Deadlocked at the eighth pole. One of the most exciting Derbies I have ever seen. He didn't have a very long career but Smarty Jones certainly gave everyone a lot of thrills.
I read that Smarty, after breaking a record in the Preakness, turned around to face the competition and reared up on his hind legs. The trainer of one of the other horses saw it and said, "He knows he's tough!"
I'm watching this and Barbaro's race(2006) then Secretariat(1973) after Rich Strike came from behind to win the 2022 KD. We all know how Philly loves an underdog!
I love Smarty. I was at the Preakness, and he was truly in Awesome form. The Belmont broke my heart, but hey, he just got caught. I would've loved to see Zenyatta take her hand at that monster though. Who can beat the call by Durken here..."Lion Heart is ALL HEART! SMARTY JONES IS ALL OUT!!" Timeless line.
@Ilovelimo9 You're Patrick Biancone's son or daughter? That's a little hard to believe but he definitely was a great horse, saw him at the Haskell that year, he owned Rock Hard Ten.
Damn you, Nick Zito! Birdstone finished poorly in the Derby and Zito wisely chose to have him skip the Preakness where Smarty Jones demolished the field. Birdstone ended up nipping Smarty in the Belmont, denying him the triple crown. Had Birdstone run in all 3 races, I am quite sure we wouldn't have the 30 year drought of TC winners we have today. Maybe they should require all horses to run all three races!
if you watch stew on all of his races leading up to this he rode him the same way every time what a great ride he knew he was on the best horse awesome
A lot of good comments here. I was with Smarty Jones all the way, and as a sports fan, it broke mey heart when he just missed in the Belmont, but he gave it his all, and only got bested by one length by one horse for his career. He always showed up and alwyas ran like a champion, thus he is a champion.
Alydar, as any real horse fan knows, battled Affirmed and finished just behind him in all three races, with times that would have won the Triple Crown in almost any year. Best rivalry ever in sports.
But I also have a place in my heart for the great Lionheart, he was a heck of a runner with breathtaking speed. I LOVED his Haskell win over Rock Hard Ten! If Smarty isn't there at Churchill, Lionheart wins that day by open lengths.
He took this race from the auxiliary gate and proved his race worthiness in both the Preakness and Belmont as well. Admittedly, I don't think it was a great crop of 3 year olds but Smarty stood out and really created a surge of attention to horse racing. Small town horse, trainer and jockey and they win the most prestigious race in the country. Who wouldn't be rooting for him to sweep the TC even if you bet against him?
I love to watch horse race on tv! I love horses they are loveable; caring; warmth; i detest Animal Cruelty; Animals Have Rights Also! It is a rainny slippery winter cold day! I am watching it October/ November 2024?😢😮😮😢😢
@maxcath after the belmont stakes...i was interviewed by a local news station i still had the tears in my eyes....from him losing...it was such a shame.
Kinda weird that Smarty and Lion Heart are basically running a match race the last 40 seconds and Durkin is still telling us about other horses in the race
Smarty was like Barbaro, War Emblem, Street Cents, etc. I sure wish they'd have won. Oh well, may this spring/summer we'll have a new TC winner. I wish Smarty all the best that life holds for him.
Has anyone seen Smart Jones's son?! He is one of the cutest little pies I've ever seen. His name is JJ and my horse and him like to talk to each other at the barn and its the cutest little thing.
I noticed that fans of a particular horse always seem to blame the jockey for any loss. Just a peculiar trend there. Smarty Jones was a great champ and would have been a deserving Triple Crown winner. But he was too excited to finish it out and got ran down. No one's fault.
we have this school project {6th and 7th grade} and we had to pick a state and do research on it and dress up as whatever you chose from that state and I got Kentucky and I chose a Kentucky derby lol!! 💞
He showed a lot of heart in the stretch. But, Smarty Jones was just too much. I love smallish horses like Jones and Afleet Alex. They always have big heart, good stamina and supreme turn of foot.
Trent Rez sort of a b rider? He’s one of the best riders in this country, have you even seen how flat and low he looks on a horse? If you put a glass of water on his back I bet you it wouldn’t fall very easily
6furlongs into 1:12 and a mile in 1;37(or 1:36) birdstone would have missed the train. He cooked Eddington and Rock Hard Ten,and would have won by 8 or 9 lengths,think about that for a minute. The time would have been 2:27 and change! Oh well it didn't happen,but that doesn't diminish what this horse accomplished. He could run on any track,any condition,and he was genuine,and he had amazing tactical speed. Watch him near the 1/2 mile pole as he spurted after Lion Heart. It is pure poetry!!!!
I honestly think in my opinion of course that Smarty Jones was the most brilliant(meaning talented) horse I've seen with my own eyes. This dude should have won the Triple Crown,as much as I like J Bailey,I think they purposly sabotaged Smarty in the Belmont. Sure he should have relaxed more for Elliot,but he was really sharp for this race and they took advantage of it. He went 8 furlongs in 1:35 2/5,and still almost got it done. The race fell right into Birdstone's lap. If they would have run,
"El Derby de Kentucky? Aún no se ha encontrado un calificativo que pueda" describir su grandeza" José Gregorio Guillot / Comentarista hípico y productor radial venezolano
You guys are gonna think I'm nuts but the defeat of Smarty Jones was not surprising. Turns out both he and Birdstone were both descended from the same stallion so you could kind of call them cousins.
I was at this race. Hit the trifecta. I'm going to be honest I felt the experience was a little overrated. As you can see the weather sucked. All in all it wasn't that fun. Hitting the trifecta was nice
Smarty was "AWESOME" . I think NASH has some of his speed traits. Was dissapointed "Nash" wasn't in yesterdays Derby race. I think Smarty could have won the triple crown but the jockey in the 3rd race ran him on the outside the entire way and by doing that, you make the horse run more distance. I think had they had someone more intelligent on that ride & brought him to the inside rail, Smarty would have easily won the Trip
When I go back and recollect Smarty Jones was a horrible ride away from becoming only the second horse to win the triple crown while being undefeated amazing, what happened at the Belmont to was disgraceful. But I am not going to get back on that soapbox, but I don't think Smarty jones gets the true credit that he deserves. Great race horse with a lot of heart.
didn't get nearly as bad a ride as Point Given in the 2001 Derby. That was complete and utter bullsh*t by a HOF jockey who should be ashamed of himself to this day for costing that horse both a triple crown and deserved recognition as one of the best ever on the track.
+Elvis South There is a video of Gary Stevens visiting horses he had written, and one of the horses was Point Given. Stevens apologized to Point Given for the ride at the Kentucky Derby and was on the verge of tears. I don't think Point Given understood what Stevens was doing.
He did not get a horrible ride at the Belmont. The trainer took the blame for that one because the horse was too keyed up to last 12 furlongs. Stewart Elliott had a good hold of Smarty Jones and didn't urge him until the final 1/2.
No. He wasn't robbed. Watch closer. The jockey did not ask him to run. He had a tight grip on the reigns. When he did ask Smarty to run, there was nothing in the tank. He was the speed horse that everyone thought Secretariat was. He just couldn't handle the Belmont. I've had horses run there. That last quarter mile is brutal. Smarty ran one heck of a race though.
@ewd76 i know a horse back in 1996 who had only 1 eyes( birth defect)... he went undefeated over 1365 metres till 2200 metres over 9 races until the biggest race which is called the blue ribbon over 2400 m where he came 2nd because of being too far back and the final straight is only 225 metres + carrying 58 kg.. his name was 'the turbo'. horses just obey orders.. not looking at the crowd or wearing earplugs is an advantage of not getting distracted..
