Belmont Stakes: Rested Horse Rubbish

By Derek Simon

Mere moments after Tonalist thwarted California Chrome’s quest to become the 12^th Triple Crown champion in thoroughbred racing history, Steve Coburn, one of the colt’s owners, blasted the Belmont Stakes winner.

“It’s all or nothing,” Coburn said. “… It’s not fair to these other horses that have been running their guts out for these people and for the people who believe in them. This is the coward’s way out in my opinion. This is a coward’s way out.”

Of course, Coburn was parroting the widespread belief that Tonalist had an advantage over Chrome because the former was “rested”, whereas the latter had been through the “rigors” of the Triple Crown chase.

Hogwash. Hooey. Hokum.

There is, perhaps, no greater lie in the Sport of Kings — and that’s… (more)