Three New BC Races

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Maybe I am being naive but why the all personal anomisity toward the Breeders Cup? I understand what many of you are saying but the fact is the ship has sailed on mny of these subjects like the over focus on the Breeders Cup to the detriment of some traditional races. It is like bitching about the DH in baseball or 3 point line in basketball.

As an owner/trainer I can say that it is hard not to appreciate the addition of a turf sprint or 2 year old filly turf race. I'm sure many of you would think the same if you owned a horse that might possibly be good enough to compete in one of these new races.

As discussed in another far too long thread I can't see why anyone would bitch about the purses for these races being too big or the fact that the fields will be weak or not up to BC quality. There are tons of races that come up weak or with short fields throughout the year that no one call for the removal of. For instance most graded non turf races run in California.

The philosophical reasons behind the complaints are baffling to me. So what if we have a turf sprint champion? Or a 2 year old turf champion. Or a champion miler? What difference does it make to your bankroll or enjoyment of the game? I personally thought Matt Holiday should have been the NL MVP but he when Rollins got it I didn't say that baseball sucks and it is a conspiracy. I mean I dont agree, it was close and I hadn't thought about it until I wrote this since I am trying to think like a fan instead of a participant.

The "dirt" marathon seems like a silly idea but who really cares? There is constant harping about the shortening of the major races but when they put this kind of race in (though it seems very arbitrary and like as Andy said an attention deflector) everybody is against it or unbelieveable says it is too short.

The Breeders Cup is far from a perfect organization and some of the things they do are certainly debatable but I can only see one reason why you guys should bitch about the addition of these races and no one has brought it up yet.

because nobody will have the time to handicap all the races?

I'm not bitching about it, just making comments. I don't really care one way or the other. To me it just seems that its heading in the direction of trying to be all things to all people. Like they are adding a "Claiming Crown" aspect. also its going in the direction of that goofy Calder deal where you have backwards races, etc. In the end it seems like it might end up diluting the overall quality of the events and that we might not see the great betting opportunities like we had in the past.

Also what will the total races now be, 14? and six of them are turf races? what is the real ratio in the US of turf to dirt? 1 out of 10 maybe? Its like suddenly we have to have all these turf championships when throughout the year its much less a factor. I don't mind turf races but shouldn't the championships be supported by a regular season?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

because nobody will have the time to handicap all the races?

I'm not bitching about it, just making comments. I don't really care one way or the other. To me it just seems that its heading in the direction of trying to be all things to all people. Like they are adding a "Claiming Crown" aspect. also its going in the direction of that goofy Calder deal where you have backwards races, etc. In the end it seems like it might end up diluting the overall quality of the events and that we might not see the great betting opportunities like we had in the past.

Also what will the total races now be, 14? and six of them are turf races? what is the real ratio in the US of turf to dirt? 1 out of 10 maybe? Its like suddenly we have to have all these turf championships when throughout the year its much less a factor. I don't mind turf races but shouldn't the championships be supported by a regular season?

If the ratio was like a typical day of US racing there would be 6 -6 furlong races, 3 - 1 1/16th, 2 turf races and a few statebreds.

I believe that some of the lessor dirt stakes for 2 year olds especially at the smaller tracks may morph into turf stakes which would be a positive for racing. There are too many of the same options leading up to the BC and I think that some tracks may do like River Downs did.

The reason that a regular fan should complain about the addition of the races is that the price of attending the event/events will go up. Like virtually all other sports they will surely tie in the first day with the second and probably raise the prices across the board. Now that is something worth fighting against!

Why do fans need to fight in the first place? Any sane person would take their wagering dollar elsewhere. There is really no need to fight morons. They'll never change.

The day the industry listens to the gambler/fan and is able to implement the good ideas and not the bad ones is the day The Pale Horse comes from the Heavens and prevents anyone from enjoying the changes.