But, as for best horse not to win the triple crown, I would put Smarty in a little behind Alydar, Spectacular Bid, and those three ahead of Sham. Sham was a great horse, but its hard to put him up there with those three when he finished so far out of the Belmont. And Sham didn't race after that, where the Bid went on to be what 28 out of 32 lifetime?
Stewart Elliott with 2 FANTASTIC rides in the derby and Preakness and then the real Stewart Elliott shows up in the Belmont and screws the horse and the connections
I'm sorry to say, but I was glad Smarty lost the Belmont that year. Not that I had anything against the horse, but I just didn't see him as being as worthy of the Crown as the other 11 winners.
For everyone saying Smarty Got a bad ride and lost the Belmont, not for nothing but that’s complete bull, Y’all should ask Jerry Bailey about why Smarty lost, it was Baileys fault, and everyone that knows about racing knows it, Jerry pressured Smarty the whole race
@ItStartedAtUs...you mention man o war has a should have been but truth is man o war was the BEST horse to ever race so he was better than every horse even those who accomplished the triple crown goal.
I vehemently disagree. I don't think we saw the best of Barbaro. Of the recent winners of the Derby I thought he was the best. I was probably the only one who was glad Smarty came short in the Belmont.
@eagles01211 im a charasmatic guy!! i think he wins the trip.. if not for the belmont.. an running a half mile on 3 legs.... but id say cigar is the 3rd best ever!!!!
Your facts are wrong. If you watch the Derby and the Preakness, Birdstone was gaining on Smarty Jones at the end of each of those races. The differences was the amount of horses in the races.The Belmont had 8 horses. Also, in the Belmont Smarty Jones started off with an uncharacteristic lead, and due to the race being longer than the Derby and Preakness, and less horses being in the races, Birdstone caught him. Jockey error caused this loss. Anyone who understands horse racing knows this is fact
I don't think Birdstone gained on anyone in the 2004 Preakness because the owner had him sit out and rest, so he would be completely rested for the Belmont.
Actually your own facts are completely wrong Nate “Einstein”!! Apparently you must have been watching that years Preakness on a different planet and in a different alternate dimension. Birdstone skipped the Preakness, and the only way he was gaining on Smarty Jones in that race was if he was traveling in the trackside ambulance van!! Anyone that follows and understands horse racing knows that! :-)
Bob Gardner I totally agree, this is Christopher Elliott, Stews son, and I wanna tell you what my father said about Smarty getting beat. First of all Birdstone was fresh and didn’t run in the Preakness, Second Of all Smarty began to have a problem with his back leg, he believes this happened because the exercise rider for Smarty was a person on the heavier side.
@mrknuklez i would say charasmatic. was there 2.. won the 1st 2.. an ran half a mile on 3 legs.. if he didnt break his leg, in belmont.. charasmatic.. would have won!! easy!! half a mile on 3 legs was to much.. for him
I will admit that this gave me chills. LION HEART IS ALL HEART, SMARTY JONES IS ALL OUT!
I'm from Philly and was at all three of his TC races. The ride of a lifetime. He's still my fave.
With two horses winning the Triple Crown in 4 years I still think Smarty Jones was the best horse of the last 30-40 years
At the time I had a cat who lived in my Smarty Jones ball cap, so he got renamed Smarty Jones
He is my fav all time. Reminds me of seabiscuit.
How exciting!!!
The derby weather sucked. When they had us exit due to lighting sucked. Wet feet all day. However hitting the Tri was nice
Smarty Jones is one of my all-time favorite horses. In my mind Smarty Jones is one of the greats and as good as a Triple Crown winner in my eyes.
As a stud him and tapit were had great offspring
Lets not forget the greatest NORTHERN DANCER look at the record not with emotions.
Why is the quality of the video so bad? This was taken in 2004, not 1904.
Still brings tears to my eyes got to watch all the races from the first to the last fabulous horse
Deadlocked at the eighth pole. One of the most exciting Derbies I have ever seen. He didn't have a very long career but Smarty Jones certainly gave everyone a lot of thrills.
