JC / Railbird

I just don’t get this underdog story for Mine That Bird. He was a Canadian Champion purchased privately for $400k in part by a guy who made $30-million when his father sold his company.

The win was huge, and these guys definitely make for great copy, so the need to inject a david-goliath storyline when it doesn’t exist seems a bit much.

Posted by EJXD2 on May 9, 2009 @ 10:37 am

Ed, I get what you’re saying about the owners’ resources and MTB’s private purchase price, but what you’re talking about is money, and money — either the perceived lack of or the actual plenty — has nothing to do with why this story resonates. It’s all about class, a perennially interesting subject and a big source of anxiety in unsettling economic times. This is a soothing tale for the class anxious, which is pretty much everyone these days.

Posted by Jessica on May 9, 2009 @ 1:56 pm

I’m with Ed on this; when I found out the story behind Mine That Bird’s owners, the “little guy made good” story lost all purchase with me.

What continues to mystify me is why, given the owner’s fat bank account, the horse wasn’t flown to Churchill instead of driven.

Posted by Teresa on May 9, 2009 @ 7:39 pm

I know Casey Lambert “tried” with Mine That Bird in the Sunland Derby, so perhaps we should take another look at that race because it has become on of the most productive key races of the year. Advice won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, Mythical Power won the Lone Star Derby and Mine That Bird did well at Churchill downs on the first Saturday in May. Perhaps the result in the Sunland Derby may be ascribed to the usual handicapping factors we consider, such as post position, track surface, jockey assignments, distance and racing luck. Although Scorewithcater didn’t do that well in the Peter Pan, he lost to Charitable Man, who probably would have won the Derby had he not been injured and was away from the races for a long time. Charitable Man will win the Belmont Stakes!

Posted by chasham on May 10, 2009 @ 2:54 am

I’m loving the Canadiana in this edition of “Links”…

I think the $9500 figure on Mine That Bird makes this story forever interesting. They could go on to sell MTB for ten zillion dollars if he wins the Triple Crown and race him till he’s ten years-old, but it all started with just $9500. That’s pretty cool.

Posted by Keith-TripleDeadHeat on May 10, 2009 @ 10:50 am