Heston Blue Chip clinched the 3yo Pacing Colt title with his win in the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs last night in the next to last stakes race for the 2012 season in the United States. With his 1:48 all-age track record score, Heston Blue Chip ends the season with a 18-14-1-1 record, winning the Breeders Crown at Woodbine and the Progress and Matron stakes at Dover Downs.
HBC's victory last night was highly impressive as he raced like a 1-2 shot should. After settling in to be third at the quarter in :25.4, Heston Blue Chip made easily brushed past Hillbilly Hanover to take the lead and never look back going through middle fractions of :53.4 and 1:20.1. Other than a brief challenge by Thinking Out Loud in the backstretch, the race was over for all practical purposes.
I know for some people, Heston Blue Chip will be the division champion more so via attrition than anything else. After spending the majority of the season against NYSS competition, Heston Blue Chip took on open company after they had been beaten up during the campaign. Yes, he was the late season sensation and others had fallen to the side during the campaign, but let's face it, no one sealed the deal, allowing for HBC to waltz right in. That being said, I won't be surprised if the voters will turn elsewhere for the Pacer of the Year award, possibly settling on American Jewel.
There does remain the Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park this coming Saturday, but with Heston Blue Chip skipping that dance, no one should be able to pass HBC in the rankings.
Meanwhile, down in New South Wales this past weekend, their first monté race ever was contested and won by Sassy Pinevale in 2:18.7 (MR 2:06.8) for the 1,740 meter race. A replay of the race may be seen here. Wagering was offered and the winner was a 2.00-1 favorite.
Regular readers of my blog should know I am opposed to the slaughter of horses. You may ask how can I write can I right a blog about standardbred racing if I am opposed to slaughter? Because there is nothing more beautiful than seeing a perfectly gaited trotter strutting his stuff as he goes around the racing oval and the fact I believe racing can function without our athletes being sent to slaughter, all it takes is an industry willing to make a commitment.
Let's face it, racing has no choice but to adapt, for failure to do so will make racing go the way of greyhound racing in the United States; the public will not accept the continuing slaughter of our retired horses.
The industry needs to acknowledge when you own a horse you have a responsibility to it. If the time comes and a horse is unable to race anymore and you are unwilling or unable to keep it, you have an obligation to do what is best for the horse and clearly selling or giving away a horse to lose it is unacceptable. Yes, the reality is not every horse can be saved once their racing days are over, but as an owner you have a responsibility to do the right thing and if that involves humanely euthanizing the horse, so be it; it beats slaughter..
Anyway, if you feel the same way I do, there are petitions you can add your name to. To the left, is a list of petitions against horse slaughter. Each link has a description listed. If you agree with those positions, just click on the link(s) and add your name to those petitions.
No comments:
Post a Comment