Haskin: Time to Move On

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

telesti — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 00:23:41 GMT

Letting Coburn off the hook for his childish rant is inconceivable, If he had even half as much class [ he doesn't ] , as his horse, it never would have happened. California Chrome is a wonderful, a very good horse, but he is not a great horse, not Triple Crown great anyway. He simply failed in the third leg like other horses have failed in the third leg, and for Coburn to suggest that the rules of horse racing should be changed because his horse failed as others had, is ludicrous. The fact of business is, Chrome would be better off if he were in the ownership of a man , or woman, who had a sense of dignity at least approaching that of the horse !!

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 23:20:00 GMT

ML/NJ,

What on earth are you talking about? First, in defense of Steve, he is one of the greatest turf writers not only of our time, but of ALL time, horse racing is his passion, and he has the genuine love of the thoroughbred at heart. Apparently you are not an athlete or have not been around them. The "picture that Steve painted" is one of an athlete, any athlete after a tough or fierce competition. There is nothing horrific about it, even human runners veins protrude after a 10K or 5K or marathon race. Weight lifters veins protrude and they are huffing and puffing too. I huffed and puffed myself up and down the basketball court in my day. There is nothing abnormal in California Chrome's post race physique, it's an athlete after a tough competition. The bleeding hoof, a battle scar to show for his fight to win. Unfortunately athletes in any sport have to walk away with minor injuries to show for their valiant efforts.

PETA can't be that shallow that they don't understand athletics, and if they are they need to go to school in the paddock themselves.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Love 'em all — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:00:02 GMT

You folks can bet on one thing! Steve Coburn will never have to hear his wife ask:

"Steve, are you a man or a mouse? Well, squeak up!"

That man proved to the world that he is human .... and he is a real man! Even more of a man when he apologized. Yes, I believe it was a sincere apology ... just a day later than most of us would've liked.

CC will always be my #12 TC winner, 'cause I'll never see another one at my old age of 73.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Hail No — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 18:50:01 GMT

Good gosh, Windolin, what a beautiful and moving retrospect, very, very, nice!

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Melissa P — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:53:38 GMT

Thank you! No one will forget California Chrome. This is the horse that won the three incredibly important races he competed in prior to the Belmont seemingly for fun. This is the horse who, while injured, still ran his guts out in the Belmont Stakes. I truly pray it's not over yet. He's just a 3-year-old who is growing each day. We still may be blessed to see the best he has to offer.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Windolin — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:53:05 GMT

The fact that Chrome came out of the race with no weight loss and a good appetite seals it for me that it was the injury and not the distance or being tired before the race. My big worry is how did he come out of the race mentally?..Did he leave his blood and sweat and chunk of his flesh and his confidence on that track? And since horses have forever memories, how much will the incident at the gate impact him? Working with horses is as much a mental thing as a physical one.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Drinks from a glass !! — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 06:38:21 GMT

thank you steve great day of racing kudos great commentary by all ..

the champ gave it all he had and we enjoyed all of it ...

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Lava'sStilltheMan — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 04:18:51 GMT

Thank you Steve for your spot on perspective. I traversed the country to experience Chrome's run at history and admired his courage in defeat. I have no regrets although disappointed at the outcome. I met many interesting characters at Belmont and was awed by the expanse of the track. It was an excellent card. Hats off to Tonalist. I never thought a Tapit colt would conquer that distance. I look forward to Chrome's return and will not forget my visit to the city that doesn't sleep. In retrospect I comment to friends that there is no sure thing in racing. That is the beauty of the game and heightens my appreciation for Affirmed and Slew. Secretariat and his predecessors were before my time, but I admire them from afar via the historical record. You sir have made Ruffian and Forego and so many others come to life for those like me who are too young to have experienced those horses firsthand. Thank you for enhancing my love of this beautiful and at times heartbreaking sport.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

grindstone619 — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 03:46:03 GMT

California Chrome could have broken down if he had taken a bad step while trying to run more comfortably on his injured foot. I also think that he felt the whip more than any other time in his life, which added to the pain and confusion. I lost my voice cheering for him at Belmont that day, but did not lose one ounce of respect for him--he's a champion. Your description of him going through the tunnel made me cry...again.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Paula Higgins — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 01:04:36 GMT

