Racing secretaries saying they will card distance races is not the same as making these races fill....and even if they fill ( what is " fill " these days in racing....six horses I guess ) they will be completely made up of claiming types. Now, I don't knock these horses, in fact I applaud them, as they are the ones that make the races go these days. However, we already have a championship day for them, and it's called the Claiming Crown. While I applaud the BC for realizing that it is in fact these fine animals that should be rewarded with a big race of their own, I think if they are going to do that, it is only fair that they card a full day of half million dollar races for the many valiant claimers making up the cards at all distances....and on all surfaces.

But, there's really a great deal of hypocracy to go around. Considering it was the BC itself that caused races to be cut back in distance it is a real side splitter that they now seek to create a race for the very types they helped diminish. Oh the great BC knows both benevolance and irony.....don't they?

Andy, your points are well-considered, and I agree with much of what you say - especially that last.

We are looking at this from two different viewpoints, and I may indeed be wearing rose-colored glasses. My first response was to look at the list of the top 25 sires in this country, and see whose progeny has become more valuable, what opportunities for genetic diversity now exist.

I will be listening to ATR a half-hour from now. Go git 'em! ;)

Will also be very interested in hearing Lauren's perspective on this.

Hey if you think Malibu Moonshine will show up.....Evening Attire might like this new 12 F dirt race as well. :)

i knew someday caller one would be a contender again..:eek:

http://www.drf.com/workoutsForHorseA...o?rNo=97027684

win and your in 5k allw at churchill 1 mile and 1/2 on the dirt

Man, you were spot on in this prediction.
People in this thread have been so busy complaining about the 12f race that they have missed how absolutely stupid it is to have a juvenile turf race for filles. How completely ridiculous can you get?
I hate the Breeders' Cup a little more every year. This year's edition was an absolute joke, and next year's is going to be even worse. The best way to "save the sport" would be to do away with the whole stupid idea.

It must have been Chip Tuttle's input.

Alot of you are doing exactly what you diss the TB industry for doing - looking solely at Breeders Cup day.

Just more action to add to the mix, no big deal with me.

That's what the thread is about.

And don't sell us short....many of us are acutely aware, and have pointed out, how detrimental the BC is to the rest of the game.

Exactly.

I absolutely agree with that last. But that doesn't mean I don't desire more races throughout the year to be available at over a 1 1/6 miles, and I would rather see that added to a Friday, than more sprints.

You've got 16 minutes to post, you revved up for action? I expect a fast break, a confident rail lead, and head-to-head fighting off of all contenders.

How long can you last? A mile, or longer? :cool:

Breeders Cup, Ltd. itself must be wildly profitable for them to be tossing about $3-4 million at the new and second year races next year. It's just too bad this big and getting bigger chunk of the public's betting dollars are going into the pockets of the BC people at the expense of the greater good of the sport.

God forbid some of the profits generated in the industry be spent on frivolities such as modern tote systems that stop betting on a timely basis or moderating takeout.

Who knows why they did what they did this year, with Friday. It's crazy.

It's thinking like this that will forever leave you on the outside looking in.

From a business perspective, the Friday races were a huge success.

I wonder if they considered the Filly & Mare Turf Mile?

Unless you accept at least the possibility that the diluted races on Saturday, at least partially due to Friday's races, were what led to the substantial decrease in handle on the big day.

Who besides maybe Corinthian or Discreet Cat ran on Friday instead of Sat?

The fact that the long turf races were underfilled may have been more of a contributor to the handle decrease.