The Race Needs to be Run

Many of my friends were saying Sebastian K could not be defeated.  I responded I thought so as well, especially if the track was fast, but for my snug friends, I reminded them the race needs to be run first

Well, the track was listed as good and yes, when the race was over, Sebastian K was nowhere to be seen and the bridge jumpers were likely saying, "What happened?" for in the Centaur Trotting Classic at Hoosier Park, the Swedish invader put in his worst performance on North American shores and at the worst possible time; as the troops gather in Lexington for the Grand Circuit meet.  For this was a defeat which could not be singled out on the excuse of the off-track, he clearly was not the same horse he has been all year; it was a clunker.

Perhaps the first sign came when he was off the gate at the start.  Maybe it was when he didn't get to the lead in his usual first few strides but instead cleared just past the quarter.  Maybe it was the seemingly pedestrian pace, but you knew he was in trouble when his patented burst of speed heading into the stretch petered out, merely a weak resemblance of the usual move as the field quickly swarmed over the champ and passed him in the stretch as if he had nothing left to fight back with, finishing an disappointing seventh in the field of ten.




Providing Sebastian's handlers determine it was just one of those days most horses typically go through, expect Sebastian K to bounce back in his next race.  In the meanwhile, those gamblers who got burnt last night have learned a new adage.  "The Race Need to be Run and the track condition needs to be checked,", at least with Sebastian K.

Here's hoping for fast tracks the rest of the way.


Meanwhile, after being disrespected at Mohawk, parimutuel wagering on RUS events resumed last night at Flamboro Downs as a field of eight horses took to the track in a $2,700 event.  The winner was Lexus Hawkeye, who crossed the wire first after being third at the top of the stretch in 2:04.4.



The overall handle on the race was $13,055, which was 10.7% of the total handle for the night.  Clearly the public is accepting of RUS events, why veteran horsemen at WEG tracks are raising such a stink regarding RUS is beyond me,


No, I am still here.  Thanks to those who expressed concern regarding my absence from the blog.  Family matters took precedence last week which minimized my online time.  I hope to be rereportingith more regularity this point forward.