So by now everyone knows that reigning Horse of the Year and leading candidate for the title this year has been retired due to a fracture suffered in his latest work for the Suburban Handicap. So goes the story of another young star taken away from the racetrack after only a handful of starts. Ok, maybe make that two and barely a half handfuls, but still. Invasor won nearly eight million dollars in a career that spanned only twelve starts, and Kiaran McLaughlin calls him one of the best of all times. He just may have been, but in my book you don’t become an all time great in twelve starts, unless of course you are Ruffian. And even she is only considered the best filly of all time. Invasor has far better competition than the mightly Ruffian.

InvasorHe did, however compile a wonderful race record, and one could tell great things were in store for him. He ran more in his career than Ghostzapper, 11 starts; Smarty Jones, 9 starts; and Afleet Alex, 12, to name just a few. Of course the pattern here is depressing, and it clearly illustrates that this new breed of thoroughbred just isn’t a sound one. It is certainly not Invasor’s fault that those involved in the industry want to hide problems with drugs, send two year olds through grueling campaigns and sales trials all with one purpose in mind; getting a classic winner and then breeding them for the big bucks. Long gone are the days when even a three year old classic winner will make it to a four year old career. It has already been discussed that Street Sense and Hard Spun will be retired at the conclusion of this year, and I would not be surprised if we never see Street Sense again. If we ever see a Triple Crown winner again, he or she will surely be whisked off to the breeding shed after winning the Belmont Stakes.

Luckily, we have Rags to Riches to root for, and really the fillies have been fitting the throwbacks of yesteryear far more than the males have. To see Curlin called a throwback, is actually comical. He is certainly tough, and very game, but he has run six times in his life, and may not run even six more. I hope he does, because he would be a real monster at four, but I doubt it. I look forward to seeing now if Corinthian can rise to the ranks of Horse of the Year or if one of the three year olds will take a step up and claim it.

In other news, Lawyer Ron finished second to Gottcha Gold who had a five pound weight advantage. No big surprise as I have always felt no matter who owned him, he was a little overrated. Nonetheless, I am glad he is still at it two years after his Derby try.

Funny Cide will be returning on July 4th in the Wadsworth at Finger Lakes and this saddens me to no end. While, it is definitely nice to see a horse run past his three year old year, I think it is long past time to retire this gelding. He just isn’t that interested in racing anymore, and to have to put him in these spots that are far beneath a dual classic winner is just sad. Sackatoga: it is time to let the dream go! You won the Derby with him and the Preakness, and actually had a good three year old year. Now do what is right for your horse.

It is still undecided whether or not Victor Molina will face any penalties for gutting a horse before a race at Philadelphia Park. I think there needs to be consequences, but it needs to be written down and be consistent across the board. Molina’s actions, now brings this topic into light and there needs to be rules regarding such actions. A suspension is necessary for Molina, but next time with rules it would not take so long to decide what to do with a jockey and anyone else involved in the industry. Is there a rulebook in thoroughbred racing anymore? Or are there just guidelines with rules written down that may be good ideas to follow, but one doesn’t have to? How else can you explain the drug use? Even the voting for Horse of the Year has turned into a joke with the winners often racing four or five times for the whole year, but as long as they win the Breeders Cup Classic, they can wear the title. I am all for Bill Finley’s idea on limiting stakes races to horses that are sired by stakes winners at four and five. Maybe even the three year old classics need to include only horses with graded stakes sires at four and five. It would help in limiting the mad rush of horses that turn the Kentucky Derby into a stampede every year, and it may go a long way in improving the breed. If a horse cannot complete in a stakes race after his three year old year due to unsoundness issues (Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Empire Maker), why on earth do we want to see their babies try and compete in the classics?

Hey it is just a suggestion, and I actually do have a problem with a horse having to win a stakes race later in their careers. That seems to discriminate against horses who were sound, and that is not the point. Even if they weren’t the fastest horses in the barn, they may have been the soundest. Still the idea is not without merit, because something has to be done about horses retiring so early to the lure of the breeding shed. It is a problem and everyone knows it, but no one wants to take steps to do anything about it. While, I may be upset over Invasor’s retirement, he is a five year old and he gave it a good old college try. He won the Dubai Cup as a five year old, so this rule would not affect his prodigy. It would however have done a lot to keep Smarty, Afleet Alex, Empire Maker and Bernardini in the game. And wouldn’t that have been spectacular?