kudos to byk.....

[cmorioles]

Unfortunately, the Cigar Mile will probably eventually be moved to a spot before the BC and serve as a prep race. I really hope that doesn't happen, but we've all seen it happen too many times already.

When are the Breeder's Cup people going to address the polytrack issue? Will they run on it and call them dirt races?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Unfortunately, the Cigar Mile will probably eventually be moved to a spot before the BC and serve as a prep race. I really hope that doesn't happen, but we've all seen it happen too many times already.

When are the Breeder's Cup people going to address the polytrack issue? Will they run on it and call them dirt races?

I dont see how they could do it any other way

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Unfortunately, the Cigar Mile will probably eventually be moved to a spot before the BC and serve as a prep race. I really hope that doesn't happen, but we've all seen it happen too many times already.

When are the Breeder's Cup people going to address the polytrack issue? Will they run on it and call them dirt races?

The Cigar Mile is history as it has existed. The BC ruins another good race ( NYRA's fault I assume ).

You're right...I see it mid September at Belmont now. So, instead of being one of the last interesting and meaningful races of the year it gets reduced to YET another meaningless prep.

Who gave the BC the right to destroy all these races and render them close to useless? Maybe when NY gets slots they can make the Cigar Mile worth $3 Million and run it in direct competition with the BC Mile and 70.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Who gave the BC the right to destroy all these races and render them close to useless? Maybe when NY gets slots they can make the Cigar Mile worth $3 Million and run it in direct competition with the BC Mile and 70.

The NYRA Cup?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The NYRA Cup?

I'm staying away from that obvious trap.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I'm staying away from that obvious trap.

Was it THAT obvious?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Was it THAT obvious?

I'm getting better at spotting them.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I'm getting better at spotting them.

you are better at spottting them then NYRA is at spotting gate works for 1st timers. Two 1st timers in Wed's 3 yo MSW with zero gate works, and the other 1ster has a gate work 2 months ago.

[SentToStud]

Just a couple points of disagreement with the piece.

1. Concept: BC just created the second richest day in US racing. Alone, that's not enough but it's a factor that more good horses will have opportunities to run for more money as opposed to the alternative. I wonder how many total post/reads there were on the Derby Trail Delta Jackpot thread?

2. The Juvenile Turf will bring international horses not only for the BC race but some of them for preps as well. Also, what have been modestly meaningless 2 yo early fall turf stakes will increase in quality and meaning.

3. The FM Sprint alone carries a lot of weight in considering the whole day a success.

4. The Mile will be a good race. I'm sorry to see the criticism for the distance of 1&70 but distances have not been sacrosanct in prior BCs Why should they be now? The fact that some years the race will be 1 turn vs two and in some years the distance won't be an exact mile make the race more compelling, many would say. Decent 9F runners who cant go the classic distance have a good race to run in. So too will 7F specialists.

5. The venue criticism is arguably valid but only if you accept the premise that the main intent of the BC is to be an on-track experience. I'm also disappointed with the slam of Gulfstream Park. I'm sorry, but you could never build a track like Belmont or Aqueduct again.

My wife and I were having lunch at Gulf a few days ago and one of the GP marketing officers asked if he could sit down. We talked for a few minutes and I remarked that it looked like the nicest area of the racetrack was the simulcast room. He responded by telling me that that is where 93% of the track's racing revenue comes from. It is NOT an on-track sport anymore. When a "host" track (the one actually running the races) gets only 20% or so of the simulcast revenue generated by the wagering, racetracks are compelled to go after the simulcast dollar.

It's also interesting that when I bought tickets online a few days ago for the Sunshine Millions Card, I was able to get six grandstand tickets together in the grandstand in the third row on the finish line. Just for the hell of it I checked availability of the "premium simulcast room" seating. Sold out. This is three weeks before the event.

All the New York people here will certainly recall when their great NYRA dropped Keeneland in favor of Sunland Park due in part, at least, to the fact that the revenue deal was more in their interest.

Racing is a simulcast and ADW sport. It is not a live spectator sport.

I'm not in love with Stronach but then again he is going to spend another $50 Million + to renovate Laurel.

6. Field Size. Personally, I won't be disappointed to see the Classic or Sprint "suffer" with just 10-12 runners vs 14 due to adding the Mile and FM Sprint. Seeing horses break from post 14 going 10F at Belmont does not really get me excited.

7. The Cigar Mile and Clark will suffer. Then again, people have for some time already decried these races as not deserving of their current status.

One Man's View

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

It's also interesting that when I bought tickets online a few days ago for the Sunshine Millions Card, I was able to get six grandstand tickets together in the grandstand in the third row on the finish line. Just for the hell of it I checked availability of the "premium simulcast room" seating. Sold out. This is three weeks before the event.

Is that as exciting as it sounds?!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

All the New York people here will certainly recall when their great NYRA dropped Keeneland in favor of Sunland Park due in part, at least, to the fact that the revenue deal was more in their interest.

NYC-OTB dropped the Keeneland signal, not NYRA, in a dispute over simulcast fees ( and I believe they substituted Yakima ). NYRA has taken Keeneland uninterupted since at least the Spring of 1995.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

2. The Juvenile Turf will bring international horses not only for the BC race but some of them for preps as well. Also, what have been modestly meaningless 2 yo early fall turf stakes will increase in quality and meaning.

just out of curiosity what are the preps for a 2 YO turf championship...here in the US?

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

just out of curiosity what are the preps for a 2 YO turf championship...here in the US?

offhand, there's the Grillo and Pilgrim at Belmont, the Jessamine at Keenland and there's a 2 yo turf set at Calder as well in the fall.

I'd expect Monmouth to have a prep.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Woodbine's Summer Stakes is run around the time of the Atto Mile, and Keeneland runs two races for juvenile turf runners at the end of its autumn meet that it will undoubtedly move up to its already front-loaded meet beginning.

Belmont has 1 1/8 juvenile turf races (Pilgrim/Miss Grillo) that could be relocated and shortened to provide its version of a prep.

I think that Saratoga has an unlisted juvenile turf race ($65K, the Phil Johnson?), too. I'm sure NYRA will have something at its Saratoga meet as a follow-up to the 6F juvenile turf races that it runs in July.

The races will be juggled or invented to fit the Breeders' Cup. It will happen.

All ungraded except maybe the summer (gr3?) I think Belmonts races are now ungraded