Sign of a shift from dirt to synthetics?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

As a fan of dirt racing I can't help but feel this is another nail in the coffin.

Don't forget the Sheik races Australia, England, France ... turf, dirt, synthetics ... American breeders haven't previously "gone turf" or "gone synthetic" over the last 20 years for the Sheik and put their business (foal crop) on the line breeding with the hope that they will get something one or three or nine deep-pocketed customers will like and buy for overseas racing. Americans will always breed for American racing, and that still means for outstanding dirt three-year-olds, don't you think?

Edit: and don't forget, too, that those "ridiculous prices" have always been produced only when bidders are going against each other (new $$ faces in the game with Luca, Baffert, too, for example, in the 1980's ... ) and the Shiek and Coolmore don't duel much any more.