KEE meet, SUN Derby cancelled; KY Derby to September 5th..

[moses]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I really loathe a decision to postpone. By then, the colts will be closer to being older horses than 3 year olds - the race itself is more than a test of talent, it's a test of which horses can be precocious enough to be ready for that demanding distance so early in the year and yet sturdy enough to be able to run well at that distance. Now it's just going to be a post-Travers race - too similar to the Travers, in fact it will be exactly the same. Will trainers want to run in both races? Nope, so they’d be forced to choose...

There is no reason why the Derby shouldn't be run in front of a crowdless grandstand. I would also add that the Derby would get extra coverage as pretty much the only sporting event at the time - in September, with pennant race baseball going on as well as the start of the NFL season...and maybe the Masters...it’s going to get lost.

Additionally, if the Derby is postponed, and there's no Preakness, where do these horses run? There aren't any big races within that span because of the TC.... I like Steve Haskins’ idea (from his Derby Dozen):

I love the Derby...this sucks (for many reasons), but I’ll try to enjoy the novelty of the September Derby for this year.

The big flaw in Haskin’s idea is that most states may shut down horse racing in the next few weeks (at least I think so) and it would probably be crazy for a track to do that with the possibility of no fan attendance. I also wouldn’t want it at Santa Anita.

Maybe Laurel should commission a big race in late September between the Derby and Breeders Cup. They wanted the Preakness...maybe they could host the equivalent this year.

It’s going to be weird no matter what.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by moses

I love the Derby...this sucks (for many reasons), but I’ll try to enjoy the novelty of the September Derby for this year.

The big flaw in Haskin’s idea is that most states may shut down horse racing in the next few weeks (at least I think so) and it would probably be crazy for a track to do that with the possibility of no fan attendance. I also wouldn’t want it at Santa Anita.

Maybe Laurel should commission a big race in late September between the Derby and Breeders Cup. They wanted the Preakness...maybe they could host the equivalent this year.

It’s going to be weird no matter what.

The thing is, aside from the logistical complications, it’s essentially going up against the Travers. It’s not good for the sport if the top colts all abandon that race so that it’s a shell of itself. I’m not really worried about that as I think more than a few will run there. Then there’s the fact that there is a huge hole in the calendar. Once the preps are over, where are these fit and ready horses supposed to run with no Derby and no Preakness? I admit that I’d always hate the postponement because I think they should have run without crowds - as detailed above - but I would be less upset if doing so didn’t upset the apple cart.


It’s going to go down in the annals of racing history, that’s for sure, lol

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Betsy

The thing is, aside from the logistical complications, it’s essentially going up against the Travers. It’s not good for the sport if the top colts all abandon that race so that it’s a shell of itself. I’m not really worried about that as I think more than a few will run there. Then there’s the fact that there is a huge hole in the calendar. Once the preps are over, where are these fit and ready horses supposed to run with no Derby and no Preakness? I admit that I’d always hate the postponement because I think they should have run without crowds - as detailed above - but I would be less upset if doing so didn’t upset the apple cart.


It’s going to go down in the annals of racing history, that’s for sure, lol

I highly doubt the Travers will be run a week before the Derby. People will make adjustments to their stakes schedule I’m sure.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I highly doubt the Travers will be run a week before the Derby. People will make adjustments to their stakes schedule I’m sure.

That’s true...I’m not sure trainers will want to run two 1 1/4 back to back, but they can always prep for the BC with a 1 1/8 race like the Woodward. Tracks will need to work together - maybe reschedule other races for the May, June period.

[ScottJ]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding - I wanted the race to be run without people, as NY and CA are doing. In no way was I suggesting the race should be run as usual.

This is the key point. New York and California are trying to lead the way based on their generation of on-line handle to keep all of the social distancing aspects in place while giving those involved with the industry a chance to earn a living.

Originally Posted by Betsy

That’s true...I’m not sure trainers will want to run two 1 1/4 back to back, but they can always prep for the BC with a 1 1/8 race like the Woodward. Tracks will need to work together - maybe reschedule other races for the May, June period.

If those at Churchill spoke with the California and New York racing entities to discuss the impact on their scheduling to hold a Labor Day Derby, I am completely on board. However, if Churchill did this unilaterally without business consideration for the other racing jursidictions, exactly why do California and New York need to fall in line behind a year-round second tier circuit? To support the game?

[ScottJ]

NYRA press release : https://www.nyra.com/belmont/news/ny...belmont-stakes

Notice the clear delineation between Churchill's decision and anything to do with NYRA. In other words, this was NOT worked through the horse racing system and appears to be exclusively a Churchill Derby Day cash grab in coordination with NBC coverage. The Kentucky Derby is officially a scratch from my race card interest in 2020.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

NYRA press release : https://www.nyra.com/belmont/news/ny...belmont-stakes

Notice the clear delineation between Churchill's decision and anything to do with NYRA. In other words, this was NOT worked through the horse racing system and appears to be exclusively a Churchill Derby Day cash grab in coordination with NBC coverage. The Kentucky Derby is officially a scratch from my race card interest in 2020.

Do you really think other entities won’t work around this?

[moses]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding - I wanted the race to be run without people, as NY and CA are doing. In no way was I suggesting the race should be run as usual.

Originally Posted by ScottJ

This is the key point. New York and California are trying to lead the way based on their generation of on-line handle to keep all of the social distancing aspects in place while giving those involved with the industry a chance to earn a living.

If those at Churchill spoke with the California and New York racing entities to discuss the impact on their scheduling to hold a Labor Day Derby, I am completely on board. However, if Churchill did this unilaterally without business consideration for the other racing jursidictions, exactly why do California and New York need to fall in line behind a year-round second tier circuit? To support the game?

The thing for me is - I’m pretty sure that states and/or the federal government are going to mandate that horse racing stop at some point. So I don’t think planning to race without fans is a viable option for Churchill. I guess we’ll see. I don’t think Santa Anita or NYRA are going to be running in two weeks.