Art Sherman says CC is doing very well. He is eating well and holding his weight. In a few more weeks they will send him back to the farm for 6 weeks or so. Right now he is mostly in his stall getting lots of TLC. Good to hear. Jerry Bossert wrote an article today saying he believes that the gash was why he didn't win the Belmont. It could be. He ran an incredibly courageous race imo.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Windolin — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 22:13:38 GMT

For now the "Storybook of California Chrome" has been set aside. Is the story "to be continued" or will there will be an epilogue to the story that announces that he has been retired to spend his days courting the lovely ladies that will come calling?

While those of us who love this colt wait, we have time to bring closure to the loss of the Triple Crown so that we can move on.

To arrive at closure, we often have to experience emotional healing that has different stages that come in a different order. There is denial, anger, sadness, self doubt and most importantly the shedding of tears that cleanse our hearts and souls.

Chrome's loss of the Belmont was heartbreaking for me, but only a few tears welled up in my eyes.

While I watched the video of his long, lonely walk with Raul and Willie I was deeply saddened at the sight of three broken hearts, walking side by side. Just as you commented Steve, "But when I think back to this year’s Belmont Stakes, the one image that will last forever will be of an exhausted colt walking back through the tunnel with a bloodstained foot, his head down and breathing hard, and every vein protruding from his sweat-soaked body", I too will forever have the image seared in my mind of a colt limping back to his stall on a blood soaked foot. That beautiful head, which would be up proudly, was hanging low. Those bright eyes that would be looking all around were looking down and filled with sadness. Those ears, always up listening or when he racing, one pointed forward and one back listening to Victor. That face that always carried that look of sweetness and happiness now had the look of defeat written all over it. That gleaming copper coat that was always as bright as the California sun was a dark, dull brown from the sweat. Every fiber of his body was screaming pain and fatigue.

There was to be no walk to winner's circle today, no garland of flowers and no adoring fans to pose for and no roaring crowd shouting "Chrome Brought it Home". There was only the clicking of his hoofbeats, a few cameras snapping pictures and the only voices were those of a few people speaking in low hushed voices..:"look at that foot and asking "wonder where the owners are"?

Though my heart was breaking, still not enough tears to cleanse my heart.

As the evening wore on and even into the wee hours of Sunday morning, the social media was on fire with Facebook, Twitter and blog postings, most of which were heartfelt condolences for Chrome and his people. There was also an eruption of the swirling controversies. In addition to “Fresh horses and cowards” and calls for changes in the rules in the quest of the Triple Crown, we had pointing fingers of blame popping up like weeds in a barren corn field after a summer rain. Some cried “foul” as the result of “fresh horses”. Some blamed Victor. Others blamed Mr. Sherman. Many blamed a racing schedule that resulted in a tired and weary colt that entered the starting gate. But mostly the blame was placed on the shoulders of a three year old colt. Voices that had been largely silenced after impressive wins in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, where now loudly proclaiming…”we told you so”…we told you he did not have the pedigree…we told you he would not win…we told you that he would be a dud in the end…we told you on and on. The voices were as rude, arrogant, gloating and unrelenting as ever.

But still not enough tears to cleanse my heart.

When I awoke on Sunday morning, for a split second I thought I had been having a bad dream but in another split second realised that everything I had images of racing in my mind, did indeed happen.

But still not enough tears to cleanse my heart.

I immediately started checking Facebook and Blood Horse and everywhere else I could think of to get a report on Chrome's condition as well as Ride on Curlin and how the other colts came out of the race. I was so relieved to see the quick video of Chrome walking the shed row, still limping but head up and looking reasonably well after the race. He was not "gaunted up" and he had not lost the flesh that was covering his ribs before the race. Relief!

But still not enough tears to cleanse my heart.

The video of his departure later on Sunday morning showed a bright eyed and while not quite yet bushy tailed Chrome walking gamely out of the sheds and out into the sun. There was that glistening coat, with a somewhat softened glow. He walked up the ramp and stopped. He turned his head to left and then to the right and back to the left again. It was if he was taking one last lookie loo around and saying.."Been there, done that, time to move on and head home".

