Is It Good For Racing?

Although, as Hillary Clinton reminds us, "It's not over until the lady in the pants suit says it is," it seems to truly be a "foregone conclusion" that Big Brown will run into the history books this Saturday. Yes, Casino Drive will probably give him a run for the money but most of the other horses in the race have already been left in his wake once before. It seems the foot is fine--who knows the truth on that one?--the horse is ready and all that is left is the coronation.

To me, the bigger question seems to be not whether or not he will win (I am sure the horse will go off a 1 to 5 favorite), but whether or not his victory will prove to be the shot in the arm that the sport so desperately needs. The way I see it, either way, Triple Crown or upset, Big Brown has been good for racing because he has started a national conversation about what is wrong with the sport.

Drugs, over-breeding for speed, flipping horses like pancakes in search of profits, hedge funds, these are all topics that have become fodder for national publications, revealing the darker side of the sport. How ironic that in a year in which we have a potential Triple Crown we are not focusing on a "feel good" story of nice guys finishing first for a change. Think Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex or even Barbaro, all of whom came with classy connections devoted to putting the horse first.

Just lately we have Iavarone attempting to do that, saying that he will continue to campaign Big Brown after the Belmont, but it's too little, too late. We read about Dutrow's addictions, Iavarone suspensions and Big Brown's use of steroids--instead of getting goosebumps over the animal's incredible stride and powerful "second gear."

Are all eyes going to be on the Belmont the way all eyes would have been if it was say, Barbaro, attempting to gallop into posterity on Saturday? I'm not sure. A Triple Crown is a Triple Crown--a rare and incredible difficult feat--but this one seems to lack elegance, poetry and the heart and soul of a nation.

Maybe because we're too busy learning the truth.