Carton Rants on Golden Tempo's Blown Triple Crown Chance

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Craig Carton Show

Craig Carton Discusses Controversies and Opinions on Horse Racing Rules After the Belmont Stakes

During a recent episode, Craig Carton shared his unexpected encounter with this year's Belmont Stakes, voicing his frustration over how the absence of Golden Temple, a horse he dislikes, from the Preakness impacted the Triple Crown's appeal. Carton expressed strong opinions on the need for a rule mandating that any horse winning the Kentucky Derby must also compete in the subsequent Preakness and Belmont Stakes, unless prevented by injury. This, he argues, would maintain the Triple Crown's significance and viewer interest.

Carton criticized the current state of horse racing, where he feels strategic race skipping damages the sport's integrity and fan engagement. He highlighted the broader issue with horse racing tracks, particularly frustrated with ongoing construction at Belmont, which has temporarily relocated the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga. He noted that this move alters the race's traditional distance, arguably lessening its difficulty and historical prestige.

The conversation also touched on Smarty Jones, a horse from Philadelphia that won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown but failed at the Belmont Stakes. Carton used this example to critique broader Philadelphia sports culture, which he humorously noted has a history of underperforming when it matters most.