Please, someone, give Curlin another shot

Ryan Roshau for HRND

The dust has barely settled from the recent Breeders' Cup (metaphorically speaking of course, as it was contested on an artificial surface) and year-end honors are now being debated. Zenyatta was brilliant in winning the Ladies Classic. She finished the year unbeaten and will have her share of supporters when Horse of the Year ballots arrive in the mail. World-traveler and American Ambassador Curlin, game as ever, was outkicked in the stretch in the Classic and finished fourth. The effort was valiant but it shouldn't be the final chapter in this terrific horse's career.

Regretabbly, however, the last line of the Curlin story may have been penned in that Santa Anita stretch. This week it was announced that the chestnut will be heading to the breeding shed in 2009 and will not race as a five year-old. The news was expected but nevertheless tough to hear. Owner Jess Jackson has left the window open for one final race for the son of Smart Strike. I for one, hope it happens because it is what Curlin deserves.

The sport's all-time leading money earner (in excees of $10.5 million) is currently in light training at Churchill Downs. "If an appropriate venue and purse are offered,” Jackson said, “we would consider one more race in 2008 for Curlin.” On November 28th, Churchill has carded the $500,000 Clark Handicap. Will this be a possible fit for Curlin? Earlier this summer, Churchill boosted the purse for the Stephen Foster Handicap in a successful attempt to lure Curlin. The big red train rolled home to an impressive victory.

I know economic times are desperate right now and horse racing is suffering right along side everyone else but I would love to see Churchill or a sponsor empty their pockets and raise the purse to $1,000,000 so Curlin gets in the gate. All the greats, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Specatcular Bid and Alysheba all had their crowing moments where they rode off into the sunset in a blaze of glory. Curlin is another in that lineage that deserves a coronation.

We didn't get our Big Brown vs. Curlin matchup and the sport sagged because of it. But the latter is still healthy and needs to go out as a winner and the sport needs to go into winter hibernation on a high note. Curlin has given the sport of kings a great deal and it is time someone in the sport gives something back to the king.