Crazy Ideas

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

While on a long drive down the boring road, some thoughts came to my head. I was wondering would some kind of incentive plan work to help attract higher quality fields than what we are seeing these days. If this doesn't make sense, forgive me as I didn't totally think it all the way out. So I was thinking that instead of wasting money creating these stupid new BC races, they could put that money to better use. I was thinking that they could add $50k to the purse of each race that attracts a previous grade one winner to the field. For each horse, they could add $50k. For example, if the Whitney draws three horses that are grade one winners, there would be $150k added to the purse. I was thinking lesser amounts for grade two winners ($25k) and grade three winners ($10k). The money that is added to the purse could be distrubuted in the same manner as the rest of the purse or to make it more interesting, it could be winner take all. Is this something that could possibly be done? If it could be, do u think it would work?

Suffolk Downs is trying a variation on this for the Mass Cap. They are going to give an extra $100K to any Grade I winner that wins the Mass Cap. An extra $200K to any double Grade I winner that wins the Mass Cap. Let's see who they attract.

--Dunbar

[King Glorious]

I hadn't read that. I think it's an interesting attempt. I don't know if it will work but at least it's trying something. I'm trying to think back to 1990. Didn't Arlington offer some kind of increase to the purse of the race they were trying to get Sunday Silence and Easy Goer too and because of the extra purse money, they ended up getting a couple of others that otherwise weren't considering the race? Anyone remember how that situation went?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I hadn't read that. I think it's an interesting attempt. I don't know if it will work but at least it's trying something. I'm trying to think back to 1990. Didn't Arlington offer some kind of increase to the purse of the race they were trying to get Sunday Silence and Easy Goer too and because of the extra purse money, they ended up getting a couple of others that otherwise weren't considering the race? Anyone remember how that situation went?

It was designed as a challenge for Easy Goer, Sunday Silence and Criminal Type but the first two were retired before it was supposed to happen.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

It was designed as a challenge for Easy Goer, Sunday Silence and Criminal Type but the first two were retired before it was supposed to happen.

I remembered that much but I don't remember if Criminal Type still went to the race. I don't see it listed among his career wins. Do u remember if any of the other top horses of that year were planning to show up even before the two headliners dropped out? Do u remember what the purse bonus was supposed to be and how it was to be paid out?

[blackthroatedwind]

I think it was supposed to be for all three of them and don't remember anything else ( that's a lot of questions for early in the morning ).

Criminal Type won the Whitney for his final career win. I think his flop in the Woodward was his final career start.

[PPerfectfan]

How bout making a rule that to run in the BC, you have to run in atleast 4-5 Grade 1 or 2 races? All of these phantom injuries would be a thing of the past.

[Bobby Fischer]

stuff like this is good for the sport.
Attracting Grade 1 winners is big.
Even controversial ideas like appearance fees...

A comprehensive effort is needed if the sport of racing is to get serious. Management, Planning Group(ideas), Media Group(national television),Wager Service Group(phone/internet/rebates),Marketing Group

[rocknrowl]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

How bout making a rule that to run in the BC, you have to run in atleast 4-5 Grade 1 or 2 races? All of these phantom injuries would be a thing of the past.

Why not make all of the BC races like the Derby. You get in on graded Stakes earnings or maybe even narrow it down to earnings from either Grade/Group 1 and 2 races or only select Grade/Group 1 and 2 races.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

How bout making a rule that to run in the BC, you have to run in atleast 4-5 Grade 1 or 2 races? All of these phantom injuries would be a thing of the past.

What would you do about the 2 yo races and Sprint?
I would love to know how many horses have skipped a BC race that they had a good chance of winning because of a "phantom "injury?

[Honu]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

How bout making a rule that to run in the BC, you have to run in atleast 4-5 Grade 1 or 2 races? All of these phantom injuries would be a thing of the past.

Problem with that is how are you going to run your 2 yr old in 4 or 5 grade one's or two's? That would have eliminated Action This Day and Halfbridled and a bunch of others and Pleasantly Perfect , because he only had one graded prep before he won the breeders cup.