Breeders' Cup Changes -- AGAIN!
 

"The 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will hold all five of its races for female horses on the first day of the two-day event, Friday, Oct. 24, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., the Lexington-based Breeders’ Cup announced today.

It marks the first time a major thoroughbred event in North America has focused an entire day on female championship racing.

Nine other Breeders’ Cup races will be contested on Saturday, Oct. 25. Seven are open to both male and female thoroughbreds, including the marquee event, the $5 million Classic.

The Breeders’ Cup will total a record $25.5 million in purses for 14 races, including $8 million on Friday’s card, more than doubling last year’s Friday program.

In another change, the Breeders’ Cup also announced that it has renamed the $2 million Distaff to the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic, which will be the premier race on the Friday program.

The $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, $2 million Juvenile Fillies, the second-year $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint and the new $1million Juvenile Fillies Turf also will be Friday.

The Breeders’ Cup said it is developing a series of championship festivities designed to promote the new Friday format, including programs focused on women’s health.

“By shifting some of our traditional Saturday races to Friday, we ensure that Friday stands on its own as an international competition of the highest level,” Breeders’ Cup president Greg Avioli said in a release. ”This new format provides a great stage to showcase the talents of the best female thoroughbreds in the world.”

The 2007 Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park marked the first time that the event was conducted as a two-day format. It consisted of 11 races and $23 million in purses, with three new races Friday.

Added for this year are the Juvenile Fillies Turf, $1 million Turf Sprint and $500,000 Marathon. The second-year Juvenile Turf and Dirt Mile have been shifted from Friday to Saturday."

So now we have ungraded races as part of the Saturday card? They are going to keep going and going until they completely screw this up and completely diminish the importance (and interest) in this big day.
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They already screwed it up by having it at Santa Anita . Hopefully between now and then they'll figure out what surface to use .

Wow.

Why is it the things I would like to see changed (colored saddle clothes), don't and then the things I think should be left alone are changed.

I will admit that fillies and mares are second fiddle to the boys but when it comes to wagering opportunities, I take 'em as I find 'em. If the turf races for the distaff side produce a betting opportunity, I guess I'll have to make adjustments -- maybe.

Is it just me or does it seem like the BC is becoming less of an event each year?

Let them play with their toys - the BS is meaningless this year. You do not run the championship races at a minor leauge track with a an unproven retread track. The JCG is the Classic this year. There will be no HOY.

And ALL of California racing is minor league now.

Lone Star was the beginning of a big slide.

Agreed...Racing in California has been largely irrelevant for years so it makes perfect sense (not!) to hold the BC west of the Rockies not once but in two consecutive years. With most of the quality racing taking place in the Eastern and Central time zones the only way this decision makes any sense is if the BC board of directors watch an exclusive diet of TVG commentators breathlessly hyping the local product.

We pulled all of our stock out of there years ago discussed with the small fields and lack of opportunity to run.

I have been hearing some rumors and I am sure it is just posturing by Churchill but Santa Anita may lose the Breeder Cup THIS YEAR to Churchill. Churchill has said bring it on according to my source. Funny after they (CD) are the ones that said they can't keep losing money on the event. :lol:

I am sure this is just hot air but if my source is correct you will have heard it here first!

Do not ask me to reveal a name because that will NOT happen.

That would be a welcome LOGICAL alternative.

Well then we know it won't happen!!!:lol: Logic and horse racing is about the same as oil and water.

I did tell my sourse to put down the crack pipe.

Losing money on the event? Say who?

Says Churchill in a recent article. I will see if I can dig it up.

Something about the Breeders Cup keeps most of the profits and that Churchill is left with the scraps. That is why they did not go all out to get the '09 event.

Let's see if I can find the article now.

Here is one article.

Not the one I read but close enough. The article explains that the BC basically rents Chuchill for what they would normally make on a Friday or Saturday. I would say they need a new deal! Maybe my scraps comment was a bit overboard but that is a lot of money that Churchill does not recieve.

Who would want the headache of a BC for what you would make on any given Saturday? Not I my friend.

Tom,

I submit the BC is meaningless, or close to it, PERIOD.

The talk of installing a dirt track is curious. What about the CHRA mandate? The track problems combined with granting the BC to Santa Anita for 2009, I have a sneaky feeling the 2008 edition will not be held at Santa Anita. Or they'll install dirt to KEEP the BC.

