BC Changes for the Future

[OTM Al]

Now that ESPN has this event for the next 10 years and the BC people are talking about changing the purse structure, I was wondering what everyone thought might be productive changes to the format. This can be anything from changing entry structure to chaning races. For me, the thing I would love to see would be an additional 2 races:

2yo Turf, 1/16 m. Just one race for boys and girls. They generally aren't so different in ability at this point as 2yos anyway. This would give a chance for up and coming US turfers to shine as well as attracting some solid foreigners, who now wouldn't be forced to run on dirt.

3U Turf, 2m or more. A race for stayers. This is big everywhere else in the world and if this is to truly be a world championship meet it should be included. Go find a replay of this year's Melbourne Cup and tell me races for stayers aren't exciting too. This would also get plenty of foreigners in as well as reintroducing this kind of race to the US. Having this race and a few BC sponsored races for stayers during the year might get some attention back to distance running in the states.

I'm not much of a fan of adding a turf sprint or dirt mile, though I suppose arguements could be made for them as well. I would like to see non-nominated horses be able to qualify by winning BC sponsored races. Something like they don't get the extra BC money, as they don't now either, but win one and only have to pay half nom fee and win two and no nom fee or something along those lines. If the purses go up, so will the nom fees, which will make it even more difficult for non-nominated stars to run.

[cj]

I'd be all for a dirt mile. It seems to me that great milers make the best sires these days.

Turf sprint, no way. Turf for 2yos, no way at all, although if you want to get more foreign horses, that would do the trick.

[Valuist]

I'd have to think either a mile or 1 1/16 miles on the dirt would be the logical race to add. Maybe a 2YO sprint race on dirt.

How about a 4 furlong $150,000 race for the undercard?

[twindouble]

How about a race for the little guys, a million dollar purce at 6 1/2 or 7 f. horses that have nerver run for more than $25,000 claiming and no less than $10,000. We can name it The B.C Players appreciation race.

[TravisVOX]

A dirt mile? It'd do an awesome job of taking away from the Classic...terrible idea. I think, if anything, maybe a filly and mare sprint. The current structure is okay I feel though.

ESPN is talking more about a marketing scheme will all their networks... this years cup, though successful, lacked an aggressive marketing campaign. I'm anxious for a much improved product next year.

[cj]

I don't really think a million dollar (million and a half maybe) race at a mile is going to take much away from the Classic. As it is now, a lot of Euros already pass the cheaper turf to try an unknown surface for more money.

I don't see a single horse in this year's classic that would have even considered running in the mile.

[ryesteve]

A mile race seems like a very logical idea, but if there'd been such a race this year, who would we have seen in it? I'm concerned that it'd end up with a watered-down field, as well as watering down the Sprint (we've seen plenty of 7f-1m specialists do well in that race over the years)

The first thought that came to my mind was why not let the BC Steeplechase be part of the big day?

[andicap]

They ought to rethink the timing -- i know it's geared toward end of the year awards and everything and late in the year is critical for giving 3 yr olds a chance. But there are some valid reasons for moving the races

-- Competition -- One reason for the lousy ratings is BC goes right up against college football. Not only for viewer's eyeballs but for media space as well. Also it's NFL season, the World Series is ending, NHL and NBA just starting. Too much other major sports vying for the media and public's attention.
As a "minor" sport horse racing needs to find a time when it can have the media hype and public attention to itself.
That's why the Derby is on such a good date. Early in baseball. No football. NBA playoffs just starting.

-- Health of horses -- By October some horses are worn down after their season. Nice to see them run when they are a bit fresher.

-- Weather -- End of October, usually pretty good weather people are out doing fall-type stuff. How about holding it when the weather is colder and people are looking to stay inside.

Holding the race in mid-December wouldn't deal with the health issue -- although it might let horses hurt earlier in the year get better. Afleet Alex might have been able to run if it were held in Dec. But it would be colder outside in most parts and you wouldn't have college football (other than a few minor bowls possibly) to deal with.
NBA and NHL are in their mid-season doldrums and there's no baseball. The NFL remains a competition but at least the playoffs haven't begun.

February after the Super Bowl would be good-- So you wouldn't hold the BC in the cold-weather cities. Big deal. You're holding the event for television anyway not for the live audience.

But its probably unrealistic due to the breeding issues involved and issues relating to getting juveniles ready for the Derby. Trainers wouldn't want their charges to peak in February when the Derby is only 3 months away.
But the 3 yr olds of the year before would be even stronger and more competitive and the new juveniles would be more experienced and better suited to get the distance.

[cj]

Why not run it in May the week before the Derby? NASCAR runs their big race in the beginning of the year, and they seem to be doing OK. Just a thought, didn't put too much brain power on this one, mine is limited!

[PaceAdvantage]

Aren't BC ratings affected by the fact that lots of potential viewers are at a simulcast facility betting and watching?

[TOOZ]

Pick 4 prep races for each category at the major tracks accross the country. You want to run in the Breeder's Cup, you have to run in one of the preps. Beats this guessing game the foreign horses, at least you would see them up close and personal for one race in this country. Think how good racing would be the 6 weeks before the Breeder's cup.

[ryesteve]

Running it in February or May isn't really practical if they want to continue to position it as "the Thoroughbred Championships". No sport conducts their championship at the beginning of the season.

[cj]

Originally Posted by ryesteve

Running it in February or May isn't really practical if they want to continue to position it as "the Thoroughbred Championships". No sport conducts their championship at the beginning of the season.

That is part of the point, racing doesn't really have a season. Doesn't the Super Bowl get played in the next calendar year from the rest of the season? Probably not practical, but Andy is right, the BC gets lost in the shuffle in its current slot. August wouldn't be a bad idea either, just run it at Saratoga or Delmar every year

[Valuist]

A mile would definitely fill. It would probably be mostly the Grade 2 and Grade 3 type horses who are hard hitters but struggle when they go up against the Saint Liams of the world. Horses like Presidentialaffair and Lord of the Game come to mind. Maybe Tap Day and The Daddy also.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Valuist

A mile would definitely fill. It would probably be mostly the Grade 2 and Grade 3 type horses who are hard hitters but struggle when they go up against the Saint Liams of the world. Horses like Presidentialaffair and Lord of the Game come to mind. Maybe Tap Day and The Daddy also.

I was thinking more along the lines of Congaree in the past, Roman Ruler this year. Peace Rules was no Classic horse, so they ran him in the Mile on turf. I think you would get better than G2/3 horses. Midas Eyes, Aldebaren, and Swept Overboard were all top horses that might have preferred a mile over 6f.