In the Past and Beyond the Horizon

"What is the draw?"

"I would have never pegged you as a horse racing fan."

"I can't believe you're not coming over because of a horse race."

Silence is easier because they would never understand.

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We lament the changes that our sport has gone through over the decades, but is it really as different as we perceive? Are the characters, both two legged and four legged, all that different?

Over the years, we have seen highly respected and top class trainers standing alongside the unscrupulous ones as they gated their charges on race day. Same then as it is now.

We have seen sheer athleticism and brilliance in both the black and white film of yesteryear and in the HD surround sound technicolor of today. We witness the old spectators as they cheered on their favorites, just as we do today.

The years of excitement on the big race days still packs them in as they did in the past. Maybe not dressed as well, and maybe not as refined, but the Sport of Kings will always remain in a league of its own.

It is not about the facility, the restaurants, or even the two minute action. It is not about a day out with cocktails and friends or even cashing that 10.00 win ticket. It is not about getting a box seat or a great parking spot. It's not about who you know or even what you think you know.

Simply stated, it is about... "Everything."

It is about Secretariat. Flightline. Seattle Slew. City of Troy. Classic Empire. Aiden O'Brien. Sunny Fitzsimmons. Irad Ortiz. Gary Stevens. Asmussen, Tesio and Baffert. Battle of Midway, Medina Spirit and Man o'War.

It's about Wise Dan, Frankel, Citation, Equinox and Thunder Snow. It is about maidens, claimers and graded stakes winners and losers.

It's about Shared Belief, Trevor Denman, Royal Ascot, Ribot, Whirlaway, Santa Anita and Keeneland. It is about the bugle, the bell, and the gate. Lanes End, Claiborne and the backstretch. The stop watch, the tote board, the paddock and the morning line odds.

It is about the charts, the sheets, the call times, and the breeding sheds. It is about their manes, their stance and their speed. The wire, the rail, and the weather. Dubai and Japan and Ireland. The grass and the dirt. The faces in the crowd. The look of determination aboard a mount.

The triumphs and defeats of all including the horse, the connections and the gamblers.

It is all of it, from the 1800's until today, all rolled up into specific moments in time that will repeat itself over and over again. The names may change along the way, but everything that surrounds this sport remains the same.

Another Triple Crown is in the books and what took place over the past 9 months and beyond will affect how we view things for the upcoming season and the crop of new two-year-olds that we are all about to meet.

The battle is won by understanding the past in how it relates to today. Everything always comes full circle.

The Triple Crown this year was just as exciting as ever. A crescendo that came with the revenge of one talented young colt named Dornoch. A victory which will extend straight through to another advantaged gate in the Travers Stakes.

D. Wayne Lukas should put his guy, Seize the Grey, on ice until the Pennsylvania Derby.

Chad Brown should have his sights set on the Haskell with Sierra Leone, not the Travers.

Steve Asmussen can place Extra Anejo anywhere he wants at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher has an up and coming monster with Mindframe who can tackle any speedy track that he steps on and surely could topple Seize the Grey at Parx.

We still have Catching Freedom, Endlessly, and Forever Young to anticipate running big as they make their way towards DelMar for the Championships.

The main character within it all, both here and abroad, would be Aiden's O'Brien's beast, City of Troy.

We have alot to look forward to leading up to the Breeder's Cup at DelMar.

As fast as this week on the horizon, the upcoming Royal Ascot will welcome Auguste Rodin into the Prince of Wales Stakes. Notable Speech takes a stab in the St. James Palace Stakes with William Buick aboard. The action never quits.

As usual, the Dirty Horse Club takes a bit of a breather after the Triple Crown in order to reset and gets things in order for the upcoming two-year-old debuts at Churchill Downs, Saratoga and Santa Anita.

Before you know it, we'll be on the 2025 Derby Trail once again. Anticipation is very high for the debut of the Justify/Pauseforthecause son that will be stationed in Baffert's barn. We'll see if Churchill Downs decides to allow the disgraced trainer back into the fold. But even if they don't, maybe the connections will be smart enough to collect those points and get him into another barn. Hopefully, they consider the horse this time.

Keep yours eyes and ears open for any smashing maiden performances, both in victory and in defeat. All hands on deck this year. We need to look into them all with a strategic plan to bet the preps with legitimate ammunition as we anticipate the best spots for each of them.

Our motto, "No Stone Unturned" begins at the very beginning of the season and never held back until they win a prep race like everywhere else. It is about the Triple Crown for us and not simply about jumping on the bandwagon with 10 points in a flashy short prep race.

Have a great and safe summer and stop by from time to time. There is still plenty of work to be done!