The Jerome "Handicap" ... Another Black Eye For Racing

Yes ... I'm back ... and ...

... in catching up on the races I missed ... and there weren't very many that I really "missed" ... the one which struck me the most was the disgrace called the Jerome "Handicap."

Here we had Discreet Cat ... one of the most talented, accomplished, and charismatic 3YOS to come along in many years ... assigned a "staggering" 124 pounds ... "giving away" all of six to eight pounds to a bunch of palookas ... and easily running away from them in a public workout which was nothing more than a crashing bore.

When Bold Ruler ran in the same race in 1957 ... he carrried 130 pounds and gave 17 pounds to the second horse and 23 pounds to the third horse ... in a race which will always be remembered as the first of 11 in which Bold Ruler carried 130 or more ... winning 9 of them.

An opportunity to add real excitement and meaning to this year's race ... was completely blown by the NYRA ... and the racing industry in general. Had Discreet Cat been assigned ... and accepted ... 134 pounds ... and given away 20 to 25 pounds ... his victory would at least have had a meaningful story line ... a great young colt in a real sporting contest hearkening back to the greats of yore. It may have even caught the eyes of the general sports fan and the general public.

As it turned out ... the race was a total yawner ... which no one save the fanatic few noticed or cared about.

Thoroughbred racing is dying ... and the fault lies within the industry itself ... there's not a drop of sportsmanship, creativity, or excitement left. Why should anyone care about these boring runaways?

See ... you really missed me ... didn't you?