Count down to BC

[Shammy_Davis]

[QUOTE=Zevida;8382761]
A championship day should have races filled with champion caliber horses. I think they’ve diluted it by adding so many races that don’t have top class fields. But I can give the grass races a pass since outside the US there are a lot more top caliber grass horses, so a turf sprint and the juvenile turf races are ok, though usually not very interesting.

The Distaff is the premiere race for fillies and mares, anyone who wins that has faced top class horses and is a deserving champion.

The Dirt Mile is a race for horses ducking the tougher competition in the Sprint and Classic. They should drop it.[/QUOTE]

The sport of horse racing is dependent on opportunities both for the connections, the fans, and the betting public. Simply its very existence is based on races that people like you might not enjoy but thankfully you are in the minority. IMO if racing followed your thinking other tracks would follow the lead of Hollywood Park, Sufferin’ Downs, Colonial Downs, to name the most recent failures and the sport would become extinct.

I have always thought that the true champions are voted the Eclipse. To call the BC the world championship is a misnomer. IMO it confuses most fans. The BC is just a group of high value races that require class horses to participate. I’m sure you’ll agree any winner of a BC race belonged in the field. The Dirt Mile was an exciting race as we’re all the others.

[cayuse]

I have a question maybe someone could answer. After the race, when they were leading AP back to the barn, he was followed by maybe eight or so people wearing camouflage. Who were they? The shot I saw was an overhead shot and it was had to see. I thought security at first, but it really didn’t look that way to me. I’m just curious.

[WNT]

Something I read said they were Kentucky National Guard.

[findeight]

[QUOTE=Zevida;8382849]

…i think Pharoah also became the first two-year-old champion to go on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic…[/QUOTE]

Nice to see one retire sound these days too, belive all the TC winners from Citation on did as well and went out winning their last races. And a home bred too.

Missed live coverage of the race…is it just me or did he get asked to open up while easily and obviously going to win. Sure looked like he found another gear when V just sat down, showed him the stick and he defiantly accelerated. Kicked in like a come from behinder at the top of the stretch picking up another two lengths in the last furlong. Seemed a statement there for the naysayers. Impressive. They let him run.

[JJ_sLuckyTrain]

[QUOTE=Montanas_Girl;8382749]
Songbird also won the Juvenile Fillies in a time that was a full second faster than the colt who won the Juvenile. I really hope she takes on the boys next year.[/QUOTE]

Frankly, I would think that this owner in particular might hesitate to run her against colts. I would hope he learned some lessons from the tragedy in 2008.

She is an impressive filly, as is Rachel’s Valentina.

What a day for racing yesterday. I have never jumped up and down and screamed like a crazy person before! It was thrilling to see AP. And thanks, Effinex, for holding on to make my exacta!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@JJ'sLuckyTrain;8383042

Frankly, I would think that this owner in particular might hesitate to run her against colts. I would hope he learned some lessons from the tragedy in 2008.

What lessons are to be learned from Eight Belles breaking her legs? Running her against colts caused her legs to break?
Flesh that one out for us a bit there.

The 3yo filly that won the BC Turf yesterday has been running against colts, and older males, for months.

[Just_Plain_Lucky]

[QUOTE=JJ’sLuckyTrain;8383042]
Frankly, I would think that this owner in particular might hesitate to run her against colts. I would hope he learned some lessons from the tragedy in 2008. [/QUOTE]

What do you mean by this? Not being snarky, but I assume you mean Eight Belles. I thought she simply tripped/stumbled and had a history of doing so in previous races while being pulled up. Is it superstition or something else?

[findeight]

There’s been lots of fillies/mares that ran against males, that’s a reach. And, IMO, stunningly unfair to EBs connections who did nothing wrong. No point in rehashing and pointing fingers on that one.

