BC Stunner: 2 days, 3 new races..

[MaTH716]

I really think that the two day format is a bad idea. I think it is even a worst idea to roll this new format out at Monmouth Park this year. From what I understand there will be no walk up admission to Monmouth on Breeders Cup day. So what will the story be on Friday? Are some of the Monmouth loyalist going to be shut out on Friday also? What will the cost of the tickets be? Are people (besides the die hards) going to take the day off to go to the Breeders Cup? I do not think that this is good for the fans. Why not just make Saturday an even bigger and better day of racing. My guess is that they are going to charge people alot of money to see 3 races that they are going to call Breeders Cup races. What's going to be on the rest of the Friday card? The usual 5000 claiming races. I don't like the idea, but if they are going to go thorugh with it then need to try this new format at a place like Belmont or Churchill that can accomadate huge crowds. This way novice fans and people that are not die hards can walk up pay the 5 bucks and get in an expierience what a wonderful event it is.That is the way you build a bigger fan base. Not everyone could afford $100 dollars for a ticket and then still have ample money to gamble with. I am sure that everyone on this site wants to see the sport flourish. This small venue and new format is possibly going to exclude new fans from the sport. For the record, I love Monmouth Park. I try to go as much as I can. When I heard that the Breeders Cup was going to be held there I was extremely happy. Then I started to think about it, I came to the conclusion that Monmouth is way to small to hold one of the top racing events of the year. I don't know how many people they are going to let in, but anyone that has been there on Haskell day knows the place doesn't handle big crowds well. Then the size of the track is another story altogether. Why not just have all the races on one day. This is arguably the biggest day of the racing year. This is my superbowl, and now they are going to play the first quarter the day before.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I really think that the two day format is a bad idea. I think it is even a worst idea to roll this new format out at Monmouth Park this year. From what I understand there will be no walk up admission to Monmouth on Breeders Cup day. So what will the story be on Friday? Are some of the Monmouth loyalist going to be shut out on Friday also? What will the cost of the tickets be? Are people (besides the die hards) going to take the day off to go to the Breeders Cup? I do not think that this is good for the fans. Why not just make Saturday an even bigger and better day of racing. My guess is that they are going to charge people alot of money to see 3 races that they are going to call Breeders Cup races. What's going to be on the rest of the Friday card? The usual 5000 claiming races. I don't like the idea, but if they are going to go thorugh with it then need to try this new format at a place like Belmont or Churchill that can accomadate huge crowds. This way novice fans and people that are not die hards can walk up pay the 5 bucks and get in an expierience what a wonderful event it is.That is the way you build a bigger fan base. Not everyone could afford $100 dollars for a ticket and then still have ample money to gamble with. I am sure that everyone on this site wants to see the sport flourish. This small venue and new format is possibly going to exclude new fans from the sport. For the record, I love Monmouth Park. I try to go as much as I can. When I heard that the Breeders Cup was going to be held there I was extremely happy. Then I started to think about it, I came to the conclusion that Monmouth is way to small to hold one of the top racing events of the year. I don't know how many people they are going to let in, but anyone that has been there on Haskell day knows the place doesn't handle big crowds well. Then the size of the track is another story altogether. Why not just have all the races on one day. This is arguably the biggest day of the racing year. This is my superbowl, and now they are going to play the first quarter the day before.

There are three other $250,000 stakes on Friday as well so there will be at least 6 stakes races.

[Merlinsky]

I'm sure they had to prove they could expand to hold the crowd before they were given the slot. It's like how a city has to prove they can or will eventually be able to handle a lot of things before they get the Olympics. Athens barely made it but they got close enough. I figure tracks are going to try to build a killer Friday undercard if it sticks in future years.

I don't think you can justify a turf sprint until you deal with the effects of a BC Turf Juvie on American breeding/racing. I'm sure there'll be snorting and guffawing about that but I think American breeders are missing out on a big opportunity for money by ignoring an internationally popular surface. The Derby didn't used to be that big of a deal compared to now but with enough promotion it became the biggest 2 minutes in sports. A Turf Sprint for 3yos and up would do what exactly? It just means horses that gun for the lead and fall back in the BC Turf will have somewhere to go unless they were just a rabbit for Better Talk Now,etc. The Euro style is hanging back then exploding right? So how would a turf sprint inspire them to come? A Turf Juvenile might actually inspire more focus on the American preps for turf horses and then they'll have more interest in 3yo turf races. This improves the lead in for the Grand Slam of Turf and means we're getting to know these horses much sooner than the end of their 3yo years. I'm sure there's a lot of breeders who would love it if they didn't have to worry that a horse was more suited for turf because it'd still be valuable in the auction ring. The right promotion could do it.

Frankly that was a bonus. The Dirt Mile made me happy but a Juvenile Turf, good times.