2011 Graded Stakes: All Hail the BC

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

What possible reason could be given for upgrading the BC Marathon?

it makes as much sense as having the race in the first place.


the sport would be well served by getting rid of a lot of graded races. it would make the top level of the sport far more competitive.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by Danzig

it makes as much sense as having the race in the first place.

The Marathon is a good idea... no, it will never become the next Derby, but having long distance races given some prominence is fine. And while it won't stop the Lookin at Lucky's from retiring at 3, it's at least an effort and an attempt... two things horse racing in general fails to do a lot of the time.

[slotdirt]

I am just waiting for the Blue Grass to finally be downgraded to a G2. I think I'll keep waiting on that one.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

When I first heard about the Marathon - I remember telling someone 'great - a bad Euro will win it everytime it's on synthetic and a bad A. P. Indy will win it everytime it's on dirt'

So far - after 3 editions - two synthetic versions have gone to horrid Euro's and the lone dirt version has gone to a horrible A. P. Indy.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

When I first heard about the Marathon - I remember telling someone 'great - a bad Euro will win it everytime it's on synthetic and a bad A. P. Indy will win it everytime it's on dirt'

So far - after 3 editions - two synthetic versions have gone to horrid Euro's and the lone dirt version has gone to a horrible A. P. Indy.

You're the bestest

[pweizer]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The Marathon is a good idea... no, it will never become the next Derby, but having long distance races given some prominence is fine. And while it won't stop the Lookin at Lucky's from retiring at 3, it's at least an effort and an attempt... two things horse racing in general fails to do a lot of the time.

It may be a good idea (I am not so sure) but there is absolutely no possible way that based on the three runnings to date that they have ever assembled a grade 2 field nor are the prospects any better for any quality starters with this new grading. It is just silly.

Paul

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by pweizer

It may be a good idea (I am not so sure) but there is absolutely no possible way that based on the three runnings to date that they have ever assembled a grade 2 field nor are the prospects any better for any quality starters with this new grading. It is just silly.

Paul

I do think it's a good idea... it's not going to change the world, but it's something.

As for the grading... don't get me started on the grading process. A lot of grades out there don't make a lot of sense...

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I do think it's a good idea... it's not going to change the world, but it's something.

As for the grading... don't get me started on the grading process. A lot of grades out there don't make a lot of sense...

I have no issue with distance racing. But there is no structure in American racing to support a marathon division. Until tracks are willing to write longer races and let them go with short fields there never will be an semblence of a marathon division.

The majority of tracks have a hard time filling maiden or allowance races longer than 1 1/16th on the dirt. You cant "grow" legit stakes horses without a solid base of races to develop in. Until the tracks are willing to use short fields then you simply wont get much horseman participation because most guys are too unfamilar with training horses to go longer distances and there arent that many American dirt pedigrees that want 1 1/2 and further. What will make them try is short fields. There won't be many of them to start with but unless they start at the lower levels, the marathon will simply continue to be filled with 2nd raters as Drugs said.

How that race was elevated after the three decidely subpar runnings is a mystery.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The Marathon is a good idea... no, it will never become the next Derby, but having long distance races given some prominence is fine. And while it won't stop the Lookin at Lucky's from retiring at 3, it's at least an effort and an attempt... two things horse racing in general fails to do a lot of the time.

I agree.