racingmeridian.com

I’ve lived and died with Pioneer of the Nile since the start of the year. As the horses hit the quarter pole in the Kentucky Derby, I was breathless, seemingly on the verge of the score of a lifetime. Garret Gomez had made an error by moving the colt too soon, but with challengers looming I felt Pioneer would dig in and flaunt that abundant talent. He was better than all but one. The one? No, not the ridiculous fraud that took first place, I’m talking about the flatulent, pus ridden, vomit munching, urine soaked, feces craving, snot slurping Track Superintendant that perpetrated one of the greatest tragedies in the history of American racing. The best horse in the race, Pioneer of the Nile, was upended by a common mule, an animal so vile and base that to utter his name would be to give offense to the Gods of What’s Holy. The rail was turned into a paved highway yesterday. A Golden Rail. A yellow brick road to bloody immortality rail. A rail so hard and packed that a talentless rat could skim along it and derail the magnificence of a well meant champion. This was a Derby designed to pull your eyes from their socket, a Derby that made your heart want to abandon your chest, a Derby created to induce strokes and reflex bowel movements. The turgid lump of filth that passed Pioneer in the final furlong will never come within 10 lengths of him again. The utter and shameless incompetence of Churchill Downs maintenance allowed a rancid carcass to sabotage Pioneers attempt at incalculable glory. I can forgive, I mean I’ll be in Kentucky for next years Derby, but I can’t forget. The condition of the track changed the history of racing yesterday, possibly depriving us of a Triple Crown winner. A common garden cat could have run on that rail and remained competitive. A cow, udder full of milk, could have staggered and swayed on that rail and managed a cheque. The best horse did not win. Pioneer of the Nile, Derby winner in the annals of the Racing Meridian, forever…I was so distraught by the result I ended up on a meaningless three hour walk, chattering to myself, making passersby nervous and frantic. Coated in a sheen of sweat, eyes twitching, froth glazing my lips. There were only two antidotes to my descent into horrible madness. Manny Pacquiao. Mats Seldom. To make my universe right, I needed to see the PacMan score a KO, and I needed affirmation that Mats didn’t care, that he could still float and embody the humble spirit of indifference. Check and check, lads!  It was midnight, but in my heart the sun was rising, roosters crowing, and I knew everything was going to be all right. We’ll live to battle another day. But, like Kate Winslet in Titanic, Pioneer of the Nile’s Derby will be one I won’t forget. If only I could throw the track crew into the depths of the icy Atlantic…Rachel Alexandra will race on June 6^th, Belmont Stakes Day, but in an undercard race, the Acorn. We’ll see if media pressure causes a reversal in those plans. The filly is off a legendary 20 length score in the Kentucky Oaks and racing fans would be thrilled to see her challenge the boys. Uh, fans? Racing fans? The people that pay the bills? The people that would appreciate a little competition on their Saturday afternoon racing menu? Surely their wishes will be considered?…Floyd Mayweather Sr, gracious as ever, threw Ricky under the bus after last nights fight, stating, “He didn’t do as he was told” and telling Hatton to retire. “He tried twice and failed twice”. Guess the illiterate, drug addled Mayweather never heard of Kosta Tszyu?…I had a great score on the fight, hitting the knockout and the under, but I’m far from thrilled. Hatton has been wonderful for the sport (and not in the way where some pretend the inexecrable Oscar De La Hoya was “good” for boxing, when he clearly was not). He has a fatal flaw, however, and that his inability to surround himself with quality people. His “local yob” act is fine for public consumption, but a fighter needs to take his profession seriously. The split in his camp was the development that caused me to move decisively in Pacquiao’s favour after weeks of hand wringing. I believe Mayweather Sr is a myth, one largely created by Oscar De La Hoya. I’d need someone to point out Mayweather Sr’s accomplishments, because I’ve never seen anything worthy of the praise and attention he receives. Freddie Roach literally rebuilt Manny Pacquiao, turning the raw, exuberant talent into a polished, vicious weapon. Mayweather Sr just talks a big game. Hatton’s earlier trainer, Billy Graham, was a man hopelessly out of his depth, devising a strategy before the Mayweather fight which almost guaranteed defeat. Ricky Hatton has stones in the ring, but he doesn’t have the gumption out of the ring to assemble a professional, intelligent team. After two brutal knockout losses it is likely time for the man to relax and enjoy his millions…a Manny Pacquiao - Floyd Mayweather Jr fight seems almost certain for April/May 2010. Before that, however, we should get a couple of treats, Mayweather in a very tough fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, and maybe Pacquiao in a much anticipated rumble with knockout artist Edward Valero…