[SLW]

[QUOTE=cayuse;8382977]
I have a question maybe someone could answer. After the race, when they were leading AP back to the barn, he was followed by maybe eight or so people wearing camouflage. Who were they? The shot I saw was an overhead shot and it was had to see. I thought security at first, but it really didn’t look that way to me. I’m just curious.[/QUOTE]

They were National Guard. Each horse had one NG escort them to the paddock on both days of the BC. AP, understandably, had a larger escort. The police presence by the winners circle ramped up for the Classic race.

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=SLW;8383126]
They were National Guard. Each horse had one NG escort them to the paddock on both days of the BC. AP, understandably, had a larger escort. The police presence by the winners circle ramped up for the Classic race.[/QUOTE]

Saw the NG on the track as AP returned to get his flowers - was hoping he wasn’t going to get a 21 gun salute! Impressive security for sure.

[cayuse]

Thanks guys! My husband said it looked like national guard but the shot was from so far away he couldn’t tell either. Mystery solved.

[Where_sMyWhite]

2 great days of racing. The girls did themselves proud against the boys

I too was hoping for Rachael’s Valentina but Songbird is in a class by herself. Her 3 year old year will be interesting for sure.

Nice race by Found and a bit of sweet revenge against Golden Horn.

American Pharoah… what is there to say? He looked fantastic before the race and easily ran away with it. Looks like Victor let him out a bit in the stretch to let him get some nice run in even if he wasn’t being threatened for the lead. Sure do wish Beholder could have run to see how she’d have done (but if she wasn’t 100%, not worth risking her).

I really don’t like most of the TVG commentators (and yesterday there were far to many) but at least you get racing in between the BC races instead of the insipid general broadcast. TVG also broadcast all the BC races live with the exception of the Classic and that was delayed just until the Classic was over and then they broadcast it delayed (which was live enough for me).

And happy to see that it looks like all the horses came out clean and safe.

[Texarkana]

I just want to say what a phenomenal job Keeneland did hosting the BC!

After reading so much venom on the internet leading up to the event about what a disaster it was going to be at Keeneland, they sure proved the naysayers wrong. My husband had purchased GA tickets for us as a present, although he despises large, crowded events. I was really worried he was going to be miserable. I ended up worrying for no reason.

We got to Lexington on Saturday around 9:30am and parked at the Horse Park. We hopped right on a charter bus shuttle with no waiting and got to Keeneland in time for the first race. We didn’t get a bench, but we found a spot right on the rail just beyond the finish line with a perfect view. It never even got very crowded in our area except, when American Pharoah was on the track (obviously). While there were TONS of people, they were prepared. Lines were minimal-- I didn’t wait in a line for wagering, food, or drink all day. The lines at the ladies rooms weren’t even bad, although ironically the mens rooms were a different story.

It did take us over an hour to get on a shuttle and get back to our car, but logistically, I think they handled it as well as they could. They seriously had hired every bus for 300 miles to move people-- there were buses hired from as far away as Alabama and Chicago. Our driver had come down from Indianapolis. I think the only way the exiting situation could have been improved would have been to somehow stagger the mass of folks leaving at once.

Thanks for doing such an awesome job, Keeneland! And thanks for winning, American Pharoah. That made the day extra special.

[FalseImpression]

Refresh my memory as I don’t always follow racing closely.

AP retires to Coolmore as they bought the breeding rights, correct? But the horse still belong to Zayat Stables?
I loved how emotional and grateful his owner is… and that they will share their win with New Vocations…

and as promised
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/13887/american-pharoah-greets-his-fans-nov-1

What a difference with the CC circus!

[Just_Plain_Lucky]

[QUOTE=Texarkana;8383289]
I just want to say what a phenomenal job Keeneland did hosting the BC!

After reading so much venom on the internet leading up to the event about what a disaster it was going to be at Keeneland, they sure proved the naysayers wrong. My husband had purchased GA tickets for us as a present, although he despises large, crowded events. I was really worried he was going to be miserable. I ended up worrying for no reason.

