Santa Anita renames G1s

[Merlinsky]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[Calzone Lord]

I don't think it does anything to ruin the class or tradition of Santa Anita racing.

It just shows that they can't even do a good job at something as simple as naming stakes races.

Naming a Grade 1 race for a horse who never even raced at your track is nuts. Especially when so many great ones have competed at Santa Anita and don't have a race named for them.

I'm fine with naming stakes The Rodeo Drive, The L. A Woman, and the Chandelier ... they want to be pretentious ... and those are pretentious names for stakes races.

[Cannon Shell]

They named a race after the filly Chandelier?

I dont think she ever won a stake

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

They named a race after the filly Chandelier?

I dont think she ever won a stake

She was 2nd in a G3 once. Are you telling me that's not worthy of immortalizing?

It would've killed them to rename this race the Zenyatta instead of renaming the Lady's Secret? It's a G1.

Why not sell the name of the race to sponsors. They do it for the Breeders Cup, Kentucky Derby why not other grade 1 races. Derbytrail.com stakes

[GPK]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

Why not sell the name of the race to sponsors. They do it for the Breeders Cup, Kentucky Derby why not other grade 1 races. Derbytrail.com stakes

A stakes race for dated nickels? Really?