Breeders Cup at Laurel?

[VeryOldMan]

Thought I'd pass this along - the Washington Post has an article up about Breeders Cup officials visiting and assessing Laurel for one of the 2019-2021 dates.

http://wapo.st/2nwlA3p?tid=ss_mail

What do you think?

I haven't been to Laurel in a couple of years - I'm having a hard time envisioning it hosting the Breeders Cup, although there is nothing wrong with the track (main and turf) itself re the horses. I'm thinking more about the human factors. Seems like a long shot versus the much surer thing at Santa Anita, e.g.

Article makes the connection between Laurel hosting the BC and the possibility of relocating the Preakness. It's not a straight line, but a successful BC at Laurel would be ammo for Stronach re the Preakness.

[dilanesp]

Thought I'd pass this along - the Washington Post has an article up about Breeders Cup officials visiting and assessing Laurel for one of the 2019-2021 dates.

http://wapo.st/2nwlA3p?tid=ss_mail

What do you think?

I haven't been to Laurel in a couple of years - I'm having a hard time envisioning it hosting the Breeders Cup, although there is nothing wrong with the track (main and turf) itself re the horses. I'm thinking more about the human factors. Seems like a long shot versus the much surer thing at Santa Anita, e.g.

Article makes the connection between Laurel hosting the BC and the possibility of relocating the Preakness. It's not a straight line, but a successful BC at Laurel would be ammo for Stronach re the Preakness.

It would be cold and a tent city.

I love Laurel. Very friendly track when I visited, and I could totally see them rebuilding it to host the Preakness (plenty of space) and then being in a position to host the BC. But as of now, no way.

[Parkview_Pirate]

...Article makes the connection between Laurel hosting the BC and the possibility of relocating the Preakness. It's not a straight line, but a successful BC at Laurel would be ammo for Stronach re the Preakness.

Seems odd to me that Stronach would want to hold a Breeders Cup in an older facility like Laurel. At least Laurel IS a race track with plenty of good seats, and I think it would make a decent venue for the Cup - unlike the simulcasting/casino BOX of the new Gulfstream Park which does not cater to very many fans for a focused live racing experience.

[Thomas Roulston]

Laurel's super-wide turf course - see also Gulfstream - is a major point in its favor.

[Lemon Drop Husker]

Not a fan, but the BC needs to get back to the East Coast. Where else do you go? Monmouth was horrible. Not sure Belmont wants it.

Biggest problem is time of year. Late Oct/1st week November.

I attended the Churchill Downs BCs and they held it at night on Saturday when Blame took down Zenyatta. It was a tad bit chilly......and I live in Nebraska. It is one thing to watch a football game for 3 1/2 hours all bundled up, quite another to be at a racetrack wagering on ponies for well over 12 hours. The heat lamps they had were nice, but weren't enough. Then again, can't light the place on fire either.

Maybe you move it to late August/September with a 3 year in advance heads up. Yes, that is troublesome for some big races, but outside the box thinking is needed.

[SuperPickle]

The problem with the Breeders Cup is the host track makes no money. The Breeders Cup takes it all. In addition if you have something like they had at Monmouth with massive rain and attendance is way off you can lose millions. Monmouth had a seven figure lose on hosting.

So all of the smaller tracks that hosted (Arlington, Monmouth, Woodbine) already know they won't make money so they don't want to host.

Both CDI and NYRA take the attitude of they don't need the Breeders Cup. Churchill Downs hosts the biggest horse race in America. NYRA hosts the premier meet in the country. Neither feels they need to risk millions with minimal upside.

Be Chris Kay for a moment. Why risk millions hosting an event where there's not really a lot of upside. Maybe you make a little money. Maybe you break even.

[JustRalph]

The taxes on horse racing MD are tyrannical

I think it's too small.......but if Keeneland can pull it off....who knows

[Lemon Drop Husker]

NYRA hosts the premier meet in the country.

Excuse me, but what?

[Dahoss9698]

Excuse me, but what?

Is Saratoga not the premier meet in the country?

[MonmouthParkJoe]

I see it happening. I used to think capacity is an issue but after it being at Keeneland and now Delmar with even lower capacity, it can happen. Add to that the relationship Stronach has with the BC being at Santa Anita so many times.

