I guess they just don't make them like they used too - horses that is
I am not what you would consider a huge fan of horse racing. The last time I bet on a race was when I was 18 and on of my uncles horses was running and I bet all I had on him, only to see him pull up and stop at the top of the stretch. I guess I was somewhat spoiled growing up though, because during the 70's when I was first introduced to horse racing, we saw 3 triple crown winners.
The first triple crown winner I saw was the incomparable Secretariat. Anyone who saw him will not forget Big Red coming down himself on the stretch of the Belmont Stakes, putting the crowning touch on his triple crown campaign. Five years later, Seattle Slew beat all comers to win the triple crown himself. He was a big impressive horse and a favorite of the crowd. Just the next year, Affirmed won all three triple crown races, each one in a neck and neck battle with Alydar. What series that was, with Steve Cauthen pushing Affirmed to the win each time, but Alydar was the favorite of the crowd. What hearts the both of those horses had!
if you would have told me after Affirmed won in 1978, that I would not see another one for at least 30 years I would not have believed you. But almost every year it seems some horse wins the Derby, is able to hold on and win the Preakness, but then the Belmont, the test of champions looms and they come up short. Either bad breaks, bad breeding or something else conspires to deprive the sport of what it needs to give it a badly needed shot of publicity.
This year it was Big Brown. The horse looked unbeatable in the first two legs of the triple crown. He didn't look too bad early in the race. But at the top of the stretch when he was asked to turn it on, he just had no gas in the tank. He joins a long list of horses who stood on the cusp of immortality, but came up a little short.
I guess we will have to wait to next year or maybe the year after to see if anyone has what it takes. I sure hope I get to see at least one more triple crown winner in my life!
Comments