It IS a horse race now.
I missed the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, coming back from Penguicon. But...
California Chrome has won the Preakness at Pimlico, which means we have a chance at a Triple Crown winner in three weeks.
There have been three Triple Crown winners in my lifetime:
1973 Secretariat
1977 Seattle Slew
1978 Affirmed
I suppose I can be forgiven for thinking it was easy, three in six years, two in two years, but before the legendary Secretariat you have to back to 1948 and Citatio -- 25 years. It has been 35 since Affirmed. Meanwhile, the Triple Crown losers in my lifetime -- Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners -- are a much longer list:
Carry Back (1961): seventh to Sherluck
Northern Dancer (1964): third to Quadrangle
Kauai King (1966): fourth to Amberoid
Forward Pass (1968): second to Stage Door Johnny
Majestic Prince (1969): second to Arts and Letters
Canonero II (1971): fourth to Pass Catcher
Spectacular Bid (1979): third to Coastal
Pleasant Colony (1981): third to Summing
Alysheba (1987): fourth to Bet Twice
Sunday Silence (1989): second to Easy Goer
Silver Charm (1997): second to Touch Gold
Real Quiet (1998): second to Victory Gallop
Charismatic (1999): third to Lemon Drop Kid
War Emblem (2002): eighth to Sarava
Funny Cide (2003): third to Empire Maker
Smarty Jones (2004): second to Birdstone
Big Brown (2008): Did Not Finish to Da' Tara
I'll Have Another (2012): Did Not Start to Union Rags
12 of 18 since Affirmed, including Spectacular Bid who could've made it three Triple Crowns in a row.
Yes, I'm a fairweather racing fan -- just these three races. But oh what a tradition.
Dr. Phil
