Three New BC Races

[mik9872]

I agree the mile and a half race is particuarrly stupid. The article also says there should be a series of marathon races throughout the year to support it, with a win an you are in status. Also, if these races do not affect the numbers of entants per race, they surely will dilute the quality of all of the races

[sumitas]

I'd like to see Belmont bring back the 12F allowance carded on every Belmont day up until a few years ago. Sounds good to make the Jockey Club Gold Cup at least 12 F.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I'd like to see Belmont bring back the 12F allowance carded on every Belmont day up until a few years ago. Sounds good to make the Jockey Club Gold Cup at least 12 F.

Do you know why there was a 1 1/2 mile allowance race on the Belmont undercard?

And, furthermore, you are suggesting the JCGC, once considered as prestigious a race as was run in this country, should now be reduced to being a prep for a completely inconsequential race. Brilliant.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Do you know why there was a 1 1/2 mile allowance race on the Belmont undercard?

And, furthermore, you are suggesting the JCGC, once considered as prestigious a race as was run in this country, should now be reduced to being a prep for a completely inconsequential race. Brilliant.

When it was THE championship race of the year, in Kelso and Buckpasser's time, it was run at 2 miles.

[saratogabrit]

I hope that the Turf Sprit might be added to the Global Sprint Challenge Series-it may be too close to the leg in Japan...

Ticket prices will shoot up again for next year on the Friday. I'm sure that they had these 3 more races agreed on last year but decided to add 3 and then 3 because they knew that the swingeing ticket prices increases would be best administered in 2 doses.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

When it was THE championship race of the year, in Kelso and Buckpasser's time, it was run at 2 miles.

Horsemen have always planned for big target days. The days of choice have simply changed.

When exactly did best return on investment shift from racetrack earnings to stallion earnings - the mid-1980's? I'd like to go back and look at the PP's of most of the horses who have run in the Breeder's Cup races since inception, to see how significant a change has (or has not?) occured in race frequency leading up to a big race.

[hockey2315]

The 12F race makes absolutely no sense for SO many reasons. . . WTF were they thinking?

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

The 12F race makes absolutely no sense for SO many reasons. . . WTF were they thinking?

The Breeders cup commitee have been taking Calder's extreme day way too serious. Can't wait for the Jockey's to race one another, leaning towards a Coa/nakatani exacta.

[sumitas]

It does make sense and the article described their thoughts. In 1989 Easy Goer won the JCGC in 2:29 1/5...After 1989 the JCGC was cut back to 10F by some sprint loving person in blinkers.

In 1974 Forego won the JCGC in 3:21 1/5. The JCGC has been run since 1919. Only since 1990 has it been run at it's shortest 10F distance.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I agree with Sumitas, this is a fine idea. I'd also like to see the Breeders Cup card a 3 furlong sprint. For the horses that can't go the grueling 6 panels of the Sprint. While they are at it, a race for horses ages 6 and up. Because really, how can we expect the old guys to compete with the young ones. I'm sure the quality of the races will be about the same.

My boy is back

[ArlJim78]

if this were April first I'd be convinced this was a joke.
was there a groundswell of support for these races?
its baffling really why they'd want to water down the other races.
plus the "win and you're in" nonsense.
It really has become a joke.

In other news, the DRF has hired BBB as handicapper-in-chief.

[sumitas]

At this time who are the pre-eminent "marathon" horses that may factor in the new 12F division ?

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I agree with Sumitas, this is a fine idea. I'd also like to see the Breeders Cup card a 3 furlong sprint. For the horses that can't go the grueling 6 panels of the Sprint. While they are at it, a race for horses ages 6 and up. Because really, how can we expect the old guys to compete with the young ones. I'm sure the quality of the races will be about the same.

i knew someday caller one would be a contender again..

http://www.drf.com/workoutsForHorseA...o?rNo=97027684

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I'd like to see Belmont bring back the 12F allowance carded on every Belmont day up until a few years ago. Sounds good to make the Jockey Club Gold Cup at least 12 F.

Since you don't know why this race was run I will tell you......it was run at the request of the TV Network covering the Belmont so that they could test their equipment on a race comparable to the Belmont before that race was run.

Why, then, did NYRA stop running it? Because it barely fills, at best, and it is important on big days to run races with full fields from the obvious handle perspective.

[blackthroatedwind]

The real reason the BC is adding these races is to attempt to increase handle and therefore revenue.

Noble intentions.....don't ya think?

[sumitas]

The JCGC , having been shortened to the more common distance of 1¼ miles in 1990, has reduced its distinctiveness.

The race was once run (1976 through 1989) at 1½ miles, but from 1921 through 1975 it was two miles long.

Maybe a return to the 2 mile distance or possibly a 1 5/8 will bring back some of the glamour of this great race.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by sumitas

The JCGC , having been shortened to the more common distance of 1¼ miles in 1990, has reduced its distinctiveness.

The race was once run (1976 through 1989) at 1½ miles, but from 1921 through 1975 it was two miles long.

Maybe a return to the 2 mile distance or possibly a 1 5/8 will bring back some of the glamour of this great race.

When Malibu Moonshine wins it?

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

When Malibu Moonshine wins it?

Lest we forget that this also gives the owners extra incentive to keep Student Council in training next year.

It's like they wrote the race just for him.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I actually think that a dirt race at 12f would be a good thing. I know that for the first few years, it's going to be very hard to watch because we simply don't have that many horses that can run well at that distance anymore. But I think that if there is a BC race for them and if there were to be a series in place throughout the year, say 6-8 12f races with purses of $500k or more in each and a points bonus attatched to it, in a few years, there would be horses to fill these races. Today, there is no incentive to breed these kinds of horses because the races for them don't exist. But create a market for them and I think that more breeders would look to fill it.

Looks like they are headed towards doing this. I think a bunch of people are looking only at the short term here and thinking about how ugly this race will be and what it's going to be like for the first few years. It's going to be brutal, no doubt about it. I do think, however, that over the coming years, it's going to start getting better. I remember when the JCGC was a 12f race and I know it was a 16f race for a long time before that. I know that races like the Brooklyn and the Woodward used to be run at 12f also. I remember people complaining when the JCGC was reduced to 10f and when the Vosburgh was reduced to 6.5f then to 6f. I hear the uproar when people like myself suggest that the TC races be reduced in distance. People keep saying that we are giving in to the breeders and making the horses into an even less sturdy breed. I believe that is true. But I kind of feel like it's contradictory to complain about the "woosification" of the horses then complain again when someone is at least trying to turn it around. I also believe that the BC is doing a good thing here in trying to turn that around. The first move had to be made by someone. The breeders weren't going to do it. They didn't have any incentive at all to breed horses to run longer distances when there were no races to run them. Now, they will have some spots so now there will be at least a little incentive. I applaud the BC for making the first move here. They've created a market for breeders to fill. But it's going to take time. I don't think anyone that is into the game and knows what's really going on is going to mistake the horses that win this race as true champions. We know it's going to be won for a while by the plodders that have no speed and can't compete with others at normal distances. Horses like Jazil, for instance. For a person like me, one who's usually looking at the negative side of the sport and trying to look for ideas that could make it better, I think this is a step in the right direction. A baby step but a step nonetheless.