Trying not to care about Smarty Jones

[shereads]

If this little horse wins the Belmont in a few minutes, he'll be the first Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew, a kazillion lifetimes and a couple of wars and one husband ago.

Smarty Joe is being billed as the next "Seabiscuit" : sickly colt, almost lost an eye at birth, wrong conformation for racing...wins against the odds, at a time when America is in a miserable depression and needs something to cheer for...Slow dissolve to the Kentucky Derby and then the Preakness, where Smarty Joe wins by 12 lengths - and today he's the first horse to come into the Belmont Stakes undefeated since Seattle Slew and I DON'T WANT TO CARE!!!! if he loses...But if he wins, that would feel good. Like Rocky, but without the concussions and the godawful sequels.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I hope he wins. If you have ever seen footage of Secretariat or Man of War, you have seen poetry in motion. Smarty dosen't run like those two, but he is easy to root for. Would that our other sports heros carried themselves with the dignity of derby champions.

-Colly

 

[Boxlicker101]

If this little horse wins the Belmont in a few minutes, he'll be the first Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew, a kazillion lifetimes and a couple of wars and one husband ago.

Smarty Joe is being billed as the next "Seabiscuit" : sickly colt, almost lost an eye at birth, wrong conformation for racing...wins against the odds, at a time when America is in a miserable depression and needs something to cheer for...Slow dissolve to the Kentucky Derby and then the Preakness, where Smarty Joe wins by 12 lengths - and today he's the first horse to come into the Belmont Stakes undefeated since Seattle Slew and I DON'T WANT TO CARE!!!! if he loses...But if he wins, that would feel good. Like Rocky, but without the concussions and the godawful sequels.

Hi, Sher. Tha last triple crown winner was Affirmed but Seattle Slew was the last to be undefeated at the time. I hope he wins too. He lost an eye early in his life and he has had other problems. The horse seems, like me, to be something of a misfit, so I will always root for such a one. That's not rooting for the underdog because he could hardly be called that now, but rooting for somebody who has battled the odds and won.

By the way, Sher, Rocky lost in the first movie, although it was a moral victory, and he has ended up winning in the sequels.

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Trying not to care about Smarty Jones

By the way, Sher, Rocky lost in the first movie, although it was a moral victory, and he has ended up winning in the sequels.

You're right, I remember that's why it was such a memorable film. The sequels were just ego-fests for Stallone. The first Rocky was a beautiful little film by a man who hadn't yet learned that all he had to do to get rich was show up.

The feeling at the end of Rocky was triumphant, though. Closest thing to that feeling in an animal movie was The Black Stallion. (I haven't seen Seabiscuit yet.)

 

[dee1124]

The race just ended and, as General Lee was heard to remark after Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, "Too bad, oh, too bad."

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Secretariat was awesome. Living in Ky I probably have a little more appreciation for Big Red than some that live elsewhere.

Secretariat was recently voted one of the best athletes ever from the state of Ky. He ranks up there with people like Ali, Johnny Unitas etc. with the people of Ky.

 

[shereads]

Secretariat was awesome. Living in Ky I probably have a little more appreciation for Big Red than some that live elsewhere.

Secretariat was recently voted one of the best athletes ever from the state of Ky. He ranks up there with people like Ali, Johnny Unitas etc. with the people of Ky.

Secretariat was a fabulous athlete, and unlike them, he was retired to stud officially.

Some people say that the science of horse breeding, and the availability of sperm-by-mail, has made the field so equal that there may never be another Triple Crown winner.

I don't know enough about racing to know whether that's true, but it does seem that there used to be a winner every few years and now, nothing for 26 years. Are all of the first-rate horses pretty much even now, because of scientific breeding practices?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Secretariat was awesome. Living in Ky I probably have a little more appreciation for Big Red than some that live elsewhere.

Secretariat was recently voted one of the best athletes ever from the state of Ky. He ranks up there with people like Ali, Johnny Unitas etc. with the people of Ky.

I thought "Big Red" was the nickname for Man o' War.

 

[gauchecritic]

I'll bet all you people have cats too. Secretariat an athlete? sheesh.

Gauche

Come on Sun-up

 

[shereads]

I'll bet all you people have cats too. Secretariat an athlete? sheesh.

Gauche

Come on Sun-up

No, a dog. And did you ever try to beat Secretariat in a footrace? You're just jealous of his stud fees.

 

[gauchecritic]

And did you ever try to beat Secretariat in a footrace?

Over 20 yards? anytime.

Gauche

Stud fees? Been there. Left the stains. Not impressed

 

[Guest]

Stud fees? Been there. Left the stains. Not impressed

First big larf of the day.

Perdita

 

[shereads]

Stud fees? Been there. Left the stains. Not impressed

speechless

 

[dee1124]

And since we're talking racing, perhaps the venerable Fugue For Tinhorns :

NICELY
I got the horse right here
The name is Paul Revere
And here's a guy that says that the weather's clear
Can do, can do, this guy says the horse can do
If he says the horse can do, can do, can do.

(Benny starts singing his part at this time, while Nicely continues)
Can do - can do - this guy says the horse can do
If he says the horse can do - can do, can do.

(Rusty starts singing his part as the time, while Nicely and Benny continue)
For Paul Revere I'll bite
I hear his foot's all right
Of course it all depends if it rained last night

Likes mud, likes mud, this X means the horse likes mud
If that means the horse likes mud, likes mud
Likes mud.

I tell you Paul Revere
Now this is no bum steer
It's from a handicapper that's real sincere
Can do, can do, this guy says the horse can do.
If he says the horse can do - can do - can do.
Paul Revere. I got the horse right here.

BENNY
I'm pickin' Valentine, 'cause on the morning line
A guy has got him figured at five to nine
Has chance, has chance, this guy says the horse has chance
if he says the horse has chance, has chance, has chance

I know it's Valentine, the morning work looks fine
Besides the jockey's brother's a friend of mine
Needs race, needs race, this guy says the horse needs race
If he says the horse needs race, needs race, needs race.
I go for Valentine, 'Cause on the morning line,
The guy has got him figured at five to nine
Has chance, has chance, this guy says the horse has chance
Valentine! I got the horse right here.

RUSTY CHARLIE
But look at Epitaph, he wins it by a half
According to this here in the Telegraph
"Big Threat" - "Big Threat"
This guy calls the horse "Big Threat"
If he calls the horse "Big Threat",
Big Threat, Big Threat.

And just a minute, boys.
I've got the feed box noise
It says the great-grandfather was Equipoise
Shows class, shows class.
This guy says the horse shows class
If he says the horse shows class
Shows class, shows class.

So make it Epitaph, he wins it by a half
According to this here in the Telegraph.
Epitaph! I got the horse right here!