Please understand that as time goes on some links might become inactive. We have no control over that.
They are listed in chronological order by day/date as they appeared in their various publications with the latest being at the top of the list.
Triple Crown history:
Winners...
Near-misses... Winners of 2-legs
>>> Trainer Nick Zito bio/quick facts
>>> Scribe: A $20 exacta box takes some of the sting out of failed Triple bid... "All of a sudden, $1,390 sounded pretty good to me and my bank account."
>>> More evidence of Smarty 'crossing over' into the mainstream: Somehow this opinion writer finds a political angle... "But this is not a Philadelphia Story, not by a long shot. No, this is an American story, an Israeli story."
>>> Here's a REAL horse fancier's thoughts on the Belmont
>>> Sports editor at Minnesota paper: "I never thought I would actually sit down and write a column about horse racing."
>>> Arkansas scribe critical of Belmont TV coverage... Claims "the Triple Crown is about all the horse racing I follow," then adds, "[The TV coverage] also failed to mention that [Birdstone] had done very well on this track, and had won a lot of races there." ...Well, he was 1-1. (Sigh) I guess we should be happy they're writing abut racing...
>>> Rice: The Test of a Champion quickly changed to The Testament of Sportsmanship
>>> Former NBA'er Rick Barry, "I then realized that Smarty's loss can teach us some of life's valuable lessons."
>>> Peers offered Stewart Elliott a bit of solace, "You made the right decisions."
>>> Haskin's Triple Crown retrospective
>>> The business end of missing a Triple Crown, "If the horse doesn't win, it takes the air out of it."
>>> Nack: The stretch drive turned out to be as poignant as any in memory
>>> Paulick: Those new to the sport could only walk away knowing how much intrigue, excitement, and integrity Thoroughbred racing offers
>>> King: Blaming Stewart Elliott for Smarty Jones' loss in the Belmont is off base
>>> Birdstone returns to Saratoga
>>> Triple Crown requires skill, luck and timing
>>> Roeper: What's wrong with celebrating, donating a slice to charity and then celebrating some more if you were lucky enough to place a wager on Birdstone?
>>> Comment: Birdstone sure to be a star of Saratoga meet
>>> Curtain call isn't final for 'people's horse' Smarty
>>> Brunker: Smarty Jones was too aggressive
>>> Smarty Jones is going on vacation
>>> It will take a couple of months before the impact of Smartymania will be fully determined. But that impact will likely be somewhat less than it would have been had Birdstone not had so much left down the stretch
>>> Motley Fool: Say it ain't so, Smarty
>>> Price: Don't tarnish Triple Crown... Leave it alone
>>> Servis: 'Proud of what we did'
>>> Belmont follow-up: Where the other horses are going
>>> Finley: What else could Elliott have done?
>>> Frankel: If Smarty Jones ran against Birdstone two months from now, it would be no contest."... Zito: "That's the quote of the year. Frankel needed Allen Jerkens to train his horse yesterday."
>>> Aussie scribe: There’s something totally unique and transcendent about champion racehorses that can capture not only the sporting public’s imagination, but take grip on the psyche of a whole nation
>>> TV: Belmont earns highest ratings in 27 years
>>> Servis points to riders on Eddington and 'Rock': "Those guys had nothing to lose so they sacrificed their horses to push Smarty along."
>>> Smarty's return to Philly is low-key
>>> Servis: "We said all along that our goal was to get to the [Kentucky] Derby. We did that. This [the three races] is a tough road. I'm disappointed we didn't get it done, but I'm glad it's over."
>>> Servis: "We're going to start by giving him three to four weeks off and then we'll map out a plan for the Breeders' Cup."
>>> Dougherty: Thanks for the memories, Smarty
>>> Lopresti: So horse racing still waits... Like baseball waits for the next .400 hitter. Like chess waits for the next Bobby Fischer. Like boxing waits for the next Ali
>>> Sad? A little. But what a race he ran.
>>> For Zito, no longer a frustrating year
>>> Lettter FROM the editor of Philly-area paper: "It was a thrilling ride. I still love Smarty Jones. And I don’t feel like a loser."
>>> Comment: So it’s back to the backburner for thoroughbred racing, to be dusted off next May in anticipation of the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Thank you for an exciting five weeks
>>> Sometimes the other guy just wins. Remember, the use of the word "upset" in sport comes from horse racing when a horse named Upset defeated Man of War
>>> Smarty Jones still Philly's champ
>>> Fortus: No rain, tougher than expected foes hurt Smarty Jones' chances
>>> Wesch: Fans' long wait continues... Smarty targets Breeders' Cup
>>> Comment: Run the Triple Crown sequence in this order: Belmont, Preakness, Kentucky Derby... Then the finish becomes a celebration, not a memorial for lost hope
>>> Smarty returns to Philly
>>> Day after, Elliott back to work
>>> Drape: Smarty Jones lost his chance of winning as he fought off Rock Hard Ten and Eddington in the early stages
>>> Izenberg: A mile and a half that can break the best
>>> NY Times scribe: Belmont was racing's finest hour
>>> Finley: Smarty, Birdstone -- it is unlikely a rematch will occur before the Breeders' Cup Classic
>>> Fountaine: Five reasons for Smarty's failure at Belmont
>>> Newsday Belmont photo gallery
>>> Rees: Zito still feels tinge of guilt for beating Smarty
>>> Forde: Still depressed? Me too
>>> Prado quietly played the role of spoiler
>>> Another 'Bird' leaves Whitney Stables flying
>>> Belmont photo gallery
>>> Another photo gallery
>>> Finally, fortune's wheel swings back to Birdstone
>>> O'Donnell: A little slop might have put Smarty on top
>>> Zito says Belmont is biggest win of career