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For The Good Of The Game

posted by John Pricci on March 20, 2008 Tags: , , , , ,
Nick Zito (Photo by: Toni Pricci)Nick Zito (Photo by: Toni Pricci)

Caught in a wave of humanity while trying to escape the paddock traffic, I bobbed and weaved my way through a record Tampa Bay Derby crowd toward the winners’ circle, mouth agape while trying to process what I had just seen.

After all, there’s beat, then there’s beaten off.

I saw Mike Welsch and Dave Josephs, heads down, eyes on notebooks, scribbling furiously, so I rushed over, looked up, and saw Robert LaPenta, as shocked as anyone in the building.

War Pass may not be Seattle Slew but in Tampa last Saturday he wasn’t even War Pass.

Craning my neck forward to get closer to the conversation, I strained mightily to hear what was being said while the owner of War Pass recounted what led up to his colt’s operatic non-effort when out came words referencing a slight fever earlier in the week.

“He didn’t just say that, did he?” I asked no one in particular, maybe not even myself. With that, a reporter turned, looked at me as if he, too, had heard something like this before and wished he hadn’t.

When favorites are beaten people begin asking questions, trying to make logic soup from chaotic ingredients. But this was no ordinary favorite. This one was an unbeaten margin horse; this was the protem Kentucky Derby favorite that put a record 12,724 fannies in the seats. This one was 1-20!

And this was the one that spiked a fever earlier in the week.

Thinking before speaking is not always an option. Emotions cloud the brain as it tries to make sense of the surreal. The connections of racehorses never seem to be prepared for such moments, even if the chances are 1-20 that there will be more like these than the one in which they picture themselves draped in roses at Churchill Downs on May’s first Saturday.

So pardon the public if they don’t get it and forgive them if sometimes they would rather turn their back on this thing of ours rather than try to understand what happened and learn from it. It’s just the damn media that gods these horses up like they’re Pegasus reincarnate then are at a loss to provide the why behind such a momentous fall.

And make no mistake. This was King Kong off the Empire State building.

Horses are, first and foremost, living, breathing, magnificent animals. There’s nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse, Lord Palmerston first said. And that’s what the public relates to. Throw in a measure of invincibility and the magic of an American icon as the Kentucky Derby and the crescendo begins.

Racehorses are that and more. They are commodities bought on the open market which gives them value beyond aesthetics. Win some important races, do it in fast time, and the value increases exponentially. If they are singularly talented and high profile, and are coveted by oil glutted sheikhs, they become worth what some successful people call “stupid money.”

The public needs to understand this, factoring in the realization that they are made of flesh and blood and tendons and pasterns and hocks and hooves, and that there’s nothing mechanical about any of it. Sometimes, as Ron McAnally reminded us, they give their lives for our pleasure. But sports fans must realize, too, that racehorses are treated better by their human caretakers than some humans take care of their own. Sad but true, the public needs to know this, too.

And they need to be educated the way other fans in this country are educated to care about baseball, football, basketball and all the rest. If there were really something wrong with Tom Brady’s foot, would Bill Belichick shout it out for all the tabloids to hear?

OK, maybe coach Belichick is a poor example.

But when entries were drawn 48 hours in advance of the Tampa Bay Derby, stakes coordinator Duane Dube had done his best to scare up a few local rivals to support the event to give it the illusion of being a horse race and not a coronation. Had LaPenta or trainer Nick Zito referenced a fever earlier in the week, the event would have been over-filled like some “beaten claiming” race.

As a horse owner with a top prize of $180,000 on the line, would you rather face 10 rivals or five?

To paraphrase from a previous administration in Washington D.C., it’s about the money stupid, and not about stupid money. Treating racehorses like royalty is a big expense. Racetrackers correctly say it’s money that makes the mare go.

Be it emotionally or financially, everyone tethered to the racehorse knows and understands this. But the general public that attracted to the Derby does not and needs to be educated about the sport’s nuances. It’s nuance that turns a sporting public into lifetime racing fans and horseplayers.

Since last Saturday‘s remarks, the connections of War Pass have begun to back away from the fever scenario. But this is not about whether there was a fever present or not; horseplayers seldom have a problem drawing their own conclusions.

