I swear, a few months ago it said espn!!!
Dubai World Cup post positions, with a field of 13, drawn
Curlin will have to break new ground and become the first horse to win the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates, from stall 12, following the Post Position Draw Ceremony tonight.
- Sway Yed
- Well Armed (USA)
- Happy Boy
- Kocab
- Great Hunter (USA)
6. Premium Tap - Vermillion
- Jalil
- Asiatic Boy
- Lucky Find
- Gloria De Campeao
- Curlin (USA)
- A. P. Arrow (USA)
UK Press 3-26-08 “Dettori - Curlin is beatable”
Dettori said: “I have been very impressed by Curlin. But he is beatable, every horse is beatable. But if the Curlin of the Breeders’ Cup or Preakness Stakes turns up, then it is going to be very hard.”
He added: “But he has had to travel a long way - it is different conditions on a different track. We have a good hand and we have to go out thinking we can beat him. But it is still there in black and white that he is rated 11lb higher than us and that tells its own story.”
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor accepts Curlin is the one to beat but is confident Jalil can continue on the upgrade.
He said: “Curlin is a star and you could say he is the best horse in the race coming from America. I have a lot of respect for him, but Jalil is an improving horse all the time. With time he has improved and improved his record - that shows you that the horse is doing very well.”
An aside on Curlin and dealing with the media from Wednesday March 26th:
Slowing to a trot to join assistant trainer Scott Blasi aboard his pony, Pancho, Curlin was still charged up, displaying his intensity by reaching over and nipping Pancho.
Remaining electrified while walking with Pancho off the track, Curlin was greeted by more journalists and their equipment, including a British television commentator who walked alongside the strapping chestnut as a videographer taped her saying, “This is the world’s best horse.”
As if indicating his patience for the media was at an end, Curlin leapt up into the air slightly, giving an indication of what he could do if really provoked.
Yet the media persisted, with one European photographer running ahead and shooting while standing near a scrubby desert bush.
“He could have been dead,” Rosas said of the photographer, noting that the man was lucky Curlin did not strike out with a well aimed kick.
“He wouldn’t have done it to be mean,” Blasi explained. “But you can’t get a horse ready for the race of his life and not expect him to feel good and express it.”
Everything about Curlin’s body language is telling his team that he is honed for Saturday’s $6 million race.
“He’s acting like we want him to do coming into a big race,” Blasi said. “His energy level is good, especially after we teased him a little with that half-mile work. He knows he’s ready.”
The Blood Horse has a wonderful blog going on Curlin; it’s well done and really gives you an “up close and personal” view of the goings-on. The primary focus is Curlin, of course, but the writer also travel-blogs a bit about the country itself. It’s worth the read. :yes:
Does anyone know, roughly, how much it would cost to go to the World Cup? (As a spectator, I mean. 
)
Beezer, we went a couple of years ago and I think our grandstand seats were somewhere in the $150 range. I can’t remember the exact amount. We had a friend living there and ourselves lived a cheap flight away in Bombay, so it ended up costing less than it would have to go to the Derby. I don’t even want to think what it would have cost coming from the U.S.
6. Premium Tap
I know!!! That’s great! Although it isn’t comforting that they were on the fence.
The writer of the blog is a good friend of mine. I want her job!
Is the Carnival going to be on TV in the US?
[QUOTE=vineyridge;3104012]
Is the Carnival going to be on TV in the US?[/QUOTE]
Only HRTV will air it live. So as someone else quipped - “all of six people will get to see it” 
Most likely the balance of us will have to settle for seeing it on the internet afterwards. When Curlin ran in the Jaguar Trophy in Duabi the replay was available on the Dubai Racing Club site within a few hours. ESPN2 might air the replay during the Florida Derby but thats more doubtful then not.
Stop the Presses: TVG WILL NOW AIR THE DUBAI WORLD CUP TOO
TVG announced March 27 it reached a “last-minute agreement” to feature live coverage of the March 29 Dubai World Cup from Nad al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.
TVG’s coverage includes the major stakes races on the Dubai World Cup card, including the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), Godolphin Mile (UAE-II), UAE Derby (UAE-II), Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), Dubai Duty Free (UAE-IT), and the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-IT).
TVG’s Dubai World Cup coverage, beginning at 10:30 a.m. EST, will be hosted by Todd Schrupp, who will be joined by Simon Bray and jockey Corey Nakatani. Bray was the assistant trainer for Bill Mott when Cigar captured the 1996 inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup. Nakatani has ridden several times at Nad al Sheba and won the 2001 Golden Shaheen aboard Caller One.
“TVG is thrilled to deliver the world’s richest horse race featuring Curlin to more homes than any other network in the country,” said Tony Allevato, TVG’s executive producer, in a news release. “We are extremely grateful to the Dubai Racing Club. Without its efforts, our coverage would not be possible.”
I got one that is going to make even more folks happy
The World Cup, contested at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), is the last of seven races Saturday night. The card’s opener is for Arabians, followed by three dirt races, and two awesome grass stakes - the $5 million Duty Free and the $5 million Sheema Classic. Post time for the first Thoroughbred race is 9:40 a.m. Eastern in the U.S. The World Cup is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast on tape delay at 2:30 on ABC. The races can be seen live on HorseRacing TV and TVG and on many online wagering platforms and will be streamed in real time on espn360.com. U.S. bettors can play the World Cup online or at simulcasting facilities.
That’s 2:30 Eastern? On Saturday?
Yippee!
I too saw that DRF citation that ABC will be airing it on a delay. I suspect that will be picked up by ABC stations on a select basis.
Consulting my DVR for Comcast here (which is updated daily) it shows that WLS-ABC7 here for the Chicago market is airing some Nashville battle of the stars (?) between 1 pm and 2 pm with Skiing/Snowboarding from 2 pm on. Such is the risk of last-minute programing.
If ABC has the rights then I’d presume that the Dubai classic 2-min and some change long race will be aired at some point during the 1-hour ESPN2 broadcast of the Florida Derby on Saturday.
Spoiler.
It seems that Curlin has just taken the Dubai World Cup by five or six lengths. Congratulations to him and his connections!
O.M.G. That was soooo awesome!! He looked spectacular on his way to the paddock, all braided even, and I swear looked ready to go round again, I love this magnificent looking horse. :yes:
wow! That is awesome! I knew he could do it! Is the race posted anywhere yet?
waves her Curlin flags
Congrats to Curlin and his team.
Now, if my local ABC will just show the thing! I have ABC turned on and waiting to start taping if it comes on. Right now, there is an infomercial about vacuum cleaners. If that’s a sample of what they have on lineup for this afternoon, surely they can squeeze in the WC.
well ACB in the Tampa area (regular antenna TV) is a POS. Thanks I’m looking at some excercise devise paid programming. Saw in my internet scroll Curlin was the winner. crap
No go with my ABC. They are now showing Outdoor Bob or something like that, with tips on “goin’ huntin’” Sigh.
[QUOTE=DLee;3108427]
O.M.G. That was soooo awesome!! He looked spectacular on his way to the paddock, all braided even, and I swear looked ready to go round again, I love this magnificent looking horse. :yes:[/QUOTE]
Curlin is braided each and every time he runs-- Scott does it himself and they look AMAZING!!! I tried to get him to show me his secret when we were stalled next to him for the Belmont, but he said he would show me some time when we weren’t running against each other, --guess I should go get my lesson while he’s here at Keeneland!! LOL
