California Chrome fell short Saturday, losing the Belmont Stakes to Tonalist and dashing hopes that he would be the first horse in 36 years to take the Triple Crown.
California Chrome with exercise rider William Delgado on Friday.
Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times / MCT
California Chrome came short of making horse racing history Saturday in New York when he lost the Belmont Stakes to rival Tonalist. The California-bred race horse was the popular favorite to win after coming off a six-race streak that included the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby — the first to races that make up the Triple Crown.
Had California Chrome won Saturday, he would have been the first horse to take the Triple Crown in 36 years. He also would have been the 12th horse ever to win the Triple Crown and the first from California. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed, in 1978.
Vai NBC
Jockey Victor Espinoza — who at 42 would have been the oldest jockey to ever win the Triple Crown — rode California Chrome Saturday, in front of a crowd of about 120,000 people at the Elmont, New York, racetrack. The course is 1.5 miles long and considered the most difficult of the three Triple Crown races.
California Chrome has amassed fans over the course of his winning streak, many of whom rallied behind his underdog story. He was fouled, or born, February 18, 2011. His owners Steven Coburn and Perry Martin — often described as "working stiffs" — paid $2,500 to breed their $8,000 mare with a stallion, and ended up California Chrome. It was a background that hardly hinted at greatness and Martin and Coburn were called dumb asses for even trying it. The two embraced the name, however, and named themselves DAP Racing — short for Dumb Ass Partners.
from BuzzFeed - Breaking http://ift.tt/1oIOgN0
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