West Coast Weather Bias? Breeders' Cup back to Santa Anita in 2019, Del Mar 2021

[Tom]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The way trainers rest their horses, it would ruin Saratoga and Del Mar if they did that.

How?
Toga barely fills now.

I'm guessing West Coast gives the biggest viewing and betting markets due to the time.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Tom

How?
Toga barely fills now.

I'm guessing West Coast gives the biggest viewing and betting markets due to the time.

Churchill has lights. That helps.

[Andy Asaro]

Twitter

[anotherCAfan]

As happy as I am to see the Breeders' Cup out here (Santa Anita and Del Mar), I'd still like to see the event moved around the country, as was its original intent. Most of these are a pipe dream, but too bad we won't see this event at:

• Belmont
• Monmouth
• Laurel
• Lone Star
• Arlington
• Woodbine
• Golden Gate (I know the synthetic is prohibitive)

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by anotherCAfan

As happy as I am to see the Breeders' Cup out here (Santa Anita and Del Mar), I'd still like to see the event moved around the country, as was its original intent. Most of these are a pipe dream, but too bad we won't see this event at:

• Belmont
• Monmouth
• Laurel
• Lone Star
• Arlington
• Woodbine
• Golden Gate (I know the synthetic is prohibitive)

Can we stop with this "original intent"? The original intent was to run mostly in California. That's what John Gaines said, and 3 of the first 4 BC's were here.

Rotation came later after smaller tracks started offering very attractive terms to the BC to get the event (which has dried up).

[Tom]

Do we even need a BC anymore?
I would not miss it.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by Tom

Do we even need a BC anymore?
I would not miss it.

while I do agree it has caused much harm to the fall schedule it at least to a degree brings the horses together.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by Tom

Do we even need a BC anymore?
I would not miss it.

Racing would miss that $166 million in handle from last year though.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by GMB@BP

while I do agree it has caused much harm to the fall schedule it at least to a degree brings the horses together.

In addition to the loss of a big day of racing, the reality is without the BC most trainers would just duck competition if they could help it.

This was why I was so incensed with the Rachel Alexandra people. If someone decides the Woodward is more important than the BC Classic, it won't save the Woodward and make it a championship race. It will just mean there won't be one st all, as the West Coast srar runs in the Pacific Classic while the East Coast star runs in the Woodward.

It's either the BC, or no championship races at all.

[anotherCAfan]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Can we stop with this "original intent"? The original intent was to run mostly in California. That's what John Gaines said, and 3 of the first 4 BC's were here.

Rotation came later after smaller tracks started offering very attractive terms to the BC to get the event (which has dried up).

It still pains me that the place that hosted two of those first three in CA, didn't get another one after 1997... and now that place doesn't exist anymore.

[RunForTheRoses]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Can we stop with this "original intent"? The original intent was to run mostly in California. That's what John Gaines said, and 3 of the first 4 BC's were here.

Rotation came later after smaller tracks started offering very attractive terms to the BC to get the event (which has dried up).

Do you have a source for that because Im old enough to remember and don't recall that. Have not been able to find a source. Also, although 3 of first 4 was Cali (second New York) 5 6 7 8 and 9 were all not in the Golden State.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by castaway01

NYRA doesn't want it. Laurel can't handle it. That leaves CA and KY, and that's where it's going to be. Pretty simple.

I've heard Laurel will make a push for it.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by RunForTheRoses

Do you have a source for that because Im old enough to remember and don't recall that. Have not been able to find a source. Also, although 3 of first 4 was Cali (second New York) 5 6 7 8 and 9 were all not in the Golden State.

Ted Basset took over. And he wanted to move it around. Plus, there were big people in the sport like Ogden Phipps and Mack Miller who did not like California tracks.

I remember Gaines coming out here in 1984 to do publicity for the thing. He said that most of them would be in California because of weather. That was the original idea.

EDIT: Haven't found a quote from Gaines yet, but here is his friend John Nerud saying their original intent was California and New York only, to try to generate TV ratings. They only went to Churchill after they didn't get the ratings they were looking for.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1...n-nerud-racing

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Valuist

I've heard Laurel will make a push for it.

They did. The BC said no.

Now to be fair, DMR got turned down a few times before getting a yes.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Ted Basset took over. And he wanted to move it around. Plus, there were big people in the sport like Ogden Phipps and Mack Miller who did not like California tracks.

I remember Gaines coming out here in 1984 to do publicity for the thing. He said that most of them would be in California because of weather. That was the original idea.

With no Derby, Belmont, or Preakness here it makes even more sense to have it out here. Very surprised they haven't moved Pegasus here. They can't keep running that screwed up distance with the short run to the turn. Gotta increase distance and or run up if stays at Gulfstream IMO