Illinois Derby

[bdw0617]

I have no sympothy for Hawthrone in this instance whatsoever in regards to the new road to the derby thing they are mad about.

I mean I understand they don't have slots. I get that, so they can't do what, Louisiana or what Oaklawn has done with their derbies and I'm not holding them to that standard.

But every year, the horseman there get mad beucase the Illinois derby has all this money in it and the everyday races don't, so year in and year out they slowly chipped away at the Illinois derby.

5-7 years ago the race was a grade 2 and a 500k race. If they were still there today there would be no question whatsoever of them being included. But then they went to a 300k race, and last year it was a pathetic grade 3 250k race. that's not even a freaking prep anymore they are better off making that race a prep for a big time prep derby race.

and so now Kenutcky is looking at this and saying.. you just dont' belong. and they don't. This is you reaping what you are sowed. You can't devalue the race year in and year out and then expect to receive the benefits of not devaluing the race

and sure enough they know they are in the wrong the race is now 500k again for next year.