Moran: Is slippery Crown good for racing?

by Paulick Report Staff | 05.27.2012 | 7:42am

As any fan of horse racing knows, it’s been 34 years since there’s been a Triple Crown champion. That fact will be repeated again several times in the next two weeks in the build up to the June 9 Belmont Stakes.

“Racing needs a Triple Crown winner” has been a mantra both heard and said by the media and longtime racing fans.

But does it really?

Part of the anticipation and excitement has been in the fact that it has been so long since we’ve had a Triple Crown winner. Would it be such a bad thing should I’ll Have Another fail in his attempt at winning that elusive Crown?

Eclipse Award-winning writer Paul Moran asks that question in his latest column for ESPN.com.

» Read more at ESPN.com

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Rachel

I have a question: Is anyone taking bets on the odds of IHA ever running another race if he does win the TC?

There is a zero chance of a 4 year-old season, like Seattle Slew and Affirmed, but will we even see him at all this fall, like Secretariat?
Frank L.

Rachel —

Keep in mind, if IHA wins the Triple
Crown his value will skyrocket — in continuing, the chances for
injury would create an immense pressure for both owner/trainer. The
best that could be hoped for is a start in the Pacific Classic, if
Del Mar is maintaining a good surface, and one in the Breeder’s Cup!!

If he were mine I would retire him
immediately after he won the TC.

As proven by the comments on this site,
any UN-forseen injury or setback, would be viewed in the extreme
negative — irregardless of facts, again as proven through the
comment section of this site, SO I would take the money and run. The
public has already proved they are not up to receiving a Triple Crown
winner, lever mine via an extended career — No WAY. Doug O’Neil
and Paul Redman owe the public absolutely “NOTHING” other than
the Triple Crown winner, PERIOD. The owner/trainer have to realize
that they are dealing with a very negative public that does “NOT”
deserve any more exposure of IHA than is absolutely necessary.
Olebobbowers

Oh brother.
Convene

One thing Moran said kind of puts it into perspective for me, at least: No one still walking the earth has seen a better horse than Secretariat. The Triple Crown should be won by something of that stature – or very close to that stature. I think this is a very nice crop of colts this year but no, I don’t think any of them could rate as the best I’ve ever seen. I want to see another Triple Crown before I head to the big pasture in the sky – but I only want to see one if the winner is a horse who can stand at least with his head at Secretariat’s throat-lash. I don’t think any of these colts, good as they are, can do that. This is the ultimate honor for a 3-year old – the ultimate statement of class, durability, speed, soundness and courage. Winning it should never, never be easy. If that means I’m gone by the time someone achieves it again, so be it. It should remain the ultimate statement.
Stevewonder

IHA value will skyrocket? Where do you based that on? First off, with
all the accusations and innuendoes (true or false) there will be those
who will just smirk at this horse winning the TC, there will be that
perception IHA was running on something. Personally, I believed this is a
very good horse running against a bunch of basically 9 furlongs horses
that we have been breeding.

Second, if Bodemeister wins a few G1 at 9 furlongs with his speed,
BODEMEISTER not IHA will be the one with a higher stud fee. why? We
breed for speedy milers, not routers (routers back then was defined 10
furlongs or longer, 2 turn mile races are not routing and so is 9
furlongs).

There are still those who believe Bodemeister is the superior horse,
with Mike Smith screwing it up and IHA with the perception on something,
you can bet all your possessions that if IHA does not win the Belmont,
his stud fees will be less than Bodemeister.

