$5 Million Purse For Masscap If Big Brown Faces Curlin In Battle Of Unbeatens

[Norfolk]

From Suffolk Downs Press Office
$5 MILLION PURSE FOR MASSCAP IF BIG BROWN FACES CURLIN IN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

Suffolk Downs has announced that the purse for this year�s Massachusetts Handicap will be $5 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and 2007 Breeders� Cup Classic winner Curlin remain unbeaten in 2008 and go on to start in the MassCap against one another. The $5 million would include a $1 million participation bonus for each.

The 66th MassCap, scheduled for Saturday, September 20, and contested at 1-1/8 miles, currently carries a purse of $500,000 and is one of five races in the Breeders� Cup Challenge �Win and You�re In� Classic Division. The additional purse money would be funded by Coastal Development, LLC, a company controlled by Richard T. Fields, the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs.

�Big Brown and Curlin are regarded as the two best thoroughbreds in the world and racing fans would like nothing more than to see them go head to head,� said Fields. �If they are to square off, we feel that a $5 million purse is a great incentive and what better place than at Suffolk Downs in the city of Boston, the sports capital of the world.�

The purse would be $3 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and Curlin start the race but with one or both horses having suffered a defeat in 2008. The $3 million would include a $500,000 participation bonus for each.

Fields, Chairman of Coastal Development, LLC, who purchased his interest in Suffolk Downs in March of last year, was responsible for reviving the MassCap last September after a two-year absence. The race was won by Brass Hat.

The MassCap, first held in 1935 when the track opened, has a rich history. The list of MassCap winning horses includes Hall of Famers Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Riva Ridge, Cigar and Skip Away. Jockeys George Woolf, Eddie Arcaro, Chris McCarron and Jerry Bailey, among other Hall of Fame riders, have all piloted MassCap winners.

[blackthroatedwind]

Considering what they can get for TV rights it sounds like they're going cheap.

Tell Chip to up the purse.

[hockey2315]

Interesting. . . I'll have to go up there if they can actually pull it off (which I doubt).

[jcs11204]

Originally Posted by Norfolk

From Suffolk Downs Press Office
$5 MILLION PURSE FOR MASSCAP IF BIG BROWN FACES CURLIN IN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

Suffolk Downs has announced that the purse for this year�s Massachusetts Handicap will be $5 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and 2007 Breeders� Cup Classic winner Curlin remain unbeaten in 2008 and go on to start in the MassCap against one another. The $5 million would include a $1 million participation bonus for each.

The 66th MassCap, scheduled for Saturday, September 20, and contested at 1-1/8 miles, currently carries a purse of $500,000 and is one of five races in the Breeders� Cup Challenge �Win and You�re In� Classic Division. The additional purse money would be funded by Coastal Development, LLC, a company controlled by Richard T. Fields, the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs.

�Big Brown and Curlin are regarded as the two best thoroughbreds in the world and racing fans would like nothing more than to see them go head to head,� said Fields. �If they are to square off, we feel that a $5 million purse is a great incentive and what better place than at Suffolk Downs in the city of Boston, the sports capital of the world.�

The purse would be $3 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and Curlin start the race but with one or both horses having suffered a defeat in 2008. The $3 million would include a $500,000 participation bonus for each.

Fields, Chairman of Coastal Development, LLC, who purchased his interest in Suffolk Downs in March of last year, was responsible for reviving the MassCap last September after a two-year absence. The race was won by Brass Hat.

The MassCap, first held in 1935 when the track opened, has a rich history. The list of MassCap winning horses includes Hall of Famers Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Riva Ridge, Cigar and Skip Away. Jockeys George Woolf, Eddie Arcaro, Chris McCarron and Jerry Bailey, among other Hall of Fame riders, have all piloted MassCap winners.

what are the odd's of this happening ?
can big brown go travers... mass cap... ? its about a month off.

[Quiet Chris]

Big Brown is either going to lose to Casino Drive or retire an undefeated TC winner after the Belmont. A "foot problem" is a given.

[Mike]

This would be a better venue to settle this than would the Breeder's Cup on synthetic track, IMO

[jcs11204]

Originally Posted by Quiet Chris

Big Brown is either going to lose to Casino Drive or retire an undefeated TC winner after the Belmont. A "foot problem" is a given.

good point... casino drive spoils everything

[jcs11204]

Originally Posted by Mike

This would be a better venue to settle this than would the Breeder's Cup on synthetic track, IMO

i dont think there is much to settle, curlin would demolish this horse... and everyone knows i am not a huge curlin fan...

Suffolk....














pass.

[Quiet Chris]

Originally Posted by Mike

This would be a better venue to settle this than would the Breeder's Cup on synthetic track, IMO

If BB wins the Belmont than the place they should meet is in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Both would have wins there. Just move it up two weeks. That give Big Brown 3 weeks after the Travers and Curlin 3 weeks before the ARC.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Suffolk....




pass.

I had to use Babelfish translation to figure out exactly what you said about Tomcito. I already assumed the tone but I wasn't prepared for the poetic nature of the diss... "Tomcito inhales the ass."

Are we sure the Jockey Club Gold Cup isn't gonna work out? I like the 'move it up' thing but the purse would need to increase right? They're kinda playing that game now. I do remember hearing something about a couple more races for BB which stops with the Travers and Classic in theory...unless they meant 2 and then the BCC, which I doubt. Of course unless the Hoof Fairy saves the day, 'foot injury' does seem possible. They're almost to the duct tape stage of patching judging by the relative lack of hoof I saw in the last photos.

[Zaf]

BB has done enough

[Linny]

I love Suffolk! Ah New England in the fall...I'd go.

[dylbert]

Big Brown will contest his last race this Saturday. Suffolk Downs is getting its "15 minutes of fame" today.

Team Curlin seems very interested in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe which has much greater historical significance than gimmicky Beantown bash.

Race will most likely never happen.

[letswastemoney]

I'd enter a horse just for the 3rd place money. Wow. Then again, would entry fees go up because of this inflated purse?

[Linny]

I agree with Dylbert that it would never happen. BB will be gone after Sat. (They wont announce it for a while but he'll be gone.) Curlin will head back overseas, though a dirt test in Boston in the fall would be an interesting option.

Since I several options for lodging and friends in Boston it is fun to dream...

[dylbert]

Originally Posted by dylbert

Big Brown will contest his last race this Saturday. Suffolk Downs is getting its "15 minutes of fame" today.

Team Curlin seems very interested in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe which has much greater historical significance than gimmicky Beantown bash.

Race will most likely never happen.

Prophecy complete. Big Brown defeated. Suffolk Downs' 15 minutes has officially expired!