Well we call baseball’s championship the World Series as Canada is part of MLB with a National and American League team. So letting one Irish or British horses should suffice in the Breeders’ Cup too 
Sad, but fair enough.
Good racing is good racing no matter where it is.
A couple of ideas:
- The BC could drop the "World" from its hype. It's just there to pitch it to the US television audience, most of whom don't think of horses when you say "racing."
- The BC could live up to its hype :lol: and move the venue overseas. And not just to Europe, either; South American racing is woefully under-represented in the BC.
- The BC could add more European-type distance turf races, going 2+ miles and limited to 4yo+s. Also, add a 3-mile-plus steeplechase.
[QUOTE=WhiteCamry;2772249]
A couple of ideas:
- The BC could live up to its hype :lol: and move the venue overseas. And not just to Europe, either; South American racing is woefully under-represented in the BC.
- The BC could add more European-type distance turf races, going 2+ miles and limited to 4yo+s. Also, add a 3-mile-plus steeplechase.
My original response was eaten … anyhow …
I think the BC organizers by adding a 2nd day are exploring to see if they can carry such a year-end Championship festival over multiple days. Two days is likely the max however although you have to wonder why can’t it be a Fri/Sat/Sun for example. The success with the Carnival in Dubai suggests it can be done.
The rub in the States is the media to a large degree. ESPN’s is maxed out in its ability to cover much more. NBC/ABC/CBS wouldn’t touch doing the BC at over 5 hours again. TVG/HRTV simply cannot deliver any audience size of significance.
Add to that the already noticeable “drain” effect that the BC has on fall races being thin with so many trainer saving their horses for that last big run of the year. It would possibly only get more pronounced with a massive drop off fields after about the end of Saratoga’s meet.
As for holding the BC World Championships in Europe once in a while would be wicked good fun. I’d love to have seen English Channel, Nobiz, Kip Deville, et al running at Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France with the bragging rights on the line and an even fatter purse to the winner.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2772296]
As for holding the BC World Championships in Europe once in a while would be wicked good fun. I’d love to have seen English Channel, Nobiz, Kip Deville, et al running at Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France with the bragging rights on the line and an even fatter purse to the winner.[/QUOTE]
But would Pletcher, Dutrow, and Tagg have been willing to ship their horses to Europe? That’s the huge obstacle.
But I do agree, it would be very fun!
[QUOTE=Texarkana;2772307]
But would Pletcher, Dutrow, and Tagg have been willing to ship their horses to Europe? That’s the huge obstacle.[/QUOTE]
Last year Tagg was talking about sending Showing Up to Europe as the Jacksons have racing interests there as well. Nobiz is running as a 4-yr old so maybe Elizabeth Valando would get a kick out of him running over there at least once?
It’s amazing how uninterested American trainers are to shipping overseas these days. Least folks forget Ron McAnally had the late great John Henry shipped to the Japan Cup (Nov 28, 1982) - although it was his worst performance in his career with a 13th-place finish.
Think how boring - if not globally irrelevant - the BC would’ve been had the wonderful Pebbles or Ouija Board, respectively the first and last British-bred horses to win a BC race, not been shipped here?
There are two reasons one would want to send a horse overseas
a) To win the world’s greatest races. Any sportsman would want to win the biggest jewels in that sport, at least you would think they would. It’s the reason Kentucky Derby winner, Carry Back, was sent to run in the Arc; it’s why C.V Whitney sent US turf champ, Career Boy, to take on the great Ribot in 1956; it’s why Triple Crown winner, Omaha, was sent to England to try and win the Ascot Gold Cup (and came within a nose of doing so).
b) Money: there are some huge purses overseas these days. Outside of the BC day, there is only one other race in the US worth over $1m. To paraphrase Nelson Bunker Hunt, “a million isn’t what it used to be”.
The most obvious obstacle though is raceday meds. It’s why the likes of McDynamo has been content to be a big fish in a small pond, when he could have tripled his earnings elsewhere. Or maybe he couldn’t have.
I don’t really know where to post this, so since its a BC winner, I’ll try here- Why is English Channel only 25K compared to the others that just retired?
By the way, the mighty Tin Man needs well wishes. http://www.drf.com/news/article/89974.html
US runners often fail in foreign venues, with the exception of the Dubai dirt. The US horses who have run on grass in Dubai have flopped, including English Channel who looked like a pony over there. He was nowhere behind Vengeance of Rain.
US runners are raced on meds like Bute and Lasix which are banned in other locales. Without them many of the top US horse simply cannot compete on the world stage.
A Breeders’ Cup outside the US sounds like fun, but it wont have many US runners. In South America only about .01% of runners are even eligible. The economies of scale make it too expensive to bother. The top stakes in Argentina run for under $100k US. If the best horses in training with 3 major G1 fxtures in a season the owner is lucky to gross $200k. That wont pay for entry into the BC.
In Asia, where purses are huge, you might get better interest. There, the G3’s carry purses of over $750k regularly!
Overall, I think you could call it the Breeders’ Cup and run it overseas, but it would cease to have any impact on the US racing season.
Because he’s a well bred 12f grass horse not an 8f dirt horse!
Go Tin Man, I’m pulling for you.
[QUOTE=miss_critic;2773611]
I don’t really know where to post this, so since its a BC winner, I’ll try here- Why is English Channel only 25K compared to the others that just retired?
By the way, the mighty Tin Man needs well wishes. http://www.drf.com/news/article/89974.html[/QUOTE]
A $25K stud fee for a grass horse ain’t half bad in my opinion! There’s virtually no market for turf horses in the US compared to dirt horses.