Monmouth was a predictable disaster. This "Girl Friday" junk, and Friday/Saturday instead of Saturday/Sunday only serves the purpose that if they don't care about me, the weekend warrior, then why should I care about them? And that spills over into Saturday.

Last year's Dubai festival was more fun than the Breeders Cup.

tt,
If there is a belated switch, I hope Belmont will be the beneficiary of the Breeders' Cup braintrust. As the idea of lumping all races for females on a single day is obviously an attempt to attract women to racing (A brainstorm lifted from Capital Offense's playbook? ;)), it would be interesting to see if New York were indeed fertile ground for this approach without an accompanying fur coat giveaway.

I'd like to hear Grits' opinion on whether this is actually insulting to women since those races are being relegated to the lesser of the two days.:D

Seems to me that re-grouping races based on surface would make more sense, especially from a handicapping standpoint.

I support the suggestion somewhere that carding all the BC races for Juveniles together on a Saturday subsequent to the Classic in order to showcase next year's potential champions and thus stifle the sadness of any newly-crowned HOY's sacrifice of superstardom to service on "Shed Row." :lol:

What a potentially perfect primetime Pick Four that would present! :jump:

what's wrong with colored saddlecloths ?

I wish they'd alternate between CD and Belmont every year . At least everyone would know what lies ahead . Also I don't see either of these tracks having issues with synthetics in the near future . If they do , I doubt interest will be at a level to where anyone cares anymore .

Colored clothes -- I want them. Where are they?

Bring the BC back to NJ we promise better weather and a lot more "visible" improvements to the track. Gov Corzine will attend the pre-race bashes as they look for an encore act to Frankie Valli probably the Turtles or someone as famous.

Indulto, here's an organization that earnestly believes I am, along with thousands of other women, coming to the racetrack on what will now be racing's NEXT TO BIGGEST DAY to be educated on Women's Health Issues. I'm coming to the track for my health, and what else, a pelvic exam?

THIS is the most stupid angle I've ever read in regard to getting women to a racetrack. I couldn't begin to be, remotely as insulted, as they should be, embarrassed.

. . . Braintrust..........Oh, beyond words!!!!:lol:

As a woman, I try, and sometime with great difficulty, to never lose my sense of humor. To that end, let me tell y'all. I've got a few c notes that says, "there's either a hat contest or a 18 kt gold jewelry bracelet that's a door prize in the festivities--somewhere".


"The Breeders’ Cup said it is developing a series of championship festivities designed to promote the new Friday format, including programs focused on women’s health."

Careful what you wish for. I guarantee some marketing hack in the BC offices is thinking about pink saddlecloths for Ladies Day.

Maybe they intend to make the saddle cloths PINK :rolleyes:

If Trevor Denman has as much trouble finding your pelvis as he did spotting Street Sense in the Juvenile, you could be in for a long afternoon.

"Out here moving like a virgin."

I'll now be crawling back into lurkerville.

how comes they have listed on Sat. a dirt race, the dirt mile or something. Arent they running on synthetic? What am I missing again? :confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grits Indulto, here's an organization that earnestly believes I am, along with thousands of other women, coming to the racetrack on what will now be racing's NEXT TO BIGGEST DAY to be educated on Women's Health Issues. I'm coming to the track for my health, and what else, a pelvic exam?

They can't even keep horses healthy, what will they advocate for women -- steroid use?

I don't know about jewelry, Grits, but somebody should get "crowned" for this. Does anybody know the names of the "braintrust" members who approved this and specifically who came up with the idea?

These are the "marketing experts" who came up with "Go Baby Go." Coincidently, "Baby" then went ... OFF-TRACK!

These guys had a guaranteed winner, and just had to make changes in an industry where tradition matters. The time to spend money on fan recruitment is when there's no other racing-related activity going on to distract them from the message. Make them want to find out more.

The first emphasis should be on the horse. Show video of 1) beautifully conformed thoroughbreds running free in a pasture, 2) equine retirees in adjoining pastures racing eachother along a common fence, 3) horses nuzzling their handlers after prancing over to see what kind of treat is in store for them, 4) saddling great thoroughbreds at Saratoga, 5) riders up with great jockeys on great horses and follow them on their way to the track for a subsequent great performances (show Jaipur-Ridan as often as possible, 6) re-tell the bittersweet, rags-to-riches stories of Shoemaker, Hartack, and others, etc.

