This once classic race, a traditional test of stamina for 3YO fillies that was equivalent to the Belmont Stakes, is on a downward gyre. Its date and distance have been diddled with over the years, but now the NYRA delivers a body blow by reducing it to 9 furlongs and moving it to Saratoga. Just what the racing calendar needs -- yet another -- yawn! -- 9 furlong race! At best it will now function as a prep for the Alabama.
Why the move and shortening? Because of the market breeders can't or won't design a stamina filly? Because trainers no longer know how to train for distance? Because the powers that be at NYRA as idiots? And/or all of the above?
Who's Killing The CCA Oaks?
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Patuxet
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Who's Killing The CCA Oaks?
"He is pure air and fire and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him; he is indeed a horse ..." Wm. Shakespeare - Henry V
Re: Who's Killing The CCA Oaks?
Patuxet wrote:This once classic race, a traditional test of stamina for 3YO fillies that was equivalent to the Belmont Stakes, is on a downward gyre. Its date and distance have been diddled with over the years, but now the NYRA delivers a body blow by reducing it to 9 furlongs and moving it to Saratoga. Just what the racing calendar needs -- yet another -- yawn! -- 9 furlong race! At best it will now function as a prep for the Alabama.
Why the move and shortening? Because of the market breeders can't or won't design a stamina filly? Because trainers no longer know how to train for distance? Because the powers that be at NYRA as idiots? And/or all of the above?
Hi Patuxet,
The main reason is NYRA increased the the number of days they will race at Saratoga this season....The Acorn will be run Saturday, June 5th, the Mother Goose three weeks later June 26th and with the increase in days at the Saratoga meet.....The Coaching Club American Oaks runs 4 weeks later on the first Saturday of the Saratoga meet July 24th.
Why they decreased the distance, I have no idea. These three races comprised the original Triple Tiara, then a few years ago they changed that as well....making it the Mother Goose, CCAO and The Alabama. Then they returned it to the original 3 races in 2007.....so now they move the CCAO to Saratoga. Besides this, I agree with.......... "And/or all of the above":>)
This may be a mute point as NYRA issued notices to all their employee's telling them unless the State steps in and pulls them out of yet another financial crisis Belmont Park will close its doors on June 9th. TJ
A mile and an eighth is a huge surprise change. Oddly enough the first running of the CCA American Oaks was run at a mile and an eighth. From 1918 to 1941 it was run at a mile and three eighths. Here is a list of distances for the race.
* 1917 : 9 furlongs
* 1918-1941 and 1944-1958 : 11 furlongs
* 1959-1970 : 10 furlongs
* 1990-1997, 2003-present : 10 furlongs
* 1942-1943, 1971-1989, 1998-2003 : 12 furlongs
They have tinkered with the distance numerous times but one can see the 9 furlong distance has not been run in nearly a hundred years and only once in the historical course of the race..
* 1917 : 9 furlongs
* 1918-1941 and 1944-1958 : 11 furlongs
* 1959-1970 : 10 furlongs
* 1990-1997, 2003-present : 10 furlongs
* 1942-1943, 1971-1989, 1998-2003 : 12 furlongs
They have tinkered with the distance numerous times but one can see the 9 furlong distance has not been run in nearly a hundred years and only once in the historical course of the race..
There may be more to the CCAO change than meets the eye. As they now have changed the Triple Tiara yet again....they will ignore the Mother Goose and use The Acorn, CCAO and The Alabama as the Triple Tiara which will be sponsored by Betfair/TVG. TJ
Scroll down to the botton of this article to read more:
http://drf.com/news/article/113330.html
Scroll down to the botton of this article to read more:
http://drf.com/news/article/113330.html
I'm old school as well on the CCA Oaks. Also, Jockey Club Gold Cup and races like that. Classy routes need to be preserved.
Lukas starts up with this stuff every year about the TC. He's just mad he never won it. If he had, he'd be all about keeping it the same so nobody else could do it. We're averaging a TC every decade I think. There've been clusters, but there's really no need to have it every 4 or 5 years, and the horses that've come close lately don't exactly remind me of Slew or Affirmed as much as I might've like them. I say it's good they didn't win it. We heard the same 'change it' crap before Secretariat won. It's a broken record.
All the public will hear is they changed the Derby or the TC to make it easier, and that's when the giant sucking sound begins. It's not making a TC winner from an easier series that would help racing, it's about not trivializing the biggest thing we have going for us with the general public. Just watch how fast they decide not to care. Believe me the media will make sure they know we had to water it down.
Lukas starts up with this stuff every year about the TC. He's just mad he never won it. If he had, he'd be all about keeping it the same so nobody else could do it. We're averaging a TC every decade I think. There've been clusters, but there's really no need to have it every 4 or 5 years, and the horses that've come close lately don't exactly remind me of Slew or Affirmed as much as I might've like them. I say it's good they didn't win it. We heard the same 'change it' crap before Secretariat won. It's a broken record.
All the public will hear is they changed the Derby or the TC to make it easier, and that's when the giant sucking sound begins. It's not making a TC winner from an easier series that would help racing, it's about not trivializing the biggest thing we have going for us with the general public. Just watch how fast they decide not to care. Believe me the media will make sure they know we had to water it down.
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana"
