More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

sweet terchi — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:02:05 GMT

I'm missing something here, ethics and morals equal book smarts????

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Fire Slam — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:20:19 GMT

Soldier Course--

"A bad ride combined with an ethical or moral decision." Keep your book smarts away from race track blogs. No need for them.

Do you really think pulling Big Brown up in the Belmont was a moral decision? KD saw he was beat, and pulled up.

If C-BO had taken off of the filly, then that would have been a character flaw. Instead, he became the first jock to take off a Derby winner, did it for a filly at that, and then went out and won the race. That took character, courage, heart, and commitment.

Wait a minute, all of those things are what makes a hall of famer.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

stakes boy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:43:46 GMT

Cot is generally right on Borel. As someone as put it,he blew it with Street Sense in he 07 Preakness(celebrating early) and never learned from his Street Sense year. He seems like a great guy, but clueless on doing his pre race homework, interviews, etc.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Fritzel — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:51:43 GMT

Cot Campbell's column was terrific; beautiful writing and right on the money.

Calvin will be OK and give us lots of great rides and "Chip" Woolley should get some sort of award for Gentleman of the Year.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

da3hoss — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:21:13 GMT

Soldier Course, KD would still get in because the vast majority of his hundreds & hundreds of rides have earned him that spot...Bill Shoemaker stood up too soon on Gallant Man, Chris McCarron takes the blame for a bad ride that cost Alysheba big time, Pat Day has misjudged the finish line...anyone who plays the game thousands of time in their career and makes only a few mistakes...albeit glaring ones if its a big race...just shows they are human.

I am totally mystified at KD saying "if he had enough horse"...that just boggles my mind...what a diss to BB and RQ, too bad he couldn't be bothered to give SB even one "atta boy" pat for getting him his goal of a Belmont win.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Soldier Course — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:06:53 GMT

da3hoss:

A bad ride in and of itself will not keep a jockey from being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

There's no better example of that than Bill Shoemaker. Mr. Shoemaker was inducted in 1958, just one year after the 1957 Kentucky Derby when he misjudged the finish line, stood up in the irons prematurely, and cost Gallant Man the win.

But if a bad ride is accompanied by something more, like an ethical or moral issue, that becomes another matter altogether.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Soldier Course — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:11:20 GMT

da3hoss:

Yes, isn't that interesting? KD was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, four years before the Big Brown debacle. Wonder what would happen if the voting on his nomination took place now?

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

da3hoss — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:25:11 GMT

Karen D., did KD actually say that "when he had the horse" he could win the Belmont??? With two TC's on the line and his questionable riding in both, especially his ride on Real Quiet, when (arguably) he also moved way too soon for that loooong stretch run, and he's saying BB and RQ weren't enough horse???

Soldiers Course: And he's in the HOF...

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

da3hoss — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:24:09 GMT

To everyone who thinks we "need" a Triple Crown winner...no we don't...we need a horse who can win the Triple Crown, whatever the track, whatever the competition, whatever "new and fresh" competitors run, whatever the traffic problems...that's what the 3 TC winners I've had the privilege of seeing did..no one "created" the optimal scenario so they could win.

Looks like Man O'War "spoiled" a TC bid by bypassing the KD and then having the audacity to win the Preakness and Belmont...racing may have "needed" a TC winner and he ruined it....

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Fire Slam — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:25:47 GMT

Soldier Course--

By the way, if the hall selects members based on character over accomplishments, then no one in horse racing would be in.

Every trainer, jock, and owner have been involved in the "giving a horse a race, or schooling them."

This is basically deceiving the betting public, which is anything but good character. I dont know how many times we had a horse making its first start, and would be 3-5 or so, and we would tell the jock to just school them. Needless to say, the horse did not win. Next time out, bam the horse wins

Better rethink character judgments.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

fire slam — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:20:02 GMT

Soldier Course--

When it comes to folks like you, manners need not apply.

C-Bo is a blessing to horse racing. Leave the man alone. He chose the filly and won.

To take off the Derby winner and stick with a filly, who he has a heart felt connection with, knowing there would be critics, now that is character.

He listened to his heart and won. So go back to your clubs or societies, or whatever they are, and continue to judge people based on your standards.

Not really sorry for busting your bubble, but your not that important.

HORSE RACING NEEDS MORE FOLKS LIKE C-BO.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Soldier Course — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:29:03 GMT

fire slam:

Did you forget that you asked me a question yesterday (June 19 at 12:31)?

Your question was: How can staying with the filly stop him (Borel) from getting into the Hall of Fame?

In effect, you were asking me to provide further explanation of the two comments about Borel that I had submitted that morning. I did what you asked and submitted my answer to your question about an hour after you posed it to me.

Your rant posted on June 20 at 2:17 reveals that you not only forgot your question but also your manners.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

Judy Conley — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:41:07 GMT

Mr. Cot Campbell

You told the world in one article what really happened during all three phases of the Triple Crown. Mine That Bird is a sensational horse. Nicely penned!!!

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

fire slam — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:17:37 GMT

Soldier Course--

Dont really care what societies you were head of. Not really sure how that is related to this blog????

However, if your fancy titles make you feel better then most, and more qualified, then good for you.

Pretty sure if panel members don't consider the following traits to be of good character then C-Bo don't want in the hall--hes too good for your kind: mucking stalls at 4 in the morning, paying tribute to parents after big wins, never turning down an autograph request, and always showing respect towards others when talking.

Hard work is an example of someones character. Some hide behind fancy titles (like you), others go out and actually work from sun up until sun down.

Whats is so ironic, is C-Bo don't bother anyone. He has discovered the secret to life. Find what matters to you, and forget about the critics like you who really don't matter.

Not bad for someone who never finished school and never would have qualified for your elite clubs based on academics.

re: More Hero; Less Goat - By Cot Campbell

blacksmith1972 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:00:01 GMT

calvin is a true horseman an excellent jock and a great human being what other jockey do you know that cleans stalls gallops horses and is always smiling people make mistakes media attention will disuade most people remember calvin is from louisiana plenty of down home there he is "old school" there should be more riders like him now a days you put on a helmet and walla your a jockey when he came up you worked your way up congrats calvin . jessie baker