Well, here we are

I'll try to refrain some going nuts with the soaring prose that "experts" (douches) like Pat Forde elect to overdose on during Triple Crown season, but as a racing fan, I can't suppress the palpable buzz inside of me that materialized the second Big Brown crossed the wire on Saturday. There's only one stretch of time in the racing world that can eclipse the weeks leading up to the Derby in terms of excitement and tension, and it's the 21 days between Baltimore and Elmont when a Triple Crown is possible. Boy am I glad I decided to keep this blog going following the Derby.

Without talking too much about myself, what I'll say is this: as a relatively new racing fan, I've only been to one Belmont in which a TC was on the line, Smarty Jones' crack at it in '04. I'll never forget the day, because the drama was unsurpassed by any sporting event I've ever watched or been to. The slow, steady buildup to Smarty's run at history was both unbearable and sensational, and by the time 6:30 rolled around, I could barely stand still. We all know what happened after that, and though I was pretty crestfallen at the time to be denied witness to the first TC in 26 years (also because I had singled Smarty in the Pick 6, though it wasn't paying much), I soon got over it, and realized what a fucking amazingly dramatic event had just gone down.

The three Belmonts since have been excruciatingly boring. Relegated to just a Grade I at an almost totally irrelevant distance, the Belmont is just another leg in pick fours and sixes in years where the Crown is safe. The media coverage is perfunctory, and the attendants are mostly those who got screwed on hopeful seating investments made before the Preakness was run.

This year though, the drama will be back full bore, and as someone who's sat through the last three intrinsically boring Belmonts, I'm psyched. I generally hate people, I hate long lines at the betting windows, I hate the overhyping of horses that win the first two legs (Big Brown's very good, but if you think we're going three weeks without the mainstream media making Secretariat references, you're crazy), and I hate the clusterfuck that is getting to and from the Stakes with 120,000+ in attendance. But for ten freaking dollars, you can say "you were there", either when Big Brown snapped the 30-year drought or Casino Drive played spoiler to the horse that had never been tested.

If you don't like Big Brown, aren't you something. You seem to have an aversion to confirmed cheaters and douchebag self-important Wall Street types. You're so unique. You know what? Shut the fuck up, and get over it. You're deluding yourself if you think Big Brown is any different from Smarty Jones or Afleet Alex. Sure, the connections were somewhat cuddlier (although the Cash is King guys are reportedly toolsheds as well), but they had no intention on campaigning their horse if he won the Triple Crown. Chappy Chapman and Cash is King just didn't come out and say so. Get mad at Iavarone for saying that Big Brown won't run at four all you want, but at least he's being honest about it, and not lying through his teeth at every turn to placate people like you.

The landscape has changed. Horses who win more than one TC race are not going to stick around, so with that in mind, either quit following the sport, or soak up these next three weeks as much as possible. There are certainly times to complain about the disappearing three-year-old that continues to race after winning TC races, but this shouldn't be one of them.

Racing gets very little time to truly be in the spotlight, and if you really love the sport, these next three weeks should be fun for you. Lots, even. Root for Casino Drive if you must. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing him upset the big horse. But one way or another, I strongly urge that you get excited.