Don't Look a Gift Horse and Other Superstitions

I come from a long line of superstitious women. You know the "knock on wood" types who never want to tempt the fates. Yes we relish good fortune but we are always aware of the flip side.

I think athletes in general are superstitious. You know the stories about baseball players not changing their socks when they are on a winning streak or hockey goalies not washing their gloves. There was a time when even Gretchen Jackson admitted to being superstitious about her horses. She always had to hear a particular song on the radio before one of them ran. But over time, the practice grew to be too time consuming so she let it go.

My point here is that yesterday's AP article in the Philadelphia Inquirer in which Rick Dutrow said it was a "foregone conclusion that Big Brown would win the Triple Crown," literally made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. First of all, absolutely NOTHING in racing is a foregone conclusion (Did I ever mention the time that one of my father's horses was ahead by 14 or 15 lengths in the stretch and jumped over the inside rail instead of finishing?) and second of all, WHY TEMPT FATE????

Even if you think it, keep it under wraps. To make matters worse, Dutrow goes on to criticize Smarty Jones' connections for losing the Belmont because "they were not smart." Ouch. First rule of sportsmanship: humility. Second rule: don't bash your predecessors or your opposition. Third rule: When in doubt, leave it out.

John Servis, Smarty Jones' ever gracious trainer, even gives Dutrow the benefit of the doubt. "It was just Rick being Rick," he said. "He has got a lot on his mind these days, especially with the quarter crack and all. He's under a lot of pressure, and a lot of times we say things we don't mean."

Note to Dutrow: This is how the game is played. Watch and learn and please keep your mouth shut. In many ways, you are just asking for trouble.