I am Guilty

That's right, I'm guilty. You might be guilty of the same thing that I am. What is that? Well, it's bickering, finger pointing, being armchair trainers and owners. With recent events with the connections of Havre de Grace's decision to skip today's Apple Blossom Handicap, the Internet it up. Facebook, Twitter and forums where full of discussion about the skipping. As expected, the reaction was negative that she was skipping a Grade 1 race for a Grade 2 at a track where she hasn't had the most success. However, what people where critical of is the reactions of trainer Larry Jones and owner Rick Porter. They said it was "whining" for the weight spread (she was giving six pounds to Plum Pretty, ten pounds to Tiz Miz Sue). When I was reading many of these responses though, I felt that there where times that there was whining about the whining. Being critical is one thing, being flat out rude is another though.

 This is nothing new though. In matter of fact, there was criticism of the past two Horse of the Year winners as well. With Rachel Alexandra, it was why she skipped races such as the Breeders' Cup. It got louder when she was retired after her loss in the Personal Ensign. There was some name calling on several of the platforms that I mentioned earlier in the post. In the case of Zenyatta, most people where stomping their feet with her connections refusal for leaving California except for three races (twice for the Apple Blossom and once for her final race in the Breeders' Cup. I was one of those who where very disappointment by the decisions of mainly Zenyatta's connections, but at times of Rachel's as well. However, now that both are retired and have foals on the ground everyone is falling in love with them again.

In this day of age, where social media is getting more and more predominate in horse racing, you are going to see more complaining. We're also in an age where horses do not carry as much as Kelso, Forego, Man O' War and other all time great horses. At this point, no trainer or owner is going to please the bettor, newspaper handicapper or fan of the sport. Can we be disappointed about it? Absolutely, but for every 2 things that an owner may say that is stupid, they may say 1 smart thing. I am no means defending Porter, Jones or decision to skip the Apple Blossom. I'm disappointed in not seeing Grace doing her thing as much as the next person. But it's going to be okay, she'll be back to fight another day. It maybe that I see things as if there glass where half empty and not half full kind of girl. I hope that she and the other horses have a safe racing year.