Best $20 ive ever lost.....

[wac]

My dad was asking me why are you so excited? you just lost money. I told him i would gladly pay $20 hell id have paid $100 to have seen that race. It was just friggin unbelievable. What a race i was jumping up and down in my tv room going wild screaming like a crazy man. I almost started crying all the bad news that all of us have had to deal with over the last year man this helps bring back some of my faith in this game and helps me remember what an unbelieveable game this is and how when you watch horse racing you might just get to see something that truly takes your breath away like today. I AM SO FRIGGIN HAPPY TONIGHT!!!! LIke i said best $20 ive ever lost....

[cal828]

Originally Posted by wac

My dad was asking me why are you so excited? you just lost money. I told him i would gladly pay $20 hell id have paid $100 to have seen that race. It was just friggin unbelievable. What a race i was jumping up and down in my tv room going wild screaming like a crazy man. I almost started crying all the bad news that all of us have had to deal with over the last year man this helps bring back some of my faith in this game and helps me remember what an unbelieveable game this is and how when you watch horse racing you might just get to see something that truly takes your breath away like today. I AM SO FRIGGIN HAPPY TONIGHT!!!! LIke i said best $20 ive ever lost....

You know, I was going to say the same thing. Seeing a wonderful filly win like that was very nearly worth the complete and total losing of my A$$.

[Bernardini]

Originally Posted by wac

My dad was asking me why are you so excited? you just lost money. I told him i would gladly pay $20 hell id have paid $100 to have seen that race. It was just friggin unbelievable. What a race i was jumping up and down in my tv room going wild screaming like a crazy man. I almost started crying all the bad news that all of us have had to deal with over the last year man this helps bring back some of my faith in this game and helps me remember what an unbelieveable game this is and how when you watch horse racing you might just get to see something that truly takes your breath away like today. I AM SO FRIGGIN HAPPY TONIGHT!!!! LIke i said best $20 ive ever lost....

I loved RR, I loved the way she won, and she made me some money (about $106). And even if had lost every thing I would share your sentiments.

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by wac

My dad was asking me why are you so excited? you just lost money. I told him i would gladly pay $20 hell id have paid $100 to have seen that race. It was just friggin unbelievable. What a race i was jumping up and down in my tv room going wild screaming like a crazy man. I almost started crying all the bad news that all of us have had to deal with over the last year man this helps bring back some of my faith in this game and helps me remember what an unbelieveable game this is and how when you watch horse racing you might just get to see something that truly takes your breath away like today. I AM SO FRIGGIN HAPPY TONIGHT!!!! LIke i said best $20 ive ever lost....

I was also going to say something very similar. Well worth it.
My folks flew up to there from Tampa and the were pretty dissapionted that there was not a Triple Crown on the line. Obviously they got they're tickets early. But I'm sure that R2R winning made the trip more than worth it

[jballscalls]

good thread. I agree, at the top of the stretch i knew my tickets were dead, but i really didnt care. it seems with all the triple crown races, i watch them more as a fan, and then afterward check my tickets. today was not about betting, it was a great day to be a race fan.

[Suffolk Shippers]

99% of the time, racing is all about the wagers and the payouts and I'd be the first to admit that, I think we all would. But, horse racing needed today more than it needed to bang out a nice handle. Racing needed a day like today much like baseball needed Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak and the 1998 home run chase between Sosa and McGwire (steroids aside) to enliven the fan base post 1994 work stoppage.

I'd say since 2005, when Ghostzapper retired, the game has been in a downward trend, mired mostly by trainer scandals, retirements and terrible tragedy.

Personally, I cannot argue owners who retire their colts early because the money at the end of the rainbow is just too much to pass up on. It is almost impossible to turn a profit just racing a top flight thoroughbred, the care, food, shipping, etc costs are just so high. Not to mention, the prizes to win some races are just so low. Less prestigious races such as the Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby, Super Derby, and the Haskell all offer $1,000,000 purses.
That's a great offer by those tracks, but when two of the three Triple Crown jewels are also only million dollar races, there is an issue.

Even so, the retirements hurt the game, as do tragedies like what happened to Pine Island and of course, Barbaro. I feel the Barbaro tragedy cast a darkened pall on this game and only a new superstar could move people past that tough day.

Today's breakout by Rags to Riches capped an amazing Triple Crown season, which has produced four bonified stars in Rags, Curlin, Street Sense and to a lesser degree, Hard Spun. This is exactly what horse racing needed. Throw in reigning HOY Invasor and the summer is lining up to be very interesting as the spotlight shifts to the Breeders Cup.

Rags to Riches winning will give the game a much needed boost after such a difficult year or so. As will the boys! Should be a fun summer/fall.