Pletcher and his TC Comments

I disagree with him 100%. I don't think we an incentive in the TC series. I think the TC is way way overrated. The TC races are not that important anymore.

[Exceller]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I disagree with him 100%. I don't think we an incentive in the TC series. I think the TC is way way overrated. The TC races are not that important anymore.

I couldn't agree with him more. TC races run the business. From breeding to television everything revolves around the 3 races. Without them ESPN and others wouldn't even carry horse racing. When you get involved with a horse the TC is the first thing you dream of.

the triple crwon is unique in all the world,it is horse racing,
and should never be changed, with one exception,

at some point it will move to synthetic turf (polly)

[Exceller]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

the triple crwon is unique in all the world,it is horse racing,
and should never be changed, with one exception,

at some point it will move to synthetic turf (polly)

Belmont will never change the surface.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

I agree with what Todd Pletcher said, and I definitely don't want to see the TC races run on polytrack. There are better solutions to the breakdown/safety problem than polytrack.

[GenuineRisk]

I seem to recall way back when that $5 million dollar bonus thing started (and I think it might have been when... Chrysler? Did they sponsor it before Visa? I was a teenager, anyway) that the sponsor offered a one million dollar bonus to whichever horse did the best in all three Triple Crown races- so that even if there was no TC winner, there was still a champ of the TC races, so to speak. They may have only done it for a year or so, but I remember as a very casual fan being interested in the horses competing for that award.

Does anyone else remember this?

[Thoroughbred Fan]

They should keep track of points based on finish in the three races and give a bonus to the top three point earners in the series. How about $500k, $200k, $100k.

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

They should keep track of points based on finish in the three races and give a bonus to the top three point earners in the series. How about $500k, $200k, $100k.

I dont think they should offer anything. I think they should raise the purse of each race to $3mm. That is a way to get horses entered. There are too many races out there to earn money. You have the Haskell, Travers, etc etc and then the BCC. The TC series has been diluted just a little. Rememeber when tracks would offer a bonus for a horse who won their prep and the Derby? Well that worked out perfectly until it happened TWICE and now no one offers that bonus. The dream of an owner is to win the KY Derby and that is it. If you dont win the Derby then you want a BC win. No one buys a horse thinking--wow, I have a Preakness winner here. If I won the Derby there is no way on earth I would run that horse back in the Preakness. My main goal would be the Derby, Travers and then the BCC.

The general public does not care about the BC. The triple crown was my avenue into this wonderful sport. If the TC races are not drawing in new fans then there is a problem.

Seriously. Many of us (people in the US anyway) were drawn into the sport by some TC race and a horse. I realize there is a sizable fanbase that might be classified as addicted gamblers. I wonder how they found their way to the track though? Probably an addicted Uncle raving about the exploits of some superstar TC horse.

This unorganized industry does absolutely terrible PR work. If NASCAR can do it through entities working together, horseracing clearly has the capability of getting it done. Or remain what it is. Which is a sport that COULD be a whole lot better.

Originally Posted by pgardn

The general public does not care about the BC. The triple crown was my avenue into this wonderful sport. If the TC races are not drawing in new fans then there is a problem.

Seriously. Many of us (people in the US anyway) were drawn into the sport by some TC race and a horse. I realize there is a sizable fanbase that might be classified as addicted gamblers. I wonder how they found their way to the track though? Probably an addicted Uncle raving about the exploits of some superstar TC horse.

This unorganized industry does absolutely terrible PR work. If NASCAR can do it through entities working together, horseracing clearly has the capability of getting it done. Or remain what it is. Which is a sport that COULD be a whole lot better.

I agree about the industry being unorganized. It is sad that the PR of racing lasts from April to mid June, and it is focused on 3 races. I think the TC series gives a person a unrealistic glimpse into what horse racing really is. It does not introduce them to turf racing, spring racing and it doesnt introduce them to the female aspect of racing. Maybe this is the problem. Maybe horse racing is using the TC as a way to promote their sport. In reality, the TC gives you the exact opppsite.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

As far as the general public not knowing about the BC, it really is a shame. As a big fan of this game, I must say that BC day is my FAVORITE horse racing day of the year! The cards are always phenomenal, and we have some of the best horses from around the world going head to head. The industry definitely needs to market this day of racing better, although they did give it a good try last year with the movie Dreamer.

