5/4/2004

Kentucky Derby observations

The Kentucky Derby is the one day of the year that thoroughbred horseracing appears on the public radar screen. Yet, unfortunately, the great promotional opportunity to create a positive image for the much belleagured sport is spoilt by woefully bad TV coverage.

Now NBC might be better than ABC, but their producers seem trapped in a '60s retro-style time-warp, when it comes to portraying the so-called Sport of Kings in an exciting manner: preferring schmalzy stories to hard facts and vital information

By comparison, Channel 4's presentation in England, with the world's greatest jockey, John Francome (according to John McCririck), and Mutton Chops himself + a very knowledgeable supporting cast, actually provides insightful and amusing commentary. Just what a punter wants.

Unfortunately Tom Hammond and the three stooges, Battaglia, Newmeier and Rice, have nothing to say that a deaf, dumb and blind person could not equal or better. And then, when viewers are finally getting the goods on Stewart Elliott's ride, from Jerry Bailey, Charlsie Cantey kept on interrupting. It was hideously poorly choreographed fare.

What is needed is Trevor Denman, Donna Brothers (badly miscast by NBC) and some back-up colour commentators who know racing and betting and are not into sappy vignettes. Unfortunately, with Smarty Jones now elected as the new 'peoples' horse', things are not likely to get any better at Pimlico

On the positive side...Three cheers for team Smarty Jones. From top to bottom they're pros. And well done Patrick Biancone...for the great job he did preparing Lion Heart to run such a good race, without Lasix.

France's answer to Lukas and Baffert has been often referred to as a 'juice' trainer in the past. But his decision to eschew Lasix for this race, when Kentucky permits loading up with the maximum, has to be commended. And, as first time Lasix often has a soporific effect, this decision merely confirms the well-known angle of 'second-time lasix' being a major factor for serious punters.

N.B. Stan Bergstein's upcoming article on medication, including the use of lasix, in this week's DRF.

Otherwise, in the wake of the charge through the slop, one has to wonder whether Nick Zito's blacksmith is still in his employ today? Because for The Cliff's Edge to lose two front shoes was bad enough. But, when your other runner (Birdstone) also loses a shoe and nobody else reports their horses to have done so, its a bit more than just a coincidence or isolated incidence of a particular horse having shelly or bad feet!

Indeed, never has the old horsemen's adage of 'no foot, no horse' ever been confirmed so profoundly.

This week's Race of the Week is The Nassau County Breeders' Cup Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday, May 8th. Stay tuned.