Mine That Bird a John Henry Gelding or Funny Cide Gelding?

Mine That Bird, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, may have seen his last moment in the spotlight this past Saturday in the Belmont Stakes.

 

Geldings just don't really improve all that much after the initially becoming gelded.  John Henry turned into one of the greatest race horses ever, but Funny Cide, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby, was never the same after his Belmont run.

 

Why?  I beleive that the Belmont at 1 1/2 miles is just too much for a lot of racehorses.  Going all the way back to 1973 when Sham lost by over 30 lengths to Secretariat, horses that have trouble in the Belmont, like Sham, can sometimes never recurperate.

 

Often times, horses that have had success in the Belmont, like recent Belmont victors Jazil and Rags to Riches, never recuperate.  That's how tough the races is.

 

Considering the fact that Mine That Bird is a gelding, and probably has peaked as a racehorse anyhow, his best days are already behind him.  Hey, picking up nice six figure paychecks for winning Grade III races sounds like a good living to me!

 

So, let's not be sad about it okay?  We'll just turn our heads, as racing fans, to the horses expected to get better like Summer Bird, Dunkirk and Charitable Man.