Steve Coburn Apologizes for post Belmont Tirade

With his wife at his side, California Chrome co owner Steve Coburn went on Good Morning America June 9th and issued an emotional apology for his post Belmont Stakes rant where he called those who only ran that race and not the other Triple Crown races “cowards”.  There was plenty of back lash from racing fans, horse owners, and trainers over the comments.  Coburn is not used to life in the limelight in this age of 24 hour news and social media and it showed.  Now that the horse is out of the barn (sorry, couldn’t resist), a very contrite Coburn apologized to the racing industry, the rest of his racing team, and everyone else.

ABC US News | ABC Celebrity News

California Chrome is an outstanding horse, and finishing fourth in the Belmont does not change that.  In his rant, Coburn had emphatically stated he wanted horses to run in all three Triple Crown events (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes) and not just the Belmont as many of that races winners have done.  That’s a non starter.  Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports has brought up a possible change that would not restrict the horses to all three races, but might level the playing field for those who do run in the first two events.  Forde calls for lengthening the time between races so that Derby and Preakness participants would be better rested for the Belmont Stakes.  Interesting point, but we don’t see that happening either.

Many horses fade in the Belmont, which at 1 ½ miles, is longer than the Derby (1 ¼ miles) and the Preakness (1 3/16 miles).  Since horse racing today is all about breeding and training, the next Triple Crown winner will have to be one that is bred not only for speed, but also endurance, and the training should also have a focus on being able to win the longer race.  Secretariat, perhaps the greatest U.S. race horse ever, not only won the Triple Crown in 1973, but set records in all three races.  Those records still stand today, 41 years later.  Incredible.