California Chrome out; Will return for full 5yo season

[pointman]

Per Marcus Hersh on Twitter:

"Spoke to Art Sherman. California Chrome likely out rest of year with cannon-bone bruise. Possible he doesn't race again if retired to stud."

Shocking. Terrific management by Perry Martin.

[casp0555]

just heard the same...wow, really was looking forward to seeing him race again

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by pointman

Per Marcus Hersh on Twitter:

"Spoke to Art Sherman. California Chrome likely out rest of year with cannon-bone bruise. Possible he doesn't race again if retired to stud."

Shocking. Terrific management by Perry Martin.

If retired to stud....
Wonder if they've gotten any offers.

[pointman]

Some more detail.

http://ctba.com/california-chrome-out-for-the-year/

I'm sure dumb and dumber will manage to screw up any decision from here.

[casp0555]

Originally Posted by pointman

Some more detail.

http://ctba.com/california-chrome-out-for-the-year/

I'm sure dumb and dumber will manage to screw up any decision from here.

lately, when have they not......?

[LARHAGE]

What a shame poor horse is owned by idiots, he could have cleaned up on the local scene with Shared Belief injured, but those idiots go off chasing unicorns and the horse paid, I thought he looked horrible when he returned to the states, skinny and dull, too bad Sherman didn't have control, Frankel would have ripped them a new one!

[Kasept]

Jay Privman, Del Mar, 2015-07-12: A few thoughts on California Chrome -- appreciation for Art and Alan Sherman

If this indeed is the end of the racing career for CALIFORNIA CHROME, it should be noted that the only race he won after the Preakness was the Hollywood Derby, a race his trainer, Art Sherman, decided to run in because he trusted his instincts that California Chrome had come out of the Breeders' Cup Classic in excellent shape and was ready for another race at Del Mar.

Remember, the original plan was to not race California Chrome after the Breeders' Cup. Had that plan been followed, California Chrome would not have run in the Hollywood Derby, a race that unquestionably swung the tide toward bringing him both titles as champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year. If he doesn't run in that race, Bayern very likely wins both titles.

It was Art Sherman who wanted to run in the Hollywood Derby. His decision is what enabled the owners of California Chrome to receive the glory of a divisional title and Horse of the Year.

Yet after that, majority owner Perry Martin overruled the wishes of minority owner Steve Coburn and Sherman when it came to California Chrome's campaign this year. The Dubai World Cup made sense -- a race on dirt, for a giant purse.

But the decision to go to England, while certainly sporting, defied the wishes of Sherman and Coburn. For the first time, California Chrome was away from the care of the people -- Art and son Alan -- who made him who he was. He trained on unfamiliar terrain. He at the least suffered a foot bruise while there, and arrived back in the US with bone bruising, which now sends him to the sidelines, perhaps never to race again.

The entire reason for going to England was Martin's stated belief that a win there would increase California Chrome's value and appeal to breeders. Perhaps that would have been true. But he likely already had established his value, and no matter what he did there -- in races worth less than what he would have raced for here -- he was still going to be a son of Lucky Pulpit out of an $8,000 mare. He outran his pedigree, but whether he'll outperform his pedigree as a stallion is far from certain.

We'll never know if California Chrome would have remained injury free had he not gone to England. Perhaps the bone bruising he suffered would have occurred here, too.

But what I do know, from having watched this horse for the better part of his career, is that Art Sherman always showed that he knew what was best for California Chrome. He ignored people who said the colt should have arrived sooner at Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby, and those who said he needed to work between the Derby and Preakness, and those who questioned why he was running on grass after the Breeders' Cup.

Sherman was not down with going to the Pennsylvania Derby -- a pure money grab that left him a race short for the BC Classic -- nor going to England.

Sherman was right an all counts, and it's a real shame his probity wasn't fully appreciated by those whose interests he, ultimately, was trying to look out for.

[letswastemoney]

I don't think Perry Martin is anywhere near the villain that people are making him out to be.

But, they might as well retire California Chrome if the hate just piles on. No matter what they decide, the public will crucify his owners.

Was going to Europe really that anger-inducing for everyone? Lots of Americans go to Royal Ascot. Some race and are fine. Some get sick, like Finnegan.

Bad stuff happens to horses no matter where they ae.

[LARHAGE]

It wasn't going to Royal Ascot that blowed, it was going to Royal Ascot with THIS horse, he's a dirt horse and could have been home with the trainer that knew him best and cleaned up with Shared Belief on the sidelines, instead they ship him off to a new Country, with a new trainer to prepare him for something completely over his head, than they ship him back to another track for another impossible endeavor, the horse is tired of his futile traveling and looked like **** stepping off the van in Arlington, a waste of a very nice horse.

