Quote:
Originally Posted by For The Lead
And thousands of other races as well. As an example, Majestic Prince's Belmont when either Johnny Longdon (trainer and ex-jockey) or Bill Hartack (current jockey) did not let this "undefeated" front runner go to the lead in a mind boggling 1:16 and change for the first 3/4 of a mile resulting in the horse chasing Arts and Letters home to finish second.
The point being "horsey stuff" DOES have a bearing on the outcome of a race, as you have brought to light, and those things ARE NOT limited to jockeys!
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Majestic Prince, winner of the Derby and Preakness, had a bowed tendon going into the Belmont Stakes.
His trainer, the great Hall of Fame rider and extremely capable trainer, Johnny Longdon, did NOT want to run in the Belmont, Triple Crown glory nothwithstanding, because of the severity of Majestic Prince's injury.
He begged the owner, Frank McMahon, not to risk permanent damage. Majestic Prince's problems were known and an ongoing concern, but Longdon felt he simply couldn't run his best in the Belmont and was proven right (the winner was a very legit champion and a sharp horse going into the race).
As everyone knows, McMahon did run Majestic Prince despite the bowed tendon and Longdon's protest. He was retired immediately following the race and Longdon resigned as McMahon's trainer the very next day.
This explains, in part, the
real reason why the jockey, Hall of Famer
Bill Hartack, may not have
'let his undefeated front-runner go for the lead in a mind-boggling ...' as you wrote.