The second emphasis should be on today’s youth. For the long-term, show kids participating in the various thoroughbred racing orientation and education programs. For the short term, show humorous ads like a boxer-shorts bettor sweating out a photo finish while watching at home. He hits the exacta and just as he utters a Marv Alpert-like “YESSSS, ” his wife walks in and he sweeps her up and carries her into the bedroom. The door closes and then you hear the wife say in a muffled tone, “Oh, Baby, you’re my superfecta.” :lol:

Track management and horsemen: These NTRA/BC clowns are wasting your money. Get them out of there and start talking to real bettors and fans. We're worth the effort.

Gregory C. Avioli, CEO
Peter Land, CMO
Matthew Lutz, CFO

Breeders' Cup Limited Corporate Officers
Bill Farish, Jr., Chairman
Gregory C. Avioli, President
James A. Philpott, Jr., Secretary
Matthew Lutz, CPA, Treasurer

Breeders' Cup Limited Board of Directors
Greg C. Avioli, Antony Beck, Reynolds Bell, Jr.Robert N. Clay, Donald Dizney William S. Farish Jr.,Tracy Farmer, Terrence P. Finley, R.D. Hubbard, B. Wayne Hughes, G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Robert T. Manfuso, Satish K. Sanan, Joseph V. Shields Jr.

Breeders' Cup Limited Members & Trustees 2007-2008
Josephine Abercrombie
Helen Alexander
John Amerman
Gregory C. Avioli
James E. Bassett III
Antony Beck
Reynolds Bell, Jr.
Boyd Browning, Jr.
Alice Chandler
Robert N. Clay
Brownell Combs II
Robert Cromartie
Donald R. Dizney
William S. Farish
William S. Farish, Jr.
Tracy Farmer
Terrence P. Finley
James E. Friess
Thomas Gaines
Lucy Young Hamilton
L. William Heiligbrodt
R.D. Hubbard
B. Wayne Hughes
G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.
Roy Jackson
Brereton C. Jones
John T.L. Jones, Jr.
John T.L. Jones, III
Tom Ludt
Wayne G. Lyster, III
Robert T. Manfuso
Robert McNair
Leverett S. Miller
Clem Murphy
Maria Niarchos-Gouaze
Charles C. Nuckols, III
J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr.
James A. Philpott, Jr.
Ogden Mills Phipps
Dan Pride
Satish K. Sanan
Richard T. Santulli
J. V. Shields, Jr.
John G. Sikura
Frank Stronach
Mark Taylor
D.G. Van Clief, Jr.
Christopher Young
__________________________________________________ ________________

Owners and breeders exclusively.

Amazing, this many folks in charge; and they roll out Women's Health Issues!!!

I still cannot believe it. I truly cannot.

It does seem like a silly idea. However, I did read an article years ago in regard to the huge success of Hong Kong racing. Before it became such a success someone had the plan to target all of their advertising toward the young single female office worker. Theory was that the men will go where the young women are. In their case it worked out pretty good.

Maybe Helen, Alice, Lucy, and/or Maria can explain it for us. Better still, perhaps Mr. Land will pay us a visit in the future.

http://www.ntra.com/blogprint.aspx?blogid=11&year=2007&month=10&day=2
NTRA BLOGS
PRESS RELEASES
Peter Land named Chief Marketing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited

I'd love to hear more details about this.

How about a matchmaker handicapping contest for singles where prizes are dinner-and-a-movie dates with next closest finishing member of the appropriate gender or orientation.:jump:

"It was a dark and stormy night when your mudder nosed me out for second place at Hollywood Park." :D

Are these people smoking crack???? What non-horse racing network is going to be willing to show TWO days of racing?? NONE of them. Therefore, BC is just shooting themselves in the foot by placing ALL the filly and mare races on friday. I beg to differ with the folks that think the filly and mare races "play second fiddle" to the other races. The Distaff has produced some of the best racing moments in BC history. The Filly Juvenile has produced some very nice fillies also.