[RolloTomasi]

I thought an underlying reason why California Chrome went to Dubai was to essentially "duck" Shared Belief. The San Antonio Invitational (along with the BC Classic) was sort of billed as a budding rivalry between the two and the way the race turned out it seemed a good possibility. Despite Shared Belief's emphatic win, California Chrome ran well off the layoff and perhaps would have been sharper for the Big Cap. Instead, the owners took their ball and went elsewhere.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

It wasn't going to Royal Ascot that blowed, it was going to Royal Ascot with THIS horse, he's a dirt horse and could have been home with the trainer that knew him best and cleaned up with Shared Belief on the sidelines, instead they ship him off to a new Country, with a new trainer to prepare him for something completely over his head, than they ship him back to another track for another impossible endeavor, the horse is tired of his futile traveling and looked like **** stepping off the van in Arlington, a waste of a very nice horse.

All of his major accomplishments are on dirt because that's what he ran on. The horse he beat at Del Mar on turf ended up winning the Shoemaker Mile recently, so it's not 100 percent proven Chrome isn't a turf horse too.

Before Chrome ever became popular, I labeled him as a polytrack specialist in his 2 year old season because he didn't seem to grip dirt as well. But, he just needed an outside trip.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

All of his major accomplishments are on dirt because that's what he ran on. The horse he beat at Del Mar on turf ended up winning the Shoemaker Mile recently, so it's not 100 percent proven Chrome isn't a turf horse too.

Before Chrome ever became popular, I labeled him as a polytrack specialist in his 2 year old season because he didn't seem to grip dirt as well. But, he just needed an outside trip.

When he impressively wired the field ( I think it was the Robert Lewis, I was there but not sure which Stake exactly ) how come he didn't need an outside trip?

[robfla]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

When he impressively wired the field ( I think it was the Robert Lewis, I was there but not sure which Stake exactly ) how come he didn't need an outside trip?

Originally Posted by letswastemoney Before Chrome ever became popular, I labeled him as a polytrack specialist in his 2 year old season because he didn't seem to grip dirt as well. But, he just needed an outside trip.

2014 San Felipe Stakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmbne501ZE

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

When he impressively wired the field ( I think it was the Robert Lewis, I was there but not sure which Stake exactly ) how come he didn't need an outside trip?

I should have typed he runs well in the clear. When he leads, dirt isn't going in his face, and when he runs on the outside he gets to avoid kickback too.

In the Golden State Juvenile, Belmont Stakes and Penn Derby, his trips were inside and he misfired. In the case of the Pennsylvania race, the layoff probably made his lack of kick worse. Eliminate the Belmont Stakes and Penn Derby, and he ran fine throughout 2014. His two races this year were pretty good too, unless people are expecting an invincible record.

He's a horse that can compete at the GI level. It doesn't mean he will win every one of them, but it does not mean he will lose them all either.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

I don't think Perry Martin is anywhere near the villain that people are making him out to be.

But, they might as well retire California Chrome if the hate just piles on. No matter what they decide, the public will crucify his owners.

Was going to Europe really that anger-inducing for everyone? Lots of Americans go to Royal Ascot. Some race and are fine. Some get sick, like Finnegan.

Bad stuff happens to horses no matter where they ae.

of course it wasn't going to europe that caused this. anything and everything done since the guy went off immediately after the belmont has only drawn negative comments. obviously he spoke in the heat of the moment, full of emotion, and angry and depressed. what he said that day has been said a million times over by a million fans. discussions have been on here about 'new shooters'.
other horses ship, no comments. other horses try england--look at animal kingdom, and no negative comments. yeah, some questioned if AK had a chance, but it was nothing like this.
the horse didn't get a hoof bruise or a cannon bruise because of who owned him, or because or where he was stabled. we see this every day, regardless of how nice the owner is, or how savvy the trainer.
they took a risk, it didn't pan out. just like going for two can make you a hero if the team scores, and a zero if they don't.
i neither like nor dislike the owners. they took a chance, it didn't work out.
wesley ward takes those chances, look what one of his just accomplished.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Danzig

of course it wasn't going to europe that caused this. anything and everything done since the guy went off immediately after the belmont has only drawn negative comments. obviously he spoke in the heat of the moment, full of emotion, and angry and depressed. what he said that day has been said a million times over by a million fans. discussions have been on here about 'new shooters'.
other horses ship, no comments. other horses try england--look at animal kingdom, and no negative comments. yeah, some questioned if AK had a chance, but it was nothing like this.
the horse didn't get a hoof bruise or a cannon bruise because of who owned him, or because or where he was stabled. we see this every day, regardless of how nice the owner is, or how savvy the trainer.
they took a risk, it didn't pan out. just like going for two can make you a hero if the team scores, and a zero if they don't.
i neither like nor dislike the owners. they took a chance, it didn't work out.
wesley ward takes those chances, look what one of his just accomplished.

