OCTAVE-the-RAVE

I remember my immediate reaction when first reading that Bernardini's connections had decided to skip the Belmont.  He wasn't injured.  In fact, he came-out of the Preakness in perfect shape.  They just felt that bringing him back in three weeks was "too soon."

Horses**t.

I was furious.  And bitterly disappointed.  I'd like to bet 95 percent of racing fans the world over had the same reaction.  There was a time not long ago when it was inconceivable for a winner of one of the first two legs of the Triple Crown not to go after the third.  Fortunately, the vast majority of owners and trainers still honor that grand tradition, and I believe as much out of respect for the game as for reasons of ego and personal gain.

Bernardini's connections did not.  Sugar-coat it however you will, Bernardini's connections peed in racing's face.  And they did it for one reason and one reason only: so they'd have a fresh horse to cherry-pick the bonanza of black-type oozing like cheap crude from racing's line-up of bogus G1's leading-up to the Breeder's Cup.  Their plan worked to perfection.  While the vast majority of 3YOs who honored the grand traditions of the Triple Crown chase were recovering, Bernardini went on an exhibition tour, embarrassing a bunch of second-tier sophomores, and collecting obscene paychecks for what amounted to little more than a bunch of afternoon work-outs.

Yet this is the horse that some of racing's most noted scribes proudly and publicly have said they will vote 3YO champion. Champion!  Don't they realize the extent to which such a vote only encourages others in racing to follow Bernardini's lead?  Don't they realize such a vote stabs at the heart of the game's oldest, grandest, and most revered tradition, The Triple Crown series?  Don't they realize they're sending a loud, clear message that it's not only OK these days to pee in racing's face, but if you do it really well, you'll be rewarded in the end with racing's ultimate prize, The Champion Eclipse Award?

And if they don't realize it ... if they don't get it ... if they really can't grasp something so elementary that it is screamingly obvious to the vast majority of racing fans ... then why would any of us ever again take seriously any thing these people write about the game?

Octave-the-Rave

I also want to add my sincere congratulations to Jon Forbes.  I thought his selection was a brilliant move.  Not that I thought him the most deserving winner, but he is a terrific writer, and in my opinion the person who made the most sense both for HP and the conest. 

One reason I withdrew from consideration was because I felt strongly the announcement would have its biggest impact with the media, and most significant influence for the winner, if it took its cue from American Idol, The Golf Channel's "Big Break" series, and The Apprentice - all HUGE successes, and all cut from the same "big break/golden opportunity" mold.  I had my golden break 31 years ago, it was a beauty, and I shared it with you.  Frankly, 95% of us on here were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the age anyway where a "first big break" had the potential to influence our lives at all, much less change its course entirely.  By my count, only two frequent contributors to these pages qualified under that criteria, and their head-to-head match-up struck me not unlike, "AirKid's moving like a tremendous machine.  AirKid by 12.  Airkid by 14 on the turn.  AirKid's out there all alone.  AirKid's going to win by an amazing ... an unbelievable ..." 

Well, you get the pernt!

And if not, here's one closer to home: not unlike a match race between Discreet Cat and Baron Von Tap!  

In fact, it strikes me how many similarities there are between The Cat and The Kid.  Both have shown flashes of brilliance.  Both have unlimited potential. Both are among the game's rising young stars.  Yet both have inspired as many people to loathing as they have to admiration.  The Cat for dodging every big dance; for pussying-out all year long; and for breaking the game's heart on BC Day.  And The Kid for ... well ... being a kid.  For speaking with authority on the most controversial, complex, far-reaching, and inflammatory issues in the game, when in fact he is no more qualified to broach such issues than he is to perform open-heart surgery. 

Frankly, I could care less about The Cat.  I'd like to bet a dollar to a donut he stops like a rock the first time he meets decent competition beyond 9 furlongs.  Not so, I think, The Kid.  Or, at least, I hope.  I hope that someday, somewhere off in the not-too-distant future, with the help of some wisdom, maturity, humility, and MOST IMPORTANT, a quadruple overlap tongue-tie, I just might one day hear myself saying,

"Dean Forbes?  Heck, I knew him when he was The Junior Twit!"

Octave