It's tough to be Rajiv Maragh

I know the Belmont was last week, but I finally had the right words in my head to finally get this post down. Why is it tough to be him? Well for the second year in a row, he finished last in the Belmont. This time though it was his own fault, and it may have cost the Derby winner his career. As may know by now Maragh was suspeneded for 10 days for his careless riding in the race on Isn't He Perfect. That has been reduced to seven days however.

Since then, Animal Kingdom will be out of training for 2 weeks for a small fracture caused by when he almost fell. While it sounds like it won't require surgery, what if it gets bigger then does need it? That will certinally knock him out for the rest of the year and how knows even after the 2 weeks he'll ever be the same horse. Sure it's minor, but an injury is still an injury.

This is not Maragh's first go around with Belmont bad luck. Last year he was riding feel good story Uptowncharlybrown who was running in memory of his late trainer Allen Seewald. Sadly the saddle slipped and a 5 pound weight came out. Charly was disqualifed from fifth because he did not carry the entire 126 pounds all the way round the track. He hasn't run since, but is starting his comeback at Monmouth under Linda White.

From finishing third in the Derby on Mucho Macho Man to finishing last on a longshot who while had a right to be in the race, altered the career of another horse. It's been a tough 5 weeks for Rajiv Maragh.