This Is One Race That Should Not Be for Sale
By buying Tossofthecoin just in time to run him in the Kentucky Derby, Sid and Jenny Craig thumb their noses at the essence of why the Derby is special.
The Kentucky Derby is Carl Nafzger describing Unbridled’s late run to Frances Genter. It’s fans at El Commandante Racetrack in Puerto Rico sending Mister Frisky off at odds of 1-20. It’s Shelley Riley fainting when her low-priced Casual Lies puts Arazi away on the turn and leads the field into the stretch.
The Derby is special because of the stories behind the owners and trainers. The development of a top-class horse is much more intriguing and heartwarming than a decision to fork over a million dollars just to sit in an owner’s box on the first Saturday in May.
Horse racing is my favorite sport. I hope it does not continue to move in the direction of my former favorite sport, baseball.
DAVID BARNIER
San Diego
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