Breeder's Cup Permanently at Santa Anita?

[madelyn]

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/the-c ... -cali-cup/

Right now it looks like moving in that direction. If so, I, for one, will probably never nominate another horse. Comments from the racing folks out there?

[justinnich]

I don't get it when you can move it around to keep the sport relevant in all parts of the country. It was nice even seeing it at Monmouth a couple of years ago, and Lone Star was in there too recently if I remember right. Seems stupid to me to pass up that opportunity.

At least SA may well be back on dirt soon.

[LB]

I hate the idea of having the Breeders Cup only take place at one track. Especially one with an uncertain surface.

But quite frankly I'd be more likely to stop nominating if the BC pulled their financial support from the stakes races that take place throughout the year as they threatened to do in 2008.

[KBEquine]

I hate the idea of having the Breeders Cup only take place at one track. Especially one with an uncertain surface.

But quite frankly I'd be more likely to stop nominating if the BC pulled their financial support from the stakes races that take place throughout the year as they threatened to do in 2008.

Between the Breeder's Cup deciding to stop supporting the regional stakes (then rescinding the decision with a fairly huffy, "Well, we didn't know you cared about those races that much" explanation) & wanting to move to a single track with a mediocre surface that is far removed from many of racing's fans . . .

I've stopped nominating the stallions & just the other day got a call from the Breeder's Cup (no - I'm not special - I'm sure they were calling everyone eligible) reminding me that the deadline for nominating 2009 foals was fast approaching.

So I suspect we're not the only ones who see the Breeder's Cup as it is currently run as irrelevant to our lives & have chosen not to nominate.

[majxmom]

These BC people can't stop themselves from shooting themselves in the foot. Every racetrack has a bias of some sort, and if you always have it in the same place, people will self-eliminate their nominations. Dumb!

Not that the same organizations are in charge of the decisions here, but it reminds me that the Cal Cup was originally supposed to rotate between NorCal and SoCal. They cleverly held it the first year at Bay Meadows when no one had ever heard of it, got the usual attendance, and then decreed that the attendance would always be better in SoCal, and there it has stayed.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that there was really a self-enriching deal at hand here, like maybe Magna is paying the BC for the honor.

[zinn21]

I like the one location idea but the surface uncertainty is a huge negative. With a permanent location in Southern California, you virtually take bad weather off the table.

Here's a thought why not run the entire Breeders Cup card at night under lights? Seems to work fine for the Dubai World Cup.. Running at night would place the event in prime time.

[diomed]

I am not an owner anymore, but if I was...I wouldn't nominate either.
As a fan and handicapper, I won't watch or wager.
Goodbye BC!!!!

[bdw0617]

i'm split


i was at monouth soak and freaking wet and cold. while i had a good time would have been better in better weather.


while the super bowl does rotate locations they do so using only war weather climents


horse racings only one that they have running tyat tie of year is santa anita.

But, if they do thist, without changing the surface, the BC will be dead in 4 years.
it's not the location that is really pissing people off. it's making dirt racing irrelevant.

[oliverstoned]

I'm out on the nominating. I guess if you're ponying up big bucks for stud fees what the heck but unless they boost the stakes supplements throughout the country it's too much of a long shot. They are going to miss the small breeders nomination fees for the next few years atleast.

[Shammy Davis]

Bad Bad Business!

[louis finochio]

The BC should be run in 3 catagory's, Small Breeders by Stud Fees, Middle, & Big. If those small breeders dont strike paydirt $$, they will pull the plug & they BC will die.

Frank Stronach was shopping around for dirt, but has taken a wait & see attitude. $$ is the big problem, as attendance & handle has taken a big hit.
I support the BC to keep the BC at SA. We have great weather in the fall.

[oliverstoned]

They need to get back to the original 7 races run at alternating tracks every year. All the new races they made should run for $500,000 each at different tracks throughout the country on Breeders Cup day thus spicing up your hometrack that day. The money saved by running the new races for "only" 500k should be put towards supplementing stakes races during the year.

[KBEquine]

They need to get back to the original 7 races run at alternating tracks every year. All the new races they made should run for $500,000 each at different tracks throughout the country on Breeders Cup day thus spicing up your hometrack that day. The money saved by running the new races for "only" 500k should be put towards supplementing stakes races during the year.

I like that idea.

And bdw - I have to respectfully disagree - it IS the location, as well as the surface. I know Santa Anita is beautiful & I like good weather as much as the next person -- but this isn't just about weather, it's about racing, which needs fans all over, not just in Southern California. Stuffing an important event permanently in the lower lefthand corner of the country does nothing to create new fans in other parts of the nation.

Breeders are asked to pony up a heck of a lot of money just to be told the big event won't ever be anywhere near where they actually race or live.

[zinn21]

Wonder if Nominations are down? I used to nominate but decided it was a huge longshot at best. They also eliminated all the local Breeders Cup stakes races.

[oliverstoned]

I like the one location idea but the surface uncertainty is a huge negative. With a permanent location in Southern California, you virtually take bad weather off the table.

Here's a thought why not run the entire Breeders Cup card at night under lights? Seems to work fine for the Dubai World Cup.. Running at night would place the event in prime time.

I'm down with Saturday Night Lights....hey I know a nice safe dirt track with lights....