Belmont Stakes 2012: Horse Racing Needs I'll Have Another to Win Triple Crown

Thirty-four years.

It's been 34 long years since Affirmed won horse racing's Triple Crown in 1978, and that is entirely too long, especially after we saw three different horses accomplish the feat in the '70s alone.

Other horses have since come close to the prestigious triumph, but none have been able to finish the job. 

That's where I'll Have Another comes in. 

The talented colt has stolen America's heart with two heart-pounding wins at Churchill and Pimlico that have seen him come from behind in the last 100 yards. 

If he fails to win at Belmont, however, all of that will be for naught and the general population will have forgotten yet "another."

Therein lies how I'll Have Another can give such a boost to the sport of horse racing. The enthusiasts of the sport will surely remember him no matter what, but the other 90 percent of the population, the casual fans, need to see something special.

Something special would be a Triple Crown victory.

And if the sport of horse racing can get the general population to care for more than the two or so minutes the race will take, then it should consider the Belmont Stakes a win.

Simply put, if I'll Have Another wins, people care. If he doesn't, people forget about the sport for another year.

If I asked most people who won the last three Triple Crowns, I'm confident most would name Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and Secretariat. At the very least, they would name Seattle Slew and Secretariat. 

And those happened over 30 years ago.

However, if I asked the casual fan who last won the Derby and Preakness only, it's unlikely they would be able to name all of Big Brown, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, and War Emblem, even though all of those happened in the last 10 years.

So, yeah, no pressure for I'll Have Another. 

With a win, he'll go down in history as one of the greatest horses of all time, all the while injecting energy and recognition back into the sport that so desperately needs it. 

If he loses, well, he becomes the sixth horse in the last 10 years to win two of the three major races. And then everyone forgets his name.

Not only does Doug O'Neill need I'll Have Another to cross the finish line first in New York, America also needs it. 

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