Another year without a Triple Crown

I’ll Have Another, the horse that won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, has been withdrawn from tomorrow’s Belmont Stakes, ending his attempt to becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Sigh.

I am not a big fan of horse racing — or really a fan of horse racing at all — but I always try to watch the Kentucky Derby and have a rooting interest in any horse with a chance to win the Triple Crown. After three horses won the Triple Crown in the seventies (it has happened 11 times in total), no horse has swept the races during my lifetime. I want it to happen; I think it would be cool to see.

Alas, it will not happen again this year. However, I guess I am not too bummed. The trainer (or owner; I cannot remember which) is notorious for pumping his horses full of drugs and steroids and wearing them out prematurely. Plus, I did not see either the Derby or Preakness. I want to see all three race wins, so a Triple Crown this year would have felt bittersweet for me.