[Whitfield:] It was supposed to be history in the making for California Chrome. At least that's what plenty of folks were betting on. After winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, there were high hopes that he would run away with it at the Belmont Stakes but he just couldn't pull it off. CNN's Richard Roth looks at the race and why California Chrome's owner is fuming mad.
[Richard Roth, Cnn Correspondent:] Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, was in a good mood moments before the Belmont Stakes waving his cowboy hat to the fans but minutes later Coburn refused to wave the surrender flag after California Chrome finished fourth, missing out on the elusive Triple Crown. The California factory worker blasted other owners of horses who did not run in the first two legs of the triple crown. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness leaving them rested for the Belmont to take down California Chrome.
[Steve Coburn, California Chrome's Co-owner:] This is a coward's way out in my opinion. This is a coward's way out.
[Roth:] Critics have called Coburn's comments sour grapes. He didn't back down Sunday morning.
[Coburn:] These people, they nominate the horses for the triple crown which means three. Triple, three. And then they hold out two and then come back and run one. That would be like me 6'2", that would be like me at 6'2" playing basketball with a kid in a wheelchair.
[Roth:] But the Triple Crown has been won only 11 times and that test of endurance winning three races of different distances in just five weeks is why it's horse racing's greatest achievement. Coburn's 77- year-old trainer was more generous in defeat.
[Art Sherman, California Chrome Trainer:] The horse is not cowards and the people aren't cowards. You know what I mean? I think it was a little out of text myself. But hey. He was at the heat of the moment. You know what I mean? And don't forget. He's a fairly new owner. You know what I mean? Sometimes your emotions get in front of you.
[Roth:] Coburn went to the barn to check on California Chrome who has an ailing hoof. The owner still sounded in pain.
[Coburn:] If there's ever a chance that we have another horse that has earned his way to the Kentucky Derby, we'll run at Kentucky and then the hell with the rest of them.
[Roth:] California Chrome is off to California. His owner will follow. But not singing New York, New York on takeoff. Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
[Whitfield:] And the Pope leads a rare prayer meeting today. Bringing together key Israeli and Palestinian leaders but will it help bring peace to the region? But first, here's today's CNN hero.
[Unidentified Female:] As a child, I ran from the killing squads three times. Even now, I still dream that I'm running. Our entire little town was burned. To nothing. My mother and father were killed in the mass graves. I sometimes think it would have been better if I had died with them. I cry at night. Your letters are for me like medicine. These are the last survivors of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. And they're out there today elderly, alone, suffering. They don't have extended family. Life is so hard in these places. They don't have anything. I saw it with my own eyes and I knew that no one was helping them. So I wanted to reach out and help them. We provide them with direct and continuous financial aid for food, heat and medication and shelter. OK? Stay healthy and write to me. And we let them know they've not been forgotten. This person I'm very worried about. His wife is paralyzed. He himself is so not well. We get stacks and stacks of letters every week. Mostly in Russian. They sent out the translators and then we start to answer them immediately and sending money. We are now helping 2,000 people in eight countries. The money is life saving. But the connection, the letters, the communication, equally life saving. I'm going to come back and see you. We can really write a more hopeful final chapter to the Holocaust, this time one of kindness and compassion. What they finally deserve at the end of their lives.