When states, schools, or students run against each other using nothing but test scores, the results are invalid. That’s why we have no comment on a simple-minded report last week in the Dagger that said things like “How well were students served when each state developed its own standards and tests? Insights come from Maryland, considered by some to have the best public schools in the nation.” But in sports, a horse race can reveal a true champion in a little less than two minutes.
Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome added a victory in the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes this afternoon at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. His bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner thus remains alive and will reach its finale on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes in New York.
“Tell you the truth, California Chrome was too good,” the Baltimore Sun quoted Ron Sanchez, owner of third-place finisher Social Inclusion, as saying. “I’m speechless. When you see a horse running and winning like this, you’ve got to feel respect.”
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, California Chrome held off Ride On Curlin to become only the fifth California-bred horse to win the Preakness and the first since Snow Chief won in 1986. No California-bred horse has ever won the Triple Crown.
Here are the horses that won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes but failed to win the Belmont Stakes:
- I’ll Have Another, 2012, did not race in the Belmont Stakes
- Big Brown, 2008
- Smarty Jones, 2004
- Funny Cide, 2003
- War Emblem, 2002
- Charismatic, 1999
- Real Quiet, 1998
- Silver Charm, 1997
- Sunday Silence, 1989
- Alysheba, 1987
- Pleasant Colony, 1981
- Spectacular Bid, 1979
- Canonero II, 1971
- Majestic Prince, 1969
- Forward Pass, 1968 (won the Derby on a disqualification)
- Kauai King, 1966
- Northern Dancer, 1964
- Carry Back, 1961
- Tim Tam, 1958
- Pensive, 1944
- Bold Venture, 1936, did not race in the Belmont Stakes
- Burgoo King, 1932, did not race in the Belmont Stakes
As for turning states, schools, or students into horses, we strongly urge reporters at the Dagger to knock it off. Wanna write about a horse race? Tell the story of California Chrome’s wonderful owners who still work for a living, one in printing and one ensuring certain materials are safe. Tell how they scrapped together what they could to invest in a horse that everybody thought was a bad idea and turned him into a champion!
Test scores, learning standards, and those sorts of things have never inspired anybody to greatness. Congratulations to California Chrome, and may his story inspire many in a diverse range of human endeavor.