Quote:
Originally Posted by Clocker
Running a horse in the Derby is the big ego trip of the year for owners.
|
While I do think the field is too large (it was 15 when it all started) I don't begrudge owners. These horses are young with only short careers behind them, and keeping a horse together to make the gate is a feat in and of itself, in addition to their having to earn their berth. Somebody is paying the bills to take this risk.
According to bloodstock analyst Bill Oppenheim, less than 4% of all horses that raced in North America in 2019 earned more than $100K.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clocker
Even with a horse they know has no chance
|
Tell that to Donerail, Mine That Bird, Giacomo, Gallahadion, Charismatic, Proud Clarion, Thunder Gulch, et. al.
It's a chaos race ----- horses doing something they've never done for the first time......any horse can theoretically win. And as with all racing, there is bad luck and good luck involved as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dilanesp
And that's actually a big reason to limit fields. Because any owner thinking this isn't thinking about the horse.
|
That's a tough argument and a slippery slope. One could argue that many in this biz, not just owners, aren't thinking about the horse, and it doesn't only happen because they are running in the Derby. I've often put myself in the imaginary shoes of a horse, bred for the racetrack, who has fallen to a lower level claimer, in a small barn w/out a lot of money, and feeling the pain of the injuries they surely have as athletes, and you hope they are receiving enough things to keep them comfortable but we don't know if that is entirely true.
A KY Derby nominee who is close to making the gate is less likely to experience a lot of suffering.
But yes, the bizarre field size, coupled with the knowledge that these are youngsters who may still be green in some aspects, sure makes me white-knuckled every year.
Remind me again how many years did it take racing to bring in a gate that could better accommodate 20 horses?
