Santa Anita renames G1s

Calzone Lord · #1 07-13-2012, 05:09 PM

The Cliff's Edge at least won a couple of Graded Stakes races at Churchill Downs and competed in the Kentucky Derby as a morning line favorite over Smarty Jones.

If they wanted to honor Stronach ... his Milwaukee Brew is one of just 3 horses in history to win 2 Santa Anita Handicaps (John Henry and Lava Man the other two)

Renaming the Goodwood the Milwaukee Brew would have at least made sense.

Renaming the Goodwood after Awesome Again makes about as much sense as Belmont Park naming a race after Zenyatta.

Indian Charlie · #2 07-13-2012, 05:16 PM

It's nice they named a race after a great Doors song!

10 pnt move up · #3 07-13-2012, 05:37 PM

I don't believe they had a choice though, Oak Tree had rights to the names of the races, though these names defy logic.

#4 07-13-2012, 05:47 PM

Eddie Logan had a race named after him so that pretty much set the bar

Merlinsky · #5 07-13-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I don't believe they had a choice though, Oak Tree had rights to the names of the races, though these names defy logic.

They couldn't have all the naming rights though. I mean the Lady's Secret? Monmouth has one albeit ungraded and Rachel won it. It's not like Oak Tree is able to transfer the G1. The race at SA retains it. Would've been nice if the Mosses could've asked them to reconsider which race got renamed.

10 pnt move up · #6 07-13-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

They couldn't have all the naming rights though. I mean the Lady's Secret? Monmouth has one albeit ungraded and Rachel won it. It's not like Oak Tree is able to transfer the G1. The race at SA retains it. Would've been nice if the Mosses could've asked them to reconsider which race got renamed.

Someone smarter than me would need to ask the legal questions, I just remember reading it could be an issue over a year ago.

Merlinsky · #7 07-13-2012, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Someone smarter than me would need to ask the legal questions, I just remember reading it could be an issue over a year ago.

Yeah, somebody's gotta know the deal on that. I assume stuff specifically named after Oak Tree (e.g. the song 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree' is probably responsible for that race) would be the ones they're more likely to have a legal issue with. Even if there wasn't, I can understand not wanting to continue to promote things related to a group you're no longer associated with. It's sad if you have a sense of tradition, but I guess I get it.

I'm pretty sure everybody waits til Steve goes on vacation for stuff to hit the fan. His week is gonna be swamped when he gets back. He may not want to get into all of it, but off the top of my head, besides the usual race results and picks, we've had things like Holy Bull's pensioning, elaboration by Reddam on I'll Have Another, the Asmussen mares, Union Rags injury, the Santa Anita race renaming, the continued shenanigans of the NY Times, the Senate committee hearing, Albarado and the implications of his legal situation, and Caleb's Posse's retirement.

skyfire · #8 07-13-2012, 08:38 PM

Stronach and his organization are bush leaque, as are their new names: the Chandelier, are you kidding? Awesome Again? What alot of great memories that name brings....Rodeo Drive? Fabulous racing connection. Stronach and his minions are ruining the class and

tradition of Oak Tree and Santa Anita. What would it cost to keep the names? Some donation to charity?

Danzig · #9 07-13-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The Cliff's Edge at least won a couple of Graded Stakes races at Churchill Downs and competed in the Kentucky Derby as a morning line favorite over Smarty Jones.

If they wanted to honor Stronach ... his Milwaukee Brew is one of just 3 horses in history to win 2 Santa Anita Handicaps (John Henry and Lava Man the other two)

Renaming the Goodwood the Milwaukee Brew would have at least made sense.

Renaming the Goodwood after Awesome Again makes about as much sense as Belmont Park naming a race after Zenyatta.

i agree with everything you say...but i don't think it's to honor stronach, probably just to remind people that awesome again is still around (50k at adena!). no such thing as bad p.r. and all that.
besides, you have the man o war, on turf. man o war never ran on turf.