Finley on Jess...

[smuthg]

I'm sure a few people will puke when they read this article.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ill&id=4153585

[Bobby Fischer]

i wish santa claus owned Rachel instead

[geeker2]

I vow now not to listen to "Down the Stretch"

[freddymo]

The part about Monmouth was OK

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The part about Monmouth was OK

Even a blind squirrel...

[sumitas]

No question the Rachel Alexandra entry has added a lot of excitement to the Preakness .

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by geeker2

I vow now not to listen to "Down the Stretch"

Why would you have anyway?

Funny how ego is construed as sportsmanship. I guess all the other owners who arent billionaries simply arent sporting enough.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why would you have anyway?

Funny how ego is construed as sportsmanship. I guess all the other owners who arent billionaries simply arent sporting enough.

He wasn't talking about everyday owners. He was talking about big-time owners who are in the game to make money, as opposed to those who like to see exciting competition on the track which, hopefully, in turn makes the sport more popular to outsiders. Clearly, no one can take issue with owners who take advantage of the chance to earn a buck and a graded stakes win. Earning a buck is no easy task in this sport. But when an owner does something exciting, I think he or she deserves to be applauded. And it seems like that's what Finley was doing.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by smuthg

I'm sure a few people will puke when they read this article.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ill&id=4153585

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...emy&id=4159005

Yeah so Jeremy Plonk wants some attention. Now when he calls horse racing a business not a sport, does that explain why the Oaks wasn't on ESPN and if so, what is it about poker, spelling bees, or pool that make them sports? There's a reason I pay more attention to DT.com, DRF.com, and Bloodhorse.com. I don't say there's not a business aspect to this, and indeed a crucial one, but he's wrong in so many ways about his logic and assumptions, I can't even begin to process it.

Do any of you lovers of horse racing declare yourselves to be business fans? Is the Kentucky Derby the most exciting two minutes in business? I happen to be a sports fan. I say my favorite sport is horse racing. Glad you clarified that I wasn't really a fan of a sport after all. Now what? It's a bit like finding out a tomato is a fruit.

He even goes so far as to imply unsportsmanlike conduct and disloyalty from Calvin because he's getting the season ride on RA from a trainer and owner he really doesn't deal with typically. So you'd get warm fuzzies, Jeremy, if he'd been used regularly by Asmussen before? He had the call on RA long before he got the mount on MTB who I believe he's been on a grand total of 2 times. I'm sorry, it's a no brainer. Lose the mount on her likely forever unless she just won't run for another jockey, or keep her and risk that MTB wasn't going to live up to his Derby run. I would've gone the same way. Not without some discomfort sure, but hey she's RA, MTB is the horse that's so scary he has a practically full Preakness field to deal with. Business is important, it's a pretty big deal sure. The sale of RA for $10 mil isn't one I'd make if she were that special (those are once in a lifetime horses if she lives up to the hype, and you own her) but hey, I get it. That's a LOT of money. No judgment here.

[Cannon Shell]

It is a moronic column in a series of moronic columns from Plonk. His premise makes no sense. Just as his new racing schedule a few months back was incomprehensible this sport/business argument (which side is he on anyway?) is just another way for a writer to complain about horseracing. Between Finley and this guy anyone who gets their racing information via the ESPN website is quite ill-informed.

[Danzig]

If loyalty counts for anything, you stick with the Derby winner.
What Borel did was make a business decision, pure and simple.

those are both from plonks article, and i disagree with both. borel's been on rachels back for months, and has more lof a connection to what he's called the greatest horse he's ever ridden than he would to mine that bird. he's even leaving a shot at the tc to stay with her. that's disloyalty?
as for his argument that it's a business decision, that borel would earn more on the filly-mmmm,no, mine that bird is a gelding-no breeding in his future. chances are he'll still be running (altho i'm not sure where) long after rachel has gone to a second career as broodmare.

[Merlinsky]

Not that I'm comparing Rachel Alexandra to Ruffian, way too early for that so those mentions are a bit premature, but didn't a similar situation happen albeit not in the Triple Crown? She had the same jockey as Foolish Pleasure, Jacinto Vásquez. He opted for the filly when it came time for the match race, correct? Ah the horror, the lack of loyalty. Foolish Pleasure was pretty amazing but for pete's sake this was Ruffian. Earl Sande opened his big mouth about Man O'War being the best horse he'd ridden and lost the mount on Sir Barton too right? Let's not forget the IEAH excuse for chucking Smith off of Stardom Bound...she might meet Zenyatta and God forbid he have a conflict (right like that was the reason but it's what they gave). You pick the horse you think is the best. It's a career decision but you're also hoping to ride "the one"...some equine phenom who's both insanely talented and your racing soulmate. Calvin found one with Rachel and bless him, it's truly rare and special. Most jockeys probably never do.

[richard burch]

the best thing in the article....

Monmouth Park, which opens this weekend, continues to be the best-kept secret in horseracing. It may not have the purses of Saratoga or Belmont or the history of Churchill Downs, but it is one America's best racetracks. A beautiful venue on the picturesque Jersey Shore, it's one of the few places left that has an opening day and a closing day and people still care about live racing.

When the weather gets at its Jersey Shore best in the summer, a day at Monmouth matches a day at any racetrack in America. It's well worth a visit.

[free25]

Well Jes Jackson said one of the smartest things i have ever heard an owner say a while back...Something to the tune of taking Horse Racing back to the track and away from the breeder's....It may be happening now with the decline in sales and stud fee's. It makes logical sense that horses would race longer if there wasn't such incentives for them to retire. I applaud Jackson on his purchase...Go Rachel....