“Lion Heart is ALL HEART, Smarty Jones is ALL OUT!”
Such an iconic call by an iconic race caller Tom Durkin❤️🙌🏻
I was there...Smarty was a firecracker! Loved that lil guy!😁🤗
I read that Smarty, after breaking a record in the Preakness, turned around to face the competition and reared up on his hind legs. The trainer of one of the other horses saw it and said, "He knows he's tough!"
We need another powerhouse Philadelphia horse! I got mad love for Smarty!
I'm watching this and Barbaro's race(2006) then Secretariat(1973) after Rich Strike came from behind to win the 2022 KD. We all know how Philly loves an underdog!
This is the best commentator of all sports he is very interesting
I love Smarty. I was at the Preakness, and he was truly in Awesome form. The Belmont broke my heart, but hey, he just got caught. I would've loved to see Zenyatta take her hand at that monster though.
Who can beat the call by Durken here..."Lion Heart is ALL HEART! SMARTY JONES IS ALL OUT!!" Timeless line.
Smarty Jones was a damn good horse. He should have won the triple crown.
Smarty Jones is my favorite race horse ^.^
Smarty and tapit were to of the best as for as stud
My favorite race horse... ever.
Yeah... 2020... still watching this glory..
Smarty is still the best horse I have ever seen. Its a shame he couldnt finish the job in the Belmont
@Ilovelimo9 You're Patrick Biancone's son or daughter? That's a little hard to believe but he definitely was a great horse, saw him at the Haskell that year, he owned Rock Hard Ten.
Damn you, Nick Zito! Birdstone finished poorly in the Derby and Zito wisely chose to have him skip the Preakness where Smarty Jones demolished the field. Birdstone ended up nipping Smarty in the Belmont, denying him the triple crown. Had Birdstone run in all 3 races, I am quite sure we wouldn't have the 30 year drought of TC winners we have today. Maybe they should require all horses to run all three races!
if you watch stew on all of his races leading up to this he rode him the same way every time what a great ride he knew he was on the best horse awesome
He sure is! I love this call..."And these two hook up at the top of the stretch! Lion Heart is ALL HEART! Smarty Jones is ALL OUT!"
"And undefeated Smarty Jones comes wide off the turn!" all these years later and this still gives me chills!
This was when I was three... I can see why the masterpiece that is _Racing Stripes_ starring Hayden Panettiere and Bruce Greenwood was made...
A lot of good comments here. I was with Smarty Jones all the way, and as a sports fan, it broke mey heart when he just missed in the Belmont, but he gave it his all, and only got bested by one length by one horse for his career. He always showed up and alwyas ran like a champion, thus he is a champion.
Alydar, as any real horse fan knows, battled Affirmed and finished just behind him in all three races, with times that would have won the Triple Crown in almost any year. Best rivalry ever in sports.
Smarty Jones has had his 1st winner the U.S. His name is Keefer ,he won a maiden special at Monmouth,going 5F in 58 flat. I hope this the 1st of many.
But I also have a place in my heart for the great Lionheart, he was a heck of a runner with breathtaking speed. I LOVED his Haskell win over Rock Hard Ten! If Smarty isn't there at Churchill, Lionheart wins that day by open lengths.
9 Years ago today! Long Live Smarty!!
It always makes me laugh that Durkin is so overwhelmed/excited at the end that he accidentally calls Lion Heart - Lion House :P
*****
Nope, he says "Lion House was second, Imperialism finished third, and Limehouse was fourth."
*****
4:23
Everybody wanted Smarty to win the Triple Crown that year. Everybody wanted it. He was sooo close. What a shame.😪
I didn't I was rooting for Birdstone. :)
He took this race from the auxiliary gate and proved his race worthiness in both the Preakness and Belmont as well. Admittedly, I don't think it was a great crop of 3 year olds but Smarty stood out and really created a surge of attention to horse racing. Small town horse, trainer and jockey and they win the most prestigious race in the country. Who wouldn't be rooting for him to sweep the TC even if you bet against him?
