. . .And the geldings shall multiply and prosper. . .

Mine that Bird lost out on his chance for the Triple Crown, but his unlikely success may be the beginning of the change in racing and breeding [ and marketing !] philosophy that will attract new fans to the sport.

Geldings have the power to attract interest, collecting fans and followers that would dwindle once the horse steps off the track and into the breeding shed. And there can be no doubt that there are fans who will take the time and effort to follow a particular horse.

One need only look to the unprecedented interest in the horses that have been signaled out as “special.” We saw the general public and all of the power of the “masses” latch on to the stories of Barbaro and Eight Belles and Exceller and Ferdinand. . .

Wouldn’t it be nice if all of that enthusiasm and passion for our equine athletes was focused on a horse that is still running (and alive)?

The future success of well-bred geldings may influence the sport in another way, as well. Perhaps the “gelding bias” of the Triple Crown races will be put to rest forever, and more horses will be gelded, which could, in the long run reduce the number of 3-year-olds with a panoply of physical idiosyncrasies and genetic faults that become their unfortunate legacy.