Who Crashed Smarty's Party?
By Mohit Lalvani
June 11, 2004

After the Belmont, Smarty Jones got into his white horse van and made his way back to Philadelphia with a police convoy in tow! Completely covered from human view one could only imagine what Smarty was feeling. 

If I were Smarty Jones, I'd be "pissed off". Why? Because on Saturday the 6th of June, he was unjustly denied his place in history. In a slow run Belmont Stakes, Stewart Elliot, from the outside draw sent Smarty out early without giving him any cover through the entire race. 

For a horse that had not gone fast in over a week, this was his call to run and Smarty did just that. He ran "rank" and he fought Elliot (which he may not have done if he were made to miss the break and settle behind the field. The field was small and it is unlikely that he would have got caught in traffic. He has too may gears for that). He lead them for a 2380 meters and at one point, turning for home, was five body lengths ahead of the rest of the field. But not even the great Smarty Jones could sustain this effort and Birdstone came from off the pace to pull off one of the greatest upsets in racing history.

The connections were gracious in defeat and said, "that on the day, the better horse won." I cannot disagree more. Smarty had thrashed Birdstone in Derby by over 12 lengths and while Birdstone had lost a shoe that day, it was evident from both races that Birdstone is not in the same class as Smarty Jones and that his defeat of Smarty has to be attributed to human error. Smarty's broodmare sire, Smile was a five-furlong speedball and surely, the connections should have been a little more conservative in their strategy (or perhaps a lack of it). 

Smarty should have been allowed to sit behind horses and not made a target off. He warded off Rock Hard Ten and Eddington over a mile and half and only fell prey to Birdstone who had been saved right till the end. Over the years, I still have not understood why so many American trainers and jockeys do not take an example of how the Europeans run their mile and a half or mile and three quarter races and conserve their horses for a sustained stretch drive when stamina becomes an important player in a race.

Smarty Jones

Smarty Jones will bounce back. Of that, I have no doubt. Despite this defeat, his achievements are towering. The problem is that this little chestnut overcame all odds and entered our hearts. He became the darling of millions and the more I see the race, the more frustrated I get because his greatness will always be unjustifiably debated due to, what I believe was, human error.

To err is human - to forgive is not. Maybe Smarty Jones will forgive. I certainly won't.