preakness. I thought he didn’t get the best draw in the Belmont and when he got bumped by the horse on the outside of him, he didn’t get a great position in the first turn which compromised the rest of the race for him. Down the backside he seemed unsettled and not relaxed like in previous races. He was kind of boxed in and then he got out and made the wide turn and still as far as the eighth pole you thought he might grind it out and get the win. But he didn’t and got beat less than two lengths. I know the guys that owned him and trained him as well as the rest of the world were disappointed, as most were hopeful of a Triple Crown winner this year. It was a great build up for a big let down.
Colburn wasn’t completely wrong going off on Churchill but could have handled it better. I read that Belmont’s service to the patrons was not good. Pre paid parking problems; service in the stands, mixed up seating and the biggest thing was the closing of the train platform (for what they thought were safety reasons) after the race so people had to walk a lot farther to board the train. That train platform is only used on Belmont Day now where previously the train ran every race day to Penn Station.
It will be interesting to see if Colburn shows up at Churchill Saturday night (June 14th) as this is when they traditionally give the engraved winning trophy to the connections.
Regarding all the talk about changing the format of the Triple Crown that would be completely suicidal for racing. First, the management for the three tracks that hold the three races in the Triple Crown don’t intermingle together outside of the nomination money. For each track it is the biggest day of the year and it is also the biggest five weeks in racing. It helps a lot if a horse is still on the trail for the Triple Crown when it hits the Belmont. It’s a time when racing gets the most attention of the national and international media. Each track and city has major festivals around their particular race as well.
Do you think the Preakness would have the crowd they have if they put it in June? In Maryland everyone is at the shore by June. You know Churchill is not changing the first Saturday in May. Putting the Belmont in July would conflict with other major events already scheduled in that area not to mention that it is hotter in the deep summer. Last Saturday on Belmont day, that was the biggest thing in sports and it received very high TV ratings. The Triple Crown is not supposed to be easy to win. Changing it would destroy it.