BC Stunner: 2 days, 3 new races..

[SniperSB23]

I just saw that the FM Sprint is only 6 furlongs for this year and will be 7 furlongs in the future. Interesting. I guess some 6 furlong female sprinters will have to choose between running past their best distance or running with the boys.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by philcski

I

The dirt mile maybe steals a few interesting contenders from the Sprint, but overall my guess these are different from the Classic. In this year's classic, who would have gone in the Mile instead?

?

Possibly:
Sun King
Lawyer Ron
George Washington
Brother Derek

Not that these horses were the best in the field but some contributed to the pace factor.

[Thoroughbred Fan]

As much as the added races may weaken the fields for a few established races, the turf race will attract some Euros, the mile might allow a horse like Discreet Cat to participate in the BC even when the Shieks have a Bernardini, and the Filly and Mare Sprint will draw some really top mares who otherwise skip the Sprint so they don't have to face the top males. In my opinion, the pluses and minuses balance out.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I think there should be some validity to what you are saying, and perhaps this race will encourage trainers who believe they ACTUALLY have a turf horse to get it ready sooner...as for the most part what we see now are trainers running 2YOs on the turf because they are too slow for dirt races ( and usually end up too slow for the turf as well ). But, here's a problem, exactly who are the special US turf horses we have seen in the last ten years? Yes, lately we had a couple nice ones in Kitten's Joy and Artie Schiller ( and actually Barbaro ) but overall it is a VERY thin division with absolutely no depth of true quality even when we get into their 3YO years. This is theoretically a CHAMPIONSHIP event but this race is really one for lesser quality and just another chance for breeders to get fake black typing.

You are right that there aren't that many special US turf horses. Hopefully the addition of this race will help put more focus on the turf and make breeding for turf be a little more profitable and lead to more special turf horses. Between the addition of this race, the Grand Slam of Grass, and the ability to run on polytrack there are suddenly a lot more reasons to breed and/or buy a turf horse.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Possibly:
Sun King
Lawyer Ron
George Washington
Brother Derek

Not that these horses were the best in the field but they contributed to the pace factor.

But you've also got to remember that we may look at it and say "oh, this horse is more suited to a dirt mile."

Their connections may look at it and say, "oh, my horse is more suited to $5 Million instead of $1 Million."

It's going to create some interesting decisions. Is $4 million a good enough reason to test your horse an extra quarter mile?

If it's my horse it sure as heck is.

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Possibly:
Sun King
Lawyer Ron
George Washington
Brother Derek

Not that these horses were the best in the field but some contributed to the pace factor.

Discreet Cat

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

Discreet Cat

The question was of those who ran, not those who were entered "just in case".

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

But you've also got to remember that we may look at it and say "oh, this horse is more suited to a dirt mile."

Their connections may look at it and say, "oh, my horse is more suited to $5 Million instead of $1 Million."

It's going to create some interesting decisions. Is $4 million a good enough reason to test your horse an extra quarter mile?

If it's my horse it sure as heck is.

Good point with the purse amounts.

[Danzig]

a belated xmas present!!
i am THRILLED to see this news. everytime it was asked, i said we need a filly sprint, a dirt mile. a two day festival.
the turf for juvies an added bonus. i love that as well--how many more euro horses will we draw? how many will then stay to make the leap to dirt and the ky derby the following spring? also, we need to boost turf racing here in america, this is a great step. as an aside, the eclipse awards need to be expanded.


this is fantastic, thanks for posting this news!

and i guess this also explains the visit to monmouth a few months ago. you guys remember that? rumors started that maybe the bc would pull out, i guess they were just ironing out the details.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

Discreet Cat

And actually, to expand on the Discreet Cat thought, I'd like to see him tested at a mile and a quarter. The problem with racing today is people don't want to loose, so they aren't trying to do something different to test their horse. The old greats, they won at all sorts of different distances...shouldn't Discreet Cat to, if he is indeed a special one?