Who is the number 20 horse
I love to watch horse race on tv! I love horses they are loveable; caring; warmth; i detest Animal Cruelty; Animals Have Rights Also! It is a rainny slippery winter cold day! I am watching it October/ November 2024?😢😮😮😢😢
Smarty Jones and barbaro(rip) the two greatest horses I've seen , ashame they didn't win the triple.
@maxcath after the belmont stakes...i was interviewed by a local news station i still had the tears in my eyes....from him losing...it was such a shame.
Kinda weird that Smarty and Lion Heart are basically running a match race the last 40 seconds and Durkin is still telling us about other horses in the race
Smarty was like Barbaro, War Emblem, Street Cents, etc. I sure wish they'd have won. Oh well, may this spring/summer we'll have a new TC winner. I wish Smarty all the best that life holds for him.
Has anyone seen Smart Jones's son?! He is one of the cutest little pies I've ever seen. His name is JJ and my horse and him like to talk to each other at the barn and its the cutest little thing.
Way 2 go Smarty Go! Thankyou Mr C. Hellofa Horse!
I noticed that fans of a particular horse always seem to blame the jockey for any loss.
Just a peculiar trend there.
Smarty Jones was a great champ and would have been a deserving Triple Crown winner. But he was too excited to finish it out and got ran down. No one's fault.
corey nokatonie and mike smith... awsome jocks!
Childhood; this and the PBS Kids world!
Smarty Jones is amazing :)
we have this school project {6th and 7th grade} and we had to pick a state and do research on it and dress up as whatever you chose from that state and I got Kentucky and I chose a Kentucky derby lol!! 💞
"The Kentucky Derby? There is no an adjective able to describe ots greatness" Jose Gregorio Guillot, venezuelan turfman and radio producer
Mhm. It symbolizes my hometown (Louisville, KY) to the entire world.
He showed a lot of heart in the stretch. But, Smarty Jones was just too much. I love smallish horses like Jones and Afleet Alex. They always have big heart, good stamina and supreme turn of foot.
Smarty Jones should have won the Belmont. The jockey didn't ride him properly in that 3rd Triple Crown race!!
Stewart Elliott was always sort of a B rider
Trent Rez sort of a b rider? He’s one of the best riders in this country, have you even seen how flat and low he looks on a horse? If you put a glass of water on his back I bet you it wouldn’t fall very easily
Happy Birthday to SmartyJones!
I LOVE SMARTY JONES. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HORSE. HIS STILL ALIVE TOO.
Seattle Slew grew up at the farm my uncle works at:D
Is that Bob Jenkins?
+BNSF1995 Durkin. Note the combination of Lion Heart and Limehouse at the end ;)
amazing race when i saw smarty jones race in his maiden i knew he was sepical
he's by far the best horse i´ve ever seen
i wish he would have run the breeders
I remember thinking, "Are we seeing the next Secretariat???"
I was born 28 days after dis! :D
+MORGSTER JR Oh man, you make me feel old. I was in 4th grade when this race was run.
Smarty Jones is so cool
This is a tradition in my hometown.
I remember watchin Smarty Jones as a 5 year old.....he was my fave!
6furlongs into 1:12 and a mile in 1;37(or 1:36) birdstone would have missed the train. He cooked Eddington and Rock Hard Ten,and would have won by 8 or 9 lengths,think about that for a minute. The time would have been 2:27 and change! Oh well it didn't happen,but that doesn't diminish what this horse accomplished. He could run on any track,any condition,and he was genuine,and he had amazing tactical speed. Watch him near the 1/2 mile pole as he spurted after Lion Heart. It is pure poetry!!!!
SMARTY JONES! i cried when he lost belmont.