The cleansing tears flowed and I smiled...and said "There is my Chrome". My healing was in process and I was finding closure.

The video of his return to Los Alamitos started with him being backed off down the ramp. I thought "oh you silly boy....no other horse but you"! He still looked great considering! He knew he was home, so happy to be back in his stall and receiving the love and admiration of those who were there to greet him. He shook his head and neck and body as if to rid himself of the smell he had brought with him from New York and greedily reached for his haynet. Chrome, sweet Chrome was so glad to be back at home sweet home.

The final cleansing tears flowed and closure was complete.

Chrome left his blood and his sweat and a piece of his flesh at Belmont.

He dug down deep into places that he himself probably did not know he had to give of every inch of his heart, body and soul to run the best race he could with the cards that he and Victor had been dealt.

The test of a champion is not always winning, but in how he runs the race. California Chrome passed that test Saturday.

As I looked at the still pictures of the race, a thought came into my head when one popped up of Chrome and Wicked Strong in the dead heat. Symbolic of what we all need to face the adversities that life tosses our way to overcome... Strength and Courage were racing side by side.

There is a picture floating around on social media of Chrome with a quote from the beloved late poet Maya Angelou "

"people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

You have made this person feel hope is still there for our dreams to come true. To feel that when we need to, we can dig down deep and find courage to face head on the challenges we are presented with.

Chrome, your story has now come full circle from the sweet face little foal with the sweet disposition to match standing so devotedly by your recovering mother, to a yearling described as playing well with others and loving to run to a 3 year old racehorse that has a deep bond with your humans and who "laid his body on the track" to try and win a race and a crown.

Your name might not be on the Triple Crown trophy, but your name is now on the list of all the great horses that have inspired us with their courage and strength: Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Ruffian, Smarty Jones, Barbaro, Eight Bells, Snowman and Sgt Reckless just to name a few.

You are a reminder to us all that great things often come from unexpected humble beginnings.

“The golden age is before us, not behind us.” Steve, I can't help but think that this applies to California Chrome as well, at least I can hope that it does.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

ML/NJ — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 21:54:04 GMT

"But when I think back to this year’s Belmont Stakes, the one image that will last forever will be of an exhausted colt walking back through the tunnel with a bloodstained foot, his head down and breathing hard, and every vein protruding from his sweat-soaked body."

Stupid me! I thought you were a friend of horse racing.

PETA will just love to exploit this picture you painted.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

carlas — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 20:55:16 GMT

Yes it's time to move on. I only wish that CC didn't get hurt I really would love to have seen how far he would have went had he not cut himself. Not to say he would have won but it makes one wonder considering he only lost by less then two lengths. What a gusty horse CC is. I hope to see him race again along with being in the winner's circle.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

arlingtonfan — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 20:42:44 GMT

Thank you so much, Steve, for the compassion you've shown in your response to this incident. I never thought about the fact that Mr. Coburn's belief system had come crashing down in the space of two and a half minutes. That is an incredibly painful thing to go through. If all people displayed the empathy you've shown here, the world would be a better place.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Azeri1 — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 20:11:42 GMT

I feel the Belmont truly does define California Chrome. What I will always remember is the hard effort and the true heart he showed at Belmont. No he didn't win, but he didn't give up--not for one second. He will be back, with a slightly-chastened owner, giving us the best of his three-year-old year. You know, racing isn't all about winning. We all love winning horses, but there are also horses we remember for trying, like Alydar. Alydar beat Affirmed three times.

As for Chrome, he's won way more than he's lost and he still should have our hearts.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Arts and Letters — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 19:59:55 GMT

All it took was one rant to leave a bad taste in the mouth and wipe away all the good feeling about the fairytale story of CC. Personally, I felt very sorry for the connections of Tonalist - their great moment was sullied by one owner and Bob Costas.

The good news is that probably in a couple of years, no one is going to remember all this, just the horse.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Dr Drunkinbum — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 19:07:35 GMT

Ted from LA

To forgive, da plane! da plane! Or is it da microphone! da microphone!

