[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Danzig

to answer your first question, people would still watch the world series if it was five games. or basketball if it was shortened. but i'd imagine they'd feel the change was not for the better and that they had been possibly cheated of two games.
as for your second point, why would changing the distance do any more to increase fan base than what the distances are now? what does measuring a furlong have to do with drawing viewership?

exactly what do you feel would be accomplished by making these changes to shorter distances and greater spacing?

I have absolutely zero interest in increasing the fan base. I don't suggest that the changes be made for that reason at all. I know that you don't think that the rigors of the series has anything to do with the high number of premature retirements but I think it does. Not just the series but the entire prep season. As I've said before, ideally I'd like them to keep things the way they are to breed a sturdier horse that can withstand tough training and racing. But I feel like that horse has left the barn and isn't coming back. So that's why I think the races need to fit the horses and the training. Horses end up with more injuries now because they aren't built or conditioned to do this anymore. Sure, some of the injuries don't have to be career ending (Smarty or Empire Maker for example) and of course, the lure of the millions in the breeding shed has as big an impact on some of the decisions as the injuries do. But there are also lots of legitimate injuries, more than I remember seeing even 10 years ago. I feel that shortening the races would make them a little bit more competitive (based on my belief that more horses would actually fit the conditions of the race better and the more horses that can fit the conditions and be competitive, the harder a race is to win). I feel that spacing the races out more would fall in line with what a lot of the trainers feel is best for the horses and would encourage more of them to run back in all three races. Along with spacing them out, I'd re-institute the old bonus system for performances in all three races. I'd limit the number of entries into the races so that only the best performing horses from the preps get in and decrease the chances of bad racing luck causing deserving horses of a chance. I'd institute bonuses to races after the TC to add purse increases to races that attract the top performing TC horses. I think these things would help stem the tide of so many of the Derby also-rans skipping the Preakness and would help keep the same horses running more throughout the series which would help with name recognition for the fans that do watch them. And I do think it would lead to more horses making it through the series and continuing on because of less injuries. I think it would make for better races in the series, especially in the Belmont because horses would be able to come back and run their best instead of their worst because they are so worn out.