Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann
Secretariat was using the Whitney as his prep for the Travers; it was run 4 days before the relatively minor Jim Dandy that year (4 August vs. 8 August). The Travers was run on 18 August so the plan would have given him two full weeks between races instead of 10 days. But he lost the Whitney and his connections decided he needed some time off before the fall campaign, leaving the Travers to be won by the immortal Annihilate 'Em.
I'm not sure that Riva Ridge ran at all in the late summer/early fall.
The Travers was a classic race long before the Preakness was. Now that the NYRA has emasculated its races for older horses (Woodward down to 9f, the Saratoga BC Cup eliminated, JCGC cut 6f, heck the Whitney even used to be 10f), the Travers is one of the few G1 races left for real racehorses.
|
The Breeder Cup made most G1 races after July preps.. NYRA had nothing to do with it. Unfortunately the demise of G1 racing after July to BC Preps is a by-product of Championship day where champions are sometimes wrongfully crowned. I love the Breeders Cup and think it's wonderful but it certainly F'd up the horse racing environment.