[TheSpyder]

Two Superbowls...oh yea. If they do it right it will be a great way to promote the sport. Someone better realize this and take advantage of the time. Pre first day coverage...day one..post day one coverage...pre day two coverage...day two...post coverage. Lots of time to put horse racing out in front of the public. Makes me think of the post game golf shows that are so enticing on a Master's evenings getting ready for the next day.

Let's just hope they do it right!

Spdyer from SC

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

The race is going to be contested at 1 mile in the future. Monmouth cannot have races at 1 mile due to the track configuration.

Monmouth has been running one mile races for years. They must like the ring of "The Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile and Seventy Yards".

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Monmouth has been running one mile races for years. They must like the ring of "The Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile and Seventy Yards".

I think we are all looking forward to next years DrugS Salvatore Mile......and seventy.

[cmorioles]

Enough of this ridiculous BC Turf sprint stuff. Could someone please name me a turf sprinter that deserved to race for a million dollar purse in the last decade, or even two?

[JJP]

Let's not forget the old "Michigan Mile" at the old Detroit Race Course. The Michigan Mile was actually a mile and an eighth race.

Accuracy hasn't stopped the Big 10 from not changing their name.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The whole idea is basically a poor one....but it's the BC....the enemy of major league racing...... so why would it be a good idea?

Starting from the top....the mile. This will dilute the Classic ( not seriously ) and the Sprint in two detrimental ways. One, it will take away somewhat interesting contenders and two it will open the sprint up to more useless vermin that, in theory, doesn't belong in a championship race.

Now, the Filly and Mare sprint. OK, I understand one could argue they sort of " deserve " their own race...however.....fillies and mares have fared VERY well in the BC Sprint over the years and so in reality this race will further rob the BC Sprint of its overall quality.

Now, the 2YO turf race.....I'm sorry, what exactly is the US program that leads up to this race? Some turf maiden races seems to be about it. So this is great, we now have a BC race that caters to US horses that are too slow to run on dirt and Euros. OK, fine, I will personally enjoy this race and maybe the Euros do sort of deserve a race of their own, but don't try and fool me that this was a race that demanded to be run. I like the $250K filly version of this race they are already running and see no reason they shouldn't have run the same purse for the boys. Labeling it a " BC " race does not make any of the contestants better or more important horses.

I completely agree with this and others that had similar opinions.

[JJP]

The only logical reason I can think of for adding a 2YO turf race is they are clearly trying to get more European participation. Seen how few of our 2YO races are carded on the grass, you'll probably see a bunch of recent Maiden graduates running in the Breeders Cup.

[GinaIsWild]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Enough of this ridiculous BC Turf sprint stuff. Could someone please name me a turf sprinter that deserved to race for a million dollar purse in the last decade, or even two?

Texas Glitter, Stravinsky, elusive quality, johhanesburg, , dayjur, mizzen mast etc

[blackthroatedwind]

Johannesburg ran in a big turf sprint....the July Cup. If you hurry over you can catch him finishing.

Texas Glitter? Come on!

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I think there should be some validity to what you are saying, and perhaps this race will encourage trainers who believe they ACTUALLY have a turf horse to get it ready sooner...as for the most part what we see now are trainers running 2YOs on the turf because they are too slow for dirt races ( and usually end up too slow for the turf as well ). But, here's a problem, exactly who are the special US turf horses we have seen in the last ten years? Yes, lately we had a couple nice ones in Kitten's Joy and Artie Schiller ( and actually Barbaro ) but overall it is a VERY thin division with absolutely no depth of true quality even when we get into their 3YO years. This is theoretically a CHAMPIONSHIP event but this race is really one for lesser quality and just another chance for breeders to get fake black typing.

or horses that just have sore shins or sore feet but they want to get them in a race....


personally I hate the idea of the BC over 2 days...and the need for these races is somewhat debatable for all of the reasons that have already been mentioned...while I enjoy the pagentry of the BC...in general I agree with the premise that it has been bad for racing overall.