Breeders' Cup Ramblings

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Kennedy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:24:44 GMT

Perhaps it's time for racing to do what they always should have done.

Start using a weighted point system as part of the year end award consideration.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Matthew W — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:20:47 GMT

It's too bad a nice horse like Col John loses the Ky Derby and gets labeled as a "Poly track runner" as if he could'nt win on the dirt--heck, it was The Derby, he had a ton of trouble and he never was gonna beat Big Brown--just don't like the "conclusion drawing" around here--like now Curlin can't turf cuz he gets 2nd vs a stellar field--I thought both Col John and Curlin looked a bit "off", especially Curlin, who almost dwelt at the break (Durkin said he broke fine)--Santa Anita played out like a tight turf course this Winter---both Big rown and Curlin should love the track, and we know Heatseeker, Georgie Boy, Go Between, Col John like it so anchors away baby!! As far as Zenyatta in the Classic--not in this lifetime would she ever beat those guys--no, better to try and beat Ginger Punch and Hystericalady, and that's a dream race in it's own right....just stop it with the track surfaces--poly or not, I've heard for DECADES about the track surfaces in the West vs the East and vice versa--enough!! I never said Mineshaft or Invasor were overated cuz they didn't do it in the West, and I don't expect it will be too hard to pick an exacta box were Curlin/Big Brown hook up at Santa Anita for the Classic--LIKE THEY SHOULD!!! The fact it, and always has been, you need to prove it on the racetrack, wherever it's run---West coast horses have ALWAYS had to prove it back East--Lava Man never did, nor did Best Pal, and they never got to see the monster kick of Flying Paster--that's racing. What I mean to say is this: DUCK the Breeders Cup for reasons of track surface--AND YOU SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES AT ECLIPSE TIME---that should be the clarion call---racing needs to stay united where it still can, let them decide it on the racetrack, let them know the importance of Big Brown v Curlin and no more excuses...Curlin doesn't want the BC Classic cuz Tiznow already won two? What's wrong with being compared with Tiznow??? Ask Sackee and Giants Causeway what they thought of that great "dinosaur head" of Tiznow, looking them back for as long as it took---no, if Curlin wins a second Classic it will be against an even better field than last years and that's saying enough to warrant all-time greatness---racing, and that's you and I, Steve, needs to say in no uncertain terms: there are some things that transend the dollars and cents of the sport, and The Sport Of Kings warrants NOTHING LESS...than Big Brown v Curlin....

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Huh — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:16:11 GMT

nan:

The Green Monkey was retired and will enter stud next year at Hartley/DeRenzo in Florida.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

dailyimpact — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:06:25 GMT

maybe Curlin simply is a very good horse rather than a world beater. the Arc? not really his league in my opinion. stick to US and similar dirt tracks.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

katsan — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:33:44 GMT

Is Curlin running in the BC, I thought that subject was tabled.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Karen2 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:42:28 GMT

Curlin seemed like a different horse to me today. He definately didn't seem like the game horse he was in the Belmont. Maybe he didn't care for the turf. He even broke slow. I hope this has the Curlin camp re-thinking the Arc. They sure would have their work cut out for them if they decided to still go in that direction. Not that I thought Curlin ran horrible today, but just didn't seem to be the Curlin we have been seeing. Maybe he just had an off day.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

josue555 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:11:57 GMT

have anybody check the breeders cup sprint devision it looks like the best out there right now, this horse are running like they are prepering for the classic.come breeders cup day it will be a dream fill with benny the bull, JBK, the argetinian horse thar reminds me of invasor, i think his name is something Island, and others that are coming along. i'm really looking foward to see this one, is like last year classic field, full of really good contenders.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Karen2 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:15:07 GMT

Love that drive by Better talk now. To bad it was just a little late. Curlin was under a strong drive but just not good enough today to beat Red Rock. I think this will change Curlin's path. I also think had the race been a little longer, Better talk now wouldv'e caught Curlin. What was with the speed duel? They set suicidel fractions. Gotta love Proud Spell. She is one classy "lady" LOL.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

nan — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:32:25 GMT

what has happened to the green

monkey?

