Legends of the Track: Debate Heats Up: Should the Triple Crown Schedule Change?Honoring 'The Fish': Real Quiet, the 123rd Preakness Winner + Tragedy at the Chester Vase.
Legends of the Track: Debate Heats Up: Should the Triple Crown Schedule Change?Honoring 'The Fish': Real Quiet, the 123rd Preakness Winner + Tragedy at the Chester Vase.
Thursday Edition - May 9th, 2024 (Edition 81)
IN TODAY’S EMAIL
Good Morning!
Today, we're tipping our hats to Real Quiet, the legend nicknamed "The Fish," so called by Bob Baffert for his his narrow frame. He's famous for almost clinching the American Triple Crown, snagging wins at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. But, it was a nail-biter at the Belmont Stakes where he lost by just four inches—the tiniest loss in history.
Now, onto a hot topic: the idea of changing the Triple Crown's schedule. My two cents? It'd be a huge blunder. In this year’s Preakness, 3 horses are currently confirmed but the status of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan remains unclear.
On our podcast, Nick Luck wraps up the Chester Vase drama, where Hidden Law took a tragic turn after a stunning win. Nick and Rishi reflect on his short-lived glory and the somber reality of racehorse fatalities.
And, finally, we're staying in the UK. It's Trivia Time! Can you name this British National Hunt racecourse?
Rider’s Up!
Steve
GREATEST WINNERS OF THE PREAKNESS STAKES
TAKING REAL QUIET SERIOUSLY (USA)
Real Quiet won the 1998 Preakness. Photo by Double J Photography.
Bob Baffert came into the 1998 Preakness Stakes with another chance to keep his dream of the Triple Crown alive. The year before, the white-capped trainer had come achingly close, winning the Kentucky Derby-Preakness double in back-to-back thrillers with Silver Charm only to be denied when Touch Gold edged him in the Belmont.
In 1998, Baffert arrived in Baltimore with Derby hero Real Quiet. Owned by Michael E. Pegram and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Real Quiet was a horse that started out with humble beginnings. Nicknamed, “The Fish” by his trainer because of his narrow body, the bay colt struggled to break his maiden at the beginning of his career. It wasn’t until his seventh try at the age of two that the young horse finally made his way to the winner’s circle. His winning effort was followed up by a decent third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr.3), and then a winning score in the Hollywood Futurity (Gr.1). However, it wouldn’t be until the first Saturday in May that the colt would make it to the winner’s circle again, when he scored at 8-1 odds.
Read the Full Article at heracingbiz.com
Watch the 123rd Preakness Stakes
THE PREAKNESS STAKES
Preakness gets 3 horses confirmed. Status of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan remains unclear (USA)
Mugatu - AP Photo Charlie Riedel
Three horses are confirmed as headed to Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes, though the status of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan remained unclear Tuesday, with no imminent decision expected.
Mystik Dan is scheduled to return to the track Wednesday at Churchill Downs, site of his photo-finish victory Saturday ahead of Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the most-watched Derby in 35 years. Trainer Kenny McPeek has not committed to running Mystik Dan in the Preakness, telling the Maryland Jockey Club that he and owners would let the rest of the week play out before making a decision on the 3-year-old colt.
Entries for the Preakness must be made by Monday, when the post position draw is held.
If Mystik Dan does not run in the Preakness, it will be the fifth time in six years that the race goes on without a true Triple Crown on the line, a combination of Derby circumstances, the pandemic and other factors. McPeek has expressed concern about putting the horse through another two-week turnaround, which did not work out so well in November.
Read the full article at apnews.com
THE CHESTER VASE
Chester mourns death of Hidden Law after serious injury follows victory (GB)
The joy was noticeably sucked from the atmosphere at Chester on one of the biggest days of its year on Wednesday. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
An empty winner’s enclosure after the feature race was a miserable way to open Chester’s May Festival, after Charlie Appleby’s Hidden Law, who had just taken the Chester Vase by three lengths, had to be euthanised as the result of a serious injury suffered shortly after crossing the line in an incident that was also broadcast live on ITV4.
Appleby reported that Hidden Law had broken a fetlock after apparently taking a false step while William Buick, his rider, was pulling him up. “He fractured his leg, unfortunately,” Appleby said. “Passing the line was all OK but he’s just put in a false step after crossing the road.
THE TRIPLE CROWN
Modifying Triple Crown Schedule: An Epic Fail in the Making!
The Triple Crown is tough, and that's good. It's three big races close together, making it hard to win. Perfect. Yet, 13 horses have managed to achieve this feat, earning them legendary status. The names glide off the tongue, demigods of the racetrack... Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018). These are the revered champions! Changing this tradition would water down one of horse racing's biggest achievements. You would have to apply an asterisk after the horse's name, indicating the conditions were made easier after the switch. Awful idea, you may as well scrap the entire concept! If horse racing is looking to improve, the focus should be on refining how horses are trained and bred, rather than changing how the races are conducted.
Agree? Disagree?
The conversation heats up over at Horse Racing X.
PODCAST OF THE DAY
Nick Luck Daily Podcast
Nick is joined by broadcaster Rishi Persad to discuss the latest news from around the racing world. They lead with the desperate conclusion to the Chester Vase yesterday, which saw Hidden Law win impressively before suffering a fatal injury. Nick and Rishi pay tribute to the horse's all-too-brief career and discuss the response to death on the racecourse. Also on today's show, we hear from Hugo Palmer and Richard Kingscote about their hopes for the remainder of Chester week, while Nick talks at some length to Australian trainer Ciaron Maher about his growing collection of Melbourne Cup horses, including Middle Earth, who begins his campaign for the Gosdens at York next week. Plus, Riding A Dream Academy scholar Aamilah Aswat joins Nick to talk about her ride in the Magnolia Cup..
TRIVIA QUESTION
Can you name the British Racecourse where the steeplechase fences are large, making it a good test of a jumper?
Visit USASteeplechase X page and Scroll through the comments for the answer
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Riders Up!
Best, Steve