Well It's Getting Close to Poll Time

Ok, this weeks Hambletonian Poll, signifying who the best horse in racing, is due out tomorrow.

This past few weeks we have seen the following from #1 Ranked Deweycheatumnhowe. He raced 5 times. He lost twice. He won two other races by a nose. He won one other by two lengths. His wins were over 2 seconds slower than the World Record for 3YO trotters. In the recently concluded Kentucky Futurity, he won the first heat in 52.3, lost the second having to come first up trotting 53, and won a race off by a whisker in 59 and a piece. To contrast this (we have been harping on looking at history in these things), last year Donato Hanover won this race in straight heats, winning the final in 150.1. The year before, Glidemaster won this race in 151.3. The year before, Strong Yankee won his elimination in 150.3, lost the second heat, then won the third in 151.3, beating Hambletonian Champ Vivid Photo. Dewey should be happy he was not foaled in those years.

The past two weeks for the number two ranked horse was as follows: He set a world record, going faster than any three year old in history, and only one other horse (a 5YO) has ever gone that speed. His WR was done all by himself, due to the simple fact that no horse in harness racing can even come close to sticking with him. His second effort in the Tattersalls was a 147.4 mile. He won those races by a combined 11 lengths. Those back to back wins are faster back to back wins by any horse in our sport since we've been keeping records over 100 years ago. His 147.4 mile, which seemed slow, equalled the previous world record set by American Ideal, in this very race three years ago. He did something in that mile not done since Niatross - he made former world record speed look simply routine, like a training mile.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

The comments section below is waiting with anticipation:

As Pickeral Man expressed below (I thought a Pickeral was a walleye?) he thinks that the voters are penalizing Beach for not going to the Jug. Maybe so, although maybe they should punish Dewey for missing the Yonkers Trot, which is a leg of the trotting triple crown, too.

Alex M seems to agree with this. He thinks there is something fishy (keeping the fish theme) in these votes. He says it is the only way to explain it. He wonders who keeps picking Mr. Big as number one. I do too. Maybe it is a guy who has voted the same since June of 2007. Kinda like when I accidentally leave the caps lock on.

Vern, back from salmon fishing, says he will join me in taking a railway spike and slamming it into his head with a hammer if the voters do not vote Beach.

Let's see what happens. I personally think that he will get all first place votes this week (except the caps lock guy), especially seeing Dewey lost again and looks extremely mortal. But I have been wrong on this about 100 times.

I know one thing - the dude from the Buffalo News who commented below will be voting for Beach again. As for the rest? It is anyone's guess.

Note: We are not the only ones with some goofy polls. MVP Voting in Major League Baseball has been, well, like us sometimes. In 1947 when somehow Ted Williams lost the MVP voting to Joe Dimaggio, it was atrocious. This is what one writer had to say about people who don't seem to take their vote seriously:

In 1947, the Philadelphia Athletics finished fifth. Their shortstop, Eddie Joost, hit .206. Yes, Eddie Joost really did hit .206, and while other regulars have hit as low or lower, Joost has a special distinction. He hit .206, he hit 13 home runs, he had 64 RBIs, and he received TWO FIRST PLACE VOTES FOR MVP. Remember that the next time there is a discussion about who is the league's MVP or Cy Young Award winner. Only one of two conclusions can be drawn. Either those who vote for the MVP allow their own personal feelings interfere with their selections or they are simply incompetent. Both conclusions are probably true.