Churchill deal steals 2010 BC from Belmont

[Payson Dave]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It's sort of unavoidable though isn't it? How can you foresee rain years in advance? Most meteorologists can't even predict rain a few hours ahead of schedule. Unless you are saying have the BC where there is never a chance of rain. I'm not sure such a place exists.

????Dubai????

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It's sort of unavoidable though isn't it? How can you foresee rain years in advance? Most meteorologists can't even predict rain a few hours ahead of schedule. Unless you are saying have the BC where there is never a chance of rain. I'm not sure such a place exists.

I've been saying for years that they should move the BC to a dome.
Would racing indoors be kind of stupid, pointless, and essentially a bunch of crap? Yup.
That's what would make it perfect for the Breeders' Cup.
If I can somehow convince those in power that horses would be somehow safer racing indoors, I predict the Metrodome will be the proud home of the 2011 BC.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

It's sort of unavoidable though isn't it? How can you foresee rain years in advance? Most meteorologists can't even predict rain a few hours ahead of schedule. Unless you are saying have the BC where there is never a chance of rain. I'm not sure such a place exists.

Well they dont blow bowl games in Michigan do they? Its not fair but maybe a warm weather place should be mandatory to help the sport. What are the chances november in new york is not freezing cold and or raining?

[pgiaco]

Originally Posted by Quiet Chris

The Breeders Cup at Churchill is much better than the BC at Belmont. Churchill fills up and has a great atmosphere. Belmont could easily be 40 degrees and freezing with the winds. Throw in a home Giants or Jets game on the Sunday and the Yankees or Mets in the World Series and the BC doesn't even get any coverage.

1988 at Churchill has them all beat...Rain, cold, Classic run in darkness. If it wasn't for Personal Ensign day would have totally sucked.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Scab horses?

Am I the only one here that is bothered by the notion that it was promised to NYRA for 2010 and then rescinded for a more favorable financial arrangement for the BC machine. These people piss me off from their phony "Win and you can pay to be in racing" to their worsening destruction of the racing season where every race run between now and the first of the year is neutered because of this astroturf festival in Southern California the next two years.

These "mercenary muppets" will not have the best horses in the world at the Astroturf Festival this year because the poly boycot contingent,which silently grows by the day, will make these races a disgrace. The "Win and Your In" lies,awarding NYRA 2010 and then backing out, forcing two years of Poly on everyone gives us a trifecta of reasons for why the Championships are being ruined by fools who have become reason enough to boycott the event. Good Luck wagering on this event this year. There is more order to a lottery.

[mbahadur]

Went to the 1994 and 1998 Breeders Cups at Churchill and I remember the weather was pretty nice. I am sure that the seats I bought back then have gone up in price at least fivefold. I still wish I would have cashed in on One Dreamer in the 1994 Distaff. I remember darkness setting in quickly as Concern won the 1994 Classic and Awesome Again won the 1998 Classic (with the wild ride on Swain). Mindy McCready (Roger Clemens' girlfriend) was still in the limelight and sang the National Anthem at the 1998 BC.

Since I work within minutes of Churchill Downs, I couldn't be happier to have the BC return there. With Bobby Petrino gone, there is not much going on in October locally sportswise to compete against the BC.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

They could run the Breeders Cup on the equator, it's not going to help the sport at all.

aint no debate there....horse racing is dead other then a gambling component.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

They could run the Breeders Cup on the equator, it's not going to help the sport at all.

With the state of the sport and industry -- sadly -- you are correct. In hearing Charlie Hayward's comments, of course I agree and say there is credibility in NYRA looking at "potential alternatives" so to speak. If NYRA does not get the BC in 2010, in an ideal world (yes, ideal), hopefully by 2010 VLT's will be up and running in NY and perhaps there will be VLT revenue and benefits realized. Could NYRA get tough and look to put together some sort of "Championship" series or day? Sure they could.

However, and I am not saying it shouldn't be looked at or done, that could be a short-term thinking and short-term benefits. It could also be more divisive, perhaps short-term and long-term. Somewhere, the cannibalization has to stop for there to be change and improvement. We all have seen what the "what's in it for me and only me" thinking has done to our sport and industry.

Perhaps this latest midnight hour, backroom, cloak and dagger deal can be used as a catalyst for change, a paradigm shift, and maybe -- just maybe -- the BC, the NTRA, the Jockey Club, the RCI, and other bodies can for once work together. Sure it's a lot to ask. It's perhaps impossible to vision. But there is often one with a vision.

Eric

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

They could run the Breeders Cup on the equator, it's not going to help the sport at all.

Hoss I can't believe that if the handle dropped by a large number that they wouldn't rethink the second year on polytrack. I agree that the BC does nothing for selling the sport because the casual 2 dollar fan couldn't tell you what horses are eligible for the Distaff, but if handle dropped 20% compared to the disaster that was Monmouth you would see these guys back off a second year on Poly faster than the country drop kicked Dukakis/Quayle in '88

There is no way the handle drops significantly this year.

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Yeah, forgot about the typhoon last year. I wonder what it will be like compared to '06.

