The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Better Than a Money Machine

The Five-Cross Files — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:12:01 GMT

A fine mare produces yet another high-class winner. As a small tribute to Better Than Honour, here are some of her headlines from the past.

Broodmarathon -- Better Than Honour: Broodmare at Risk?

The Five-Cross Files — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:06:28 GMT

Dam of Rags to Riches, Jazil, and Casino Drive fails to produce a foal in 2008 or 2009. Does that affect her value in the Thoroughbred sales ring?

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Julie L. — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:31:34 GMT

Thank you Marc W, we need to remember those great horses and great performances to judge the potential greatness of those today or yet to come. Dr. Fager was great along with Buckpasser and Damascus and Ridan, Ribot. People need to remember and hold those images close to their hearts. I go to Santa Anita and Hollywood Park quite abit and though there are horses running that don't have the well known names they have given me just as much excitement and thrills as the likes of any of those greats from the past and the greats of today. Those claimers and allowance horses are the backbone of this industry and we should recognize them as well as we do Big Brown and the rest. They give us thrills and chills too.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Marc W — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:46:26 GMT

Monica-yes- you were wrong thinking last years Breeders Cup was on synthetic, it was run on dirt. Technically you can't really have a sloppy track on synthetic surface (I am a little confused how you could miss all the press about this year's BC at SA being the first to be run on one as racing fan)

Julie it (Alysheba's Derby)was truly awesome as was Afleet Alex's Preakness. My favorite show of heart and determination came in the Breeders Cup mile turf at Woodbine when Da Hoss won off 1 start in two years after a breakdown. He refused to lose, I have never seen a gamer performance in my racing career and I saw Dr.Fager (Greatest Horse Ever) Kelso, Damascus and Buckpasser et.. It wasn't as dramatic as the other two but left me literally quivering and shaking in appreciation of what I had seen. I have never felt that way after any other race I have seen.

I didn't bet him nor was he my favorite horse. I have never seen a gamer horse with more heart than he was that day to have his nose in front at the wire. He was a beaten horse all the way through the stretch until the finish that just wanted to win that badly, he succeeded. I don't think he ran again, and I know he is at KY Horse Park now for his retirement.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Julie L. — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:35:37 GMT

To Monica V you are right about watching the great ones I am about to turn fifty so I've followed the same horses you have, how I loved Alydar and hated seeing him lose to Affirmed but what great races they gave us and showed true greatness. Maybe one day these folks that are alittle younger than us will come to see just what we mean about heart and that we don't mean that we want the horse "run into the ground" but want to see that wonderful heart beating the odds. Remember when Alysheba stumbled in the stretch run of the Derby yet righted himself and won. He became in that instant the people's horse, they saw his "heart" and we fell in love with a horse who was not favored to win but showed that he was coming into his own. Alysheba didn't win every time but when he did how exciting it was. He only got better with age.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Monica V — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:25:17 GMT

Wendy G,

I think it's wonderful that you have this great passion for BB. It's a wonderful thing to love a horse like that and it's what keeps racing going, fans like you.

The horses are whar I love about this sport. I have been following racing since I was 15 years old and I am now 57. I was fortunate enough to have seen many of the greats, including Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Alydar and Spectacular Bid. Not to mention Native Diver, John Henry, Forego, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. I loved them all. But when someone says that BB must be tested in order to be called great, they are not wanting the horse to be run into the ground, they merely feel he has to prove that he can endure. The more a horse races, the more likely it is he will lose. Every horse can be beaten even BB and it will happen if they don't retire him immediately which I feel they will do. It is hard to compare a horse with 5 wins or maybe six wins if he takes the Belmont when you talk about a horse who has run 26 times and won 23 times. We don't race our horses that much anymore because I think the breed is getting weaker due to the small gene pool. All thoroughbreds are descended from only 3 stallions. Horses use to race a lot more than they do now. Citation raced until he was 6. That would never happen now. They are too valuable in the breeding shed and very susceptible to injury. There are more breakdowns now than used to be.

Wanting to see BB race more to put the greatness tag on him is not a sick mentality, it is merely what others feel should happen before putting him in the same league as the other great Triple Crown winners but it doesn't seem to be a possibility. We all have our opinions about this and I respect your opionion and your passion for this horse but some of us don't share that. We all have feelings about it based on different things and that's what makes all this interesting. You can argue all you want but you won't convince the others to see it your way. Just be happy that you are around to see another possible TC after all these years. I've seen the really GREAT triple crown winners but they had a really hard road to follow to that point with many races. Secretariat raced 7 times as a 2 year old and won horse of the year that year and the next year. It's just different now. Keep loving this sport the way you do and stick to your guns about BB

it's your right and God Bless you and BB. I hope he comes through the Belmont sound and healthy as I wish for the rest of the horses too for if there is one thing I cannot stand, it's when a horse sustains a life-threatening injury, it just breaks my heart.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Julie L. — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:01:39 GMT

