AND ANOTHER CONTENDER falls.
For the 13th time in the 36 years since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown, a horse has won the first two legs of US racing’s most prestigious prize only to miss out in the Belmont Stakes.
In the end, California Chrome never looked like winning and ultimately had to settle for fourth place behind Tonalist, Commissioner and Medal Count.
However, far from taking his horse’s defeat well, co-owner Steve Coburn branded Tonalist’s connections “cowards”.
“It’s all or nothing. It’s not fair to these horses that are running their guts out. This is a cowards’ way out,” Coburn said.
“If you’ve got a horse that earns points, that runs in the Kentucky Derby, those horses should be the only ones who should run in all three races.”
In Coburn’s defence, the Triple Crown has always been weighted against the best horse.
While California Chrome was racing for the third time in five weeks, Tonalist was running for just the second time since February so, like second-placed Commissioner, had missed the first two legs – the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
However, that’s what makes Triple Crown so difficult and the 11 horses who have managed the feat so special.
