Not that I recall. People certainly weren't on the backside.

I think I remember at least one analyst or "expert" saying that it might be getting too easy. :D

I know Bud Delp never said that.

Alydar sealed the deal for Affirmed, Secretariat's track record in the Derby and the freakish Belmont convinced everyone. Seattle Slew took some criticism for the quality of the horses he faced in the Triple Crown, Run Dusty Run was his main competition. His four year old season was more than convincing.

People that weren't even racing fans were enamored with Secretariat. I was 12 when Big Red won the Triple Crown, my grandma got me to watch the races. I had no idea watching the Belmont a horse was not supposed to go head and head in 1:09 and change and keep going for 1 1/2 miles. I don't see how that isn't the greatest race a horse has ever ran.

I watched the telecast of the 1973 Belmont Stakes and I was awed. I still am.

It has not become watered down. The major downside is that there is now a guarantee that the TC winner will not race as a four-year-old, which is a damn shame. The only exception would be if the horse is a gelding.

Not at all.
And we didn't have all the internet access back then.
I had never seen a TC when I got into racing. It was something we heard about from the old guys at the track. We were freaking AMAZED when Sec romped in his Belmont. AMAZED. We suddenly knew what a TC meant (Especially having taken a bath on Riva Ridge the year before! :D)

Seattle Slew captivated us - his being unbeaten was special. Still having Secretariat in our heads, we were fascinated that we could see another TC. No one was complaining.

And Affirmed vs Alydar was one of the best rivalries ever seen on the track, for us anyways. Started in the 2yo season. And when Alydar poke his head in front in deep stretch of the Belmont, you could hear a thunderous "Ohhhhhhhh" from the crowd at the track.

People were talking about the races back then - on the streets, on TV, on radio, at the track. The idea of a TC winner was a big deal.

Watered down?
Hell no - we were HAPPY to be able to see such true champions creating history.
Seeing so many since then come so close and just miss makes them all the more special.

And now we have two more to remind us just how special winning a TC really is.

The local horse racing radio show was giving out numbers for the Belmont - each caller got one until the field was given out.

The guy that got Gronk wasn't too happy with the pick.
The announcer told him that if he won, Gronk himself would come to his house with a case of beer to party. :D

You should read up a little on Sham, the horse Secretariat beat in the Derby (and Preakness and Belmont) before suggesting people research articles as a way to back up your nearly entirely knowledge free posts.

Sham ran a Derby that probably beat not only every other horse not named Secretariat that had ever run the Derby but every horse after until Monarchos.

Secretariat is a great because he dominated a horse that in any other year you would have suggested was a bore for the ease of his wins.

But for Big Red, Sham prob would have been a triple crown winner.

TRIPLE CROWN RACES ARE BORING
 

Memo to Mr. Chippy;

Big Red's victories may have appeared to be boring , but the
his reputation did suffer when he lost to Onion.


:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Really????? Big Red was sick and running a temperature. Anyone knowing horses knew this. He shouldn't have run.

What rocket fuel did they give Secretariat that day?
_______

It's a dirty game, and always has been.

Only way they'll ever catch the cheats is to save samples for future testing.

Something the "sport" has no desire to do.

But, nowadays they ALL cheat. Especially the biggest outfits with the best pharmacists.

________

Justify is just the latest.