Topic was literally discussed yesterday with IRB's (Intl Racing Bureau) Adrian Beaumont. Euro participation at KyD is growing annually and will have the most runners yet this season. Even though the structure is tilted towards Kentucky breds with the KTDF money, the purses are astronomical compared to anything in Europe.
One reason some outfits have bypassed the meet with top horses in the past is the uncertainty of their stars to take to the course. Horses can get tentative on the steep downhill portion of the layout and horsemen say you don't know how they'll react to it until you try them on it.
With plenty of pre-BC graded opportunities on grass at DMR/SA, SAR/BAQ, WO & KEE, not everyone has rushed to the KY-TN border to run. But with these stakes hitting multi million dollar levels, it's getting harder to stay away.
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