I was up in the 4th floor clubhouse for the Belmont, which could also lead me to reach a different conclusiont on those two events in particular.

Eh, I love visiting L-ville, but dang, is Belmont an awesome place to watch racing.

????Dubai????

I've been saying for years that they should move the BC to a dome.
Would racing indoors be kind of stupid, pointless, and essentially a bunch of crap? Yup.
That's what would make it perfect for the Breeders' Cup.
If I can somehow convince those in power that horses would be somehow safer racing indoors, I predict the Metrodome will be the proud home of the 2011 BC.

Well they dont blow bowl games in Michigan do they? Its not fair but maybe a warm weather place should be mandatory to help the sport. What are the chances november in new york is not freezing cold and or raining?

1988 at Churchill has them all beat...Rain, cold, Classic run in darkness. If it wasn't for Personal Ensign day would have totally sucked.

Am I the only one here that is bothered by the notion that it was promised to NYRA for 2010 and then rescinded for a more favorable financial arrangement for the BC machine. These people piss me off from their phony "Win and you can pay to be in racing" to their worsening destruction of the racing season where every race run between now and the first of the year is neutered because of this astroturf festival in Southern California the next two years.

These "mercenary muppets" will not have the best horses in the world at the Astroturf Festival this year because the poly boycot contingent,which silently grows by the day, will make these races a disgrace. The "Win and Your In" lies,awarding NYRA 2010 and then backing out, forcing two years of Poly on everyone gives us a trifecta of reasons for why the Championships are being ruined by fools who have become reason enough to boycott the event. Good Luck wagering on this event this year. There is more order to a lottery.

Went to the 1994 and 1998 Breeders Cups at Churchill and I remember the weather was pretty nice. I am sure that the seats I bought back then have gone up in price at least fivefold. I still wish I would have cashed in on One Dreamer in the 1994 Distaff. I remember darkness setting in quickly as Concern won the 1994 Classic and Awesome Again won the 1998 Classic (with the wild ride on Swain). Mindy McCready (Roger Clemens' girlfriend) was still in the limelight and sang the National Anthem at the 1998 BC.

Since I work within minutes of Churchill Downs, I couldn't be happier to have the BC return there. With Bobby Petrino gone, there is not much going on in October locally sportswise to compete against the BC.

aint no debate there....horse racing is dead other then a gambling component.

With the state of the sport and industry -- sadly -- you are correct. In hearing Charlie Hayward's comments, of course I agree and say there is credibility in NYRA looking at "potential alternatives" so to speak. If NYRA does not get the BC in 2010, in an ideal world (yes, ideal), hopefully by 2010 VLT's will be up and running in NY and perhaps there will be VLT revenue and benefits realized. Could NYRA get tough and look to put together some sort of "Championship" series or day? Sure they could.

However, and I am not saying it shouldn't be looked at or done, that could be a short-term thinking and short-term benefits. It could also be more divisive, perhaps short-term and long-term. Somewhere, the cannibalization has to stop for there to be change and improvement. We all have seen what the "what's in it for me and only me" thinking has done to our sport and industry.

Perhaps this latest midnight hour, backroom, cloak and dagger deal can be used as a catalyst for change, a paradigm shift, and maybe -- just maybe -- the BC, the NTRA, the Jockey Club, the RCI, and other bodies can for once work together. Sure it's a lot to ask. It's perhaps impossible to vision. But there is often one with a vision.

Eric

Hoss I can't believe that if the handle dropped by a large number that they wouldn't rethink the second year on polytrack. I agree that the BC does nothing for selling the sport because the casual 2 dollar fan couldn't tell you what horses are eligible for the Distaff, but if handle dropped 20% compared to the disaster that was Monmouth you would see these guys back off a second year on Poly faster than the country drop kicked Dukakis/Quayle in '88

There is no way the handle drops significantly this year.

They'd bet on goats in California.

Was it that nobody wanted it, or that a case was made that more could be done with a two-year committment/program vis a vis marketing, promotion, corporate sponsorship, etc.? I don't remember the details and specifics but I thought there were a few tracks in the hunt or at least interested.

Eric