We do not care for the Sunday Silence type of horses. We go for the
Uncle Mo kind of horses. Gee, this is not even a secret anymore.
Lshively

i am tired of people wanting the perfect horse to win the crown; was Seattle Slew or Affirmed as good as Secretariat? no but they were great and deserved to win the crown; If IHA wins the Belmont then by virtue of winning that race, he will deserve to win the triple crown. Of course his value will skyrocket as will the value of his sire. It is obviously very very difficult to win the Triple Crown since it has been 34 years since a horse has done so. I am hoping and praying this is the year. there just is no downside and Moran is like Debbie downer; spare me.
Skip Ean

I agree, Convene. I would like to add that I would place Zenyatta very close to the calibre of Secretariat. I don’t think any of the horses in the Belmont are near his class, but IHA, Dullahan and Rags deserve to be in that race. Horses today are bred for speed and receive too many drugs for their bones to last, so i think breeders have demoted quality to promote quantity and the payload from breeding. Where the dignity and grandeur of this sport once ruled there is now greed and investing and overbreeding. Still, the Belmont is the ultimate test and if IHA can win it, I’ll be cheering for him.
Gaited Filly

Skip, for all the reasons you have just stated is why it will be remarkable thing if I’ll Have Another wins the Belmont & we have our TC winner. More the reason to honor him, value him, appreciate what a feat it would really be. But No! he is put down because he is not as great as Secretariat or others! Bodemeister is the more valuable horse for a sire? Phooey! He will have outrun Bodie twice and Bodie did not have the stamina to go to Belmont. If IHA wins he will be the total package, speed and stamina, what people have been saying we would never have again. I will be rooting for him too and if he wins he will be a great horse. It does not matter if he is not Secretariat.
One Horse Stable

My choice for calibre close to Secretariat would be Ruffian. Lucien Laurent apparently thought more than even that. Remember was never passed by any horse.
Gaited Filly

I disagree with your statement that “the public has proved they are not up to receiving a Triple Crown winner.” That is going on at this web site. I do not see that attitude any where else. I am at a loss to find a word that describes the completely negative attitudes here.

Regarding IHA’s value as a sire: Man o’ War’s sire Fairplay was the #1 sire for many years after the success of MOW. Flower Alley will go through the roof. Whether a great race horse will be a great sire is always something that remains to be proved. But IHA will certainly be given a chance.
Crystal

It is not This Website.. get with the horsemen and they will let you know that rewarding a multiple offender like Doug O’Neill is not how they want to see the game played. Get with it..
Anita Xanax

Good Lord, can’t they wait two more Weeks?? They can point all the fingers and throw all the stones they want then, just let the world have the joy of this TC run, PLEASE!!!
Frank L.

Stevewonder —

Keep wondering!! Do you even Know what
kind of stud Sunday Silence was! Wake up and stop smoking whatever
it is your smoking — Think, don’t just make wild guesses.

Bodimeister lost to I’ll Have Another
because IHA is the better race horse, just as Affirmed was the better
race horse than Alydar. Your comments make it known whether or not
you are a winner or loser? You keep wondering as you continue to
lose!!
Frank L.

Crystal, NOT TRUE!!
Most horsemen understand a lot of what of what O’Neil is going through!!
Frank L.

Convene —
Yours is not even a rational comment as NO Triple Crown winner could match Secrateriant, except Citation, and that doesn’t matter — winning the Triple Crown, itself, stamps a Champion whether or not “YOU” like it!!
Stevewonder

Frank L —

What does better got to do with Bodemeister a faster miler than IHA??…..that is fact whether you like it or not and that is how we breed today….fast milers…just look at Shackleford…in reality a miler and no different than Rachel Alexandra…..

don’t we color the resume of two year olds on how fast they can run a furlong or two? The problem with the industry is their lack of honesty….

Now let me ask you for the upteenth time…

How come we keep shortening races? how come there are more Grade 1 sprint/mile races today than ever? how come there is not a single 2 turn open Grade 1 at 10 furlongs or longer in the east coast?

Why don’t you answer this question??????
Convene

Thank you for defining rationality as agreement with you. However, I stand by my comments. I didn’t say Secretariat’s equal; I said a horse who could stand at least at his throatlatch. In my (irrational, no doubt) opinion, Horse of the Year and Eclipse awards define champions. A Triple Crown is and should be special. And that’s my opinion whether or not you like it!
Convene

Amen to that! It would also be nice if we could disagree without hurling demeaning insults at each other. I enjoy reading others’ opinions but I have no urge to call those who disagree nasty names. This sport – and especially this series of events – is supposed to be for us to enjoy so yes, Anita Xanax – let’s sit back and enjoy!