A Little Preakness

Afleet Alex's spectacular triumph at The Preakness yesterday has led me to a simple conclusion. The Kentucky Derby just has too many darn horses in the field. If Afleet Alex had gotten a better trip at Churchill Downs, which translated means there were too many horses in too little an area, we might be looking at a Triple Crown winner.

The problem arises as every owner with enough cash and a horse with enough eligibility points is going to write a check to live out his/her dream to run for the roses. Never mind if their three year old has zero shot at winning. To run in the Derby allows every one that second of hope. In fact, Giacomo' stunning win will only further encourage every owner with a decent horse and a big enough checking account to participate.

The nice folks at Churchill Downs are in the racing business. It's not their job to turn down easy money. Nor is it their job to deny horse owners their shot at history. So, we get fields that are far too large, thus creating a situation far more like a rugby scrum than a horse race.

Now critics of this overly simple idea would argue that we've had a number of horses win the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Derby and Preakness. It's the Belmont that's the deal breaker. True, but I wonder just as much about how many good, but unlucky horses, get caught up in what has become part horse race, part shoving match the first Saturday each May and never rebound, as I do about the those that have won the first two races.

You could also argue that greatness overcomes those crowded fields. Horses like Silver Charm were dominant horses, just not Triple Crown winners. I cannot argue that point. I also cannot disagree with that theory because I believe horse racing will get a legitimate Triple Crown winner when a great horse does emerge.

However, when most in the sport complain about the length of The Belmont as being the hindrance to finding a great horse, I wish someone would realize that the first race in the Triple Crown counts as much as the last.