We got to Lexington on Saturday around 9:30am and parked at the Horse Park. We hopped right on a charter bus shuttle with no waiting and got to Keeneland in time for the first race. We didn’t get a bench, but we found a spot right on the rail just beyond the finish line with a perfect view. It never even got very crowded in our area except, when American Pharoah was on the track (obviously). While there were TONS of people, they were prepared. Lines were minimal-- I didn’t wait in a line for wagering, food, or drink all day. The lines at the ladies rooms weren’t even bad, although ironically the mens rooms were a different story.

It did take us over an hour to get on a shuttle and get back to our car, but logistically, I think they handled it as well as they could. They seriously had hired every bus for 300 miles to move people-- there were buses hired from as far away as Alabama and Chicago. Our driver had come down from Indianapolis. I think the only way the exiting situation could have been improved would have been to somehow stagger the mass of folks leaving at once.

Thanks for doing such an awesome job, Keeneland! And thanks for winning, American Pharoah. That made the day extra special.[/QUOTE]

I agree that they did their absolute best. The only thing I really noticed was that toward the end, the poor clean up crew was so overwhelmed. I felt so bad for them. That is expected at most big events, though. That and the massive cluster duck of getting out of there, but a lot of it was caused by people creating their own rules…and OMG the sheer amount of buses was incredible.

Funny story: We were actually supposed to be tailgating up on The Hill (when we bought our passes, the grandstand was sold out), but ventured down near the grandstand to check out the BC Superstore. We ended up finding a dude selling 4 general admission tickets, bought them, glued ourselves to the area around the wire, and were able to catch a glimpse of AP!! We were right around where you were. I was walking around thinking: “I wonder who here’s a COTHer or from the other forums I read” lol.

I don’t know…I just felt so honored to be there. Keenland is beautiful and they did great (all things considering) at accommodating the gigantic crowd.

[skydy]

It was a great Breeders Cup viewing for me. Thanks again HW for pointing me to the Keeneland site. I watch the sales there but never thought about the BC.

I found the livestream from Keeneland to be infinitely better than the television. They took you to the paddock (and stayed there) then followed horses to the track, covered the post parade, the race, the winner coming in, then the winners circle and the trophy presentation.

They live streamed the things I actually want to see. I don’t care what a movie star thinks about the race , or what people are wearing etc…etc…etc… so it was a pleasure not to have to listen to that tripe.

AP was impressive. It was great to see that horse run again, ears pricked, with his casual expression.

I’ve never seen a super talented racehorse run with that somewhat detached demeanor, that dooby-dooby-doo-I’m-cantering-down-the-track, look.
I’m sorry to see him retire. What fun it would be to keep going…

All came home safe, which made it a very happy occasion.

[jadebe]

@Zevida;8382732

What a great race! The phenoms make it look easy, like a public workout, but that’s why they are the great ones. Pharoah did what Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and Secretariat couldn’t - beat older horses on dirt as a three-year-old. And he did it emphatically.

Actually, Secretariat did accomplish that feat, winning the inaugural Marlboro Cup Invt’l. H., in which his 4yo stable mate Riva Ridge and 7yo Cougar II ran 2d and 3d, respectively.

I do wish Rachel’s Valentina had won, but she ran a good second. I hope she gets a second crack at Songbird next year!

Ditto that!

[Zevida]

Ah, yes, I meant in a Grade 1, though that’s really a technicality since it was the inaugural running the Marlboro wasn’t rated but later was made a G1.

[QHJockee]

I was in the winner’s circle for Mongolian Saturday, it WAS crazy. I wish I was partying with those guys last night!

[dreamswept]

[QUOTE=QHJockee;8383706]
I was in the winner’s circle for Mongolian Saturday, it WAS crazy. I wish I was partying with those guys last night![/QUOTE]

Aren’t Breeders’ Cup winners’ circles fun? I still remember Goldie’s 2013 Dirt Mile. That was fun!