Ruffian was a mediocre filly

[Calzone Lord]

I don't understand what the point was in writing about match races.

They aren't practical anymore.

Do betters want them? No. Here's a link to the chart of the Battle of the Sexes match race at Del Mar:

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbP...try=USA&race=4

Woke Up Dreamin was the 1-to-2 favorite in the betting. Chester's Choice, at odds of 4-to-5 was the underdog in the race.

No one wants to bet a race where the underdog is odds-on.

Obviously, takeout rates have steadily risen over the years and that's a major reason why match races have become such absolute turds as events.

The other reason is because handicaps have basically become a thing of the past. Seabiscuit and War Admiral were the dominant older horses and from different regions.

It wouldn't have been desirable to see Seabiscuit and War Admiral come together for a meeting -- the handicapper assign more weight to one than the other -- and a mare like Esposa getting an 18lbs weight break and beating the both of them in a driving finish, with a razor sharp minor stakes type getting 30lbs and right there at the finish with the trio.

The match race goal is a clean weight-for-age event between the most popular horses.