I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed such runaway eulogy. It’s as if commentators and analysts enter into a contest to see who can win the most acclaim, and when someone says that Flightline might be the greatest horse of all time – oh, that That’s when I hit the table in the first place. avalanche of exaggerated praise.
And a day later, when its owners announced it was retiring, I immediately realized that I couldn’t vote Flightline as Horse of the Year. That’s why I write: to explain my position. The reason is: I won’t reward people—Flightline’s ownership group in this case—who put their interests above the interests of the sport. That’s exactly what these owners did. They have the common value of a pocket calculator. When self-interest becomes a sport, it’s simple. Even when denied by apologists, it’s still ugly.
One of the owners, trying to rationalize the decision, said Flightline had nothing left to prove. Really? After only six races, he has nothing left to prove? Can he prove that he can transfer his talents to the pitch, as the Secretariat and Dr. Fager did? Does Flightline prove he can beat quality competition carrying 130 pounds or more, as Assault and Spectacular Bid and many other truly great racehorses have done over the years? Flightline has proven that he can successfully take on an international field that includes the world’s best and most successful performers, as well as make for curly, Tiznow and Cigars? No, no and no. In fact, Flightline has ceased operations with a lot of things unproven.
When analyzed in a more sober moment, after the sport and its spokesmen had taken a few of the 12 steps, it became clear that Flightline had failed to prove he was one of the best. Greatest racehorse of all time. Perhaps he possesses great potential and is almost certainly a great talent. He may be the most talented horse in North America since then Ghostzapper. But many horses in recent years have achieved far more than Flightline. And so he did not prove to be a great racehorse. No one can point to the series of Flightline achievements that collectively and unmistakably shine with that unmistakable luster. In the Classic, he defeated a very good old horse, Olympiad, and a very good 3-year-old horse, Taiba, but Flightline’s top competitor, Epicenter, was injured before completing the distance. half a mile. And in the Pacific Classic, Flightline beat another very good old horse, Country Grammer, who had peaked six months earlier and hasn’t won since. Of course, Flightline also beat Speaker’s Corner and Happy Saver, but does that make him one of the all-time greats?
Nothing left to prove? After only six races? Really? After only four wins? Really? That is a shameful dishonesty or amazing stupidity.
In my view – and I own horses – owners have three responsibilities. First and foremost, the owner must be responsible for the horse; He is responsible for the health, safety and care of the horse, but is also responsible for giving the athlete the opportunity to reach its full racing potential. Second, the owner is responsible for the sport itself, its traditions, history and integrity. And owners must be held accountable to horse racing fans, because without them the sport needs to realize that there is nothing. In my view, the owner of Flightline betrayed all three responsibilities.
Horse racing and its fan base have been dwindling over the years. However, the sport considers this a mystery it does not want to solve because, well, the truth is painful. But owners and breeders continue to remove the sport’s stars from the stage before they have a chance to utter their best lines, and with it the loyalty of their owners. fan. Flightline is just the latest example.
It goes on and on, this stubborn journey towards self-destruction. Whenever owners give in to greed and whenever they focus on the sales round rather than the track, the sport narrows down a bit more. And horse racing will continue to be meaningless if its leaders, or so-called leaders, do not sacrifice their personal interests for the sake of the sport. That’s why I can’t and won’t vote for Flightline.
