TBA Standings Outcomes

I'm just hoping this isn't Big Brown's (480) last race. If he wins he'll have a total score of 660, 3*180 for the TC wins = 540 +120 for the Gr I Florida Derby = 660 That would have only won the TBA standings once out of the last 5 years. Curlin = 840 Bernardini = 720 St Liam = 715 Ashado = 860 Aldebaran = 650 Look we all know the TBA standings aren't perfect and we can talk about the good and bad things about the above winners till were blue in the face. The point I'm trying to make is that I don't believe a HOTY race can be called over in the first weekend of June (if the Belmont is the last go round). Let's say Big Brown does it and retires the best hope would be Curlin (120) who would be 540 points a way. Gr I Stephen Foster + Gr I Arc + Gr I BC = 480, he'd be a little shy, but the Gr I Japan Cup could put him over. Which would be the better season? Triple Crown Winner or Dubai WC + Stephen Foster + Arc + BC + Japan Cup I'd have to side with Curlin on that one.

All Your Wildest Dreams

Ok, so it's not that, but the new Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance homepage does have a lot more information. - Feed of the TBA's latest posts - Up to date info on the top ranked horses in the country - That week's free pp's for stakes race ALL NEW - "News Gator" as many RSS feeds as possible, why have someone tell you what's important, why not make that decision yourself. (News Aggregator) - Graded Stakes Videos - Best of YouTube (according to me, or send me a link) - Polls (This should be fun, you want to ask a question, email me, see what people think) Look for more changes soon, but for now, get to the page and check it out.

Pat on the Back

If this blog serves any purpose, and it's doubtful that is does, it's that it allows me to point and say, "I told you so." When I read this article, by the great Ed DeRosa I began to cry (on the inside of course). I'm just starting to realize that the people in charge of our sport our about 2 years behind in realizing things. Probably more. You see, I wrote back in Oct of 05 how slots would not be the answer and these guys are just coming to that conclusion. They probably still enjoy the Apprentice. If anyone, seriously, wants to sit down and listen to some great ideas there's a whole group of us who live in the present, not fairy land present where no horses break down, and millions of dollars show up in the coffers, but the honest to goodness going out of business present, that are all willing to talk.

How'd We Do?

Hi-lighted below are horses that were in the top 3 of the TBA standings. Again for all those people that say standings can't be utilized: The TBA standings are bare bones. These are standings in which no one looks to be on top, and yet the best horses always finish up there. The standings also promote change in our sport, but that's something entirely different. 2-year-old male: Kodiak Kowboy, Pyro, War Pass 2-year-old filly: Country Star, Indian Blessing, Proud Spell 3-year-old male: Curlin, Hard Spun, Street Sense 3-year-old filly: Octave, Panty Raid, Rags to Riches Older male: Corinthian, Invasor, Lawyer Ron Older female: Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Nashoba’s Key Male sprinter: Fabulous Strike, Idiot Proof, Midnight Lute Female sprinter: Dream Rush, Maryfield, River’s Prayer Male turf horse: After Market, English Channel, Kip Deville Female turf horse: Lahudood(4th), Nashoba’s Key, Precious Kitten Jockey: Robby Albarado(5th), Garrett Gomez, John Velazquez 21/33

Happy New Year (here we go again)

Happy birthday to all my equine friends, and let the Derby trail begin! The TBA has made official its year end winners, and I'm excited to see how close we come to the Eclipse awards. The TBA isn't trying to mimic the Eclipse at all, in fact I think they are 2 sides of the same coin, but I'm hopeful that the TBA has all the big names. This year I don't think the TBA is too far off. The F&M Turf is a really close call so that could go any way, but the others I think we've nailed it. Again it's further evidence that a bare bones standings (points system) could work, and that when everyone says it's useless, they are just afraid of change. Disclaimer: The TBA uses it's standings as a launching pad to keep up to date with all the big name horses. Standings will only be legitimate when someone can put serious money behind it, and get trainers and owners to want to score high. I think the funny thing is that Lawyer Ron will be up for HOTY. He's deserving don't get me wrong. It's just sad that a horse like English Channel might be overlooked. It just goes to show the focus this sport has on dirt is sometimes at the expense of turf. The 2008 bracket will be filling up slowly but surely, keep the TBA homepage in your favorites and join our RSS to keep up to date on all that happens in horse racing.

I'm pretty excited that we (The TBA) have got a new homepage up and running. And, If I may say so, it's a must stop for every horse fan every day. The goal of the site is to tell the story of the top ranked horses. The TBA has never been about the latest press release telling you who is running in this weekend's stakes; and neither is the site. The homepage will use the TBA standings as a launching pad to keep you up to date with all the top runners in every category. The latest news on those horses will posted to the right, and can include latest workout, race result, or destination. We will also be leaning on our readers to help out, if you know a horse is pointed somewhere, leave a comment, the more good info the better. The site also has the TBA rss with the 5 most recent stories linked, and the same with both the Bloodhorse and Thoroughbred Times RSS (we don't play favorites so come on DRF get your act together). The TBA RSS is a must for those people enjoying these sites, there's no use in checking 25 blogs a day, the RSS lets you keep up to date while being lazy, an American dream. As for the standings we still don't claim that they are perfect, in fact we admit they are not. The TBA just wishes to continue to show in a bare bones humble format that standings are viable. For the rules on this years standings please go here.