Tainted Liam
The rush to annoint Saint Liam as Horse of the Year after his Breeders’ Cup Classic win last Saturday could prove premature, writes Gary West:
Yes, Saint Liam won the country’s richest race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic; and, yes, in 2005 he constructed an admirable edifice of accomplishment that included three other major stakes wins. He’s the champion older horse; give him that.
But at least for the moment, there are two reasons not to hand over the sport’s highest honor to Saint Liam. The obvious reason is Afleet Alex. The other is Saint Liam’s trainer, [Richard] Dutrow.
This past summer, Dutrow paid a $5,000 fine and served a 60-day suspension — he originally had been suspended 120 days — for a variety of offenses, including two medication violations. As a result, his winning the Classic with Saint Liam was, for some, an unsatisfying outcome.
In getting to the winner’s circle, Dutrow had stepped on and over the rules of racing.
Yes, he had paid his fine and served his suspension, but the sight of him there left traditionalists feeling uneasy.
And should Saint Liam become Horse of the Year, well, that would be the ultimate raspberry.
If you find that an unreasonable attitude, try for a moment to imagine how you’re going to feel when Barry Bonds hits No. 756 over the horizon.
Expect debate over the propriety of naming Saint Liam the 2005 Horse of the Year (and possibly Silver Train as sprint champion) to intensify in the next six weeks, given the cloud of suspicion that hangs over Dutrow.
