kudos to byk.....

[Scav]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I was busting your balls. I got your point and I agree.

Tired my friend, tired, which is why I just re-read all my stuff and I basically need to step away from the computer

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Scav

I'll give you a perfect example and this might be a little extreme. IMAGINE, if you took a human being like Byk and put him in charge of the NTRA. He might not know everything about the industry, but he sure as hell know where to get the right information, and the right people to listen to, and STRUCTURE it well, for the OVERALL good of the industry and the horses. Money would be low on his list. He would force tracks to become part of a 'conference' or association and get things like uniformed medication rules. He would at least try. More so what I am trying to say, is that his personality and 'heart' is what is needed.

BYK for NTRA '08

I'm sure that BYK would be a great racing executive.
However money is what drives everything in every business.
Because of racing structure of having independent tracks being regulated by state authorities you can not force anyone to do anything. The states are not going to cede power ever. You would hope that the tracks would work together a bit more but in many instances they are competitors for the same customers.

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I actually went from about a 55 percent chance of going down for one day to about a 95 percent chance of going down for both days with this announcement. If I'm going to drive the 3 to 4 hours each way I want to be able to get two days of racing out of it. The BC Day is still going to have the normal 8 races so nothing changes for anyone that liked it the old way. Those of us that are excited about the new races now have an extra day on the racing calendar that I imagine ultimately will be enjoyed by even the cynics. Everyone is so worried about the BC Dirt Mile depleting the BC Sprint and Classic. Would a field out of these horses have really depleted it that much? And wouldn't it have made for a very fun BC race?

Discreet Cat
Silver Train
Badge of Silver
Sun King
Brother Derek
Lawyer Ron
Sharp Humor
Siren Lure
Wanderin Boy
Super Frolic
Mass Media
Commentator
Lewis Michael
Sir Greeley
War Front
It's No Joke
Magna Graduate
Papi Chullo
Straight Line
Awesome Twist

Obviously some of these horses might not have run but I'm sure there are plenty I am forgetting as well.

I just think if you are going to make it a BC dirt mile keep it a mile and if you can't fit 14 horses some years...so be it. You just want stinking Sir Greeley in the BC!!

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I hear what you are saying, but my problem is some years the race won't be a one turn mile which is what I think they were aiming at. Big difference between a one turn mile and a two turn mile or mile and 70 yards. I'm cool with the F&M sprint and 2 year old turf because I'd bet people running on grass if I could. But if you are going to do the mile race it should be a one turn longer sprint and not what they are going to do this year.

Yeah, well that goes with the idea I favor of going to 12 races and running 6 each at two different tracks with staggered starts like the Sunshine Millions. With 20 minutes between races there is actually a chance of viewers staying to watch the next race. I don't know how many times I've had friends somewhat interested in racing on TV, watch the race and kind of get into it, and then find out it is 35 minutes until the next race and lose all interest. Plus with two track you can be assured of always being able to run every race at the proper distance. I know a lot of people hate the idea of two tracks but it would solve the problem of the dirt mile being completely different every year.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I have had to deal with this as well. You raise some interesting points about two locations. Not sure if I agree or disagree but it is making me think, which is always good.

I have a feeling two tracks would also boost overall attendance and overall handle. The major issue is that trainers and owners could have horses running at different tracks which is undesirable on the biggest day of racing. That is why it will probably never happen.

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I have a feeling two tracks would also boost overall attendance and overall handle. The major issue is that trainers and owners could have horses running at different tracks which is undesirable on the biggest day of racing. That is why it will probably never happen.

Jockey issues as well. Big time horse with one rider the whole season...then for biggest race not on him. Don't think trainers would go for that either...if they have two stars at different tracks.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Yeah, well that goes with the idea I favor of going to 12 races and running 6 each at two different tracks with staggered starts like the Sunshine Millions. With 20 minutes between races there is actually a chance of viewers staying to watch the next race. I don't know how many times I've had friends somewhat interested in racing on TV, watch the race and kind of get into it, and then find out it is 35 minutes until the next race and lose all interest. Plus with two track you can be assured of always being able to run every race at the proper distance. I know a lot of people hate the idea of two tracks but it would solve the problem of the dirt mile being completely different every year.

I don't think a race has much interest for the casual fan unless there is some familiarity with the runners. What would be fun about watching a bunch of horses you've never heard of run around a track for 1-2 minutes? Making the spacing between races shorter leaves less time to develop any kind of story about the upcoming race. I think that would be a mistake.

I agree with the point Linny made earlier. It's already a problem explaining to sports fans who are not yet racing fans that our "World Series" is not just a single race to see who's the best. The more races we add, the less chance the best will face the best.

Steve's list of fillies and mares that have won or nearly won the Sprint was impressive. How many of those would have passed the race had there been a separate race for F&M's?

--Dunbar

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

I don't think a race has much interest for the casual fan unless there is some familiarity with the runners. What would be fun about watching a bunch of horses you've never heard of run around a track for 1-2 minutes? Making the spacing between races shorter leaves less time to develop any kind of story about the upcoming race. I think that would be a mistake.

I agree with the point Linny made earlier. It's already a problem explaining to sports fans who are not yet racing fans that our "World Series" is not just a single race to see who's the best. The more races we add, the less chance the best will face the best.

Steve's list of fillies and mares that have won or nearly won the Sprint was impressive. How many of those would have passed the race had there been a separate race for F&M's?

--Dunbar

In recent days, Xtra Heat would have gone in a F&M Sprint (and destroyed the field in '01.)

Have to think Malibu Mint this year would have gone as well...

[Dunbar]

Thinking about this some more. The amount of time that ESPN gave to the BC broadcast this year was pretty ambitious. Only a hard core fan (like most here) is going to commit to sitting down for, what, 6 hours of racing.

Rather than add 3 more races and a 2nd day of racing, I think it would have been a better idea to go to 2 days with the current lineup of 8 races. On the 2nd day you could have just 2 or 3 races, and the feeling would be more of a Championship. The Turf and the Classic would be on the 2nd day. Maybe the Distaff. That would make a nice 1.5-hour broadcast. The first day would have the 5 (or 6) other BC races, in a 3-4 hour broadcast.

--Dunbar