That was Steve Coburn who shot his mouth off. Perry Martin eventually pulled rank and started making the decisions about things like Ascot against Coburn's and Sherman's wishes. It wasn't really that "they" took the risk. Perry did. I don't think taking a horse like Chrome to Ascot is insane, but it's not some team effort to come to the best decision in Chrome's case. Each owner has gotten criticism for different reasons. Coburn's was deserved I felt. I can see both sides of the argument with Perry's.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

That was Steve Coburn who shot his mouth off. Perry Martin eventually pulled rank and started making the decisions about things like Ascot against Coburn's and Sherman's wishes. It wasn't really that "they" took the risk. Perry did. I don't think taking a horse like Chrome to Ascot is insane, but it's not some team effort to come to the best decision in Chrome's case. Each owner has gotten criticism for different reasons. Coburn's was deserved I felt. I can see both sides of the argument with Perry's.

Coburn shot his mouth off in the heat of the moment and then later apologized. I guess lots of horse racing fans have never shot their mouth off in the wake of a disappointment. Or maybe those fans have just been lucky enough never to have had their big disappointments occur while a dozen television cameras are pointed at them. I just don't get the vitriol spewed at these guys.

Reminder of how sorry Coburn was:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...list/10224725/

As Sherman is quoted as saying in the USA Today article, "The horses aren't cowards and the people aren't cowards. … I think it was a little out (of context) myself. But, hey, he was at the heat of the moment. And don't forget, he's a fairly new owner. Sometimes the emotions get in front of you. … He hasn't been in the game long and hasn't had any bad luck."

Now Coburn and Perry are learning how heartbreaking the game can be. I don't question the decisions (2nd in the Dubai World Cup don't suck); I just feel bad for them, the way I feel bad for any owner who loses a good horse to injury.

(Though I do hope Perry's obsession with getting what he thinks Chrome is worth at stud leads to him coming back at 5. )

And, for what it's worth, in the wake of Chrome's Belmont, I had several friends ask me, "So why ARE new horses allowed to run in the Belmont?" Sigh.

[Danzig]

I remember the flak Sherman got for suggesting they not run chrome in the Santa Anita derby. Thy had the points already, and art thought he'd give the horse a break. He ended up running...I have often wondered.....if art went with his original plan...would chrome string together derby, preakness, belmont rather than derby, derby, Preakness...of course we will never know.
So often, people say they would do, or absolutely not do something. Truth is, no one knows til they have to act...I have no doubt that we have all had to apologize for words spoken in the heat of the moment... As for the horse and what they've done...I think the owners made decisions based on thinking chrome was a good horse, and they'd give him chances to prove it. Then again....I always try to give folks benefit of the doubt.
I hate to think Dubai was it...but I also think they will be hard pressed to get near the amount they probably think they should get for a stud deal. He's a big risk

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Danzig

of course it wasn't going to europe that caused this. anything and everything done since the guy went off immediately after the belmont has only drawn negative comments. obviously he spoke in the heat of the moment, full of emotion, and angry and depressed. what he said that day has been said a million times over by a million fans. discussions have been on here about 'new shooters'.
other horses ship, no comments. other horses try england--look at animal kingdom, and no negative comments. yeah, some questioned if AK had a chance, but it was nothing like this.
the horse didn't get a hoof bruise or a cannon bruise because of who owned him, or because or where he was stabled. we see this every day, regardless of how nice the owner is, or how savvy the trainer.
they took a risk, it didn't pan out. just like going for two can make you a hero if the team scores, and a zero if they don't.
i neither like nor dislike the owners. they took a chance, it didn't work out.
wesley ward takes those chances, look what one of his just accomplished.

Agree. There's a strong tendency to find fault with a decision when things turn out badly. But a bad outcome doesn't mean the earlier decision was wrong.

[Merlinsky]

(Quick note: Rumor is Coburn's sold his interest to Taylor Made, but as of this post it's still a rumor. Paulick posted something about it, but I'll wait til I see it in Bloodhorse or DRF. If he did, it rather affects running at 5 and Martin's interests in that.)

Ugh, I thought we were done with Chromie post-Belmont apologist stuff, esp. about an old issue, but I just don't think they hold water.