I know the reasons why the west coast time slot makes so much sense, but would still like to see it back east. Tracks really dont make money on that day, but for NYRA it would certainly help the fall meet since it has become an afterthought now. Just need to coordinate with the NYC marathon people in terms of dates and invest in winterizing some areas. With the potential move of all winter racing to belmont, i see it as a real possibility.

[castaway01]

Article makes the connection between Laurel hosting the BC and the possibility of relocating the Preakness. It's not a straight line, but a successful BC at Laurel would be ammo for Stronach re the Preakness.

I'd say it would not only be ammo, but that having the Breeders Cup at Laurel would be contingent on Laurel being totally renovated and becoming the host site for the Preakness from that point forward. As others have pointed out, Laurel is Laurel---if there isn't some sort of massive change (like the Preakness moving) there really isn't any financial benefit to that track hosting the Breeders Cup. It's not going to make more people bet Laurel on your average Wednesday. The Preakness is money though, and Frank wants it at Laurel.

[thespaah]

Thought I'd pass this along - the Washington Post has an article up about Breeders Cup officials visiting and assessing Laurel for one of the 2019-2021 dates.

http://wapo.st/2nwlA3p?tid=ss_mail

What do you think?

I haven't been to Laurel in a couple of years - I'm having a hard time envisioning it hosting the Breeders Cup, although there is nothing wrong with the track (main and turf) itself re the horses. I'm thinking more about the human factors. Seems like a long shot versus the much surer thing at Santa Anita, e.g.

Article makes the connection between Laurel hosting the BC and the possibility of relocating the Preakness. It's not a straight line, but a successful BC at Laurel would be ammo for Stronach re the Preakness.

its convenient to Baltimore and DC. Lots of hotel rooms within 50 miles of the track. People from the Phila. And NYC metro areas and day trip it.
There is plenty of parking. I read where the facility has been improved but could use some upgrades.
If the BC Ltd people can stage the event in Kentucky which has a similar climate, with past sites in NYC, Toronto and Chicago, weather is not a factor.
I think we east coasters deserve a shot at this event.

[thespaah]

Not a fan, but the BC needs to get back to the East Coast. Where else do you go? Monmouth was horrible. Not sure Belmont wants it.

Biggest problem is time of year. Late Oct/1st week November.

I attended the Churchill Downs BCs and they held it at night on Saturday when Blame took down Zenyatta. It was a tad bit chilly......and I live in Nebraska. It is one thing to watch a football game for 3 1/2 hours all bundled up, quite another to be at a racetrack wagering on ponies for well over 12 hours. The heat lamps they had were nice, but weren't enough. Then again, can't light the place on fire either.

Maybe you move it to late August/September with a 3 year in advance heads up. Yes, that is troublesome for some big races, but outside the box thinking is needed.

Monmouth's event got a bad rap. Unusallly cold and wet weather soured the idea. I think Monmouth deserves another shot.

[thespaah]

Excuse me, but what?

Yes..Saratoga. This is the NUMBER ONE meet in North America.

[thespaah]

Is Saratoga not the premier meet in the country?

yes. BY FAR.....And if the BC were held in September, the track would have had several BC's already

[wisconsin]

Laurel is not ideal, in my opinion. I've been there. The apron is really narrow and even if you were to install seating east of the grandstand, where would you put betting and toilets? There is a road there and then tracks behind the road. The infield is like a valley, so that's out.

Lots of parking, but not a lot of open areas for seating, unless you added some west of the paddock building.

[thespaah]

Laurel is not ideal, in my opinion. I've been there. The apron is really narrow and even if you were to install seating east of the grandstand, where would you put betting and toilets? There is a road there and then tracks behind the road. The infield is like a valley, so that's out.

Lots of parking, but not a lot of open areas for seating, unless you added some west of the paddock building.

Tha'ts why God invented tools and machinery.

[Davidc110]

Wish they would go back to Belmont park. Although I was born and raised in LA I'm getting tired of BC here. Del Mar is a tiny place 35k is too much.

[Davidc110]

Saratoga would be nice.