They'd bet on goats in California.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I agree that if there is a big handle drop this year, they're going to rethink it. But what are their options? From what i remember, which isn't much nowadays, the reason Santa Anita got the second year was essentially no one else wanted it. Either way, it's a mess as usual.

Was it that nobody wanted it, or that a case was made that more could be done with a two-year committment/program vis a vis marketing, promotion, corporate sponsorship, etc.? I don't remember the details and specifics but I thought there were a few tracks in the hunt or at least interested.

Eric

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I honestly don't remember and am too lazy to look it up. But, I think the whole NYRA thing was in full swing when the decision was made, which took them out of the equation. They really can't run it at Gulfstream anymore, which basically leaves California and Churchill. I'm not sure why Churchill didn't get it. Maybe something to do with the horseman dispute?

Churchill wined incessantly they couldn't make enough money on it to make it worth their while....honestly, I heard it on the radio on some show JJ Graci used to be on it has to be true!!

[ELA]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I honestly don't remember and am too lazy to look it up. But, I think the whole NYRA thing was in full swing when the decision was made, which took them out of the equation. They really can't run it at Gulfstream anymore, which basically leaves California and Churchill. I'm not sure why Churchill didn't get it. Maybe something to do with the horseman dispute?

Very true. The NYRA situation was at the peak and as docicu3 said -- CD took the position that they couldn't make a profit, enough profit, etc. or something along those lines. I too don't remember the specifics or the claims, but that was the essence of it.

Although it's ironic, and very sad, to a certain extent -- the tracks and the BC have somewhat diametrically opposing mindsets.

Eric

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ELA

Was it that nobody wanted it, or that a case was made that more could be done with a two-year committment/program vis a vis marketing, promotion, corporate sponsorship, etc.? I don't remember the details and specifics but I thought there were a few tracks in the hunt or at least interested.

Eric

i think santa anita got it two years running for promotional and marketing reasons. they think the west coast offers them a big market, and will give them a chance to promote the bc better.
as for churchill whining...monmouth conceded the bc was pretty much a loss for them, with all they put into the track to host, and with the bc taking ALL handle for the day, as per their agreement. i doubt monmouth tries to get the bc again-and churchill has said that it isn't a big moneymaker, certainly not as big for them as it could be due to the loss of handle.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I honestly don't remember and am too lazy to look it up. But, I think the whole NYRA thing was in full swing when the decision was made, which took them out of the equation. They really can't run it at Gulfstream anymore, which basically leaves California and Churchill. I'm not sure why Churchill didn't get it. Maybe something to do with the horseman dispute?

Originally, Churchill's negotiations with the BC centered around a plan that would have the Downs host the Cup 5 out of 7 years. That's what CDI wanted, and voiced lack of sufficient justifiable revenue from single Cup visits as the reason they wanted a multi-year deal. That posture earned them a rebuke from Kentucky State and Louisville City officials for CDI's obvious lack of concern for the economic impact Cup visits have on the Commonwealth. (And don't forget, CDI has been receiving tax breaks from the City of Louisville based on Cup hosting regularity..)

The change of heart from Churchill about hosting a Cup isn't the negative here to my thinking... What is far more disturbing is the BCL's total lack of integrity. They come off in this as stunning hypocrites. Their word as an organization has effectively been rendered meaningless. It will not be a surprise when this incident is later pointed to as the beginning of the end of the Breeders' Cup as an important event.

Though Charlie Hayward didn't commit to it entirely Monday on ATR, if you listen carefully you can hear the underpinnings of the Belmont Fall Championships being restored to their rightful place in the game.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Payson Dave

????Dubai????

Turf Paradise!

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The change of heart from Churchill about hosting a Cup isn't the negative here to my thinking... What is far more disturbing is the BCL's total lack of integrity. They come off in this as stunning hypocrites. Their word as an organization has effectively been rendered meaningless. It will not be a surprise when this incident is later pointed to as the beginning of the end of the Breeders' Cup as an important event.

Though Charlie Hayward didn't commit to it entirely Monday on ATR, if you listen carefully you can hear the underpinnings of the Belmont Fall Championships being restored to their rightful place in the game.

Exactly.....how can you ever care about or trust what they say? "Win and your in my tukus" .......why aren't they hung out to dry with these used car salesman tactics?

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by docicu3

The change of heart from Churchill about hosting a Cup isn't the negative here to my thinking... What is far more disturbing is the BCL's total lack of integrity. They come off in this as stunning hypocrites. Their word as an organization has effectively been rendered meaningless. It will not be a surprise when this incident is later pointed to as the beginning of the end of the Breeders' Cup as an important event.

Though Charlie Hayward didn't commit to it entirely Monday on ATR, if you listen carefully you can hear the underpinnings of the Belmont Fall Championships being restored to their rightful place in the game.

QUOTE]

What about all the people who are on the Board of Directors of Churchill and/or who are Breeders Cup Trustees who are ALSO on the Board of Directors at NYRA?

If you want to be critical, that's a fair place to start.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by docicu3

I agree that the BC does nothing for selling the sport because the casual 2 dollar fan couldn't tell you what horses are eligible for the Distaff, but if handle dropped 20% compared to the disaster that was Monmouth you would see these guys back off a second year on Poly faster than the country drop kicked Dukakis/Quayle in '88

What?