Belmont the Fall Championship Meet

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

A little off the topic but why are mile races now considered sprints? I mean it is a great accomplishment to win the Met Mile or Cigar Mile but theses are NOT sprints! TVG sponsors the sprint so I guess if they say it should count.....

Actually, one turn miles were considered sprints a long time ago. And the US sprint title has always been "sprinter and/or miler" - just look at the list of winners in the past.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Actually, one turn miles were considered sprints a long time ago. And the US sprint title has always been "sprinter and/or miler" - just look at the list of winners in the past.

Sprint should mean sprint. Since 1980 only 2 horses that were named eclipse winners in the sprint catagory could be considered sprinters/milers Gulch and Precisionist maybe Smile also and all of those horses won the B.cup the year they won. I know we dont have a miler class like Europe but One turn miles should not be taken into consideration for the sprit title.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Sprint should mean sprint. Since 1980 only 2 horses that were named eclipse winners in the sprint catagory could be considered sprinters/milers Gulch and Precisionist maybe Smile also and all of those horses won the B.cup the year they won. I know we dont have a miler class like Europe but One turn miles should not be taken into consideration for the sprit title.

Don't forget Orientate, Rubiano, Artax, all milers who took no prisoners at 6f or 7f either. The point of the Met Mile and Cigar Mile is that they are around one-turn and so attract a lot of the better speed horses, especially the ones who are better at 7f than 6f.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Don't forget Orientate, Rubiano, Artax, all milers who took no prisoners at 6f or 7f either. The point of the Met Mile and Cigar Mile is that they are around one-turn and so attract a lot of the better speed horses, especially the ones who are better at 7f than 6f.

Orientate and Artax were never really effective over 7 furlongs during their eclipse seasons, therefore were not recieving votes based upon their success at distances greater than 7 furlongs. Rubiano won 4 grade 1 races at 7 furlongs during his championship season.

All nice horses but that is not what I'm talking about.
Winning a one turn mile race should not be considered when voting for SPRINT awards. I mean if you won the Carter then went on to win the Turf Classic and BC Turf, the Carter should not be considered when voting for a Turf eclipse.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Orientate and Artax were never really effective over 7 furlongs during their eclipse seasons, therefore were not recieving votes based upon their success at distances greater than 7 furlongs. Rubiano won 4 grade 1 races at 7 furlongs during his championship season.

All nice horses but that is not what I'm talking about.
Winning a one turn mile race should not be considered when voting for SPRINT awards. I mean if you won the Carter then went on to win the Turf Classic and BC Turf, the Carter should not be considered when voting for a Turf eclipse.

Well what if a horse won the Metropolitan Mile, Carter, Cigar and then the Breeders Cup Sprint--should that horse win the eclipse as top sprinter?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Well what if a horse won the Metropolitan Mile, Carter, Cigar and then the Breeders Cup Sprint--should that horse win the eclipse as top sprinter?

Winning the Cigar and BC sprint is as unlikely as winning the Carter and BC Turf but the Carter and BC Sprint are really the only sprint wins. That being said everything depends on the competition. If another horse were to win the Count Fleet, Forgeo, De Francis, Bing Crosby, Phoenix, and Vosburgh and didn't compete in the BC Sprint (maybe injured) who is the champion sprinter?
Better arguement is if Horse wins Met, Cigar and BC Sprint without another Gr 1. sprint win vs. above horse?

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Winning the Cigar and BC sprint is as unlikely as winning the Carter and BC Turf but the Carter and BC Sprint are really the only sprint wins. That being said everything depends on the competition. If another horse were to win the Count Fleet, Forgeo, De Francis, Bing Crosby, Phoenix, and Vosburgh and didn't compete in the BC Sprint (maybe injured) who is the champion sprinter?
Better arguement is if Horse wins Met, Cigar and BC Sprint without another Gr 1. sprint win vs. above horse?

I would go with the Met, Cigar and BC Sprint.