Before the start ~ your personal, pre BC I memories

[my miss storm cat]

I was wondering, and this question is for people who were into the game 30 years ago, about the first Breeders Cup.

I've read about it and all but what I'm interested in are personal accounts.

When was the first time you heard about the idea for it? What did you think? As it started coming together did you care? Were you excited?

Did it get press? Did you think it would be a one time event?

I'm not asking about the actual races or how profitable a day you had but what were your thoughts leading up to it?

Thanks!

[Danzig]

i remember it. there was a lot of positive press about it. and of course still some big time horses around for the first, with john henry and slew o' gold getting a lot of attention.
now, i wonder if it wasn't a bad idea after all....because back in those days, you have the fall handicap triple. when was the last marlboro cup? and why is everything a prep for either the derby or the bc now? christ, always prepping...it's like always a bridesmaid.

[freddymo]

I remember I thought Nialator had no shot on a 5/8th track against Dragon's Lair. And Roger Huston's call is magical.. Best Breeders Crown ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZUAAnTlNmI

[keithting]

I think people were curious more than anything about the Breeders Cup being run for the 1st time back in 1984. I remember that I had to miss the live telecast (attended a family wedding), but video-recorded the entire day on VHS and could not wait to get home to see it.

Remember there were no cell phones let alone smart phones and the best you could do was call a betting service that might announce the official order of finish just after the race was official.

The following year I was lucky enough to attend the 1985 Breeders Cup event at Aqueduct. The Big A never seemed so exciting, festive and crowded (and cold) to me than on that day.

So I would say that initial BC in 1984 was a huge success....

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by keithting

I think people were curious more than anything about the Breeders Cup being run for the 1st time back in 1984. I remember that I had to miss the live telecast (attended a family wedding), but video-recorded the entire day on VHS and could not wait to get home to see it.

Remember there were no cell phones let alone smart phones and the best you could do was call a betting service that might announce the official order of finish just after the race was official.

The following year I was lucky enough to attend the 1985 Breeders Cup event at Aqueduct. The Big A never seemed so exciting, festive and crowded (and cold) to me than on that day.

So I would say that initial BC in 1984 was a huge success....

This is a great post. Thanks for answering.

You too Danzig.

... and Freddy, as always, thank you for your insight. Not sure if you're presently inebriated or if it's just a short bus kinda day or what but sure... it's appreciated.

[Aly-Sheba]

I went, but I can't remember the lead up to the BC. But it was a good year to be in LA, because they just had the Olympics and then the BC.

I just pulled out the Racing Form I saved from that day and the headline was:
" $10 in Breeders' Cup Purses Begin New Era today"
One of the articles said that "Nelson Bunker Hunt was the Chairman of the Site Committee and they traveled widely to hear countless proposals before choosing HP.

Also John Henry did not run. He was supplemented, but had a ligament issue leading up to BC.