Not to mention many people outside of racing actually have JOBS!
If nothing else, racing remains the most absurd excuse for a sport ever. Run by idiots at every level. When was the last time a World Series game was played on a weekday afternoon? Racing will get in about 50 years. Dolts. What other sport could totally destroy all credibility of it's champioship event in less than a year?

I am truley just asking here. I have no expertise in this area at all. Why would this seperation destroy credibility of the breeders cup. They love the damn thing in Europe and if Asia gets really involved the pools will be huge.

Why is it so important to be done on a weekend if it is a world event?

One would have to guess that TV ratings would surely help this sport hence the questioning of friday racing. Newspapers dont even cover horse racing anymore, my guess is we are simply observers to the end game.

The last afternoon baseball game was probably somewhere early 70s. I'd guess 1973..

you have really got to be kidding Russ?

And I thought giving the 2009 BC to Santa Anita couldn't be topped this year. Boy, was I wrong.

Nothing like taking one of the most exciting races (the now renamed Distaff) and assigning it, effectively, to the kiddie-table known as Friday's BC card.

Splitting the BC over two days is a questionable idea in and of itself, but to now actually go and move IMPORTANT races to that day is really stretching the credibility of this organization.

Imagine, if you will, that being the normal racing fan, you have a job, and you can't watch the Friday BC races. Now imagine that the Personal Ensign / Winning Colors Distaff was run in 2008 instead of twenty years earlier. Yup, that race, which transcended the sport itself that memorable afternoon, would have been run on some nondescript Friday while you were stuck in your cubicle.

It's a bunch of damned horse races, of little importance to 99% of the people of the world. No one is declaring Friday a holiday - so people who work will miss the day.

Yankees-Boston....and I missed it - I had to work! :lol:;)

Tom and PA---You guys just don't understand things as well has the "big boys" in racing. :jump: Here is the Breeders Cup president Greg Avioli "The initial response from the Breeders Cup family, including ESPN, has been EXTREMELY supportive and enthusiastic". You little guys don't matter, your not part of the Breeders Cup FAMILY. :jump:

Is it any wonder that horse racing is in trouble.

Overnight, Breeders' Cup continues to morph. The release that was on the site yesterday has changed; yet it remains, still, an extremely stupid attempt to market thoroughbred horseracing by attaching to it, a "concern" that they believe will have appeal to women nationwide.

They can trot this bit of stupidity out until they're loaded in the starting gate, but they're not going to get more women to a racetrack by hustling women's health.

These are horses, not humans. We are not watching, or WAGERING --which is the real crux of this matter, along with SPONSORSHIP-- on female human athletes.

This is not the LPGA. This is not Women's Tennis.

These men in charge at Breeders' Cup, Avioli and his new cronie, Peter Land.......they're possibly having thousands upon thousands of Breast Cancer Pink Ribbons pins ordered. (Those are always effective.)

Yep, you go boys 'cause that's gonna generate a whole lotta new female bettors.
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As the release states this morning:

The Ladies' Classic, the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf will take place on Friday. In addition to the championship events at the track, the Breeders’ Cup plans to develop a series of Championship festivities designed to promote the new Friday format, including:


--Cause-related programs focused on women’s health
--On-site initiatives for fans and other guests of the event
--Consumer promotions in the Los Angeles marketplace and on a national basis
--Simulcast events in multiple markets throughout North America
--Special merchandise designed for Championship Friday
--First of its kind sponsor activation elements, broadcast and other media programs designed to support both the racing and charitable components

In 2007, the Breeders’ Cup crowned four female champions – Indian Blessing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Maryfield in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Lahudood (GB) in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Ginger Punch in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“The initial response from the Breeders’ Cup family including ESPN, our marketing partners, nominators and Trustees has been extremely supportive and enthusiastic,” said Breeders Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli. “By shifting some of our traditional Saturday races to Friday, we ensure that Friday stands on its own as an international competition of the highest level. This new format provides a great stage to showcase the talents of the best female Thoroughbreds in the world.”

Breeders’ Cup officials are in discussions with several prominent non-profit women’s organizations and plan to select its partners in March.

“Combining the best of Filly racing with devoting a day to women’s health is a great development which ESPN is proud to join. The Breeders’ Cup keeps raising the bar in the presentation of world championship horse racing,” said Len DeLuca, ESPN senior vice president, programming and acquisition.

What am I , the "funny uncle" in the attic? :eek::lol: