We were at Champs watching the Belmont on two 15' screens.

SMARTY JONE!! SMARTY JONES!!!

Then, sadness........ the crowd goes quiet. There are many people who have not seen a triple crown winner in their lifetime......

Amazing... Horse racing!

i was never interested in it until my parents were watching it today. i head them saying hes got it hes got it...then at the last second that other horse came and won that thing. it really is exciting!

ill tell you one thingthough, i know nothing about horse racing, and because of all the hype i would have bet a lot of money on smarty jones. i am glad i am not that foolhardy!

I don't follow horse racing. I have barely heard of Smarty Jones. But I still remember Secretariat. He was as big as the Beatles. He won the first two legs of the Triple Crown setting a new record each time. He was proclaimed a super-horse. He was on the cover of Time and Newsweek magizines. There were TV specials devoted to him.... and this was before cable.

I decided to watch that final race of the Triple Crown, still the only horse race I have ever seen. After the first ten feet, it was clear no other horse had a prayer. Of course he won. Of course he set another record. But the other horses were not even in sight. He won by dozens of lengths.

Now that was exciting.

it seems like people bet more on horse racing than other racing, like say NASCAR. i wonder why that is.

My wife's family grew up with horses - jumping and some racing. I've since learned to appreciate it but anytime you have a human involved, I have to wonder about the outcome of a race as big as the third leg of the triple crown. Smarty had no problem with a last minute charge in the Preakness, so it's strange he couldn't do the same in the Belmont. Too much $$$ to pay out if Smarty won?

The Preakness is a lot shorter than the Belmont, isn't is?

Lots of people and horses make good sprinters but fade in a longer race.

I think the race was totallly legit, Smarty Jones just faded.......

I just watched my first horse racing when Smarty Jones appeared. So much media attention on that horse.