Do you think that Street Sense should have been retired?

Question

I think he was doing great. He didn't like the track, the wetness, or the track in general, and they retire him for finishing 4th was it? He was doing great, but the track wasn't in favor of him. Do you think he should have been retired, or continued his career?

Answer 1

Street Sense needed a better trip to contend in that race.

I would like to see him finish with a win, but with millions of dollars of stud fees at stake, the connections no doubt planned on his retirement after the Classic.

Answer 2

I think he should be retired on a high note.

HE WILL MAKe GREAT FOALS!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Yes.

The Breeder's Cup is his second loss in a row, following the Kentucky Cup Classic (won by Hard Spun), and that race was custom built for Street Sense to win. So it's not just his loss in the Breeder's Cup the owner and trainers are considering.

It appears to me that Street Sense may have some minor injury that is allowing him to still race but not at the level he was racing at this past spring. The price to breed him will only decline with the more races he loses.

It appears to be a smart business move on the behalf of the owner(s), after watching what happened to Barbaro last year can you blame the them?

If Street Sense were still running at the peak of his ability I might answer differently, but that isn't the case.

Answer 4

Street Sense was going to be retired after the race regardless of his outcome. He lost the race because he was beaten by a better horse.

Answer 5

The jockey should have tried to get away from the rail at least. He would not have finished first or second, but at least if he moved off the rail a little he could have held on for third.

The rail is always the wettest part of a dirt track and is the slowest going. I have no clue why he chose to stay hard up against the inside rail when he could have looked for better going.

Answer 6

No, he should not have been retired. I think part of the reason so many Thoroughbreds break their legs on the track is that breeders are not breeding for soundness and durability. I think it is ridiculous to rush a horse off to stud after his three year old year. I think all stallions should have to prove their durability through their 4 or 5 year old year on the track. The trend these days is to retire them after the 3 year old year to make the big bucks in the breeding shed before something disastrous happens on the track. It is a money issue so I don't see this changing but I think the breed would be better off for it.

At any rate, Street Sense's retirement at the end of this year was planned months ago, not because he finished fourth in the Classic. The breeding rights to both Street Sense and Hard Spun were sold to Darley Stud shortly after the Kentucky Derby.

Answer 7

I would have liked to see him finish his career. He probably would have been awesome as a four year old. They did not retire him just because he came in fourth. They were going to retire him anyway. Every horse, it seems, is getting retired. English Channel, Hard Spun, Octave, Street Sense, Dylan Thomas and Maryfield are among the most notable. I really don't want to see them go but they will be great and stud and broodmare duties. Street Sense will make an awesome sire!

Answer 8

He wasn't retired BECAUSE he finished 4th.  His breeding rights were sold in the summer to whatever Sheik and part of the agreement was that Street Sense would retire at the end of the year.  I think it's a shame to retire him so soon...  Invasor was the best horse I've seen in a while and he got to race longer...  I know there's a lot of money in breeding, but it's a shame to retire a great horse so soon... especially such a fan favorite.

Answer 9

The economics of horse racing is out of whack when you make more money for breeding than actually racing.