[Danzig]

there will always be doubters, always people who enjoy nothing so much as being the devils advocate. or there are those who just aren't willing/able to see things. one convoluted bit of logic i always get a chuckle from, are the arguments that mineshaft beat 'nothing' and then you see praise heaped onto perfect drift (for example) who beat mineshaft from the same person who just criticized the HOY winner! i mean, if mineshaft was nothing, beat nothing, why would they think it's a big deal that PD beat mineshaft??? haven't quite figured that one out as yet.

mineshaft had a really good campaign that year--i have to say i would take a horse like mineshaft over some of the far more lightly raced champs we've had....
as for ducking, his schedule was out there for all to see--bobby frankel for one freely admitted ducking HIM.
as for the bcc, mineshaft didn't go due to a problem with one of his legs( a chip maybe? horses sometimes run with them til they become a real problem)--and why would you run a horse with a leg problem in cali of all places? everyone had a chance all year to run against him--they didn't. and then critics pop up accusing the mineshaft team of ducking. um, yeah, ok.

i do think it's a shame that when a horse has a great year he still has his detractors. but it happens in all areas of society, not just in horse racing! just a fact of life.