O.T.-The last time that a horse won the Triple Crown
- Thread starter RUhasarrived
- Start date
How many people can Monmouth hold? I'll definitely attend this year if AP runs. When is the lineup announced?
American Pharoah's owners are from N NJ, and Baffert has a history of entering the Haskell and the Breeders. Mike Francesca today said he expects American Pharoah to race at least once in NJ later this summer.
Normally I don't listen to Francesca or anything on AM/FM but still haven't reconnected my Sirius (I will soon).
Normally I don't listen to Francesca or anything on AM/FM but still haven't reconnected my Sirius (I will soon).
Totally disagree. This horse can do something no other Triple Crown winner has done. Win a Breeders Cup Classic for the first Thoroughbred Grand Slam. Also there is a ton of money to be won through purses, endorsements and appearance fees. (Something Monmouth has done for years to get Baffert to NJ).
Every other Triple Crown Champion has raced after winning and 9 of the 11 raced at 4 years old. Seatle Slew wasn't looked at as a great champion at 3 but his 4 year old season changed everyone's mind
That may be true, but AP owner Ahmed Zayat loves the limelight. He won't remain in the limelight unless AP races. As WhiteBus noted above, Zayat insured AP handsomely and his breeding rights are sold, so he is sitting on a known figure. He wants the AP story to continue... and it will. We just have to hope the Haskell is a part of it.
During the hockey coverage between the first two periods NBC said that most likely running in the Haskell next.
NBC also announced that they signed a long deal for The Open (British Open) taking it away from ABC/ESPN. THANK GOD!
Great post, RU31trap, but I can't imagine both Baffert horses in the Haskell. I have, perhaps, a strange theory that after watching his one horse (AP) beat the other (Dortmund), you won't see both on the same track again before the Breeders Cup; it wouldn't be fair to the connections to ship East for only 1 Baffert horse to win.
If fingers crossed we get AP for the Haskell, no doubt in my mind Dortmund stays in California, where he can regain confidence and win a few before the BC. Otherwise, I think Dortmund comes if AP skips the Haskell. Now, if AP does come to Monmouth, I'm guessing Baffert considers the same route as Bayern last season -- Haskell (Aug. 2), Pennsylvania Derby (Sept. 19) and Breeders Cup (Oct. 31). With the Breeders at Keeneland, AP could easily stable at Churchill to save on travel; or, if the connections feel they "owe" Churchill as AP's stable home away from home, maybe they run once there and make up a stakes race for AP in the mid-September time frame (~6 weeks bet. races).
One horse I would like to see for the Haskell if healthy is International Star; I think he could have factored in the TC races; not saying win, but a credible contender. Ocho Ocho Ocho's another that might like the speed-favoring track and I'm not ready to can after a lackluster 3YO season.
Im guessing that the city will never allow that (moving to Laurel) to happen even though it makes no real financial sense for the reasons you said.
Actually the City wouldn't lose anything. People would still stay, eat and party in Baltimore. Laurel is basically a residential town. Plus the city would save a boatload on Security. With it out of the city the State would have to pick up most of the tab.
Baltimore has no direct say in the manner but the State does. However the Stronach Group really has the most say in the manner.
The infrastructure at Pimlico is really bad. Several power outages on Preakness day has cost them millions and this year there was water main break that closed half the bathrooms.
There are a lot of benefits to the move but many people will fight it just because they want to be seen and heard
1. They would stay in DC more and in Baltimore less. Laurel is closer to DC and mid-May isnt a particularly busy time of year there.
2. The Colts left only 31 years ago. Its a scar that the city still bears and this would be a repeat - a civic embarrassment for a city that is always fighting against the tide of public opinion to be respected.
Mid-May is a very busy season in DC if you're talking about hotel rooms - every school within 1,000 miles (and some much futher away) has a trip here. I work next door to a major food court, and it's wall-to-wall adolescents at lunch pretty much from mid-April to mid-June.
1. All the Preakness Official events that lead up to Saturday would still be held in Baltimore. Plus they can make express trains only from Baltimore to entice those to keep going into Baltimore.
2. Agree there is a stain but lessened when Tha Ravens won a Super Bowl.
3. I don't know anyone in the City or State willing to spend 10s of millions to rebuild Pimlico.
4. If it is moved it won't be the same but in some ways it can be better. It's tough to support two facilities in the same general area. Economically one has to go at some point
BeKnighted - yes - but DC is built to handle crowds for Memorial Day and 4th of July and stuff that drawf those overnight middle school kids.
WhiteBus. I agree - it makes sense to abandon Pimlico. I just dont see it happening. They have been talking about it seemingly for my entire life time and its still running there.
More likely Haskell, Pacific Classic, Breeders Cup. Baffert mentioned that to run in the Travers he'd like to have experience on the quirky Toga track by running in the Jim Dandy. He'd probably lean to NJ even if the owner wasn't local.
You're 100% accurate it does need some serious TLC but for some strange and bizarre reason over the years I've gotten attached to the event and track. In spite of all it's troubles I've always had a terrific time in the surrounding area. Is it possible that the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore could strike a deal with the Stronach Group? Sometimes when government partners with the private sector and there is shared sacrifice great things can happen. I will go on record and mention one thing that either must change at Pimlico, or at the very least get seriously monitored and that thing is the infield party. I've seen some real bad things happen on my way into the track and even worse things leaving the track.
trap - they tried that a few years back. Attendance fell dramatically.
Yes - I expect Stronach is putting out these trial balloons in order to get the state and city to pony up.
Also - Laurel itself is kind of a dump. Its not northwest Baltimore, but its not Bethesda either.
Stronach does not want the State or City to pony up. He wants out. They all know that it's a complete waste of money to build a multi $10 million facility to hold a big event for just 2 days a year.
Agree that Laurel isnt the a rich area but it's a far cry from Pimlico.
