Eight Belles & Proud Spell

[dylbert]

Originally Posted by cakes44

There's always going to be horses that don't belong if you base it on earnings. If it was changed to to 3-year-old earnings, how long do you think it would be before Delta Downs moves the Jackpot to a month later?

B-I-N-G-O!!! Boyd Gaming moves race to first week in January and becomes key prep race. Yes, they would have to wait for grading, but it would come. I wondered how long it would take someone to post this fact. See you in Vinton!!!

If 3YO graded earnings are more valuable than 2YO graded earnings, many horses will have very light 2YO campaign and quality of 2YO racing would likely decline. I suggest that many horses would get 2 or 3 races during late spring-midsummer and go on shelf until mid-November. Get an allowance race in early December and begin graded stakes journey on January 1.

Existing graded races such as FG: Lecomte, Risen Star and Louisiana Derby and OP: Southwest, Rebel and Arkansas Derby would gain greater importance. Aqueduct could move Withers immediately and improves its stature. Tampa Bay could introduce new 3YO prep and slide Tampa Bay Derby into February and create new value for its facility. Magnaville (GP & SA) would have to stop mismanaging its race schedules (see stellar G3 Holy Bull this year). Magna would need purse hikes in its 3YO preps for Santa Anita and Florida Derbies to attract horses away from FG, OP and Tam. The scenarios are endless and intriguing should this change occur.