Yeah, I love the ponies and the Derby. I have relatives near Lexington, so I got to visit some of the horse farms when I was a kid---Calumet, Spinthrift....saw Citation, Gallant Man, Nashua....

So, you're not going with Big Brown, eh? True, he's only had 3 races. I think Colonel John might take it.....wonder when {or if} we'll ever see a Triple Crown winner again....??? I loved Smarty Jones and Barbaro.

Well, maybe Pyro will do it.... I really don't have a heavy favorite this year. I really thought Smarty Jones was going to do it--the Triple Crown. He was just such a short, scrappy horse, but had the biggest heart. It was such a heartbreaker when he lost the Belmont by such a little bit. And I've not seen a horse like Barbaro in years. That is just a sad, sad, tragic story... I was a huge fan of Ruffian, the big grey filly. And seeing Barbaro pull up lame brought up all those horrible memories of Ruffian's breakdown. I really think she would have won, had she not broken her leg... But, even worse than that, to have to be put down like that...so very sad.

I must plead ignorant to the Melbourne Cup... Is it more like the Grand National in Britain? That's quite an event, there..

I predicted and bet that 9 10 and 20  finish somewhere in the 1 2 3 spot.

Should be an interesting race! And I will just be happy if all the horses and jockeys survive to race another day...I hope this event, and the other legs of the Triple Crown, go without a hitch...

will someone order me one of the 1 thousand dollar mint julips please. 

sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 3^rd, 2008 at 4:18pm:


yeah right

i'm still waiting.

Barbaro may race again.

Sioux wrote on May 3^rd, 2008 at 12:35pm:





Ok, I am a little bit psychic. Really. I have been, all my life. Mostly simple stuff when I was young---knowing a certain song was on the radio, knowing what station it was on and even what part of the song was playing. Then, about 15 years ago, I started getting strong feelings when someone had died---happened with Arthur Ashe, Gene Kelly, Princess Diana, and, most strongly, with John Kennedy Jr. I would either have to stop everything and go get the paper, or turn on the TV. But the deaths had always already happened by the time I felt that something was wrong. Today, I just felt aprehensive all day. By the time of the race, my heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to come out of my chest. I was really becoming very fond of the filly, Eight Belles. I have a soft spot for fillies {and my dear Ruffian, who also died on the track in the Derby  } BUT.....the race went on, Eight Belles came in second! {I was pounding the table, I was that excited}, and when all was over, I thought to myself, "Well, you were wrong this time. Everyone's fine! That's good..." And then I heard the announcement....and saw Eight Belles on the ground....

I still have a hole in the pit of my stomach. I feel so badly for her and her owners and her jockey and all who loved her and raised her. And I feel REALLY weird because I've never thought something bad was going to happen BEFORE it happened before.

Sometimes I wonder if I can keep watching horse racing.  I used to watch for years on end, and not have to see a horse put down. First Barbaro, and now Eight Belles...

I agree totally. And I'm wondering if decades and centuries of selective breeding of these magnificent animals is weakening them to some extent. She went down so quickly today, I thought it was a heart attack or something. But it's always broken legs. Yes, it's all about the money. Sad, sad....

Sioux wrote on May 3^rd, 2008 at 8:53pm:

Ruffian broke down during a match race with Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park in NY.

She was put down after reinjuring herself when the post surgical anesthesia wore off, and was buried in the track infield.

Horse racing must be stopped!