Experts for a day - Pace and Cap

Tim Y · 05-29-2008, 11:47 AM

Gone are the days (in most cities) where ONE sports writer was assigned to horse racing only. The fellow who is writing about the Stanley Cup, the FA Cup and the NBA championships, switches hats and is THE MAN covering horse racing. One hat does NOT fit all, I'm afraid.

One has to have a decided "cushion" of historical precedent to do justice to reporting the sport, particularly with the possibility of the Triple Crown upon us, so it is funny how many of these "experts for a day" just swallow the scuttlebutt and NEVER question the consensus.

Why is Charles Hatton's creation (that he "borrowed" from the English Triple Crown) so hard to come by? It not only takes deep talent, but LUCK. Just ask the connections of Swale, Riva Ridge, Majestic Prince, Real Quiet, Tim Tam, Risen Star, Smarty Jones, Canonero etc. etc. and an IRON constitution. I hope, for example, the track comes up wet: that will aid in certifying the recipient of the Test of Champions. The real champions, i.e. Forego 57: 34-9-7, compete without fail over fast or sloppy tracks, short or long under huge weights: a TRUE champion for three years even running 4th to Secretariat in the Derby.

Will the Brown one do it? There is a very good chance he will, but NOT to the degree the "herd instinct," experts for a day are promoting.

05-29-2008, 11:47 AM	#1
Tim Y turf historian Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,455	Experts for a day Gone are the days (in most cities) where ONE sports writer was assigned to horse racing only. The fellow who is writing about the Stanley Cup, the FA Cup and the NBA championships, switches hats and is THE MAN covering horse racing. One hat does NOT fit all, I'm afraid. One has to have a decided "cushion" of historical precedent to do justice to reporting the sport, particularly with the possibility of the Triple Crown upon us, so it is funny how many of these "experts for a day" just swallow the scuttlebutt and NEVER question the consensus. Why is Charles Hatton's creation (that he "borrowed" from the English Triple Crown) so hard to come by? It not only takes deep talent, but LUCK. Just ask the connections of Swale, Riva Ridge, Majestic Prince, Real Quiet, Tim Tam, Risen Star, Smarty Jones, Canonero etc. etc. and an IRON constitution. I hope, for example, the track comes up wet: that will aid in certifying the recipient of the Test of Champions. The real champions, i.e. Forego 57: 34-9-7, compete without fail over fast or sloppy tracks, short or long under huge weights: a TRUE champion for three years even running 4th to Secretariat in the Derby. Will the Brown one do it? There is a very good chance he will, but NOT to the degree the "herd instinct," experts for a day are promoting.