NEW YORK -- California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn has apologized for his bitter remarks after his horse failed to win the Triple Crown.
On ABC's 'Good Morning America' on Monday, an emotional and contrite Coburn says he was 'very ashamed of myself. Very ashamed. I need to apologize to a lot of people, including my wife, Carolyn.' She tried to intervene as Saturday's interview got out of control.
He also apologized to the connections of the Belmont Stakes' winning horse Tonalist, saying: 'I did not mean to take anything away from them.'
'First of all I need to apologize to the winners. Their horse won the race. They deserve that,' Coburn said. 'He (Tonalist) deserved to win. He won the race fair and square.'
On Saturday, he had said that Tonalist took 'the coward's way out' by skipping the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Coburn says he 'wanted this so much, for this horse to win the Triple Crown for the people of America.'
Coburn also briefly discussed California Chrome's foot injury, which he said will take about two weeks to heal. He also indicated that he expects Chrome to race again.
California Chrome had smooth trips in winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness to set up a shot at racing's first Triple Crown in 36 years. But he had a rough trip in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont on Saturday, getting a chunk of flesh torn from his foot after bumping with Matterhorn coming out of the starting gate. California Chrome finished in a dead heat for fourth with Wicked Strong.
Entities 0 Name: California Count: 4 1 Name: Coburn Count: 4 2 Name: ABC Count: 1 3 Name: Carolyn Count: 1 4 Name: Steve Coburn Count: 1 5 Name: NEW YORK Count: 1 6 Name: Triple Crown Count: 1 7 Name: America Count: 1 8 Name: Kentucky Derby Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1paTB3i Title: A Triple Crown Tradition Prevails at Belmont Stakes Despite Sour Grapes Description: California Chrome's co-owner Steve Coburn was upset, and so were the multitudes who had their hearts set Saturday on a victory by the colt in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes and the first Triple Crown in 36 years.
