1) DRF reporting that crack sprinter Clearly Now, trained by Brian Lynch, will
undergo (or has already undergone) a myectomy.
2) Reminder for those who like to handicap big events well in advance -- the
Breeders Cup Dirt Mile will be contested at 7 furlongs, 384 feet at Keeneland
this Fall. This will mark at least the third time in nine runnings of this event
that the BC Dirt Mile is NOT run on dirt and/or at a distance of one mile.
[Spoiler alert for some of my more sensitive fellow T-generates... I am
about to poke good natured fun at someone who sometimes posted here. If this
will offend you, read no further.]
3) Ken Sherman has left the building. In a long and tortured Ragopost (which
may have been about one paragraph long if all references to evil stewards, the
even more evil racing partnership (IEAH?), and the word \"I\" were deleted) has
announced he will no longer be part of the Rag Community. I thought it would
have been very appropriate if the Blood Horse and Paulick Report \"linked\" the
Rag Board post containing Mr. Sherman\'s announcement. After reading Mr
Sherman\'s post, my reaction could be summarized in one monosyllabic word, one
which Mr. Sherman was fond of using.... \"Huh?\"
May the horse be with you \"Ollie\". I hope you find a clear path along the
hedge.
The 7 furlong 184 feet race at Keeneland is known as the \"Beard Course\". It\'s the longest 1 turn race the track can host. The track is an oddly shaped 1 1/16th mile oval with 2 finish lines. Every dirt race finishes at the same line except those that are 1 1/16 mile. In my 38 years of watching races there I can tell you with certainty that speed horses have a distinct advantage in those 1 1/16th mile races. I\'ve always assumed it\'s because that finish line is in the middle of the stretch. Late runners just run out of room or have to really roll on the turn to get there. Best of luck to all who get to make it to Lexington or bet on the BC from anywhere. Going to be a special Halloween this year.
Coach
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> 3) Ken Sherman has left the building. In a long
> and tortured Ragopost (which
> may have been about one paragraph long if all
> references to evil stewards, the
> even more evil racing partnership (IEAH?), and the
> word \"I\" were deleted) has
> announced he will no longer be part of the Rag
> Community. I thought it would
> have been very appropriate if the Blood Horse and
> Paulick Report \"linked\" the
> Rag Board post containing Mr. Sherman\'s
> announcement. After reading Mr
> Sherman\'s post, my reaction could be summarized in
> one monosyllabic word, one
> which Mr. Sherman was fond of using.... \"Huh?\"
>
> May the horse be with you \"Ollie\". I hope you find
> a clear path along the
> hedge.
MacArthur\'s farewell address was less melodramatic than that.
Somehow I don\'t think we\'ve heard the last from Mr. Sherman.
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2) Reminder for those who like to handicap big
> events well in advance -- the
> Breeders Cup Dirt Mile will be contested at 7
> furlongs, 384 feet at Keeneland
> this Fall. This will mark at least the third time
> in nine runnings of this event
> that the BC Dirt Mile is NOT run on dirt and/or at
> a distance of one mile.
>
fwiw, actually Keeneland is running the BC Dirt Mile at two turns, their moving the starting gate up a 1/16th of a mile and will finish where their 1 1/16th mile dirt races always do. Heard that even with the gate moving up they will still have more run to the 1st turn than Santa Anita does when that venue conducts mile dirt races.
....mainly just a lurker here but wanted to pass that along since the BC dirt mile has been mentioned in some other threads as well.
Also becomes 2 turns instead of one turn,favoring the preference of the two turners.
metroj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> fwiw, actually Keeneland is running the BC Dirt
> Mile at two turns, their moving the starting gate
> up a 1/16th of a mile and will finish where their
> 1 1/16th mile dirt races always do. Heard that
> even with the gate moving up they will still have
> more run to the 1st turn than Santa Anita does
> when that venue conducts mile dirt races.
>
> ....mainly just a lurker here but wanted to pass
> that along since the BC dirt mile has been
> mentioned in some other threads as well.
Actually I am hoping this is the case because even though I have no doubt that
a 6f sprint and a 7f sprint would each draw full fields, the Mile should be
run at something close to a one mile distance.
Or should it? Just guessing here, but if you take all the dirt races run at
two turns in the US, the average distance of these races would likely be
closer to 1-1/16 miles rather than a \"flat\" mile.
Probably a fairer race with the longer run to the turn, this BC Dirt Mile+. If
the BC is awarded to a venue which has a mile chute (such as Belmont, if NYRA
survives the K-Bomb and somehow falls into the hands of competent leadership),
revert to the one mile distance.