I did post on this board that Smarty would lose the Belmont...I never would have thought it would be Birdstone to do it and my rationale was completely off...I thought it would be RHT, but Smarty came up huge in defeat to anyone that truly appreciates sports.
Anyway, his performance made me a believer as he was much more impressive in defeat than I could have ever imagined...kinda reminded me of Rocky...the Philly boxer actually lost his first bout for immortality and won over the hearts of the public...I believe that Smarty\'s performance will attract more \"true\" sports fans to horse racing than a win would have. The \"true\" sports fan appreciates great efforts and that is what Smarty provided. Besides, how could a Philly think they were going to clinch a title in NY, the world might have collided with an asteroid or something.
If he had won...yes, there would have been way more fans attracted to horse racing, but I believe these would have been \"bandwagon fans\"...and while that would have been interesting to see...maybe, it is best that I do not have to wait on line to get a bet in because some \"dude\" wearing sandals and a walkman is calling off $2 to show on \"the gray horse with the pink silks.\"
Things happen for a reason.
Couldn\'t agree more.
Maybe its the cynic in me, but I was really starting to tire of the endlessly repeated stories of Smarty fracturing his skull as a 2-year old and his journeyman jockey and the Chapmans nearly getting out of thoroughbred racing after Camac\'s murder, etc., etc.
But his race on Saturday made me a real Smarty fan...a great race and a truly courageous effort.
I read somewhere that Birdstone\'s assistant trainer, Reynaldo Abreu, was quoted as saying that he felt sadness when he saw Smarty being led back to the test barn after the Belmont and his legs were still trembling from exhaustion.
Here\'s hoping we see much more of Smarty this summer, fall and next year
Have a feeling we will see plenty more of Smarty...his owners have already turned down the blank check and if he comes out of the Belmont OK I think we\'ll see him 3 or 4 more times this year.
Gotta believe he will stack up very well against older horses...still think a mile and a quarter is not his best distance, but will be super tough at a mile and an eight.
No Clubber Langs out there.
Speaking of Shifty Shiek, was Oscar, a distant cousin, the first Super Trainer(C) ?
This won\'t happen, but I would LOVE to see him on the grass; great potential with his pedigree!