Watch: California Chrome's Co-Owner Apologizes For Post-Race Rant
(CBS) California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn made headlines Saturday evening for a post-race rant after his horse took fourth in the Belmont Stakes and fell short of achieving the Triple Crown.
On Monday morning, Coburn went on ABC's Good Morning America to apologize for criticizing Belmont winner Tonalist and the Triple Crown structure/rules that allow horses to compete in the final race without running other legs. Tonalist didn't run in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness, and he thus had more rest than California Chrome, who was trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
"Very ashamed of myself," Coburn told GMA. "Very ashamed. I need to apologize to a lot of people.
"It's just the emotion of the whole journey coming together at one time."
In a post-race interview with NBC shortly after Chrome came up short Saturday, Coburn said, "This is the coward's way out," referencing Tonalist missing the first two Triple Crown legs. He went on to rail against the system later in that interview and again in an interview with ESPN on Sunday before re-thinking his words and finally giving Tonalist credit.
You can watch his apology below.