This is about the time of year when sports fans begin to take notice and put their fannies in racetrack seats. In the continued absence of education, pre-race excuses made in post race interviews leave a bad taste and shows little regard for a bigger picture.

It’s about time that the public is made to understand, as racetrackers do, that “they all get beat,” that there’s no shame in defeat, that there‘s nothing sinister afoot.

Even the most well meaning of owners shouldn’t make a bad situation worse. They should know enough to just hold their tongues and take their lumps. Nobody gets to have it both ways. Nobody and no horse, no matter how famous, is bigger than the game.
 

John Pricci's full "Racing to the Kentucky Derby" blog can be found at www.horseraceinsider.com

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tracmonster

03/20/2008 12:34 pm

I usually keep my opinions to myself and let all the talkers talk....but one thing which has not been mentioned and I personally have seen this happen time and again in Califonia...when a bridge jumper or phantom plunger bets a massive amount to show in a small field on a prohibitive favorite...isnt it funny how many times that fav runs out and it leads to a gigantic show payoff...as in the Tampa Derby......or in the Big cap at Santa Anita when Gentlemen was favored in a very small field of less than superstar performers....recently Hysterical Lady lost to a bunch of pigs in a Grade one again at santa Anita and huge show prices was the order of the day....as many days as SA has lost due to their horrible new surface(when it rains)they could ill-afford a minus show pool...as most tracks magna owns are struggling..............I hate to be cynical because I love horseracing as much as anyone...but if you think trainers and jockeys always try to win....you must be really naive........with all that being said,I wouldnt be the least bit surprised to see War Pass rebound and smash the field in the Wood....and everyone will say that he had a hiccup in Tampa..........

mike barker

03/20/2008 3:38 pm

Sierra Sunset injured, off Derby trail

DerbyFan78

03/20/2008 6:29 pm

Saw that too Mike. Looks the AK Derby is wide open to me.

patbateman

03/20/2008 10:17 pm

Too bad for Sierra Sunset, he was really looking nice. Hopefully he can get back on track for the California connections in time for the big fall season out there.

I don't think the War Pass result skaes the public's confidence in the game at all. It is well documented in the Kentucky Derby that the favorite doesn't win most of the time, and favoritism for awhile was looked at as a curse of sorts. Maybe War Pass ran a little too hard in that first start off the layoff and bounced... in addition to the bad break and the contact War Pass endured at Tampa with a surface he didn't like either...I don't know. I like the horse a lot, but he is vulnerable like all horses. I would rather him run a bad race that an extra grueling race that completely saps his energy. Perhaps he has not yet run his best race, it would be great to see him run a big race and Pyro do the same in the big one.

For a horse like that I think it is best to wait and see and bet him on Derby day if at all. There is too much risk in betting a favorite in the future wager, even if it happens to work out every ten years or so.

Cdpotato4

03/21/2008 4:43 pm

Street Sense was the favorite last year.

Barbaro also vied for favoritism in 2006 along with Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint.

patbateman

03/21/2008 6:14 pm

potato, I remember last year that Street Sense was the deserving favortie because he was the best horse. Barbaro was not the favorite. The only other one for something like 20 years to win it was Fusaichi Pegasus. Just go to the derby online store and buy some mint julep glasses and read the list of winners on the back.

DerbyFan78

03/21/2008 7:12 pm

Smarty Jones was also the favorite the year he won.

patbateman

03/21/2008 10:46 pm

Derbyfan you got me. I keep blocking that one out of my memory on purpose I think.

barryrmitchell

03/22/2008 5:51 am

So what do you guy's really think happen to War Pass.

Track, Bounced, training up to the race was not good, sick?

Do owners lie, or trainers?

To bad the horse can't speak, or has he?

I remember many great horse losing in preps for one reason or another.

But that race was the extreme worst thus far. Granted the horse was eased.

I keep thinking about Discreet Cat. His lost was equivalent.

Was Discreet Cat ever the same? His medical excuse is still questionable to me.

