JC / Railbird

Race Dates

Not on Track

Commenter o_crunk, reacting to Champions’ Day:

The season is getting more incoherent with these added changes and this is coming from a fan who follows racing on an everyday basis. If the top horses are going to continue a trend of running less and less and there’s lots of choices on the menu for them, then we can expect to see unfulfilled matchups, disillusioned hardcore fans, confused newbies and guessing games when it’s time to decide who was really best since it’s clear that it will not be decided on the track.

Read his whole comment, it’s nothing but good points.

The one effect of Champions’ Day on the Breeders’ Cup seems likely to be a reduction in the number of Euros shipping; 2011 could well be a low point with the debut of the new event at Ascot and the BC again at Churchill. Such would undermine the growing internationalism of the game, or at least, the aspect that has proved so enticing to fans and bettors, the match-up of top-class Euros against the best of the American runners.

As for running less and less, Ed DeRosa suggested on Big Event Blog that the coming smaller foal crops offer an opportunity to go drug free and reduce race dates. I’d add it’s a chance to trim the burgeoning graded stakes calendar.

Posted in Racing on September 25, 2010 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Champions Day, Euros, Fan Reaction, Graded Stakes, International, Race Dates