What happened to the Tin Man? I can’t view the article? (I seriously need to fix my DRF account…)
[QUOTE=miss_critic;2773611]
By the way, the mighty Tin Man needs well wishes. http://www.drf.com/news/article/89974.html[/QUOTE]
That really is terrible to hear! Damn it if that doesn’t just break the camel’s back with bad news 
A class act of a horse that I thankfully got to stand next to (ok 3’ away) at Arlington Park for the Million this year.
Sending best wishes to the ‘old man’.
Someone asked about who could fill John Henry’s stall at the KHP: here myfriends is the best horse you’ll find. Like John he’s the won a Grade 1 race at the age of 9 and also taken the Arlington Million.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2773740]
A class act of a horse that I thankfully got to stand next to (ok 3’ away) at Arlington Park for the Million this year.
Sending best wishes to the ‘old man’.
Someone asked about who could fill John Henry’s stall at the KHP: here myfriends is the best horse you’ll find. Like John he’s the won a Grade 1 race at the age of 9 and also taken the Arlington Million.[/QUOTE]
Thats right, you just saw him run! My, how special that is. Three feet? Was he a big horse?
After the initial shock, those were my first thoughts exactly Glimmerglass. How ironic.
But more than anything, I want him to be ok. Gosh, and it was just exploratory.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;2773672]
What happened to the Tin Man? I can’t view the article …[/QUOTE]
A freak medical accident that has left him in bad shape …
DRF 10-31-07 “Post-surgical injury ends The Tin Man’s career”
ARCADIA, Calif. - The Tin Man, the 9-year-old multimillionaire, sustained a fractured knee in an accident after a surgical procedure on Oct. 25, and is in guarded condition at trainer Richard Mandella’s Santa Anita stable, Mandella said on Wednesday.
The Tin Man was recovering from exploratory surgery on an ankle when he sustained the injury, according to Mandella and veterinarian Jeff Blea.
“Coming out of anesthesia, he had a difficult time and broke his knee,” Mandella said. “He’s got a serious fracture in his knee. We’re not letting him move around.”
[b]The injury means that The Tin Man has been retired from racing, Mandella said.
“It’s a sad deal,” Mandella said. “Hopefully, it will work out. It’s a serious fracture.”[/b]
Blea said horses rarely are injured after surgery.
“It’s one of the inherent risks of horses coming out of anesthesia,” Blea said. "This is the second time I’ve seen it in 15 years. I think his chances of survival are good. It’s quite severe, but he’s comfortable.
“He’s made it this far. He’s a good patient. Our job is to make sure that he’s comfortable and make sure he lives his life to the fullest.”
The surgery was part of a battery of tests that The Tin Man underwent after Mandella and owners Ralph and Aury Todd decided to take the gelding out of training following a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship on Oct. 6. The Tin Man emerged from that race with body soreness. At the time, Mandella hoped that The Tin Man could return in 2008 and race as a 10-year-old.
Mandella said that the tests revealed possible damage to an ankle, which resulted in the exploratory arthroscopic procedure.
Did he break the knee on the same leg he had surgery on?
Thanks for posting that Glimmerglass.
People take anesthesia/recovery for granted… it’s a dang shame something had to happen to The Tin Man.
Here’s to hoping for a miracle!
For those interested, the DRF has a DL list and also has some retirements/out of training listed. It is updated weekly on Wednesdays;
Notable retirements/out of training:
*Any Given Saturday - no stud fee announced, Darley-at-Jonabell Kentucky
*Aristocrat - $5,000 stud fee, Vinery Kentucky
*Carmandia - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Corinthian - $40,000 stud fee, Adena springs Florida
*Cotton Blossom - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Discreet Cat - $30,000 stud fee, Darley-at-Jonabell Kentucky
*English Channel - no stud fee announced, Hurricane Hall Kentucky
*Glacken’s Gal - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Hard Spun - $50,000 stud fee, Darley-at-Jonabell Kentucky
*High Cotton - $5,000 stud fee, Ocala Stud Florida
*Honey Ryder - broodmare
*I’mtoogoodtobetrue - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Lahudood - broodmare Shadwell Farm
*Lila Paige - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Liquor Cabinet - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a stallion prospect
*Magnificent Song - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Make Mine Minnie - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Maryfield - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Ready to Please - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Round Pond - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Silver Wagon - (see deletions)
*Solo Survivor - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Stormello - (see deletions)
*Street Sense - $75,000 stud fee, Darley-at-Jonabell Kentucky
*Wear Well - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
*Wild Desert - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a stallion prospect
*Wilko - $10,000 stud fee Adena Springs Florida
*Zippy Shannon - to be sold at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect
http://community.drf.com/formblog/
Regarding speed at the Breeders’ Cup with all that mud and soft turf:
Daily Racing Form 10-31-07 (pdf)
Breeders’ Cup Beyers
Race = Winner & Beyer Speed Figure
Filly-Mare Sprint = Maryfield 101
Juvenile Turf = Nownownow 85 *
Dirt Mile = Corinthian 119 *
Juvenile Fillies Indian Blessing 95
Juvenile = War Pass 113 *
Filly-Mare Turf = Lahudood 105 *
Sprint Midnight Lute 108
Mile = Kip Deville 108 *
Distaff = Ginger Punch 104 *
Turf = English Channel 111 *
Classic = Curlin 119 *
- career best
Latin America.
Japan cards more dirt races than grass.
HK cards both dirt and grass races. Actually Sha Tin’s inside track is AW now, not sure if Happy Valley’s course is still dirt or has been changed to synthetic.
Argentina, Brazil have probably more day to day racing on dirt, though some of their classics are on grass. Most of the other Latin American countries are mostly dirt.
There are more All-Weather tracks popping up in Europe (Ireland just opened it’s first polytack course in Sep), combined with the spread of synthetic surfaces in the US, in the not too distant future things may not be all that far apart surface wise.
