JC / Railbird

Racing Archive

Reworking the Schedule

Steven Crist on changing the Breeders’ Cup two-day line-up with the addition of the Juvenile Sprint to this year’s event:

There are several realignments that would work better, such as emphasizing juveniles or sprinters on Friday. My personal preference would be to run the seven newest races on Friday and the original eight on Saturday. Any of these schemes, or others, would work better than “Filly Friday Except for the Juvenile Sprint and Marathon and the Fillies Running Tomorrow Day.”

I’m partial to a juveniles Friday, which not only makes for a good story but better fits the implicit stakes hierarchy Saturday races sit atop.

Posted in Racing on June 18, 2011 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Buzz Babies, Expansion, Juvenile Sprint, Juveniles, Scheduling

About a Lasix Ban …

Steve Zorn:

It would undoubtedly require major changes in training patterns and, ultimately, in breeding patterns as well. Is it possible?

Bill Finley:

It’s not that complicated and doesn’t require a whole new series of summits or meeting. In fact, it’s a no-brainer. Do it.

Ban or die.

Posted in Racing on June 16, 2011 / Tagged Drugs in Racing, Finley for Commissioner, Lasix, Medication Policies

Goldikova: That’s It?

While recognizing that once Triple Crown season is over, it’s the handicap horses that take up the Glamour Division mantle, I think Vic Zast is being a little dismissive of Goldikova as a story for promoting the Breeders’ Cup:

It would be fun to be a bug on the wall in the Breeders’ Cup offices. Having a star to promote your event provides you a leg up. But, right now, at least, there doesn’t seem to be any available. If you think the three-year-old division, the main source of Breeders’ Cup promotional currency, is weak, then you probably believe the handicap division is bankrupt. If the Breeders’ Cup was smart it would send representatives to England today to talk the owners and trainers of Royal Ascot runners to plan ahead for Louisville this November. The unbeaten Frankel, of course, would serve ideally to sub for Zenyatta as publicity fodder. As of now, nonetheless, what the Breeders’ Cup has is Goldikova — that’s it.

Not “that’s it,” but “that’s it!” A globe-trotting champion and three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner on track for a fourth consecutive victory, she’s a huge story, with a terrific international hook. She’s a gift, not an also-ran.

(Disclosure: I’m working with the Breeders’ Cup on a BC Classic website, set to launch early in July. The opinions here are my own.)

Posted in Racing on June 13, 2011 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Distaffers, Goldikova, International, The Glamour Division