Nick Kling: The argument for changing the Triple Crown begins again
Nick Kling at The Troy Record writes that the inevitable argument that the Triple Crown is too difficult and must be changed has begun anew now that another year has passed without a horse completing the sweep of the three races. Other writers have begun to declare the series impossible to sweep. Kling argues that it's supposed to be difficult but the fact that 12 horses in 34 years have come close with five of those being lost by a small margin usually due to jockey error proves that it is doable, just difficult. And it is meant to be difficult.
Other writers have said the problem is horses are no longer bred for stamina and the sport has succumbed to the "greed of the breeder." Now horses are bred for sales and racing conglomerates.
Kling writes: "The era has long-passed when wealthy owners bred and raced their own horses. When they did it was possible to opt for speed, stamina, or some combination. They didn't plan on selling the resulting foal. Those farms have gone the way of the Dodo bird, just like milk with the cream on top, and most newspapers with no interactive, digital content."
