OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Bob,<br /><br />I guess we will know in a few hours--I believe Big Brown is a superhorse and this is not a particularly strong field against him.<br /><br />Jim

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>The Belmont presents the biggest challenge for Big Brown due to its distance. No way he loses today. I'm sure the horses will be pumped full of 'roids and beaten wildly with the whip. Fun.

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>David Goff</b><p>Well, here we go again.(LOL) This is exciting times if you are a race horse fan. Big Brown WILL win the triple crown and that's what this sport needs...BADLY!! <br /><br />Just this week, they released the autopsy for Eight Belles, the filly that was put down after the Derby, and there was not one drop of steroids in her. I know that a lot of horses are pumped full of performance enhancers, but I was somewhat pleased to hear that she was clean. Us in the state of Kentucky and Louisville in particular, are still saddened by the loss.

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>What if whipping was banned? Would it really take away some of the enjoyment of watching the horses run? Or is it just about making the horses go as quickly as they can, concern about their safety be damned?

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Wow--one of the all-time great horses here. Why didn't I bet more?<br /><br />Here we have the first triple crown winner in 30 years.<br /><br />Very exciting for horse racing fans.<br /><br />

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Jim, what did you win -- like $30 on that $150 bet?<br /><br />And a Triple Crown winner will spike interest in horseracing much as Smarty Jones' run did a few years back. But it will just be a spark as attendance is plummeting nationally along with interest as a whole in horseracing. Our generation just doesn't care about it much and our kids will care about it even less.

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>The Belmont is a mile and a half and there will be rested horses waiting for Big Brown. Here are the horses who won the Derby and Preakness who failed to win the Belmont. The list includes Northern Dancer and Spectacular Bid, arguably two of the greatest racehorses of all time.<br /><br />2003 Funny Cide (third) <br />2002 War Emblem (eighth) <br />1999 Charismatic (third) <br />1998 Real Quiet (second) <br />1997 Silver Charm (second) <br />1989 Sunday Silence (second) <br />1987 Alysheba (fourth) <br />1981 Pleasant Colony (third) <br />1979 Spectacular Bid (third) <br />1971 Canonero II (fourth)r <br />1969 Majestic Prince (second) <br />1968 Forward Pass (second) <br />1966 Kauai King (fourth) <br />1964 Northern Dancer (third) <br />1961 Carry Back (seventh) <br />1958 Tim Tam (second) <br />1944 Pensive (second) <br />

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Big Brown without going under the whip a single time...

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Didn't Smarty Jones win the first two legs in 04?

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />Sounds about right--$250 on the Derby and $30 on the Preakness.<br /><br />Bob,<br /><br />True but Big Brown is the best of the bunch although Sunday Silence, Spectacular Bid and Northern Dancer were great horses.<br /><br />Also, I don't see a great challenger stepping up? Colonel John? Gato de Malo?<br /><br />I will be betting on Big Brown to win at the Belmont. $280 to win.<br /><br />Jim<br /><br />

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>i loved the blimp shot after the final turn when big brown turned on the after burners...wow...i've never seen a horse take off like that...<br /><br />p.s. the jockey was so articulate while giving his post race narrative...

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>You've never seen Secretariat in the Belmont then -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoFquax2F-k&feature=related" target="_new">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoFquax2F-k&feature=related</a>

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Yeah, Mike, if I recall didn't Secretariat win the Belmont by like 20 lengths? I don't think you can compare Big Brown to that horse. Even remotely.

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Jim- Casino Drive has come from Japan, he is undefeated and won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont this year. He is also half-brother to Jazil and Rags to Riches who both won Belmonts running against two horses who had won the Derby and Preakness and were going to the Triple Crown. Interesting....

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Secretariat won by closer to 25 lengths. Sham, a very good horse, who came in second and challenged Secretariat in the Derby and Preakness was all out to win and was just destroyed and faded all the way to last. <br />There has never been a horse race like the 1973 Belmont.

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Yes the list left off Smarty Jones in 2004.<br /><br />While we are talking about tragedies at the race track, no one has mentioned the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand. He ended up in a Japanese slaughterhouse. I am not normally a violent person but I would like 10 minutes with these unbelievable cretins responsible for the death and torture of such a beautiful animal. I believe I could inflict some of my own pain and torture on them...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKljURxhDg8&feature=related" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKljURxhDg8&feature=related</a>

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>guys, let me clarify...<br /><br />i am very well aware of Secretariat...my family has always been involved in horse racing, my great uncle was a famous jockey, and have had other relatives who were trainers.<br /><br />obviously Secretariat is a legend, and i was not comparing...(it was 31 lenghts for the record)...but what i simply was refering to was during today's final turn overhead shot...i personally (with my own eyes, i was born in 1974, so missed the '73 belmont), have never seen a horse accelerate like Big Brown did...watch the reply, i am sure they will show it a million times on sportscenter...<br /><br />that was impressive.<br /><br /><br />ok, i'm off to a party...night night<br />

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Bob,<br /><br />Maybe it will be an interesti ng Belmont after all.<br /><br />I do agree Secretariat was thr greatest horse I have ever seen.<br /><br />Jim

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>just to further clarify...<br /><br />Secretariat's dominance of the field, was a very smooth, continuious acceleration, which lead to a 31 length destruction...<br /><br />Big Brown's "burst" after the final turn, was very impressive, like a jolt or turbo boost...<br /><br />that's all i'm sayin' kids...<br /><br />p.s. my fondness of Secretariat led me to name a furniture line that i helped design 6 years ago, after the champion.<br /><br />

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>Bob,<br />Read farther up and you will see that I did make reference to the Ferdinand tragedy and also that the same fate had befallen Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Exceller and many others.<br /><br />Also, I believe that Sham broke down in the Secretariat Belmont, though he did survive to go to stud.

OT but it is time for the 134th Kentucky Derby
 

Posted By: <b>paulstratton</b><p>You could see the jockey was holding him back. Maybe saving a little for the Belmont?