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Coburn shot his mouth off in the heat of the moment and then later apologized. I guess lots of horse racing fans have never shot their mouth off in the wake of a disappointment. Or maybe those fans have just been lucky enough never to have had their big disappointments occur while a dozen television cameras are pointed at them. I just don't get the vitriol spewed at these guys.

That's not disappointment. That's bad sportsmanship, and initially he not only didn't apologize, he doubled-down on it. Heat of the moment ought to go down sooner than it did for him. I think it was more 'uh oh, people don't like us now, you better apologize' pressure from others and then he came around. Shooting one's mouth off is swearing or getting angry and saying something that felt true but you should've kept to yourself. It's not attacking the character of the other participants off of rules you should've known going in and you accepted. You don't get the vitriol? It was downright shocking to watch, esp. because his argument just didn't hold up. We had a chance in front of a national audience of some size to cultivate new fans, and he made us look bad. Fans wanted to feel badly for them and in one fell swoop he turned what was a (at least publicly) supportive base in this sport into one that resented him very much. Most people who lose their chance at the Triple Crown don't do this. Most of the losses I've ever seen in horse racing have been handled with greater class. No I *don't* think I or anybody else on this board would've slung that kind of bad sportsmanship on live national television.

Reminder of how sorry Coburn was:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...list/10224725/

As Sherman is quoted as saying in the USA Today article, "The horses aren't cowards and the people aren't cowards. … I think it was a little out (of context) myself. But, hey, he was at the heat of the moment. And don't forget, he's a fairly new owner. Sometimes the emotions get in front of you. … He hasn't been in the game long and hasn't had any bad luck."

I'm not gonna go back and reread the great apology tour effort. Coburn was pushed to apologize and maybe he eventually felt sorry after he calmed down but he shot his wife a particularly nasty look after the Belmont when she tried to hush him. She knew better. The guy's got a temper. It has nothing to do with being "new." If he's new, what's Mrs. Coburn? Sherman was trying to be diplomatic, but he obviously didn't agree with what was said. I've seen many new owners take situations like that with greater grace, and again he should've had greater awareness of what can happen in this sport than his wife who was along for the ride, and he didn't. Say "no comment." Then people think NBC is being the jerk for hounding you about it.

As for not being in the game long, we've got examples of that where people handle it well and handle it poorly. It's not about being new, it's about class and level of awareness as a fan or businessperson going in. If you're new to a sport do you think it's super wise to go breeding foals that add to the population of TBs in need of retirement homes? Would've made more sense to buy a yearling. Chrome could've been a dud. His sister shows promise but again, could've been a dud. Were they prepared for what to do with live animals they were breeding? They can't be new to the sport AND claim wisdom in breeding decisions. Gotta pick one. If they knew enough to pat themselves on the back for the latter, then they aren't the former. If they relied on luck and naivete as new breeders, frankly it's irresponsible. I don't think Perry Martin's anybody's fool there. He should've managed Coburn's expectations. Martin used his enthusiasm when it benefitted him, and chucked it when it didn't.

This is partly a critique of DAP and partly general: So you approach a trainer with a plan to win the Derby without having had much experience in the sport? Why does it never seem to sink in with some new owners that if they're new, maybe they don't know enough to make the call about where to run a horse? Hire someone who does and let them do their job. You can't just point at races and say 'let's win that one.' I think that's what they thought they could do with a horse of Chrome's talent. I think that's why they didn't feel too badly about the PA Derby call. They should've learned their lesson there and didn't. What does it say when 'should know better and doesn't' is the m.o. of owners? Doing it in the beginning is one thing, but if you *keep* doing it, it's a mark against your sense and you deserve criticism for it.

Now Coburn and Perry are learning how heartbreaking the game can be. I don't question the decisions (2nd in the Dubai World Cup don't suck); I just feel bad for them, the way I feel bad for any owner who loses a good horse to injury.

(Though I do hope Perry's obsession with getting what he thinks Chrome is worth at stud leads to him coming back at 5. )

And, for what it's worth, in the wake of Chrome's Belmont, I had several friends ask me, "So why ARE new horses allowed to run in the Belmont?" Sigh.

These owners alternate between swing for the fences naivete and attempts at calculation. It's like trying to bluff at a high stakes poker game and you don't know what all the chips represent or how to calculate odds. At some point, a sensible person knows what they don't know. They stubbornly refuse to deal with that. Romance is great, but it blows up in the face of horse racing in the long term if people don't develop an appreciation of what can make this sport incredible or maddening. Of what it takes to succeed and how even if you do all the right things, you can still lose. I'm not sure how to view Perry Martin at this point. I could argue either way with him. I think Coburn's more of a tragic figure. Sherman should get sainthood for dealing with all of this.