Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Cassandra.Says — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 20:36:54 GMT

Let me rephrase that: Imagine the Derby WITH a run-up. There would still be horses losing all chance in the scrum out of the gate, but fewer.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Cassandra.Says — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 20:14:07 GMT

Steve from St. Louis:

I puzzled over that for a while and decided the idea is to give the horses as much space as you can to spread out and get organized before they hit the clubhouse turn. The safety of horses and riders is safeguarded and the race more truly run if the field has a couple of extra jumps to get straight and get over before they're into the turn.

I know QH people, time focused as they are, who think we cheat like bandits, but their horses run on a straightaway. (They'll never believe how little time and attention we spend comparing TB first quarters with QH times.)

Think of the Derby with a 20-horse field and no runup. The race would shape up differently. The significance of the post draw would be magnified and changed.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

lunar spook — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:56:10 GMT

PEDIGREE ANN - I like your point about the "two race" start before the derby , one reason I find the derby so hard to handicap (besides the ridiculous 20 horse field) is the fact that many contenders are too lightly raced to get a feel for , the derby was secretariats TWELTH race , you just don't see that anymore !

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Bill Two — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:31:56 GMT

That was quite a battle in the Withers. I just hope both of those horses come back all right. Sometimes when horses extend themselves in a race long duel they don't always come back to form. For those who have been around awhile I'm talking about the Gotham where Proud Appeal and Cure The Blues hooked up in a suicidal duel from start to finish in very fast time. Neither horse was ever the same afterwards.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

steve from st louis — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 16:38:26 GMT

Steve, what is it about Tampa's surface that trainers like? It used to be Florida Downs for years and no one cared. Now, it seems it has moved up the Derby food chain ever since Steet Sense and Any Given Saturday threw down a few years ago. Now its' "quirky" surface is a desirable prep surface? Also, another question if I might. Explain the run-up to me; why there are so many different distances and what does it accomplish? sometimes 40 ft sometimes 60 ft sometimes 20 ft. What gives?

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Pedigree Ann — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:22:10 GMT

A bad break and the horse never gets in the race. That's what wrong with the 'two race' Derby prep paradigm - there is no wiggle-room if something goes awry. I hope those trainers who are waiting until later to begin their 'two-start campaign' don't end up trying to rush to make up for a throw-out race.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Cynthia Holt — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:18:58 GMT

This was a cracking good race! It is the stories behind the scene which are often more compelling than the result. Thank you, Steve, for seeking these out and relating them as only you can. This is what racing is all about.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

trackjack — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 13:26:15 GMT

Thanks Steve for the backdrop on these two. Great story and I love your quotes from Abbot and Costello and Ralph Kramden. Not only did Noble Cornerstone break awkwardly, Kent Desormeaux said he "freaked" in the gate. Kent had to get off for a moment and then when back on, Noble Cornerstone had his head cocked to the left when the gate opened. Back to school for him.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Racingfan — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 02:07:06 GMT

What a nice background story! Thanks for the scoop! How exciting for them to have two babies running the same day! Hope Noble has better luck next time!

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: The 'Ol One-Three

Extrasexyhipzter — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:53:08 GMT

Extrasexyhippzster & Exit Stage Left are on the upswing, both need to prove themselves in their next start, and will need to get it done/hit the board in a Graded Stakes