And On Day 3, Steve Coburn Apologizes

((HT: GMA on ABC))

Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, has finally decided to fall on his sword and listen to his wife.

She was the one who tried to get him to pipe down and not talk about only running in one or two of the Triple Crown races as the "coward's way out" in winning important horse races.

Chrome tied for fourth along with Wicked Strong. Coburn was hot under his bolo tie and was adamant about his comments the next day in an interview with Lindsay Cazrniak.

Monday, perhaps understanding that the horse and stable legacy was hanging in the balance, he went on air with Robin Roberts to do a 180- which was a wise move.

Here's the sit down with Coburn

Steve Coburn Stands By His Comments The Day After

((HT: The Blood-Horse))

California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn is still talking up the lack of a Triple Crown winner in his horse after yesterday's fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

He had an interview with Lindsay Czarniak on "Good Morning America" this morning that is making its way across all ABC/ESPN platforms and he's still sticking with his "three" statements when it comes to a horse being named a champion.

And he's also sticking with his analogies to make his point
The folks over at The Blood-Horse were there as well...


OSG Sports has been getting response on the Twitter Machine about what you think about the Triple Crown crowning...

Ripsaw2

I agree with the California Chrome owner. Horses should be required to run all Triple Crown races to have a shot at the trophy.

Serenity

That's exactly my point! If they haven't raced in the first two they shouldn't be allowed

Okay, we've heard from them... What about the rest of you...???

Was It The "Coward's Way Out?"

((HT: NBC Sports/NTRA))

California Chrome's co-owner, Steve Coburn, was asked post-race by NBC's Bob Nussmeier about the run of his horse when he tied for fourth in the Belmont Stakes- falling short of the Triple Crown of horse racing... again...

Sufficed to say, Coburn was less than diplomatic...


So, faithful reader...

Was it the coward's way out...??? Is Coburn right or is it all about getting your shot and blocking the opportunities of others...??? You tell us...

OSG Flashback: "He's Moving Like A Tremendous Machine..."

((HT: NTRA/Belmont Park))

Forty years ago today, it was the greatest exclamation point in the history of exclamation points...

Secretariat and the Belmont...


No, there won't be a Triple Crown winner today...
And, to be honest, the HQ kinda likes it that way- for a while, anyway...

For The Record, The Deer Has Some Catching Up to Do

((HT: Paulick Report))

Horse racing at Keeneland is one of those things that horse racing people do...
It's a bucket list item...

And, now, a deer can take it off his or her bucket list...
Even after finishing third...


The HQ is somewhat amazed that no one and nothing even spooked the deer from finishing...

Nice work...

Orb Wins Kentucky Derby, McGaughey Gets First Win

((HT: WKYT-TV))

Orb is the official winner of the 139th horse race at Churchill Downs. The Hall of Fame trainer, Shug McGaughey, finally gets his first win as a trainer who was born and raised in the state.

The horse paid $12.80 to win and the exacta paid $981.60...

Here's McGaughey earlier this week as a confident trainer who knew the horse could do it from his performance in the Florida Derby.

Godolphin Stable Trainer In Deep Trouble For Steroids (UPDATED With Suspensions)

((HT: Sky Sports/CNN Winning Post))

One of the trainers for a storied middle eastern stable is in deep trouble after the British Horse Racing Authority has published that Mahmood al Zarooni has been found to have given 11 horses in the 45-horse Godolphin stable anabolic steroids- namely ethylestranol and stanozolol.

One of the horses who returned a positive sample was American-born Certify who was unbeaten in four starts.

The BHA tweeted: "Full details of the charges being brought against Mahmood Al Zarooni and the date for the hearing will be published tomorrow morning."

The Sky Sports article references an interview with a trainer who sees this action as more normality than anomaly within the stable:

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Lincolnshire-based trainer James Given, who is also a qualified vet, said: "The number of horses that tested positive shows that it wasn't what one might term an error with a single horse.

"It is, without doubt, a performance-enhancing drug. It's not just active while the drug is in the body - and certainly many of these drugs will persist in the body for several months - but it's the effect on the muscle development beyond its natural capacity."

Shaji Mathew of Bloomberg says the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, is "appalled" over the charges:

“Sheikh Mohammed was absolutely appalled when he was told and this is completely unacceptable to him,” Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said a statement on the stable’s website. “This is a dark day for Godolphin. We are all shocked by what has happened.”

Sheikh Mohammed is the world's largest owner of race horses...

al Zarooni admits to committing a "catastrophic error" and claims not to have known he was breaking the rules at the time. All affected horses are being shelved and can not race until further notice...

Here's an interview Winning Post had with the top two trainers at Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor and al Zarooni, back in 2012...


THURSDAY UPDATE: al Zarooni has been banned from the sport for eight years and Godolphjon horses are not allowed to particpate in horse races for six months.

Part of the Paul Bittar (BHA Chief Executive) release says:

“The relevant Rules in this case are explicit in that the use of anabolic steroids in horses in the care of a licensed trainer is prohibited and that strict liability for everything administered to horses while they are in training lies with the trainer. The BHA’s investigation has established that the substances in question were administered on the instruction of Mahmood Al Zarooni. The full details of this will be formally addressed in the Disciplinary Panel’s findings, to be published in due course and once they are available.

“We believe that the 8 year disqualification issued to Mahmood Al Zarooni by the Disciplinary Panel, together with the six month racing restriction placed on the horses in question by the BHA, will serve to reassure the public, and the sport’s participants, that use of performance-enhancing substances in British Racing will not be tolerated and that the sport has in place a robust and effective anti-doping and medication control programme.

Here is the press conference announcing the penalties...
((HT: racingpostdotcom))

Horse Race ends with Biting finish

((ht: si/hotclicks/traina))

You are probably asking yourself; "What the heck does that headline mean?"

What it means is you need to watch the video at the bottom of this story. Because the video is of the finish of a Horse Race in Del Mar, California.

In the race, Woodman's Luck is trying to chase down Romeo Royale in the stretch run when all of a sudden, Woodman's Luck appears to try "Biting" his competition. It didn't prevent Romeo Royale from winning, but made for some pretty funny video.

And for what it is worth, Woodman's Luck still finished second.

Here is your video:

HBO's "Luck" Canceled After 3 Episodes

((HT: KABC-TV))

But not because of bad ratings...

And, the HQ is aware that you're scratching your head wondering why we're discussing a TV series...

It's because it surrounds horse racing and the third death of a horse during production. Humane assocations have kept their eye on the series since the very beginning. Home Box Office has as well...

And three deaths, regardless of how they occured, is far too many for the network...

ABC7's ((and fairly rabid Maple Leafs fan)) Leslie Miller is at the park with the news...


Now, if the HQ could only get Leslie some defensemen for her Leafs, we'd all be in bid-ness...