Three New BC Races

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pmayjr

Is it proven that the Truf Sprint will be 6.5f? Or will it bhe 5-6f? I think it should be 6.5f if they hold it as SA. As I said before when this subject was brought up a few weeks ago, the
the "Breeders Cup Down-the-Hill-Mil" sounds like the coolest name ever. 6.5f seems to be a funky distance anywhere else though.

I would assume they will run it at the turf sprint distance that each track can best accomodate

[blackthroatedwind]

Just pointing out how full of sh it they are. I didn't claim they were championship races.....they did.

The money would be better spent elsewhere.....a lot better spent.

[The Bid]

They just added a 4th race. A right handed 2 mile race with one hurdle to jump 200 meters from the finish.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Just pointing out how full of sh it they are. I didn't claim they were championship races.....they did.

The money would be better spent elsewhere.....a lot better spent.

Compared to where a lot of it($$$) has been going these races are almost the equivalent of charities

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by The Bid

They just added a 4th race. A right handed 2 mile race with one hurdle to jump 200 meters from the finish.

the evil knievel...?

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Maybe I am being naive but why the all personal anomisity toward the Breeders Cup? I understand what many of you are saying but the fact is the ship has sailed on mny of these subjects like the over focus on the Breeders Cup to the detriment of some traditional races. It is like bitching about the DH in baseball or 3 point line in basketball.

As an owner/trainer I can say that it is hard not to appreciate the addition of a turf sprint or 2 year old filly turf race. I'm sure many of you would think the same if you owned a horse that might possibly be good enough to compete in one of these new races.

As discussed in another far too long thread I can't see why anyone would bitch about the purses for these races being too big or the fact that the fields will be weak or not up to BC quality. There are tons of races that come up weak or with short fields throughout the year that no one call for the removal of. For instance most graded non turf races run in California.

The philosophical reasons behind the complaints are baffling to me. So what if we have a turf sprint champion? Or a 2 year old turf champion. Or a champion miler? What difference does it make to your bankroll or enjoyment of the game? I personally thought Matt Holiday should have been the NL MVP but he when Rollins got it I didn't say that baseball sucks and it is a conspiracy. I mean I dont agree, it was close and I hadn't thought about it until I wrote this since I am trying to think like a fan instead of a participant.

The "dirt" marathon seems like a silly idea but who really cares? There is constant harping about the shortening of the major races but when they put this kind of race in (though it seems very arbitrary and like as Andy said an attention deflector) everybody is against it or unbelieveable says it is too short.

The Breeders Cup is far from a perfect organization and some of the things they do are certainly debatable but I can only see one reason why you guys should bitch about the addition of these races and no one has brought it up yet.

because nobody will have the time to handicap all the races?

I'm not bitching about it, just making comments. I don't really care one way or the other. To me it just seems that its heading in the direction of trying to be all things to all people. Like they are adding a "Claiming Crown" aspect. also its going in the direction of that goofy Calder deal where you have backwards races, etc. In the end it seems like it might end up diluting the overall quality of the events and that we might not see the great betting opportunities like we had in the past.

Also what will the total races now be, 14? and six of them are turf races? what is the real ratio in the US of turf to dirt? 1 out of 10 maybe? Its like suddenly we have to have all these turf championships when throughout the year its much less a factor. I don't mind turf races but shouldn't the championships be supported by a regular season?

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I think it's funny that you continue to take the word "championships" so literally in this case.

I still cant see how a fillies turf race or turf sprint hurts the sport or marginalizes it. It is not like Saratoga is going to flip the Hopefull with the With Distinction or drop the Forgeo for a turf sprint.

Somewhere, someone probably said that about the Marlboro.

I expect the allowance/stakes turf sprints out west to decrease in field size and quality...and using quality is a real stretch. Really what's the use in running when there is $1 million race at the end of the season?

At least they can fill the card with another maiden claimer instead if the turf sprints don't fill.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

because nobody will have the time to handicap all the races?

I'm not bitching about it, just making comments. I don't really care one way or the other. To me it just seems that its heading in the direction of trying to be all things to all people. Like they are adding a "Claiming Crown" aspect. also its going in the direction of that goofy Calder deal where you have backwards races, etc. In the end it seems like it might end up diluting the overall quality of the events and that we might not see the great betting opportunities like we had in the past.

Also what will the total races now be, 14? and six of them are turf races? what is the real ratio in the US of turf to dirt? 1 out of 10 maybe? Its like suddenly we have to have all these turf championships when throughout the year its much less a factor. I don't mind turf races but shouldn't the championships be supported by a regular season?

If the ratio was like a typical day of US racing there would be 6 -6 furlong races, 3 - 1 1/16th, 2 turf races and a few statebreds.

I believe that some of the lessor dirt stakes for 2 year olds especially at the smaller tracks may morph into turf stakes which would be a positive for racing. There are too many of the same options leading up to the BC and I think that some tracks may do like River Downs did.

The reason that a regular fan should complain about the addition of the races is that the price of attending the event/events will go up. Like virtually all other sports they will surely tie in the first day with the second and probably raise the prices across the board. Now that is something worth fighting against!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

Somewhere, someone probably said that about the Marlboro.

The Marlboro was a sponsorship race that ended when Marlboro pulled out

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

I expect the allowance/stakes turf sprints out west to decrease in field size and quality...and using quality is a real stretch. Really what's the use in running when there is $1 million race at the end of the season?
At least they can fill the card with another maiden claimer instead if the turf sprints don't fill.

Because the you will need points to qualify since the race will be overfilled

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The Marlboro was a sponsorship race that ended when Marlboro pulled out

Phillip Morris pulled out when the race couldn't draw entries and lost it's audience. The last year the race drew a field of 5 and was on ESPN.

Directly a result of the Breeders Cup.

Why do fans need to fight in the first place? Any sane person would take their wagering dollar elsewhere. There is really no need to fight morons. They'll never change.

The day the industry listens to the gambler/fan and is able to implement the good ideas and not the bad ones is the day The Pale Horse comes from the Heavens and prevents anyone from enjoying the changes.

[Riot]

Let's not joke about the Greys only race thing. Some folks would truly jump at it.

I love the Australian greys-only race. It drew a good field!

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Because the you will need points to qualify since the race will be overfilled

Which will result in some of the good horses in the division not running in the summer because they already have enough points which results in weaker fields. Hooray.

[Nascar1966]

Please correct me if I am wrong, Aren't most of the turf sprint races run between five to six furlongs? Isn't Santa Anita the only track that runs Six and half furlongs on the turf. I though they were about six and half furlongs on the turf.

[2MinsToPost]

What determines whether these new races are a success or failure? Will it be field size? Quality of field size? Attendance? Just curious....................

[The Bid]

Breeders cup is starting to look more like Calder Extreme day

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Cardus

In other words... Get over it?

Exactly.

[Bobby Fischer]

One thing about 2008 and the addition of these 3 races -

- combined with AWT track instead of dirt, it immediately makes the event more foreign friendly.