Smarty Jones Classic

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Who was Barbara Fritchie anyway? Or Lazara Berrerro?

LOL

"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.
A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,
Over the face of the leader came;
The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word;
"Who touches a hair of yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.

[slotdirt]

I mean, we have a freaking stakes named after a yellow ribbon! Smarty Jones definitely deserved a stakes race.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I mean, we have a freaking stakes named after a yellow ribbon! Smarty Jones definitely deserved a stakes race.

Smarty Jones deserves NOTHING. He raced, he won, he raced, he lost, he got a mild injury and his owners took the money and ran....and then blamed others.

He is the most glaring recent example of people's lack of knowledge of the history of the game.

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Smarty Jones deserves NOTHING. He raced, he won, he raced, he lost, he got a mild injury and his owners took the money and ran....and then blamed others.

He is the most glaring recent example of people's lack of knowledge of the history of the game.

Amen!

[slotdirt]

I don't know, the 120,000 or whatever it was on Belmont Day in 2004 would tell me Smarty Jones meant something to somebody in the greater NYC region.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I don't know, the 120,000 or whatever it was on Belmont Day in 2004 would tell me Smarty Jones meant something to somebody in the greater NYC region.

Not to be overly critical, but if you don't know who Laz Barrerra was, I find it hard to even have a discussion that in any way involves the history of the game. You simply have a myopic view of the game that centers around one OK horse while ignoring the plentitude of players in this game that deserve at least as much attention....and in many cases more.

By the way, that attendance, while substantial, was phony.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Not to be overly critical, but if you don't know who Laz Barrerra was, I find it hard to even have a discussion that in any way involves the history of the game. You simply have a myopic view of the game that centers around one OK horse while ignoring the plentitude of players in this game that deserve at least as much attention....and in many cases more.

By the way, that attendance, while substantial, was phony.

I could be wrong but I believe Laz Barrerra is an island just south of Kokomo.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Not to be overly critical, but if you don't know who Laz Barrerra was, I find it hard to even have a discussion that in any way involves the history of the game. You simply have a myopic view of the game that centers around one OK horse while ignoring the plentitude of players in this game that deserve at least as much attention....and in many cases more.

By the way, that attendance, while substantial, was phony.

How so? The fact that he was the single reason for the largest on site attendance in New York sports history says something for what his run did for the industry. It was a good horse, a better story, and an unbelievable 5 weeks. Whether you liked him or not, the industry is still realizing the benefits of Smarty Jones.

[estreetposse]

[quote=blackthroatedwind]Not to be overly critical, but if you don't know who Laz Barrerra was, I find it hard to even have a discussion that in any way involves the history of the game. You simply have a myopic view of the game that centers around one OK horse while ignoring the plentitude of players in this game that deserve at least as much attention....and in many cases more.

By the way, that attendance, while substantial, was phony.[/QUOTE]

Just curious, what was the attendance that year? I was at Belmont back in 2002 for the "SARAVA STAKES", Not a seat in the stands and not a blade of grass to be found to set up camp as there was 103,000+(if accurate). Luckily no one used the Budweiser tent with its 3 Big screens that day!!

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Smarty Jones deserves NOTHING. He raced, he won, he raced, he lost, he got a mild injury and his owners took the money and ran....and then blamed others.

He is the most glaring recent example of people's lack of knowledge of the history of the game.

I have to defend the Chapman's decision. Not because retirement was the right thing initially (after further medical exams 3 months after the retirement, it turned out to be the right decision) but because of how the whole thing played out. It was simply based on the vets recommendation. It wasn't until the conference call when Larry Bramledge made the comments he made that put the Chapmans in a bad spot. Was there money involved? Absolutely! You had investors paying big numbers to purchase a share of the 50% that was available. Was money the deciding factor? No. It was for the love of the horse that the decision was made.