OK,
I am trying to sort out the expected field for this year\'s BC Classic and it looks like we are not going to see arguably the top three older US horses in the most prestigious race of the year in the US for older horses (not to mention that it is the race with the biggest purse as well).
As far as I can tell, these are the stated reasons by the connections for not running:
1) One does not want to run because they have a royally bred colt that has tremendous value as a future stud.
2) Another does not want to run because they have a gelding that has zero value as a future stud.
3) The third does not want to run because they feel that a fourth race this year would be \"over-racing.\"
Please correct me if I am wrong but if all connections applied these criteria in future BCs I think it would eliminate just about any possible entrant...
Cheers.
Chris
Post Edited (09-30-03 16:08)
the WTC is a great day of racing, but it is clearly not a world championship event. two simple changes could turn it into one.
1) hold it at belmont every year; the turf races would more resemble european racing, therefore making it a real \"world\" event, and the 1 1/16 and 1/8 mile races with fourteen horses would look less like roller derby, and more like horse races. also, the owners and trainers who feel that some track are too hard, and favor speed too much, would not be deterred from running their horses (a group which includes many europeans).
2) have a committee vote in superstar horses that are not nominated, with only a $20k supp fee.
Compared to the other tracks that are in the circuit, Belmont has the best design for all races with the significant exception of the Classic.
How can you have a $4 million race start on a turn?
If NYRA brought back the mile-and-a-quarter chute I\'d agree, but until that happens ...
I agree with you assessment of the Euros chances on the SA turf course. That\'s fine with me. Horses like SULAMAANI and whomever the Fabres and O\'Briens of the world are bringing over will be overbet. Good Luck to them going first time over that turf course with zero speed in their arsenal.
As for MINESHAFT, that horse likes to run wide. Belmont was perfect for his style and was pure Neil Howard genius. This has nothing to do with shipping out west. They wouldn\'t run MINESHAFT over that track if it was 5 miles from Belmont Park.
Joe B.
Hold on, being from louisville i have to say holding it at CD is as good, It should be CD,BEL,and a Cal. track. Those three and no more. CD has had the highest Att. and money everytime it\'s there.
Kev--
Anywhere but Woodbine.
Joe B.
Sorry, but if you look at how the Euros have done at SA in the past Breeders Cups, you might start singing a different tune. Their record isn\'t bad at all. Obviously we all want to find the ones that won\'t be overbet... HP
HP--
Unless it\'s a Group 1 stretchout sprinter at 45-1 odds (LAST TYCOON), I want no part of them. That being said, one of them will pop up and make me sound foolish, but I would bet against it with both fists in the BC Turf.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
I got a chuckle out of that one. Holding it at Belmont every year would make it a \"real world event\".
belmont is the only track in the world that has dirt and turf racing that suits everybody across the globe (a few tracks in asia are close though). jim, a rather simple concept to grasp.
give peace a chance for a few years, and dubai will be the next spot that fits well for everyone.
On track attendance would probably be a record in Dubai.
No drinking and smoking and wagering over there.
How soon do I get to go?
Every major sport I can think of has its \"Championship Event\" in different places every year. I think part of the point is that true champions are supposed to be able to overcome the idiosyncracies of the venue.
If the Europeans have horses they don\'t think can cut it over here that\'s part of the deal. The Euros have their own Champions On Yielding Turf prizes, and we won\'t be sending our horses over to win them. We\'re playing different games and you really can\'t level the playing field entirely unless you can arrange for God to distribute the rain a little differently across the globe. The Euros don\'t seem to have too many problems finding horses to send over here to win BC races, and they even seem to be getting the hang of it on dirt.
You\'re never going to be able to please everyone in the search for the perfect place. It\'s also not fair that New York reap a windfall every year. It would be great if they could have a BCup in Europe. Dubai\'s a good idea too. How about a Prime Time Cup at the Meadowlands! We can leave out Japan for awhile though after that Ferdinand (I think it was Ferdinand?) fiasco. HP
HP--
I respect your opinion on the Euros, however I need to see more success on the tighter, harder turf courses such as at Hollywood, Gulfstream, and Santa Anita. Only the real special turf runners that get sent to California acclimate right away.
I like the idea of the BC at the Meadowlands. Everyone will be glowing in the dark and we can call the big race \" The Carcinogen Cup.\"
Joe B.
Joe,
The funny thing is that swamp is probably the cleanest part of the whole state.
HP
Great way to fry your horse by running them in the desert in Dubai. How many of them return from the the March break fling, and come up like toast the rest of the year? It seems like the dirt runners are never the same afterwards. Some of the Euro grass horses have survived, but the dirt horses are an automatic pitch when they show up in the PP\'s on BC day.
Frost King---
HARLAN\'S HOLIDAY and MOON BALLAD just to name a couple.
Joe B.
I agree, HP. A rather simple concept to grasp I thought.
The comments about racing in Dubai are utter nonsense! Most horses that have run in the Dubai Cup have had fabulous careers afterwards.
Harlan ran a bang up 2nd in the Holly Gold Cup to Congaree earning a -2, hardly a horse that\'s toast. Unfortunately he suffered a career ending injury in the Whitney.
Sakhee 3rd in Dubai won the Arc and just missed in the BC, gaaawd how did he do that after \"being fried\" in the dessert.
Silver Charm just missed, Captain Steve 3rd complete tosses indeed, give me a break.
I could go on, but havn\'t much time for this presently.
Silver Charm just missed in the BC Classic but beat Swain who he beat by a nose in Dubai.
Swain ran all over the world that year. Silver Charm it seemed ran every week after that BC Classic under Bafferts patient horsemanship.
Also what about VICTORY GALLOP ?? He went over ran on that concrete speed favoring surface and returned to win the Champion Older Horse Eclipse Award.
And finally one other real good reason to hold the BC in Dubai is all the Sexy Dressing Women.
Kind of reminds me of the Paddock at Del Mar.
Post Edited (10-03-03 14:55)