Graded Stakes a joke

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by robfla

all the good ones retire bcause they run them too hard too fast and too early.

plus, none of the horsemen want the money, they have enough

I agree with both points.

[2MinsToPost]

Is The Breeder's Cup ruining racing or is the ownership of some of these animals ruining racing? My point is this, those that say that The Breeder's Cup is ruining racing might think different in November when they can't sleep the night before with excitement about the Saturday when the best of the best meet and battle. Maybe the real problem from my novice eyes is the money in the ownership side and their desire to turn a profit versus a true love of the game and the horse? Lets buy this one for a million, race him for a year or a little more and hope to make millions after he snags a couple Graded Stakes and is sent to the farm to make babies. I realize few make money in this game but at times I think some folks let their ego and their wallet drive their decisions versus what some of the blue collar folks do - and that is own and train for the love of the game. I often at times think about a local trainer who holds down a ful time job here in Columbus and drives to River Downs almost every day checking on his stock. Pure love of the game. Last Friday their he was in the paddock still in his suit and tie from work saddling his horse. Pure love of the game.

[gamblin4ever]

There are just too many gaded stakes in racing.

Owners/Breeders are only looking to get black type for the horses to help increase stud fees. Decrease the number of graded stakes run to try and force the connections to race against the better horses running instead of some of the races we've been seeing recently.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by 2MinsToPost

Is The Breeder's Cup ruining racing or is the ownership of some of these animals ruining racing? My point is this, those that say that The Breeder's Cup is ruining racing might think different in November when they can't sleep the night before with excitement about the Saturday when the best of the best meet and battle. Maybe the real problem from my novice eyes is the money in the ownership side and their desire to turn a profit versus a true love of the game and the horse? Lets buy this one for a million, race him for a year or a little more and hope to make millions after he snags a couple Graded Stakes and is sent to the farm to make babies. I realize few make money in this game but at times I think some folks let their ego and their wallet drive their decisions versus what some of the blue collar folks do - and that is own and train for the love of the game. I often at times think about a local trainer who holds down a ful time job here in Columbus and drives to River Downs almost every day checking on his stock. Pure love of the game. Last Friday their he was in the paddock still in his suit and tie from work saddling his horse. Pure love of the game.

The sport needs new owners and they need some tax incentives to draw them into the game. More owners mean more horses and more horses mean fuller feilds. The sport seems doomed to less race tracks and racing days.

[Danzig]

the whole problem right now is the breeding aspect. it's bigger business than the business it 'feeds'. rather than the best and brightest on the track being a good advertisement for their sire, or farm, they ARE the next big thing. situations such as that with point ashley don't help either! not enough money to be made on the track, it's all in the shed.