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Soldier Course — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 18:44:25 GMT

As I was falling asleep last night, I had a thought that had not occurred to me before. I wonder what would have happened if NYRA had stuck to its guns about its no-nasal strips rule when CC's connections threatened to skip the Belmont Stakes unless the horse could wear one. This was a rule that had been in place at NYRA tracks ever since the strips had started being used. When NYRA backed down in the face of a "boycott", the connections had another instance of "good luck". Then I thought about what Art Sherman said about the root of Coburn's rant: he'd gotten too accustomed to good luck in California Chrome's campaign, which gave him a sense that it couldn't run out. The nasal strip decision reinforced that delusion. So when cruel reality intruded last Saturday, Coburn fell apart in front of all those people inside NBC's camera, like a spoiled child at best and a bully at worst. This story would have had a better ending for California Chrome if NYRA had said no.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

thekingofthederby — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 15:30:35 GMT

Just a snippet of Rudyard Kipling--

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Fortunately for us, we all saw the true person, we saw the Seamy Side of Racing exhibited by someone that can really never been seen in the same light; that he tried to project. Of all the great stories and personalities of both winners and those who saw some defeat along the way in a career of accomplishments and character; Coburn doesn't and can't share in that same luster!

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

txhorsefan — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 15:07:07 GMT

As always, Steve, you have said it best. Thank you.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

lunar spook — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:56:41 GMT

I would like to mention the fact that once again NBC SPORTS did a lackluster and very unprofessional job in their coverage , but that's to be expected , its not just horse racing , its golf , Olympics , hockey , you name it , anything they touch turns to , I pray some day another network will win the rights to cover the tc races ! nuemier , costas , rice, etc. .

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Ted from LA — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:12:57 GMT

Judge not lest you be ye be judged. Let he or she who is without sin cast the first stone. So ends my biblical knowledge. I forgive. The oddest part about this whole thing to Ted from LA is that some people judge an apology. How is Ted from LA to know if it is sincere or not? I would rather error on the side of trust. Besides, to air is human. Get it Dr. D?

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Windolin — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 13:30:49 GMT

There is no doubt in my mind that the injury affected Chrome.

Matterhorn drifted over into Chrome's lane at the gate. There are pictures and the overhead race video to prove without a doubt that Matterhorn came down on Chrome's right foreleg with his left front hoof. Chrome sustained a nasty scrape on his leg as Matterhorn's hoof came down his leg. Matterhorn's hoof then caught a quarter on the left bulb of the heel removing a chunk of the fleshy area of the bulb. If you look at the close-up photo that Barbara Livingston took, you can see the area of the scrape and the area that the chunk of tissue came off the bulb. The scrape came dangerously close to a tendon. I shudder to think what would have happened should that tendon have been bruised or cut.

In addition to stepping on Chrome, Matterhorn threw Chrome slightly off balance.

The pictures and the video speak for themselves. They are clear evidence that show without a shadow of doubt what happened.

So coming right out the gate, Chrome had to regain his composure from being bumped and what would have been a painful injury to his leg.

Theories of course abound as to whether or not this impacted Chrome's performance. And the experts have been crawling out of the woodwork with their opinions.

Some say no, others say yes. Some say he felt nothing due to adrenaline or endomorphins. Others say he did.

Billy Gowan, Ride on Curlin's trainer I think described it best.

Many, many horsemen and horsewomen have stated that based on their experiences, such an injury is painful for the horse and no doubt did impact his performance.

Based on my own personal experience, I know beyond a reasonable doubt that it does not take a lot for a horse to experience pain and sometimes even intense pain as the result of injury to lower leg and to this general area of the hoof. The hoof wall itself has no nerve endings, but the soft tissue within the hoof wall and above it and in the heel does.

The bulbs are fleshy mounds of tissue which are actually considered to be part of the heel. Between the bulbs there is a soft area that makes a slight indention. It is an extremely sensitive area on the horse.

Now for anyone who doubts that such an injury would be painful, consider how you would feel if you took off running and someone scrapped a metal object down the back of your shin bone and then took out a sizeable chunk of your heel. You are bleeding and as we all know or should know, pain is often intensified when bleeding is occurring.

