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Triple Crown

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  • Team Sports
Last response: in Sports & Wellness
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May 7, 2011 10:50:09 PM

Well, it's not a team sport, per se, but it is that time of year. Anyone else out there get into the horse racing triple crown?

I always get into it for some reason or another every year, even though I am not a horse racing fan year round. There are plenty of tracks around here, but I've never been to any. I blame this on the fact that I am not a betting man, but the racing itself is good stuff. Not to mention that horses are beautiful creatures, especially when running. Heck, horse racing is one of the oldest "sports" in history.

The Kentucky Derby just finished and the winner was "Animal Kingdom" with a time of 2:02 something. The track record is held by none other than Secretariat, who ran a 1:59 and 2/5 in 1973. I wish I was alive to see Secretariat run live, but I have seen all the race recordings on YouTube many times and in comparison to the other great horses that were around in a time when they could be recorded, he was definitely the best. Word is that after he died in 1989, the necropsy revealed that his heart was 2 times normal size, but not in the sense that it was enlarged- it was just that big. That translates to the ability to pump more oxygen, which obviously really comes in handy when running.

Anyways, I guess we'll see if "Animal Kingdom" can pull it off for the first Triple Crown since 1978 when Affirmed did it. My gut feeling is that he may get the job done at the Preakness, as from what I can tell he has great stamina and closes like a freight train at the end of the race. However, the Belmont at a mile and a half will be the true test if he can win at Pimlico.

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May 7, 2011 11:18:51 PM

I was in high school and saw Secretariat blow away his competition. I also saw Seattle Slew win then Affirmed just barely beat Alidar in all 3 races. I'm like you, I really only get into horse racing during the triple crown run. Kind of funny since I live 5 miles from North Texas primo race track and I've only been twice.
GO MAVERICKS!
Dave
May 7, 2011 11:46:32 PM

Great stretch run by Animal Kingdom btw.
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May 8, 2011 2:32:10 AM

I agree. It's a hard thing to get into unless you are a hardcore gambler or are actually around horses/the track all the time. My uncle trains race horses (cart) and has his own barn and facilities, but I rarely visit. Just never really got into it.
May 9, 2011 1:52:50 AM

buwish said:
I agree. It's a hard thing to get into unless you are a hardcore gambler or are actually around horses/the track all the time. My uncle trains race horses (cart) and has his own barn and facilities, but I rarely visit. Just never really got into it.


It was a great finish to the Derby though!
Dave
May 9, 2011 6:23:54 AM

Indeed. Close finishes are what makes a race exciting. Either that or beating the rest of the field by 31 lengths Secretariat style at the 73' Belmont.
May 13, 2011 1:53:04 AM

So who is the favorite in the Preakness?
May 13, 2011 11:58:41 AM

At this point I'd have to say it'd be "Animal Kingdom." It's kind of hard to go against the Derby winner, especially in a race that isn't much longer. I look for him to stay off the lead until the stretch run and close like a freight train.
May 17, 2011 1:02:32 AM

Agreed. The owner of Animal Kingdom was asked if he would run in the Preakness and he said yeah, we won the Derby didn't we?
May 17, 2011 5:40:20 AM

If the horse is healthy, he darn well better run the horse in the Preakness!
May 21, 2011 8:44:58 PM

The Preakness is just an hour or so away. It'll be interesting to see if "Animal Kingdom" can pull it off!
May 21, 2011 10:25:07 PM

Bah, Animal Kingdom finished 2nd. Yet another year without a triple crown winner.
May 22, 2011 1:40:07 AM

Bummer - maybe next year. I'm just glad I got to see 3 triple crown winners in my lifetime.
May 22, 2011 5:29:27 AM

Indeed. Nada for me thus far.

With all of the better breeding methods, training, etc... out there, I suspect that the reason we haven't seen a TC winner since 1978 is due to the fact that the horses are just so even. Occasionally though you do get a "freak of nature" like a Secretariat. Hopefully that'll occur sooner rather than later.
May 24, 2011 12:47:25 AM

I hate to say it but I probably won't even watch the Belmont with no chance of a triple crown winner.
Dave
May 24, 2011 2:05:56 AM

I concur. I most likely will not either. I suspect that not many will seeing that there is no chance of TC winner this year.
!