Five New Grade I Races in 2007; Two Others Drop to Grade II

Originally Posted by oracle80

The problem is that the BC has disrupted and ruined just about every part of racing.
Grade one races used to be just that, grade one races. In order to earn accolades and status you had to run and compete in them.
Now the BC has overshadowed everything. races like the Fall Highweight and Lawrence no longer matter, and attendance is no longer required at early year grade ones as noone remembers them at the end of the year anyway, its all BC based.
BC is the worst thing that ever happened to racing. Its rendered most of teh year meaningless and turned a bunch of races that used to be real nice and important into 5 horse "prep" races. Extremely sad.

Amen Oracle. It has turned racing into a 6 month campaign (if that long) for some horses. Now three year olds are different since they have to "earn" their way into the Derby. I know we are speaking of the best of the best--but these horses are way makes our sport. On the Derby trail, you get real good racing from Feb to June. Then you get a little low until the fall when the three yeard olds gear up again for the big fall purses. We essentially get 7-9 months of good three year old racing. When it comes to older horses--well we get from Sept to Nov if we are lucky. The Breeders Cup intention is good, but it sure has screwed up racing for the older horses.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Amen Oracle. It has turned racing into a 6 month campaign (if that long) for some horses. Now three year olds are different since they have to "earn" their way into the Derby. I know we are speaking of the best of the best--but these horses are way makes our sport. On the Derby trail, you get real good racing from Feb to June. Then you get a little low until the fall when the three yeard olds gear up again for the big fall purses. We essentially get 7-9 months of good three year old racing. When it comes to older horses--well we get from Sept to Nov if we are lucky. The Breeders Cup intention is good, but it sure has screwed up racing for the older horses.

Then why the hell would you wanna REDUCE grade ones?!!!!
Don't you even understand that that viewpoint is counter to the one you cite here?
What we need is higher purse money in the grade ones and a movement to make racing matter all year long again like it used to.
Its horrible what the BC has done.
Tagg was on ATRAB and he was talking about Showing Up and how he planned a very light campaign next spring and summer but already falls lined up.
Now look, Tagg is doing the right thing by his horse and owners, no doubt. I'm not bashing him. But think about how sad it is that in November, Tagg is telling us that the best American grass horse who will be racing next year already has an abrreviated fall campaign mapped out.
You make the spring and summer grade one purses high enough, and guys will start saying screw it, lets just run and win some races and money.
The BC weakens racing further every year that goes by.

Originally Posted by oracle80

Then why the hell would you wanna REDUCE grade ones?!!!!
Don't you even understand that that viewpoint is counter to the one you cite here?
What we need is higher purse money in the grade ones and a movement to make racing matter all year long again like it used to.
Its horrible what the BC has done.
Tagg was on ATRAB and he was talking about Showing Up and how he planned a very light campaign next spring and summer but already falls lined up.
Now look, Tagg is doing the right thing by his horse and owners, no doubt. I'm not bashing him. But think about how sad it is that in November, Tagg is telling us that the best American grass horse who will be racing next year already has an abrreviated fall campaign mapped out.
You make the spring and summer grade one purses high enough, and guys will start saying screw it, lets just run and win some races and money.
The BC weakens racing further every year that goes by.

I agree that the Breeders Cup weakens the racing year long. However, increasing purses to Grade I's is not the answer. Reducing the number of Grade I races is the key to spur competition in these races. Then you have to take these Grade I races and spread them throughout the year. Then you will have a horse in training all year long. Most trainers like to get 2 or 3 races into their horse before the Grade I event. If you have 3 Grade I's then each trainers wants to get 2 or 3 preps, then those horses are racing anywhere from 6-9 times per year which I am fine with because it is all year long. In addition, it will increase the field for each Grade I race.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I agree that the Breeders Cup weakens the racing year long. However, increasing purses to Grade I's is not the answer. Reducing the number of Grade I races is the key to spur competition in these races. Then you have to take these Grade I races and spread them throughout the year. Then you will have a horse in training all year long. Most trainers like to get 2 or 3 races into their horse before the Grade I event. If you have 3 Grade I's then each trainers wants to get 2 or 3 preps, then those horses are racing anywhere from 6-9 times per year which I am fine with because it is all year long. In addition, it will increase the field for each Grade I race.

No see, it wont.
What it will do is give owners even more limited opportunities to make money and send em all out of the game. All grade ones will be run as 14 horse fields with two betting interests. Coolmore/Pletcher and Goldolphin/Shadwell.
The only money in this game as it is is on the back end in the shed. You take away the chances at grade one status and you could pretty much kiss 50% of the players in the game goodbye. They might love the game and be willing to lose some cash to chase a dream, but they won't be willing to lose that much to chase a fantasy. Big difference there.
Like I said, you don't understand the business.

Originally Posted by oracle80

No see, it wont.
What it will do is give owners even more limited opportunities to make money and send em all out of the game. All grade ones will be run as 14 horse fields with two betting interests. Coolmore/Pletcher and Goldolphin/Shadwell.
The only money in this game as it is is on the back end in the shed. You take away the chances at grade one status and you could pretty much kiss 50% of the players in the game goodbye. They might love the game and be willing to lose some cash to chase a dream, but they won't be willing to lose that much to chase a fantasy. Big difference there.
Like I said, you don't understand the business.

Great, so we will have a 4 horse field with the betting interest being one horse---yeah that is totally brilliant. Plus that makes for real exciting racing. I love to see a 2/5 shot beat an overmatched field. I love it. Good idea.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Great, so we will have a 4 horse field with the betting interest being one horse---yeah that is totally brilliant. Plus that makes for real exciting racing. I love to see a 2/5 shot beat an overmatched field. I love it. Good idea.

This is what your idea would bring, not mine.
Fortunately your idea is so insane that it will never be considered for practical use.

Originally Posted by oracle80

This is what your idea would bring, not mine.
Fortunately your idea is so insane that it will never be considered for practical use.

No my idea would increase year round racing and larger fields. We would see the stars compete against each other several times a year. However, your solution is to throw money out there. More money doesnt solve the problem. It takes a very immature mind and one without vision to use money as the sole problem solver.