[Exceller]

Horse Racing will never be big again. People rather watch Celebrity Poker than horse racing. The sport ruined itself though with drugs and constant racing on a million tracks. Go to a track and sit outside and only bet that track and you will be bored out of your mind.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I agree about the industry being unorganized. It is sad that the PR of racing lasts from April to mid June, and it is focused on 3 races. I think the TC series gives a person a unrealistic glimpse into what horse racing really is. It does not introduce them to turf racing, spring racing and it doesnt introduce them to the female aspect of racing. Maybe this is the problem. Maybe horse racing is using the TC as a way to promote their sport. In reality, the TC gives you the exact opppsite.

A possibility. But for me, it was Secretariat and the Triple Crown. I watched those races and was forever stuck. Most of the people I know look at me like a foreign object. They all know Barbaro, they all knew Smarty Jones and some remember Afleet Alex. But not one of them heard of Ghostzapper. I must give some recongition to the BC races for trying to introduce racing to the general public. But so far it is not working. The tradition remains strong. The Kentucky Derby is the most popular race in the US.
I will not be stuck with the fatal notion that horseracing in the US will never go anywhere. It WAS more popular than it is now. And again, if the X-games and NASCAR can get it done...

[miraja2]

"Go to a track and sit outside and only bet that track and you will be bored out of your mind."

I totally disagree with that statement. For me personally, that is a great day! I love sitting outside at a track (used to be the NY tracks, but now that I've moved its the Chicago tracks) and cap the races one at a time. I ALWAYS only play that track and I have a ton of fun. There is nothing quite like a weekend afternoon of beer, brats, and horse racing with friends and/or family.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Exceller

Horse Racing will never be big again. People rather watch Celebrity Poker than horse racing. The sport ruined itself though with drugs and constant racing on a million tracks. Go to a track and sit outside and only bet that track and you will be bored out of your mind.

I'm never bored at a track. Once one race is run, I'm studying the PPs for the next one

[Exceller]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

I'm never bored at a track. Once one race is run, I'm studying the PPs for the next one

Most people do that way in advance, not between races. Anyway, they already have you, they need new people and the other sports are getting them.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Exceller

Most people do that way in advance, not between races. Anyway, they already have you, they need new people and the other sports are getting them.

I do study them in advance, but then I go over them again and again when I am actually at the OTB or track. Like tonight, I'll be going over and over Belmont card PPs until I get a headache, and then tomorrow I'll chat with some folks at the OTB and study some more in between the races about the next race coming up. Besides, it is wise never to make your final bets until you have watched how they look while being saddled and in the post parade.

And you're right, they have me for life.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I seem to recall way back when that $5 million dollar bonus thing started (and I think it might have been when... Chrysler? Did they sponsor it before Visa? I was a teenager, anyway) that the sponsor offered a one million dollar bonus to whichever horse did the best in all three Triple Crown races- so that even if there was no TC winner, there was still a champ of the TC races, so to speak. They may have only done it for a year or so, but I remember as a very casual fan being interested in the horses competing for that award.

Does anyone else remember this?

Yep, I'd forgotten about that, GenuineRisk, but I think you're right. I'm not sure it was $1 million, but it could have been.

In a similar vein, I liked the handicap point series they tried for a year or two. Horses earned points in various Grade I races, and the leaders at the end of the year picked up an extra several hundred thou. Unfortunately, the main year they tried it, the horses were not particularly inspiring. Festin and some others. They quickly dropped the idea.

--Dunbar

[Gander]

How many triple crown races has Todd Pletcher won?

[whorstman]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I seem to recall way back when that $5 million dollar bonus thing started (and I think it might have been when... Chrysler? Did they sponsor it before Visa? I was a teenager, anyway) that the sponsor offered a one million dollar bonus to whichever horse did the best in all three Triple Crown races- so that even if there was no TC winner, there was still a champ of the TC races, so to speak. They may have only done it for a year or so, but I remember as a very casual fan being interested in the horses competing for that award.

Does anyone else remember this?

Yeah, I think they had a points sytem for that, Can't remeber the year, but I beleive on of those that won the 1st 2 leggs still lost because the winner of the belmont ran well in the 1st 2 and the horse that actually won the 1st two didn't finish well in the belmont and got no points? I dunno