Breeders' Cup 2014
 

right back to santa anita....three years running.

i don't like the decision at all.

Shocker.

Does Churchill even want it anymore?

Will they add lights by then?

Its impossible for higher up people in the industry to not **** up a good thing. Different tracks was part of the interesting thing about it and basically it has just turned into just another day with big purses at the same old track over and over again.

global warming.....saratoga in 2015

The Breeder's Cup has out lived it's usefulness....... it has "jumped the shark"! :D

I used to think that way until I went last year..it was great,the weather was perfect and its hard to dis the backdrop of the mtns..sure id like to see it go to Belmont or gulfstream..but this isn't bad..if you haven't been ..try it.

It was a foregone conclusion. There's a very narrow set of choices for sites for the event right now and Santa Anita is overwhelmingly the best option on that list. There are factors making it difficult to rotate around North America as in earlier decades of the Cup.. It's best served being at Santa Anita until those factors change.

What are those factors?

There are issues involving the local horsemen's associations and their rights to the signal distribution and of course the collision course the BCL Lasix policy had in the mix the last 2 years. BCL can work in California more easily because of the negotiating structure with the TOC. Then there is the matter of the actual financial viability of being a host track. Santa Anita is willing to basically break even on the deal. People need to understand that host tracks don't get much out of hosting the event. It's a burden on the staff and the track makes almost nothing.

Other than the Lasix policy, is any of that new from prior decades? It doesn't sound like it, unless the BC is doing more of a money grab.

There is also the savings involved in BCL not having to move all their equipment around. By staying in same venue, they save a lot of money. Don't forget that their portfolio was badly dented in the financial meltdown. They aren't as well-heeled as they once were.

Don't know if it's a 'grab' so much as being very careful about the bottom line all around. I think what's changed is the host tracks and HBPA's aren't just saying, "bring it here! bring it here!" like they used to...

We need more Breeders Cup races. The Juvy sprints were such a great inclusion. How about one Juvy sprint at 4.5f one at 7f and one at 6.5f turf? And do it for both sexes. And how about a turf sprint for older females. Poor Mizdirection...having to take on males like she is Desert Stormer, Safely Kept, or Very Subtle or something

:D

I think the greys should have their own turf sprint too.......

They have that one at Calder..

I think the Big M actually had a halloween race for the greys too.

Steve, didn't Calder also have some kind of wacked out 2 turn race where they actually mulitple winners in the race? They paid the winner after 6 furlongs and then the winner at a mile? Something crazy like that.

Does the TV revenue have any impact on entire deal? Or is it miniscule compared to the other revenue streams?

They had the Extreme Day where two races ran at once with horses on the turf course and main. Bobby Newman calling both simultaneously.

I'll ask Satish how that factors in Wednesday..

The weather plays a big factor, who wants to bet horses on off tracks like we seen for the Triple Crown days?!!

I think the Marathon is worth keeping around just to see Calidoscopio.

It used to mean something to win one of these races when there were 6 or 7, now that there is 14, ehh not that big of deal.

I agree completely. Last year's 5-horse Juvy Sprint was rock bottom.

If they’re going to keep it at SA for the 3rd straight year, let’s at least open up some more races
Arabians, let’s give something back to those full blown degenerates who play/handicap the last race at Delaware Park every day!!!!

It didn’t always have to be at such a “high end” venue, people forget when it was at Woodbine, pre-slots, and Lone Star

-bt-

As someone who has been to many Breeder's Cups, Santa Anita is far and away the best option. Great location, great weather, dirt track again, easy access from multiple airports and tons of hotel rooms nearby.

I, too, like the idea of moving around to new tracks. But, other than Gulfstream (which is no longer an option), what other site can give you all of the above?

That said, for those upset now, I would bet that it moves the following year but stays in California and is held at Del Mar.

Paul

Isn't Stronach spending $700 million or so to revamp GP with some sort of temp seating, build hotels and some other nonsense to get the BC to S. FL?


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...et-for-apr-nov

If this happens, they will get a Breeder's Cup for sure. It would be a great spot too.

Paul

The '99 BC with the 3 day 'mini meet' was fabulous. Track was inside speed-biased for the Cup, but was one of my favorite BC's... (and I was working the Barbecue the whole time.)

It seems that the BC is a punishment and not a reward to the Host track. In this case SA being chosen 3 yrs in a row is probably punishment for installing a synthetic track 2007-2010.

Oh. And I can't wait for Satish to comment if he comes on Steve's show this week regarding the decision to go back to SA :eek:

Redboard.....Epic day at the windows for me. Silic and Anees.

Why is great weather a must? Plenty of very good races have been run on cold and/or wet days.

:tro:

i can see if the climate in ky and ny kept the bc committee from considering tracks there...

but what about arlington, or a fla track, or back to texas? monmouth, woodbine?

the whole point of the day(s) was to support breeders all over the country, which was why they wanted the change of venue every year. so much for that.

but like so many other things any more, it's probably mainly about the bottom line now. not what's best for the sport, the horsemen, but what's best for the entity known as breeders cup and it's profit margin. it's no longer interested in continuing it's original mission, now it's just another business enterprise.

:tro: agree

since attendance at churchill are higher than at other tracks (whether back in the one-day bc, or now) i agree about the weather completely. it's obviously not a deciding factor.



http://www.courier-journal.com/artic...ucky-tax-break

'Churchill’s two most recent years as host — 2010 and 2011 — were the best attended and most wagered upon since the Breeders’ Cup went to a two-day format in 2007.'


if the attendance and handle are higher at churchill than anywhere, why keep it at santa anita? the more i find about this, the less sense i can make of the decision. bcl gets the handle cut, why would they not want to race where they get the biggest check, if money is the issue?

Woodbine is out, along with any slot track. Since installing the slots, attendance capacities have been limited, and the Breeder's Cup wants the slots to be shutdown during their occupation of the plant. So that is not going to happen to any slot venue.

It has also become one of the most expensive locations to attend as well - though it sounds as if that is their goal with the whole "lifestyle platform" thing.

They always cite the weather, yet as pointed out, Churchill always brings the better numbers attendance and handle wise. While it was cold the last time Belmont hosted the BC, it is the last thing that sticks out in my mind since it was a tremendous experience all around.