Three New BC Races

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Extra races that will reduce the pools on Saturday. Outstanding.

Oh yeah they usually have mortatorium on wagering the weeks leading up to the BC

[cmorioles]

As with most things in racing, this is good for owners/trainers, bad for bettors. The BC used to be the one day you could count on big fields and competitive races. Not any more. Of course, nobody cares about bettors anyway.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

As with most things in racing, this is good for owners/trainers, bad for bettors. The BC used to be the one day you could count on big fields and competitive races. Not any more. Of course, nobody cares about bettors anyway.

How it is "bad for bettors?"

The dilution of the fields argument is a tepid one at best.

[cmorioles]

Because now we get smaller fields on the one day we used to be able to count on big fields. Just like the rest of the stakes races, the talent is going to get diluted among more races, period. Less horses in a race means less competition and shorter prices. That isn't bad for bettors?

[Riot]

Because now we get smaller fields on the one day we used to be able to count on big fields.

I'm not convinced of that, I think it's an assumption that won't play out. But we'll both just have to see.

I don't know about Euro attendance in 2008. Artificial surface presence expands the options for many of them, but they have to add the longer flight across country from NY. The generally-always-firm turf course is attractive to enough horses from Euro to be tempting (they don't all like ground with give in it).

What was the Euro attendence at the last left coast BC, anybody recall?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Riot

I'm not convinced of that, I think it's an assumption that won't play out. But we'll both just have to see.

It obviously will reduce field size. There is no doubt about that. The addition of three new races this year already decreased field size.
If someone had a really top notch 2yo turf filly this year they could either take a shot against the boys in the juvenile turf OR try the dirt in the juvy fillies. Not next year. They can enter her in a BIG money 2yo turf race for fillies instead.
Saying that it won't reduce field size is nonsensical. People could disagree on how big of an impact it will have....but it will certainly have an impact.

[Bobby Fischer]

I am not a fan of synthetic surface at major tracks, however if the 2008 BC is managed even half way decent, it should be a huge success as far as field size.

The surfaces have been around for a few years now and trainers are catching on.
In 2008 you will get all the standard BC horses , + several polytrack specialists, + extra foriegn turf horses to run on synthetic.

I don't think we will see negative effects until we move back to a dirt surface for a few years. I think a BC with a synthetic surface lowers the quality of the sport, but field size should increase.

The Classic should absolutely have a fully loaded gate in 2008. If not then someone isn't doing their job.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by miraja2

It obviously will reduce field size. There is no doubt about that. The addition of three new races this year already decreased field size.
If someone had a really top notch 2yo turf filly this year they could either take a shot against the boys in the juvenile turf OR try the dirt in the juvy fillies. Not next year. They can enter her in a BIG money 2yo turf race for fillies instead.
Saying that it won't reduce field size is nonsensical. People could disagree on how big of an impact it will have....but it will certainly have an impact.

Didn't the Juvenile races all vastly oversubscribe this year? I am sure that was a major factor in the decision to add the juvenile fillies turf race. So now instead of 22 entries in the juvenile turf we will only get 16. Either way we will wind up with a full field.

[Riot]

It obviously will reduce field size. There is no doubt about that. The addition of three new races this year already decreased field size.

2007 Friday:
F & M sprint - 10 entries - 14 allowed
Juv turf 1 mile - 12 entries - 12 allowed
Dirt mile - 9 entries - 14 allowed

2007 Saturday:
Juv Fillies - 14 entries - 14 allowed
Juv colts - 13 - 14 allowed
F & M turf - 12 entires - 14 allowed
Sprint - 11 entries - 14 allowed
Mile - 14 entries - 14 allowed
Distaff - 12 entries - 14 allowed
Turf - 8 entries - 14 allowed
Classic - 9 entries - 14 allowed

Here's the 2007 lists, including nominations under the Division click http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=28964

Who clearly moved from Saturday to Friday at time of entry? Seriously, let's figure it out to see how fields were affected by adding Friday.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by miraja2

It obviously will reduce field size. There is no doubt about that. The addition of three new races this year already decreased field size.
If someone had a really top notch 2yo turf filly this year they could either take a shot against the boys in the juvenile turf OR try the dirt in the juvy fillies. Not next year. They can enter her in a BIG money 2yo turf race for fillies instead.
Saying that it won't reduce field size is nonsensical. People could disagree on how big of an impact it will have....but it will certainly have an impact.

The 2 year old turf races and turf sprint will be oversubscribed every year. The juvy and juvy fillies will always fill with a large field. You could make a case the "marathon" may steal a horse from the classic but if they are willing to run in a $500k races as opposed to a $5 million dollar race they may not be a viable contender anyway.

[bogeydaman]

Originally Posted by miraja2

It obviously will reduce field size. There is no doubt about that. The addition of three new races this year already decreased field size.
If someone had a really top notch 2yo turf filly this year they could either take a shot against the boys in the juvenile turf OR try the dirt in the juvy fillies. Not next year. They can enter her in a BIG money 2yo turf race for fillies instead.
Saying that it won't reduce field size is nonsensical. People could disagree on how big of an impact it will have....but it will certainly have an impact.

IMO the Juvy filly turf race will have no impact on any field size. All 4 2 year old races will oversubscribe with maiden breakers and NW1 allowance horses. You can make the argument that they already "experimented" with the Juvy Filly turf race in 07. It was the 6th race at Monmouth on BC Friday. The only difference is that the purse was $250K this year and next year it will be $1 million and have the title "world championship" next to it. The only possible difference field might be another shipper or 2 from Europe and a long shot in the 2 year old filly dirt race might take a shot 1st time turf because of the "world championship" title.