Prediction for BC- smallest per race entries

mik9872 · #1 10-13-2007, 08:29 AM

The entries per race will be an all-time smallest per race entries. There are the usual defections due to injuries. Also the addition of three new races and fear of Monmouth bias will lead to less entries.

Travis Stone · #2 10-13-2007, 09:25 AM

In all honesty, at this point, it sounds like you might be right. Less Euro's are shipping over for the races, horses are dropping and retiring like flies.

Pedigree Ann · #3 10-13-2007, 10:07 AM

Apropos, from the DRF:

Vacare, who earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with her half-length victory in last weekend's First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, will not run in that race and instead will be pointed to the Grade 1 Matriarch at Hollywood Park in late November.

THis is a good move for her, because she doesn't really stay 10 or 11f; she is more of a miler plus. But it points out the absurdity of using shorter races like this for 'Win and you're in" races for the FM turf.

Cannon Shell · #4 10-13-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Apropos, from the DRF:

Vacare, who earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with her half-length victory in last weekend's First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, will not run in that race and instead will be pointed to the Grade 1 Matriarch at Hollywood Park in late November.

THis is a good move for her, because she doesn't really stay 10 or 11f; she is more of a miler plus. But it points out the absurdity of using shorter races like this for 'Win and you're in" races for the FM turf.

Good point

SniperSB23 · #5 10-13-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Apropos, from the DRF:

Vacare, who earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with her half-length victory in last weekend's First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, will not run in that race and instead will be pointed to the Grade 1 Matriarch at Hollywood Park in late November.

THis is a good move for her, because she doesn't really stay 10 or 11f; she is more of a miler plus. But it points out the absurdity of using shorter races like this for 'Win and you're in" races for the FM turf.

Or the absurdity of having the BC at a track that can't even support the proper distances.

jballscalls · #6 10-13-2007, 07:23 PM

I disagree, wouldnt you think that with more and more defections lots of grade 2 and grade 3 types will just be waiting in the wings?? I mean a million or 2 million bucks is worth a stab.

Danzig · #7 10-13-2007, 07:32 PM

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do...3&subs=0&arc=1

Pedigree Ann · #8 10-14-2007, 10:23 AM

Don't always agree with Crist, but he's on the money this time. The Breeders' Cup PR has consistently missed the mark. First the "World Championships" addition is pure crap. How many champions from the Southern Hemisphere show up? North American/European championship at best, and often enough these days, the best Euros give it a pass and the second tier (Red Rocks) show up.

Win and you're in would have a reason for being if and only if (sorry, a little math talk there) by winning, horses who weren't nominated and/or whose sire wasn't nominated could get the supplemental fees waived so they could be included in the field based on their points.

Actually, the whole idea of the Breeders' Cup as a championship of any kind leaves a bad taste in my mouth. In the past, the entire campaign mattered - like NASCAR or PGA, you racked up a number of wins and close finishes to become a champion. Tiger Woods is the best golfer, even if he doesn't win the Masters this year. Easy Goer was champion 2yo of his year, even thought he lost the Juvie. Promoting the BC as a championship like the Final Four or some other playoff format takes interest away from the racing the rest of the year. Like I said, the BC PR people don't seem to be all that on the ball to me.

saratogabrit · #9 10-14-2007, 11:43 AM

There's more Stakes and Graded races carded during their 4 day meet than for any BC since the 1999 3 day meet at Gulfstream-which I think was all Stakes.

Aside from the 11 Breeders' Cup races-there are around 14 other Graded/Stakes races from Wednesday to Saturday.

In one sense I'm glad they've beefed Friday up. The card for last years day before BC at Churchill was a joke. The day lasted around 6 hours from 1st till last race and all we got were 2 Grade 3 and a hatful of Claiming races.

Next year is the test for the event. Can they remind the Europeans that they had their best ever meet the last time the BC was held in California-2 wins and 1 DH and even more importantly can they convince Asian connections to ship over.

Danzig · #10 10-14-2007, 12:23 PM

not sure how much luck you'd have getting the asians to come over, the purses at home are pretty high. why travel so far when you can make tons at home? they don't seem to show much interest in dubai either. of course they have changed a little, with runners coming to the american derby for instance. give them time.

as for the bc, it's given too much credit, as is the derby, as far as year-end voting.

rather than win and you're in, there should be a points series, not just aim for one race to get in, and those with the most points get their championship. anything is better than voting. especially when the voters don't even know many of the horses that are running.

Linny · #11 10-14-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Or the absurdity of having the BC at a track that can't even support the proper distances.

No matter where it's held the FMTurf is always at 1 3/8 or 1 1/4. It's too long for Vacare no matter what.

The "Win and your in" idea is a joke, geared only to create some sense of "league continuity" on the ESPN shows. Why was this race a qualifier (wrong distance) when the Frizette was not? TV coveage, that's why.