They may have created a problem with the Kentucky derby.

[shockey80]

Six years ago they put in place a new point system in order to qualify for the derby. The favorite has won the derby six years in a row? Mostly by front-running horses.

Coincidence? Qualifying for the derby used to be based on earnings. That meant sprinters could earn enough to get into the derby and assure a sustained fast pace. Closers would have a chance with a sustained fast pace. The sprinters have been eliminated with the new point system. Top sprint races are not included in the point system.

People are saying yesterdays derby had a very fast pace and they are correct, except the fast pace ended at the quarter pole, it was not sustained. They crawled the rest of the race. The final time was very slow. That makes it very hard for closers to close.

Horses who have talent like Justify and Good Magic can hang on with a slow pace. If there was a fast pace say for the first mile yesterday, Justify and Good magic may have been caught or at least challenged.

I may be wrong about this, It could be a coincidence, there have been many sloppy tracks recently for the derby, that can also make it hard on closers because they are getting hit on the face with mud. I do know this, the favorite winning six years in a row is hard to do.

[shockey80]

1. The new point system may have also kept recent long shot winners of the derby out of the race.

Mine that bird , Giacomo.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. And here's me thinking the problem is abuse of the horses and jockeys.

[shanny]

11. Amen.

[milestogo]

3. This is a "sport" of the 1% if there ever was one.

And its basically gambling, not sport.

[shockey80]

4. Horse racing is a great sport.

The horses that ran in the derby are treated very well. Like any sport there is greed. I admit as a life long horse racing fan it is sad when a horse breaks down. Some horses I loved broke down and had to be put down. I was heart broken.

Unfortunately, nature made horses in a way when they break a bone in their leg they do not heal like we do. Most people in the horse racing business love their horses and treat them very well.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. JFC, educate yourself.

[shockey80]

5. Horse racing is no more of a sport for the 1% than is baseball, football etc.

Give me a break.

[shockey80]

7. For people who do not follow horse racing let me explain Pace.

The Pace of a race is not just about how fast the front runners are running the race. Its also about the pressure the horses are under. A front running horse running a very fast pace with no pressure from other horses can keep on running a set a track record.

The same horse running a very fast pace who is being pressures by other horses can fold and finish last. Pressure puts stress on the horse.

[shockey80]

8. Whiskeygrinder

Are you also against the abuse of football players, boxers, etc, go through or is it just horse racing abuse you care about.

[shanny]

12. Can't speak for Whiskeygrinder obviously

but for myself, I am against the abuse of football players, boxers, etc. But I also think horse racing is worse since boxers and football players et al have at least some choice about it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. Sure. Are you?

[Codeine]

9. You've been around long enough to know

how threaded conversations work, dude.

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. You mean like this?

What's the word I'm looking for?