tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post6850954351759538841..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: A Mea CulpaAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-66475021455162805722008-05-07T20:42:00.000-04:002008-05-07T20:42:00.000-04:00Erin nails it.Erin nails it.Jen Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15247886185829008699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-28329014589920032552008-05-07T16:01:00.000-04:002008-05-07T16:01:00.000-04:00Rags to Riches did run again (after the Belmont). ...Rags to Riches did run again (after the Belmont). And as Alan mentioned, there are plenty of colts who were "never the same afterwards", whether it's the Derby or the Belmont or Dubai or whatever else. Hell, a lot of colts don't even make it to the Derby. I guess we can say that War Pass or Georgie Boy or Crown of Thorns or Into Mishief or Massive Drama were ruined by their tough races earlier this year. No mention of their sex as the reason though. <BR/><BR/>Regarding Rather Rapid's comments about Eight Belles being under-prepared for the Derby, i find them to be a little odd. She had run 9 times before the Derby, more than any other horse in the race. 8 of those starts came around two turns, also more than any other horse in the race. So, somehow Big Brown was better-prepared for the Derby off 3 career starts, none which came on less than 5 weeks rest? I just don't see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-21588817223052444382008-05-07T10:52:00.001-04:002008-05-07T10:52:00.001-04:00John reminds me of a point that proves to me this ...John reminds me of a point that proves to me this time really is different (to play on Bill Finley's article title from espn.com, featured in today's TDN) - dealing with the reactions of people around me has been almost as hard as watching the filly go down. I've never listened to so many ignorant and reactionary comments about horse racing as I have since Saturday.<BR/><BR/>Some paraphrased samples, some overheard, some directed at me, all from people whom I've never heard dedicate one breath to racing before:<BR/>"No filly has ever completed the Kentucky Derby before"<BR/>"They [trainers, owners, presumably] say they love horses but jeez, look what they did"<BR/>"She must've been younger than the other horses"<BR/>and the most dreaded, which I expected the moment it happened:<BR/>"You shouldn't race fillies against males"<BR/><BR/>The Wall St. Journal article on her was folded and placed so I would see it upon arriving to work at my second job, and I find out the person who placed it there was ranting about racing=dog fighting all day prior to my arrival, and I get greeted with the silent treatment.<BR/><BR/>My point is, I think there's plenty wrong with racing (and agree with Finley on many of his points, but only as a result of this debacle), but it's really, really easy to get defensive. And who can blame us when the general population, as well as journalists, so quickly lose sight of reason and established facts. <BR/><BR/>It's been harder than ever walking the line of defending this sport from stupid assumptions and incorrect conclusions while still acknowledging that some of what people are saying is justified. But as Finley said, what matters most isn't which side is in the right, but that people think these things at all. <BR/>All the public seems to be expecting every racing supporter to defend and justify what's happened, while we're struggling just as much within the industry to answer these big questions for ourselves.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04966895737564174215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-88641620250211270582008-05-07T10:52:00.000-04:002008-05-07T10:52:00.000-04:00You should not feel sorry.It is an honor to offend...You should not feel sorry.<BR/><BR/>It is an honor to offend wackos!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-85121648512791777862008-05-07T10:49:00.000-04:002008-05-07T10:49:00.000-04:00contraire. you skillfully articulated the prevaili...contraire. you skillfully articulated the prevailing view. If this is on further thought still your position, that EB was a freak accident that happens, then you have a view that is diametrically opposed to my own. May some good come out of it when we clarify things!rather rapidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07517841195715154873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-14345778693475202002008-05-07T09:41:00.000-04:002008-05-07T09:41:00.000-04:00Your comment was honest and was written by someone...Your comment was honest and was written by someone who loves the sport. I don't find your title offensive at