I think it's ridiculous for a racing series of the quality Oaklawn's created to culminate in a G2. I think if a track's demonstrated that they've created a prep series for the TC races that pulls in top contenders including one of the favorites (such as the Arkansas Derby has done the last few years) it's earned the right to build to the G1. You ought, in theory, to be weeding out the pretenders as the series goes along and the G1 should have those likely to press for the Derby, Preakness, or Belmont. Whatever pushing and motivating the track folks need to do to keep the bums from watering down the place and encouraging the contenders to come is part of the responsibility of such a series and they should be held to a high standard to maintain the G1 status.

One thing to consider is some horses are kept in training for the G1s at the beginning of the season and the hope of a Derby win. These are some of those likely to drop out before the fall and be retired. Do we think if the other preps are made G2 that they might just say 'ah screw it' if they already have a G2 as a 2yo and the horse's got a foot bruise or something? I mean you'd have to win the Derby, another TC race, or wait til the fall and you might go 'hey that's great, they'll stay in training longer and not push so much so early in the year' but I think many of them would just retire sooner. The longer they stay in training, the more that can go wrong in the eyes of some. Not saying it's right, I'm just trying to predict what they'll do vs. what they ought to do which is not go for the easier G1 and break the horses early and instead make us happy with a strong 3yo fall campaign for the underdevelop youngsters. Seriously, easy way out--they do it every time.

I just dont get it . We have to have a national org. that grades specific races to reflect there importance. I guess owners arent sharp enough to find the purses worth running for. Give the individual tracks the power to upgrade there races by simply offering the best purse money. The national org will always keep the powere where they want it and want let any of the tracks try to lure the top horses with purse money. What comes first the grading of a race or the grsded stakes horses. The national org will throw a bone to the lesser tracks but they will make sure the power tracks will maintain there dominance.

Have you ever been to Hot Springs in January?