Friday, June 8, 2012

Abolish the Triple Crown

Today?s horses are bred for speed, not endurance. They?re designed to win the six-furlong and one-mile races that make up the majority of racetrack cards. They?re not bred and trained for the classic distances?a mile-and-a-quarter in the United States (the length of the Kentucky Derby), a mile-and-a-half in Europe. The reason for this, arch handicapping nerd Andrew Beyer explains in the Washington Post, is that breeding is no longer dominated by the aristocratic families?the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, and Phippses. These pillars of the equestrian class had the money and the patience to develop horses that could fill the Big House with prestigious trophies. Nine of the 11 Triple Crown horses were owned by their breeders. The Woodward family?s Belair Stud breeding farm produced Omaha and Gallant Fox. The Wright family?s Calumet Farm raised Whirlaway and Citation. Now, most horses are bred for sale at auction. I?ll Have Another was sired at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky and purchased for $35,000 at Florida?s Ocala Breeder Sales.

dolly parton i will always love you beverly hilton hotel whitney houston found dead i will always love you whitney houston 2012 grammy awards powerball results pebble beach golf

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.