DerbyFan78

03/22/2008 8:15 am

Barry - I agree Discreet Cat was never the same, but the owners never did right by the horse, if you ask me. He was sick and they kept pushing the button. My thought is he would have been exceptional and extraordinary if he would have stayed in the US. Most horses never come back the same when returning from Dubai. I still like War Pass and am throwing the TB Derby out. Besides, it would sure be nice to have some pace in the Derby and without him there's none. I am not saying he will win the Derby, but think he will be the pace. Now, if they leave him alone on the front end, he have his way just like Hard Spun last year and could possibly steal it. The Derby is shaping up to be a strange race, as of now (graded earnings list), there are several closers and only one front runner. Of course, this could all change with Big Brown's performance next weekend. If he runs second or better, he's in the Derby. Since he's a mid-pack runner, this could have a tremendous impact on the Derby and force several into running much closer to the pace. Sorry, if there are other mid-pack runners, but I cannot recall any at the given moment. Thoughts?

patbateman

03/22/2008 2:50 pm

I think a lot of things happened. He got a bad jump, got squeezed, didn't like the surface, bounced, was eased for his own good, and he was never as good as everyone thought anyway.

phil_cayla

03/23/2008 11:03 am

Simple, out of his element. He is not versatile...If he gets the front in the Derby he is likely to win, in not he will be 15th or worse. I believe the latter will be the case.

derbyme

03/23/2008 11:51 am

DerbyFan,

Big Brown is probably more of a speed/presser than a midpack horse. He ran off in his turf debut and dueled outside on the dirt. He runs his opponents into the ground rather than sitting and pouncing. Of course, Curlin looked the same at this stage last year, and I still think that's his best running style. If Curlin went to the lead in the Belmont he wins by open lengths.

Other speeds/press: Bob Black Jack, Massive Drama, My Pal Charlie, Etched, Face the Cat

Other stalker/midpackers: Elysium Fields, Cool Coal Man, Colonel John, El Gato Malo, Georgie Boy, Gayego, Adriano, Halo Najib, Z Fortune, Hey Byrn, Fierce Wind, Giant Moon, and Big Truck all have tactical speed. Others have shown versatility.

I don't think it will be War Pass putting up :24 3/5ths quarter after quarter with the rest of the field 15-20 lenghts back.

DerbyFan78

03/23/2008 9:41 pm

Derbyme,

Big Brown looks to have a great deal of upside to me and I liked how he rated behind horses in the allowance race. However, it was against turf horses and I am not conceding anything to him just yet. I am not seeing anything of the aforementioned speed horses above when reviewing the most recent graded earnings list. Additionally, until the Western horses come East and win prior to the Derby, I do not consider them threats. The Derby is not the place to make your debut on conventional dirt, much less against horses already proven over the surface. So, for me, I will not use any of the Western based horses on any tickets May 3rd. Now, they could burn me, but I will go with horses already proven, not something untested. Although, I will agree El Gato Malo, Georgie Boy, and Colonel John have all been impressive to this point. Of course, we are still several weeks away and most, if not all could have a chance at making the field. Honestly, if I were in Mr. Lapenta's shoes I would be feeling rather well at the moment - I would rather have the speed in the race, especially if he is the lone speed on entry day. Again, I am not saying he will win, but I like his chances to hit the board.

vjg515

04/19/2008 6:34 pm

edgar prado, has a monster weekend at keenland and proves what a masterhorseman he really is!! he rode monba to victory in the blugrass, and adriano in the lanes end. ADRIANO son of A.P indy is my pick, to pick up the pieces in the melt down in the over heated run of the kentucky derby.edgar had his option's of riding monba, and has also won a race aboard cowboy cal,whom beat ADRIANO who finished 4th on the grass.PRADO AND MOTION a hot combo of late, team up and head for the roses. i personaly think edgar win's back to back derbys setting a record aboard ADRIANO. WAS THERE a jockey who ever won back to back derbys? if yes, and who? i think that edgar picks adriano over the other quality horses speaks volumes for adriano, who he worked over the churchill track.

vjg515

04/19/2008 8:28 pm

street sense won 2007 .:my bad: on the back to back derby stat.