The Breeders Cup today: A disaster

[winds]

I'm sure the track conditions had something to do with the poor performances of some of the horses, but if they didn't run the horses they'd never know how they'd do. Plus, if you don't run you can't win.

If the Breeders Cup had been at Belmont, the track conditions would have been the same. This weather has been up and down the whole east coast all week. From Florida to New England.

If it had been held in California, the fires would be to blame because half the horses couldn't breath.

It's a chance you take with a sport that is held outdoors. From all the reports, it was a smashing succsess and Monmouth Park should be congratulated.

winds

[Tucumcari]

They should be congratulated. A job well done under less than perfect conditions. I am sure not how they would have prefered to host the Championship day.
Roke, Do I think the track had something to do with SS and Lawyer Ron et al being behind a horse like Curlin. Not particularly. As I already stated, LR has run and won all of his wet track races. Street sense, although a good good horse has bothered me for some time. His tendency to switch off of his outside lead to the inside and lug in during the late stages of the race might indicate that he is not %100. He has done this for some time, but it still bothers me. Horses don't lug or change late for no reason. Also there was realy (on form) ample speed in the race and it really did set up for a style like Curlin. Good horses run on broken glass or a swamp or whatever is sent their way. Yes some step it up a notch, but Curlin appears to be the best in this race.

[docjocoy]

I agree, you can't plan on the weather. They could have held it anywhere on the East Coast this weekend, and it would have been wet. This time of year in the midwest you can get anything from snow to rain to locusts to tornados, California can have earthquakes, fire, wind. You are right that it is an outdoor event and just take it as it comes. No point in grousing. They had a good crowd in spite of the rain, and when the sun came out it was terrific.

[Rokeby Forever]

No doubt Tuc, but what about the horses that ran poorly for no reason. Is Smokey Stover 34 lengths slower than Midnight Lute? I heard that Izarra was a nice filly....she got beat 28 lengths. Salute The Sarge got beaten 35 lengths. Are these horses just bums?

[Tucumcari]

My personal opinion on Sarge is he is over hyped, and maybe an allowance horse. Ron's horse... I'll give you the track, the company, just not enough today. Maybe she has an underlying issue that was apparent after the race. Scope and she has mucous, she shipped across the country, she's a young horse, anything could have caused her performance, I liked her too.
I have to look and see the other horse you mentioned...
Midnight Lute... looks so good right now that he is better than most. He is a HUGE presence daily on the track. The works showed him and he was incredible. Off of the two works he ought to have won. He is just a horse doing VERY well at the right time. No offence to Greg or Mr Aleo(sp) or their horse for that matter.

[LaTroienne]

My friend and I were practically right in front of the stands, right where GW was when he broke down. We saw his leg flop....it was horrible.

[Tucumcari]

all righty... a bit off topic
It's sad. It happened. It's gross. I've seen it too many times and it turns my stomach every time. Do we really have to re live this. It is a sad and tragic part of our sport. Something we do everything to try to prevent. AND it is never pretty.

[Heidilady]

Where was that in the race? His breakdown I mean. I never did hear, just found out about the tragedy after the finish was over. I'm so sorry you had to see that. Hopefully they got to him as soon as possible. Those horrible screens are never a good sign. Did the jockey stay on or did he get thrown?

[geowarrior]

I don't want to relive the loss of George Washington. At the same time I don't want to ignore it. 'Gorgeous George' was a champion horse who gave pleasure to many fans. Nothing about the coverage was ghoulish, and it's still o.k. to mourn. Mentioning that it happened is not the same as reliving it.

[Playwithfire]

I think somebody on ESPN mentioned yesterday that Del Mar was a possible BC spot this year...they wouldn't even have run the races today in So Cal with all of the wildfires going on. Pretty unfortunate there was so much rain, but it could be like that most places this time of year.

[Rokeby Forever]

Yeah...some success! From Blood-Horse:

A total of $111,903,685 was wagered from all sources on the 11-race Breeders' Cup World Championships card at Monmouth Park Oct. 27, according to preliminary data, a decline of 20.3% from the all-time record set at Churchill Downs last year.

The preliminary all-sources total with the separate pool added in would place it in the neighborhood of the $116,059,574 wagered at the 2002 Breeders' Cup at Arlington Park. Handle had increased in each of the last four years.

Unofficially, $99,177,063 was wagered off-track on the Breeders’ Cup card, while $12,726,622 was wagered by the announced crowd of 41,781 on a mostly drizzly day that eventually gave way to clearing skies.

The attendance figure was the lowest recorded since 37,246 attended the 1995 Breeders’ Cup event at Belmont Park, and fell well short of the all-time record of 80,452 at Churchill Downs in 1998.

[Georgerz]

It really took you a few hours to come up with the negative posting. On spite of the figures, most people believe that it was an excellent day of racing, where true champions showed what top class racing is. But go ahead, and spill your sour grapes. If finding fault and belittling every thing gives you pleasure and validation, enjoy yourself.

[Rokeby Forever]

Out of curiousity, are we expecting another intake record? Seems like yesterday was hopping along pretty well. $5 mil+ from the crowd braving the monsoon.

I was simply answering Heidilady's question, George. Why not get mad at Blood-Horse - it reported this before I did.

George, do you care about this sport? Except for major days, this sport is in serious trouble - the last thing it needed was a decline on BC day. Maybe that doesn't bother you, but when I read that tracks need slot machines in order to survive, it bothers me.

[Georgerz]

"Yeah...some success! From Blood-Horse:"

That is not answering Heidilady question. And how many more times are you going to edit your post, to try to fool people?

[Rokeby Forever]

Sure George, avoid the truth...this BC was a failure and it damaged the sport more than it did any good.