Thoroughbred racing is popularly known as the Sport of Kings. Sadly, it is also the sport of princes.

A particular Saudi prince is on the verge of hitting the jackpot. Over the past few weeks War Emblem has won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Tomorrow is the Belmont Stakes in New York. If War Emblem prevails again, he'll be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978.

If you don't know much about horse racing, trust me, winning the Triple Crown is big.

Since 1919, only 11 horses have swept all three jewels of the Triple Crown. Most famous was Secretariat, who did it in 1973.

I love thoroughbred racing and I would love to root for War Emblem. This is a fine horse. But I must root against him.

The irony is too much. That this thoroughbred is owned by a Saudi prince is one thing. But that this horse should win the Triple Crown in New York — this is too much.

In case we've forgotten, of the 19 terrorists who came here to murder us, and managed to kill more than 3,000 in New York, 15 were Saudis.

In case we've forgotten, no more than a couple of months ago, the Saudis held a telethon (Jerry Lewis-style) to raise millions in support of Palestinian homicide bombers.

In case we've forgotten, Saudi mosques and schools persistently teach hatred against Jews, Christians and Americans — even after Sept. 11.

In case we've forgotten, several weeks ago our State Department released a list of the world's top terrorist states and failed to mention Saudi Arabia. Ordinarily, Saudi Arabia would top that list, but this is a world that needs oil. President Bush keeps reminding us that a nation that harbors terrorists is itself a terrorist nation. So literally, thanks to our State Department, Saudi Arabia gets away with murder.

In case we've forgotten, the Saudis came pleading when Saddam Hussein was on the warpath and threatened to dislodge the Saudi kings and princes from their gilded thrones — thrones gilded from our money for their oil. They begged us to help them, and we did. We sent over thousands of troops. We were ready to die for those kings and princes of Saudi Arabia.

They thanked us by sending over their finest terrorists to destroy New York's World Trade Center.

In case we've forgotten, HBO recently recounted the horror of Sept. 11 by means of a straightforward but emotional documentary tribute.

It was very difficult to watch, and it will be very difficult to watch War Emblem win the Belmont Stakes in New York. Of all places, New York!

I've got nothing against the horse. It's a shame to be rooting against such a gallant thoroughbred. He deserves to win.

Yes, in a perfect world, he deserves to win.

But this is not a perfect world.

No one knows that better than the people of New York.

No one knows that better than the people of the United States.

No one knows that better than the Saudis, who breed, train and deliver thoroughbreds, and terrorists.