JC / Railbird

Well said and couldn’t think of a better metaphor.

Posted by PPS on May 19, 2008 @ 10:38 am

My friends, who do not follow racing at all, seemed more intrigued by the Eight Belles breakdown than the possibility of a triple crown winner. Why it happened, drugs, etc.
Context — if you know nothing about horse racing, you’re not going to be excited about a triple crown winner since you have no context to put the achievement in perspective. The Eight Belles mess was easy to contextualize for non-fans — life and death.

Posted by o_crunk on May 19, 2008 @ 10:57 am

My friends, who know of racing only through the window I provide, asked me about Eight Belles immediately after it happened and haven’t brought it up since other than to say how stupid PETA is.
Of those who did bring up 8B after the Derby most also asked me about how good Big Brown is. Of course, BB only made me look like an idiot since I’ve brazenly picked against him in his last three Grade 1 romps.
These same people are excited for the Triple Crown try, but none of them will head out to Thistledown after it whether he wins or loses. They may ask me about the Breeders’ Cup, but I probably won’t hear from them again (on racing topics) until next year’s Derby.

Posted by EJXD2 on May 19, 2008 @ 11:30 am

I don’t disagree with anything Ed says here … but man, for what should be an exciting time for those of us who follow the sport, there’s sure a lot of kvetching going on around these blogs! Can’t we just take a timeout for a few weeks and enjoy ourselves? There are times that I don’t really give a shit about Joe Public. Let them waste their time obsessing over American Idol and Brittney Spears; that’s their loss! There’s surely a lot of time and a ton of problems to concern ourselves with afterwards …

Posted by alan on May 19, 2008 @ 11:49 am

But they’re still valid and interesting points, plus everyone already knows to head over to Left at the Gate to check out Big Brown/TC posts of the more celebratory variety :)

Posted by dana on May 19, 2008 @ 12:40 pm

To me the Triple Crown is bigger than the sport, so the idea that Big Brown winning three races in five weeks is going to turn someone who tunes in to racing a few times a year into a $2 bettor at Sam Houston is ridiculous.
I am very excited about this year’s Belmont Stakes. Big Brown has decimated 29 rivals (Gayego twice) in his first two TC races — the most horses any horse has defeated in winning the Derby and Preakness — so even though Hey Byrn isn’t exactly Alydar, I think he’s done things the right way to show he’s the best so far.
Bring on Casino Drive, Roman Emperor, and the Derby also rans. If he beats them, then he is a worthy crown bearer.

Posted by EJXD2 on May 19, 2008 @ 12:43 pm

Two words: Denis of Cork
Oops, I mean three words…
See you all in Gallaghers. Well done, please. — J.S.

Posted by J.S. on May 21, 2008 @ 12:51 pm