Man, I've been gone a few days and suddenly I read that Pyro is a mule! Backs my point about emotions running high, I don't think that you can call Pyro a mule and I wish I could have heard your views on him when he was undefeated, I remember people were real excited about him. He got a bad trip in the Derby and he may be alittle tired, yeah they do get tired, I watched Seattle Slew get defeated in the Swaps Stakes because his owners got over confident and didn't listen to Billy Turner his trainer and let a tired horse run. I don't want to take anything away from J.O. Tobin who won that day as he was England's champion two year old the year before but he wasn't really the caliber of Seattle Slew. I think everyone should take a deep breath and just watch the horse race and enjoy it whatever the outcome. I am a little worried about that quarter crack, I use to ride barrelracers and we never ran a sore horse or one with a quarter crack, let's hope the owners and trainer do not get swept away like the owners of Seattle Slew

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Marc W — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:15:09 GMT

Meilanie,

If the trainer thinks he is fine, and with the vets and what they pump horses with these days-I wouldn't worry. One only needs to see how some horses come back after a races these days and think the horses will be lucky to race again, only to see them jog in their next start by 10 lengths.

We are well past the days on oats, water, and ice. Any winning stable has a high powered vet. I am not saying they are cheating, they just use anything allowed under the rules. Some less high profile trainers can't afford to do it, they just use the ice buckets to stand their horses in and time.

I am not up to date on what fees per day some high profile trainers charge in NY. Vets and shoeing are extra-it isn't cheap to keep a horse in training nowadays. (not that it ever was) If you don't pay and cut corners-you are not competitive.

Racing is now all business as is any other sports franchise.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Monica V — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:24:54 GMT

Am I wrong in my recollection that the surface at Monmouth where the BC was held is synthetic? Curlin won the classic there in 2007 on a sloppy track that I do believe was a synthetic surface. Right?

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Melanie L. — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:07:43 GMT

There's talk now that BB has a slight quarter crack. He's going to miss a few days of training and Dutrow doesn't think it's an issue. Can BB really afford to miss any training at this point if he's going to win?

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Marc W — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:23:38 GMT

It was a stupid reply on my part, and wish I hadn't made it. Bet him and get 10-1, good luck, but I think you will be keeping the tickets as souvenirs.

In the Preakness I wanted Reade Baker's horse to run well as I worked with him for a few years in the mutual calculating room at Woodbine and Fort Erie and considered him a friend at the time.-We have not talked in the last 20 years but I was still rooting for him to do well.

I tend to bet with my head and without emotion. I thought Reade's statements were wild and out of place before the race looking on the outside with a gambler's logic.

Having said that I really wish somebody would come to me with an serious offer like yours "involving money" ------I will lay odds.

I don't love Big Brown nor his connections but I think we are going to see a Triple Crown winner this year barring incident. In any respect I think it will be good for a sport I love and introduce it to many new people.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Whatever — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:48:24 GMT

Marc W: altough you seem to know what you are talking about regarding racing, you also seem to be a bully with a gambling problem. It is important to keep in mind that the blogs are opinions. Just as yours is an opinion. Mike, I don't think you will get a friendly gentleman's bet from Marc.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Mike from Ossineke, Michigan — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:22:30 GMT

Marc W- well, I didn't mean bet money, I was thinking more of a friendly gentleman's bet. You seem very knowledgeable about thoroughbred racing, probably more than me, however, I just feel that Denis of Cork is ready for a fantastic performance. It was unbelievable how they mishandled him leading up to the Derby, but I think he is coming into his own now. People seem to be underating him, I think that would be a big mistake. Anyway, good luck with Big Brown.

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Marc W — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:40:57 GMT

Marc W- I will bet you right now, that Denis of Cork places ahead of Big Brown.

Mike from Ossineke, Michigan 22 May 2008 4:46 PM

Answer:

How much money do you have? Up for 20K?

Money in a neutral account the day of the race- to be given to the winner after the race. How about the moderator of this Blog? Stan Bergstein that writes for the Racing Form-I keep in contact with him from time to time and he is the standard on ethics and honesty.

I gamble to win and don't play just to bet. I cashed for 25K plus on Unbridled when he won the Derby, my only truly large bet on a classic race. (I don't consider the $200 WP on Smarty Jones and touch more on Sunday Silence big bets-this year it was only a $20 tri-key off Big Brown-wasn't close) I didn't win that by betting $2.

Opinions are one thing, I would much rather cash big on a $5,000 claiming race, than boasting rights I had the winner of the Derby. I always honor my gambling debts but trust no one except a few. I also don't make wild statements without backing them.

I track my gambling I am up a little more than 12k this year, last year only $4600 after blowing a 30K lead. I love the game but when my money is involved it isn't a game anymore, it is business! I don't offer a bet unless I plan to back it.-Keep to your opinions and just that, unless you do-I am for real!

re: The Other Belmont Entrant Looking Towards History

Marc W — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:13:55 GMT

Changing speeds. Opinions are just that.

Does anyone else wonder why no other comments about Woody Stephens are mentioned when talking about the Belmont. He did it in the modern era-no drugs or hints of taking a edge/scandal-clean record all through his career.

If Casino Drive should win-bad for racing in general and bringing new faces into the sport-but it will even eclipse and will be more amazing than Woody's record but nobody but race fans will appreciate it.

Thoughts on-