I honestly think in my opinion of course that Smarty Jones was the most brilliant(meaning talented) horse I've seen with my own eyes. This dude should have won the Triple Crown,as much as I like J Bailey,I think they purposly sabotaged Smarty in the Belmont. Sure he should have relaxed more for Elliot,but he was really sharp for this race and they took advantage of it. He went 8 furlongs in 1:35 2/5,and still almost got it done. The race fell right into Birdstone's lap. If they would have run,
"El Derby de Kentucky? Aún no se ha encontrado un calificativo que pueda"
describir su grandeza"
José Gregorio Guillot / Comentarista hípico y productor radial venezolano
You guys are gonna think I'm nuts but the defeat of Smarty Jones was not surprising. Turns out both he and Birdstone were both descended from the same stallion so you could kind of call them cousins.
Imperialism goes from dead last to 3rd on the final stretch ... Smarty Jones was lucky this race wasn't 100m longer!
Don't kid yourself.,
Lionheart ran one hell of a race...wow.
I was at this race. Hit the trifecta. I'm going to be honest I felt the experience was a little overrated. As you can see the weather sucked. All in all it wasn't that fun. Hitting the trifecta was nice
The only horses I didn't like this decade were Giacamo and Mine that Bird. The other horses were great.
PA Bred! Lookout for Angel of Empire this weekend.
Smarty was "AWESOME"
. I think NASH has some of his speed traits. Was dissapointed "Nash" wasn't in yesterdays Derby race.
I think Smarty could have won the triple crown but the jockey in the 3rd race ran him on the outside the entire way and by doing that, you make the horse run more distance. I think had they had someone more intelligent on that ride & brought him to the inside rail, Smarty would have easily won the Trip
I love Smarty Jones.
When I go back and recollect Smarty Jones was a horrible ride away from becoming only the second horse to win the triple crown while being undefeated amazing, what happened at the Belmont to was disgraceful. But I am not going to get back on that soapbox, but I don't think Smarty jones gets the true credit that he deserves. Great race horse with a lot of heart.
Eric Day Now Smarty Jones is in Uruguay as stallion. He's giving winners.
didn't get nearly as bad a ride as Point Given in the 2001 Derby. That was complete and utter bullsh*t by a HOF jockey who should be ashamed of himself to this day for costing that horse both a triple crown and deserved recognition as one of the best ever on the track.
+Elvis South There is a video of Gary Stevens visiting horses he had written, and one of the horses was Point Given. Stevens apologized to Point Given for the ride at the Kentucky Derby and was on the verge of tears. I don't think Point Given understood what Stevens was doing.
He did not get a horrible ride at the Belmont. The trainer took the blame for that one because the horse was too keyed up to last 12 furlongs. Stewart Elliott had a good hold of Smarty Jones and didn't urge him until the final 1/2.
DanielSong39 That horse went out way too fast, the trainer may have been trying to be kind.
No. He wasn't robbed. Watch closer. The jockey did not ask him to run. He had a tight grip on the reigns. When he did ask Smarty to run, there was nothing in the tank. He was the speed horse that everyone thought Secretariat was. He just couldn't handle the Belmont. I've had horses run there. That last quarter mile is brutal. Smarty ran one heck of a race though.
@MuttsLuver EVERYBODY loved Smarty , me included!!! Geez I wanted him to win so bad.
Commentators:
Tom Hammond & Charlsie Cantey
@ewd76 i know a horse back in 1996 who had only 1 eyes( birth defect)... he went undefeated over 1365 metres till 2200 metres over 9 races until the biggest race which is called the blue ribbon over 2400 m where he came 2nd because of being too far back and the final straight is only 225 metres + carrying 58 kg.. his name was 'the turbo'. horses just obey orders.. not looking at the crowd or wearing earplugs is an advantage of not getting distracted..
@BigBrown2332 Thats how Pollards Vision got his name
Smarty Jones Is The Man, Err Thoroughbred!
