I thought the part about 30 US tracks bidding on the cup was interesting. If you count Belmont, Aqueduct,Saratoga, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Gulfstream, Monmouth, Calder, Santa Anita, Del Mar, Hollywood, Lone Star, Arlington, Fair Grounds, Woodbine, Laurel, Pimlico, Delaware, Colonial, Bay Meadows, Golden gate, and Oaklawn you get 22 and a lot of these are a stretch. Do tracks like Beulah, Sam Houston, Tampa Bay, and Suffolk really make BC bids?
Counting the NY tracks as one(and Belmont is the only viable choice there) The S.California trcks, and Churchill seem like the only tracks that can handle the cup without serious risks. The new Gulfstream is great for the bluehairs but does not have the proper facilities anymore to host the event. Woodbine and Arlington were so/so. I did not attend in Lone Star but the reviews were mixed at best.
Imagine getting tickets to the Cup in Hong Kong? You would need to hit the Magna 5 for the duration of the Gulfstream meet to pay for the airfare, hotel and tickets. Thats not even counting food, drink and other pleasures.
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