Liam's Map=Cross Traffic part 2?

[Port Conway Lane]

[quote=RolloTomasi;1042495]

I didn't say there were only bad horses in the Dirt Mile. The point has always been that the Dirt Mile "dilutes" the other races. And in and of itself it also tends to be a diluted race, just as I explained earlier, as it showcases older, tailing off runners, midwest Derby winners, and one or two top class horses ducking the main competition.

The connections of the horses who "departed" the other 2 races must not have thought too highly of their chances. This probably has much more to do with their horses ability at a given distance rather than "ducking". Again, absence of the Mile doesn't force the hand.

For the most part, racing in the US (and on dirt) is delineated very simply between sprinters and routers. Does that mean the Classic needs to be 10f? Not necessarily. It could be 9f, especially considering the impact that the desire for speed and precocity by breeders has had on the industry.

How many Grade 1 races exist that are a flat mile and for open 3yo and upwards? For that matter, is there a Champion Miler Eclipse?

Basically you are saying there are only 14 qualified male routers in the country worthy of competing at the BC.
I disagree.

Yeah, the Preakness winner, the Travers winner, the Hollywood Gold Cup winner, the Woodward winner fit and race ready all would have opted out of the Classic on racing's "biggest day".

but they were aging, tailed off runners, perennial also-rans, Grade 2 types, and a ducking and diving top class horse who didn't belong anyway.

The results prove it because no Eclipse champions have won the Dirt Mile and only one prior Eclipse champion even bothered to compete in it.

Not surprising as eclipse champions are not a dime a dozen. Year in and year out you'll be lucky to get 3 on the whole 2 day event.

The connections Goldencents and Caleb's Posse arguably cost themselves Eclipse awards by avoiding the Sprint.

Maybe,maybe not. Eclipse awards is what they is, and if either horse could have won the eclipse then according to your criteria the quality of the mile isn't as bad as you make it out to be. Championship Event.