Breeders Cup 'pre sale'

[thespaah]

Two points....
First..If this is a 'pre sale' then can anyone explain how certain seating areas are "sold out"....
Second....Who can afford to pay the prices demanded for seats.
For example..Box Seats $950 EACH...
Frontrunner Bar seat....$550 Friday....$600 Saturday....$1150 for two day package( nice discount there)
Clubhouse Apron..OOPS....Saturday is sold out..
Clubhouse Loge.....OOPS..Saturday is sold out...
Sold out? To whom......Those who got the message about the "pre pre" sale?
If you want to sit in the mezzanine( 3rd floor) at the sixteenth pole, you'll have to fork over $300..
Ya know what?....Pass....I'd rather sit in my favorite watering hole across the street from the OTB.....
Now I understand there will be responses from those on here that look upon the BC as an annual "must go" happening. Fine...
I would like to know at what price does the term 'reasonable' no longer apply to a day at the Breeders Cup.

[elhelmete]

We're DONE with attending the BC. By 'we' I mean my family, who bought box seats in '09 and '12.

The differences between 2012 ad 2009 were tangible and noticeable, and not for the better, IMHO. To me, the event seemed to get more Super Bowl-y in ways not adding to the experience, I know that's hard to describe but I'll try.

First let me say that I love love love Santa Anita, I am so fortunate to live nearby and be able to go whenever I want. The folks there are top notch and a credit to the industry.

They were understaffed for BC12, at least in the box seat areas. They tried to provide drink service but waits for drinks and the check were like 45-60 minutes.

Restrooms (the ones I used in the clubhouse/TC area) weren't cleaned over night.

Food service was sub-par. The food truck/Taste of LA addition was a nice touch but the lines were TOO LONG and the regular food service locations couldn't handle the crowd. OK, I must admit that the food line I was standing in was so long I got shut out of betting Calimonico (sp?) in the Marathon, so this sticks in my craw a bit.

Traffic control seemed totally non-existent for an event this big. Over 90 minutes to leave the lot.

And the pricing...sorry...even coming from someone who can afford it, it has jumped the shark. 2013 looks even more pricey. No thanks.

A group of us has decided to pick a LV casino and work out a little group trip instead. Option 2 is we all meet at another track somewhere in the country and get tables in the TC or wherever and enjoy the simulcast and some local live racing. Both would likely cost less.

[DRIVEWAY]

We're DONE with attending the BC. By 'we' I mean my family, who bought box seats in '09 and '12.

The differences between 2012 ad 2009 were tangible and noticeable, and not for the better, IMHO. To me, the event seemed to get more Super Bowl-y in ways not adding to the experience, I know that's hard to describe but I'll try.

First let me say that I love love love Santa Anita, I am so fortunate to live nearby and be able to go whenever I want. The folks there are top notch and a credit to the industry.

They were understaffed for BC12, at least in the box seat areas. They tried to provide drink service but waits for drinks and the check were like 45-60 minutes.

Restrooms (the ones I used in the clubhouse/TC area) weren't cleaned over night.

Food service was sub-par. The food truck/Taste of LA addition was a nice touch but the lines were TOO LONG and the regular food service locations couldn't handle the crowd. OK, I must admit that the food line I was standing in was so long I got shut out of betting Calimonico (sp?) in the Marathon, so this sticks in my craw a bit.

Traffic control seemed totally non-existent for an event this big. Over 90 minutes to leave the lot.

And the pricing...sorry...even coming from someone who can afford it, it has jumped the shark. 2013 looks even more pricey. No thanks.

A group of us has decided to pick a LV casino and work out a little group trip instead. Option 2 is we all meet at another track somewhere in the country and get tables in the TC or wherever and enjoy the simulcast and some local live racing. Both would likely cost less.

Sorry, all the tables are probably reserved for the locals that can afford it. The only exception is Finger Lakes. Call ahead and see what they say.

Good Luck

[Dave Schwartz]

What? A Breeder's Cup Party at my house?

Why, I think that is a great idea! I will get right on it!

[BIG49010]

I Pre-Purchased the first BC I went to at Gulfstream - Easy Goer / Sunday Silence, and ever since then I buy a ticket outside the gates for 1/2 or less of the Ticket price the day of the event in a section that is 100 times better than I would have received by Pre-purchase.

[Saratoga_Mike]

I Pre-Purchased the first BC I went to at Gulfstream - Easy Goer / Sunday Silence, and ever since then I buy a ticket outside the gates for 1/2 or less of the Ticket price the day of the event in a section that is 100 times better than I would have received by Pre-purchase.

Same here - scalpers always over buy for this event.

[The Hawk]

Sorry, all the tables are probably reserved for the locals that can afford it. The only exception is Finger Lakes. Call ahead and see what they say.

Good Luck

You can't be serious.

[Tom]

We have nice tables at FL, and a roast beef au jus to die for!
Get extra horseradish.....mmm mmm mmmmmm!

[elhelmete]

We've got a list of tracks with live racing in November and we'll narrow it down by how easy it is for people to get there...if we go the track route.

Or else we'll head to a casino in LV or maybe one on a rez.

It's only about 6-10 people.

[DRIVEWAY]

We have nice tables at FL, and a roast beef au jus to die for!
Get extra horseradish.....mmm mmm mmmmmm!

I'll betcha that's where the saying "Finger Lickin Good" comes from.

[thespaah]

What? A Breeder's Cup Party at my house?

Why, I think that is a great idea! I will get right on it!
I have an idea!!!! Let's all go to DAVE'S HOUSE!!!!

[Bettowin]

Be patient and pick up seats at face value or less if you MUST go. I had seats for the Zenyatta/Blame Churchill BC at the 1/8th pole (face value) one month ahead of time from someone who bought them at face value. On Thursday night I got two seats in Millionaires Row for face value via Craigslist and was very happy because it was colder than a witches you know what in a brass brassiere:)

If you must have tickets early pay the price. If not wait and there will be plenty available at fair prices.

[Rex Phinney]

We live in California, so my wife and I went last year, our first BC. It was a bit pricey for sure.

The sections listed as "sold out" I'm told are held by BC limited for horsemen and also for the BC ticket packages. For example just about everything in Box Seat East and Turf Terrace Dining areas can only be had if you want to fork over $1,999 a seat for a "ticket package", not sure why the price doubles, as it doesn't include hotel for that price. Even though you can pay more $$$ again to get a hotel reservation, of which the BC limited has exclusive call on all the local hotels. Yes that's right the entire hotel is on hold for reservations until the BC says it is ok to release those rooms, after determining how many they need for their "ticket packages".

Last year we were also in a section with "drink service" and in two days we didn't get a single drink from the waitress because it took too long.

They have actually made it worse this year, no box seats below the walkway are sold individually and the Turf Club Loge they had last year is not available to the public (these seats were really good and sold individually at $800 each).

We have decided to look for a deal from an overbought scalper or skip the event this year.

I feel for the regular staff at Santa Anita, the people we usually deal with there are great, and they kind of have to ride on the sidelines for the BC.