all.SaratogaSpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181152277681879529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-2410377634938690152008-05-07T09:38:00.000-04:002008-05-07T09:38:00.000-04:00It is a sad commentary that we have to be worried ...It is a sad commentary that we have to be worried about who we offend every time we make a comment. <BR/><BR/>Bob From NJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-48641361572853039932008-05-07T09:11:00.000-04:002008-05-07T09:11:00.000-04:00The 134th Kentucky DerbyThe 1st breakdownThe 134th Kentucky Derby<BR/>The 1st breakdownAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-845400868047229392008-05-07T09:10:00.000-04:002008-05-07T09:10:00.000-04:00Alan, I echo Anonymous' statement. I was little s...Alan, I echo Anonymous' statement. I was little surprised by the title because having read your blog for quite a while it was not what I was expecting. But -again in agreement with Anonymous- I found the entry was as well considered as could have been expected considering the timing, emotion and subject matter. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't subject that provokes a lot of strong opinions no matter what side of the issue one comes down on. <BR/>George<BR/>www.thesaratogasire.comGeorgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476467655253617704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-10669076940936478112008-05-07T09:09:00.000-04:002008-05-07T09:09:00.000-04:00The 134th Kentucky DerbyThe 1st breakdown...The 134th Kentucky Derby<BR/>The 1st breakdown...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-18127569718356182232008-05-07T08:59:00.000-04:002008-05-07T08:59:00.000-04:00Shit I violate blog ethics all the time because I ...Shit I violate blog ethics all the time because I don't know how to do that cross out thing.<BR/><BR/>Hey we all hurt and are confused after this Derby!<BR/><BR/>People at work are looking at me as if I torture my cat, I am dealing with it .Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03874325506841146077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-43851744708897237942008-05-07T06:57:00.000-04:002008-05-07T06:57:00.000-04:00It must be a wonderful feeling to hit exactas with...It must be a wonderful feeling to hit exactas with two fillies that never raced again.<BR/>Arthur Hancock, who knows a little something about thoroughbreds, wrote yesterday that it is not a good idea to race fillies against top colts.<BR/>It is not that they can't compete -- they can. It is that the preponderance of evidence demonstrates that the effort does take something out of them.<BR/>The world can live without fillies in the Triple Crown races.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-6928698022981934532008-05-07T04:26:00.000-04:002008-05-07T04:26:00.000-04:00I thought "Deal with it" was a reference to Dutro...I thought "Deal with it" was a reference to Dutrow winning the Derby, when clearly a lot of people were rooting against him. <BR/><BR/>Btw, it amazes me that Eight Belles can run a huge 2nd in the Derby, and people are now coming out of the woodwork to say she didn't belong in the race. Unbelievable. I'm willing to bet that if, say, Tale of Ekati had broken down after the race, this would've already been swept under the rug. <BR/><BR/>That injury could've happened to any horse in the race. But because it happened to a filly, people point to her sex as the reason. Probably the same people who didn't think she could be competitive in the race, and are looking for some type of redemption.<BR/><BR/>Btw, i'd like to point out that fillies have now hit the exacta in each of the last two Triple Crown races. Deal with that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-53395037061540886622008-05-06T23:42:00.000-04:002008-05-06T23:42:00.000-04:00Still can't figure out why Rhoden was there -- I d...Still can't figure out why Rhoden was there -- I didn't see him until Saturday...<BR/><BR/>It's certainly possible he was in the press box and I didn't notice him, but part of me wonders if he flew in after Chelokee broke down just to do that story.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801414754458604594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-25739140769945306822008-05-06T23:22:00.000-04:002008-05-06T23:22:00.000-04:00I was a little take aback by the title myself - as...I was a little take aback by the title myself - as the post was (as usual) completely reasonable.<BR/><BR/>Tis a risk that comes with making regular and public comments. Congrats on seeing it yourself.<BR/><BR/>ajkreiderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-65692209395099283752008-05-06T23:06:00.000-04:002008-05-06T23:06:00.000-04:00Alan, I considered "Deal with it" the best thing I...Alan, I considered "Deal with it" the best thing I had read all day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com