The front legs and hooves of a horse carry all the weight. These horses run up to 40 MPH in a race. Everytime Chrome came down on that leg, the pressure on his weight pushes that hoof into the dirt, even though it is only for a second. Everytime he landed on that leg with the weight coming down on the heel and then propelled himself off for the next stride, that pastern flexes. Thus he no doubt felt two jolts of pain, one when he landed and one when he stepped into the next stride. In between each stride, there was no doubt a stinging sensation as the dirt and sand entered the wound.

Horses like people have different thresholds of pain.

Even among my horses, their reaction to pain, regardless of its location on the body varies from being very stoic to cringing depending on the horse.

Across a lifetime of having horses, I have had to deal with a lot of injuries and conditions that affect the lower leg and hoof. Almost to the horse, they have all been impacted by the injury enough to affect their everyday walking around, much less racing down a sandy track at top speed.

If we are to believe all that has been written about Chrome, he has never been sick and never had an injury. He just may be a horse that has a low threshold for pain.

Lumping how all horses into one basket when it comes to pain is just silly and totally illogical.

It will of course be a topic of debate for years to come.

In my opinion and I stand behind my opinion 100%, it did impact Chrome's performance. I am not trying to make excuses, but rather being logical and forming that opinion on facts as they have been presented to us and my personal experiences.

You can tell that Chrome never really got into that long, floating energy efficient stride. He was having to work harder for each stride and did not have that classic kick when Victor asked for it. If you listened to Chrome's body language during the race, it would be abundantly clear that something was wrong.

Consider too, Beholder, She suffered serious cuts and a grabbed quarter in her race and she lost.

Some have made the remark that there was no way he felt pain, because horses that suffer a fracture still try to run, using Barbaro and Ruffian as examples.

For someone to come up with that kind of conclusion also has some deficiencies when it comes to knowledge of horses.

Horses still retain their instincts that go back through the eons of time that allowed them to survive.

Their instinct is to run when there is danger. Their instinct tells them that they will fall prey if they go down.

If you have ever had a horse with a serious illness or injury, you know that they will fight to stand back up if they go down. I have yet to see a horse that was down not struggle to rise until they have to give up due to pain or exhaustion or being physically incapable to get up on at least three legs.

It just plucks my last nerve that people interject their so called expertise when it comes to horses, when it is woefully apparent that they do not understand the mind of a horse or or the instincts that drive them.

Would Chrome been able to run down Tonalist and Commissioner and win, even by a nose had he not suffered an injury. I think he would have or at the very least he would have been battling them for the win.

Thank the good Lord above that Chrome's guardian angel was there and kept him safe from taking a misstep that could have resulted in a fall or a life ending fracture and protecting him when he came out of the gate.

That would have been the real tragedy if the day, not the loss of the race.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

GotchaGold — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 13:18:51 GMT

Wonderfully written. I tendered not to be so wrapped up in what the owner said sensing he was overcome with emotion at the time. People are not saints. They make mistakes. But as you said, it was a great day of racing, and we should be focusing on CC, Tonalist, Palace Malice, Closed Hatches and all the other wonderful animals that gave there all for our entertainment that day.

I have seen the wonderful 70's and maybe that will be my limit. But I do hope that Shakespeare's words come true. If not for myself, but for the sport and for all the younger fans we have now and to come.

re: Haskin: Time to Move On

Jimmy The Finger — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:54:42 GMT

Thoroughbred Racing is a sport. That requires some sportsmanship. Coburn displayed shockingly bad sportsmanship. The Triple Crown procedures have been established, and if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. These people bred this horse for $10,000. He's won the Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, earned over $3.5 Million. Under NO circumstances should they be doing anything but thanking their lucky stars, popping off about how unfair Horse Racing is, calling people cowards and cheaters.

Nobody deserved to win the Belmont more than the Evans family, who have put millions and millions into Thoroughbred Racing going back decades.

Hopefully this guy's 15 minutes are over, for he has shown his true character.

Also, in all this, nobody seems to be saying anything about Bob Costas, who was a total jerk for asking Robert Evans if he was a coward during the trophy presentation. This was extremely inappropriate. I think Costas was pretty much as bad as Coburn.