Will There Be A "No Longer Breeders' Cup Marathon" Again This Year?

[Thomas Roulston]

If there is, get all you can on Carlino.

[Afleet]

If there is, get all you can on Carlino.

that race was discontinued and replaced w/2 y/o sprints

[Spalding No!]

Since 2014, what once was the BC Marathon is now a Grade 2 BC undercard stakes at 14 furlongs.

Destin won it last year. Scuba the year before that.

Usually simply called the Marathon Stakes unless they run it at Santa Anita, where it might have a irrational title like the Las Vegas Marathon or what have you...

[Tom]

14 furlongs!
Today's horses would need it to a RELAY race.

Actually, that might be a novel idea......that horse who hid in the fog proved it is viable. Jockeys hand off the whip....

Hmmmmmm.

[Frost king]

There is already an event like that, called Indian Relay Racing.

[bobphilo]

that race was discontinued and replaced w/2 y/o sprints

Just another example of how U.S. racing is going further doing away with high stakes stayers' races in favor of sprints for baby horses. Any wonder why no one is breeding for stamina and durability anymore and why our horses cannot go a distance?

[bobphilo]

Just another example of how U.S. racing is going further doing away with high stakes stayers' races in favor of sprints for baby horses. Any wonder why no one is breeding for stamina and durability anymore and why our horses cannot go a distance?

I remember the days when the JCGC was 2 miles and the 1 1/2 mile Belmont was "THE test of the champion"
Funny how we "puny" humans don't consider a race a Marathon unless it's 26 miles and 1 1/2 miles is merely middle distance.

[Delta Cone]

The Marathon never went away. After it was removed as an official Breeders Cup race it continued to be run each Friday of the Cup.

This year it is listed on the Churchill Downs stakes schedule for Friday, Nov. 2

THE MARATHON STAKES - Grade II
For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile And Three-Quarters

https://www.churchilldowns.com/uploads/horsemen-files/stakes-schedules/2018%20Fall%20Stakes%20Schedule.pdf

[Valuist]

I hope Carlino goes in that 1 3/4 mile race because he'd be a good bet against. He clunked up for a non-threatening 4th in an extremely fast paced JCGC last Saturday at Belmont.

[Robert Fischer]

Don't know if Hello Don Julio is even under consideration, (nor do I recall if 'dirt' is an option with this horse), but his gallop-out was insane after the 12f Laurel Turf Cup 9/22 @ Lrl.

[Thomas Roulston]

Thanks for the info - and (for the most part) thoughtful posts.

But why the double standard that turf races at these distances; e.g., the San Juan Capistrano, are "acceptable" - but dirt races are not?

[dilanesp]

Thanks for the info - and (for the most part) thoughtful posts.

But why the double standard that turf races at these distances; e.g., the San Juan Capistrano, are "acceptable" - but dirt races are not?

There's nothing unacceptable about it. The San Juan has been dying too. It's a simple matter of supply and demand- if there are horses available to run marathons, on either surface, tracks will card them.

[SG4]

Didn't see this reported in any racing outlets, but distance specialist Hard Study was euthanized after a training injury a few weeks ago :rip: