I can definitely see both sides to the argument. On one hand, the Triple Crown should be very difficult to win. On the other hand, given the fragility of modern T-Breds, it has become virtually impossible to achieve under the current structure. That’s why Lukas has come out in favor of changing the distance and timing of the races.
Horses that were able to win the TC in the past were actually able to give improved performances across the 3 races - remember Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and especially, Secretariat. If any horse manages to win the TC in modern times under the present format, he would be a horse who gives a severely inferior performance in the Belmont, but still good enough to win against a weak Belmont field. That’s the kind of TC winner we would have had if BB had not totally had a meltdown but only regressed enough to still beat the weak field. If we keep the current format, that’s the kind of TC winner we will get, if any.
On the other hand, the end of TC winners, or great Belmont performances, may be just what the industry needs to wake to the fact of how badly they have screwed up the breed.
http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/428310.htmlBob
