California Chrome’s Owner Apologizes For Rant After Belmont Stakes Loss [VIDEO]
http://youtu.be/XvcZ4LhZzMg
California Chrome's owner Steve Coburn doesn't taking losing well. After losing at Belmont Saturday, he slammed other horse owners and the Triple Crown qualification rules that allow fresher horses to run against his calling it unfair and the 'coward's way out.' This morning Coburn apologized for his heated remarks.
A tearful Coburn told Robin Roberts on GMA, 'I'm very ashamed of myself. I need to apologize the world, America, horse fans and a a lot of people including my wife. The horse that won deserved that. I did not mean to take anything away from them. I was very emotional. It's a learning process and I'm going to do better.'
http://youtu.be/-l8uBB7ltkA
After California Chrome lost Saturday Coburn went off on everyone involved. 'This is his third really big race. These other horses, they always set 'em out and try to upset the apple cart. I'll never see in my lifetime another Triple Crown winner, because of the way they do this. It's not fair to these horses that have been in the game since day one. If you can't make enough points to get in the Kentucky Derby, you can't run in the other two races. This is a coward's way out.'
Fans are split over their feelings on Coburn's rant and apology.
Just saw Steve Coburn's apology. Hat's off to you, sir. Screwed up on Saturday but did the right thing. Well done.
— Nini Rogerio (@shadowofthewire) June 9, 2014
Too little, too late Steve Coburn. Your 15 minutes are dunzo.
— JoshD3173 (@JoshD3173) June 9, 2014
Why are we more concerned with how wrong Steve Coburn's delivery is when we should be focused on how right his message is?
— BJ Corey (@bjcorey) June 9, 2014
If he plans to give more post-Belmont interviews, Steve Coburn should be looking for a good image/PR consultant soon. #JustSayin #FB
— Shannon Boone (@ShayChic) June 9, 2014
Why California Chrome may have lost?
CaliforniaChrome was injured leaving the gate. He ran on this which no one knew until the race was over. Steve Coburn pic.twitter.com/2ulPYUbBX6
— GoldenStateOfMind (@RockCandy15) June 9, 2014
Coburns says 'California Chrome made contact with another horse and he got stepped on really bad and tore some of the foot away. He'll be all right. He'll be able to race again. It's going to take ten days to two weeks to heal.'
We've all said something stupid in the heat of the moment but we all haven't been big enough to apologize. Props to Coburn for recognizing his mistake, owning up to it and asking for forgiveness on national television.