9 Jun 2014

California Chrome owner continues attack on rules

12:01 pm on 9 June 2014

The outspoken co-owner of California Chrome, Steve Coburn, has continued his bitter attack against the rules of the Triple Crown a day after his horse was beaten in the Belmont Stakes.

Winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, California Chrome had the chance to become just the 12th horse to complete the elusive treble but came up short when he dead-heated for fourth place in the Belmont on Saturday.

Like so many other horses that had failed at the final hurdle, California Chrome struggled to reproduce his best over the 2,400 metres distance of the Belmont.

Perhaps fatigued after competing in three races over five weeks, California Chrome also found the challenge of racing against fresher opposition too much.

His trainer and jockey both accepted the loss with grace, saying the horse had been beaten fair and square, but Coburn launched a scathing attack on the connections of the horses that beat him.

Immediately after Sunday's race, he called them "cowards" and "cheaters" because they did not run in all three races - which they are not required to do under the rules.