Pedigree Ann |
12-29-2007 09:23 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by philcski
I agree, and sad to say I think it will be. I'm all for the "marathon" idea, but there just isn't enough quality horses to fill all these fields. I think we all know that. The Dirt Mile was reasonable in talent but this one won't be. Hell, Successful Affair won almost $300k in these events this year and he's barely worth $20k at "normal" distances.
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And Henny Hughes would have been barely worth $20K at 12f, if that. Not so long ago, 10f to 12f on dirt WAS a normal distance, and all older horses were expected to prove themselves at them repeatedly. All the major handicaps were 10f, coast to coast, none of this pandering to milers with an endless series of 9f races - that distance was only suitable for a prep.
And one could say the same of the BC Mile on turf, originally conceived to attract offspring of US stallions who had been racing in Europe. (Many US breeders were breeding for the export market in those days - why else would Trempolino and Sagace be retired to stud in the US?) The US participants were not considered top drawer, since all the top G1 turf races were 10f or more. 1985 winner Cozzene had only won a 9f G2, could only place in longer G1s, so the Mile was a consolation prize for not being able to win a 'real' turf race.
In the days since, we have developed a whole series of 8f turf tests for our turf milers, and some of them are now G1. So have a little patience. Trainers have to learn how to actually condition horses again.
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