Smarty jones, was only the second horse in history to win the Kentucky derby while undefeated, Seattle slew before him
The number has grown a little since. Two years later Barbaro was undefeated, as was big brown after him. So was Justify.
But, as for best horse not to win the triple crown, I would put Smarty in a little behind Alydar, Spectacular Bid, and those three ahead of Sham. Sham was a great horse, but its hard to put him up there with those three when he finished so far out of the Belmont. And Sham didn't race after that, where the Bid went on to be what 28 out of 32 lifetime?
ohhh god dont these people ever give up, theyre treated like a part of the family.
Stewart Elliott with 2 FANTASTIC rides in the derby and Preakness and then the real Stewart Elliott shows up in the Belmont and screws the horse and the connections
He said Lion House was second 😂
Smarty Jones was robbed of the triple crown
I'm sorry to say, but I was glad Smarty lost the Belmont that year. Not that I had anything against the horse, but I just didn't see him as being as worthy of the Crown as the other 11 winners.
For everyone saying Smarty Got a bad ride and lost the Belmont, not for nothing but that’s complete bull, Y’all should ask Jerry Bailey about why Smarty lost, it was Baileys fault, and everyone that knows about racing knows it, Jerry pressured Smarty the whole race
@ItStartedAtUs...you mention man o war has a should have been but truth is man o war was the BEST horse to ever race so he was better than every horse even those who accomplished the triple crown goal.
Race Call:
Tom Durkin
1/4-22.4
1/2-46.3
3/4-1:11.4
I vehemently disagree. I don't think we saw the best of Barbaro. Of the recent winners of the Derby I thought he was the best. I was probably the only one who was glad Smarty came short in the Belmont.
@eagles01211 im a charasmatic guy!! i think he wins the trip.. if not for the belmont.. an running a half mile on 3 legs.... but id say cigar is the 3rd best ever!!!!
Really wanted Imperialism to win for Kristin Mulhall...wish she'd get back to training horses.
Uh, I guess I forgot about Forego, he belongs in there among the best not to get the TC.
its PETRA SAMARDZIJA and MILO SAMARDZIJA SHART on the foogy
hum i remember smarty jones.
My winner, exacta and trifecta finished 2-3-4 behind Smarty. Damn i was praying he cut someone off. I hated Smarty ever since
the jockey should have held him up some and he would have won the triple crown, instead he let him go to soon and he tired right at the end
Your facts are wrong. If you watch the Derby and the Preakness, Birdstone was gaining on Smarty Jones at the end of each of those races. The differences was the amount of horses in the races.The Belmont had 8 horses. Also, in the Belmont Smarty Jones started off with an uncharacteristic lead, and due to the race being longer than the Derby and Preakness, and less horses being in the races, Birdstone caught him. Jockey error caused this loss. Anyone who understands horse racing knows this is fact
Nate
I don't think Birdstone gained on anyone in the 2004 Preakness because the owner had him sit out and rest, so he would be completely rested for the Belmont.
Actually your own facts are completely wrong Nate “Einstein”!! Apparently you must have been watching that years Preakness on a different planet and in a different alternate dimension. Birdstone skipped the Preakness, and the only way he was gaining on Smarty Jones in that race was if he was traveling in the trackside ambulance van!! Anyone that follows and understands horse racing knows that! :-)
Bob Gardner I totally agree, this is Christopher Elliott, Stews son, and I wanna tell you what my father said about Smarty getting beat. First of all Birdstone was fresh and didn’t run in the Preakness, Second Of all Smarty began to have a problem with his back leg, he believes this happened because the exercise rider for Smarty was a person on the heavier side.
@mrknuklez i would say charasmatic. was there 2.. won the 1st 2.. an ran half a mile on 3 legs.. if he didnt break his leg, in belmont.. charasmatic.. would have won!! easy!! half a mile on 3 legs was to much.. for him
they named the horse 'imperialism'? or am i not hearing it right? rofl. (:
LION HEART
It sure was a wet Kentucky derby on this day.