Before the start ~ your personal, pre BC I memories

[Soaring Softly]

I was too "young in the game" (not young as a person, mind you) in 1984 to have much recollection of anything I really thought about the Breeders Cup then. I just know I was really excited about it. I'm born and raised SoCal, but for some reason, I didn't go to Hollywood Park that day. I just parked myself in front of the TV with my Racing Form.

I remember Chief's Crown, Fran's Valentine/Outstandingly, Eillo, Royal Heroine, Princess Rooney, Lashkari, and Wild Again like they were yesterday!

I'd like to tell a little story about 1986 Breeders Cup at Santa Anita, my first Breeders Cup that I attended, and it speaks to the issue that came up earlier in the thread about the wagering opportunities back in those days.

I went to a seminar the night before, held at the adjacent mall. A popular and respected newspaper handicapper, Jerry Antonucci, was on the panel. Exactas ($5 minimum) were only offered in the 5th, 7th, and 9th back in those days, and Jerry was in a snit because the Mile came up in the 4th race that day. He said that the only two horses in that race were Last Tycoon and Palace Music, and he was gnashing his teeth because there was no exacta opportunity.

Turns out he was right! Last Tycoon won that Mile at some ridiculous price, and Palace Music came in 2nd! I had $2 to WP (that was my MO at the time) on Last Tycoon only because of Jerry Antonucci, and I swear, I thought I was rolling in dough! Man, that was fun!

[DaTruth]

I watched the first BC in the grandstand at lovely Jefferson Downs. I was 15 and a newbie to a sport that I had just started following that year. Simulcasting was basically non-existent in Louisiana in 1984. Other than the rare simulcast of a major stakes event, you were limited to wagering on the live races at your local track unless you wanted to bet with a bookie, which many opted to do. My exposure to major horses in 1984 was mostly confined to watching replays on Racehorse Digest and reading about the equine stars in DRF, Blood Horse, and Thoroughbred Record, so it was quite exciting to see so many good horses run, even if I was just watching them on a small color (I think) monitor at JD. I recall betting on Wild Again because he had won the New Orleans Handicap earlier that year, but it is more likely that I bet on him to place or show. Also, if my memory is correct, the BC pools were not yet commingled, so the payoffs were different depending on where you bet.