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

josue555 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:11:51 GMT

steve i love your blogs and the insight and i do agree that changing the name of the race doesn't make sound more interesting. last year was my first breeders cup that i attended and what breeders cup it was. after such a wonderful breeders cup last years they are going to have two years in the row in santa anita, that sucks. now as for coronel john having a shot at 3yrs old championship i don't see it happening he will have to win the travers and classic convincingly like by 8 or 10 furlong each, but why we should put him like runner up to big brown because he won the santa anita derby come one, what about smooth air he is doing well and Pyro he is at shoudly is going to be the first to get a shot at big brown at the haskell. their is any way that you could see pyro winning the 3yr old championship and what i'm really looking foward is to see a rematch between pyro and war pass and a match between war pass and big brown. finaly Student councel is winning the classic.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

GOCURLIN — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:11:46 GMT

I TOTALLY agree with the guy who wrote this. What kind of name is Ladies' Classic? Ladie's Day is very stupid and sexist, moving the best fillies and mares (not ladies) to a day where no one but racing fans care. Why did the Breeder's Cup even add all of these stupid new races? The Breeder's Cup was doing well, and they added six divisions that nobody cares about. Also, now older horses can run in the Classic, the Dirt Mile, or the Marathon. Plus, there will never be another European Juvenile winner because of the Breeder's Cup Juvinile Turf. What happened to the days of waiting all year for one day, 7/8 races with the best horses in the country going nose to nose. Now it is spread out over 2 days, with 14 races, a "Ladies Day" and way too much hype. It is no longer a championship event, it is just a money machine.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Julie L. — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:48:31 GMT

Karen2 - actually, I think, but not positive that Curlin may have run once on synthetic and did not do well but one should not give up on trying it again. I'm not really sure yet where I stand on synthetic tracks and must admit that I am partial to dirt tracks. As for horses of yesteryear not running on synthetic my point was that at the time it was desireable for horses to be able to handle both dirt and turf as that showed a truly versitile animal but for whatever reason in this country turf racing has never been as popular as dirt racing maybe it's because too many equate it to european style horseracing, what a shame as I find turf racing as exciting as dirt. Then again it's all about the horse really.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Butterfly Warrior — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:52:52 GMT

I didn't know the "Ladies Classic" was being pulled off of Saturday and moved to Friday! Maybe it's just me but the Distaff race has always been one of my favorites.

Can you imagine Personal Ensign running down the Kentucky Derby winning filly, Winning Colors at the wire to retire undefeated on a FRIDAY?!

What about One Dreamer's wire to wire and other thrilling upsets?

Why are all the distaff races on Friday, when most people can't see them? I never thought female horses could be victims of second-class treatment and sexism but I guess I'm wrong.

I'm boycotting if they don't put the DISTAFF Classic back where it belongs-on Saturday.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Karen2 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:51:36 GMT

FormerFan: I love Secretariat and although I was young, I have read everything on him and watched every race replay a million times. I meant no disrespect to Big Red. You will never hear any disrespect out of my mouth regarding him. I will take it as a compliment that I am considered part of the "younger" generation as I am in my 40's. My point was regarding the synthetic surface. Secretariat was superior in every way but to be sure he would run well on synthetic is pure speculation. I have heard its like running in sand with rubber added in. It is fair to say that even the most superior horses would/could dislike that surface and not do well on it. This is just my opinion.

I am excited for the Man O'War. I love Curlin but I also love Better Talk Now so it is hard for me to decide who to cheer for.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

FormerFan — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:14:12 GMT

Secretariat could do anything. There is no doubt he would have been fine. He was fine when he went over to the grass. When you're great, you're great. Unless you had seen Secretariat in person to witness the aura of his greatness, I imagine it would be difficult to understand just how flawless he was. The red machine was perfect at anything he did, and I have no doubt he would have burned up the synthetic tracks with no problem. It must be hard for the younger generation to comprehend just how gifted this horse was. If you weren't alive back then when he was racing to see the greatness, you will never understand no matter who explains it to you. This horse was simply a phenomenon, and could do anything.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Steve Haskin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:31:52 GMT

That's so nice of you, Mercedes. Thank you very much. I never submit anything for awards; comments from readers (pro and con) are all the awards I need.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Karen2 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:27:10 GMT

Julie L. The really great horses of yesteryear were never tried on sythetic surfaces. Grass and dirt and yes, the real great ones could run well on both. But synthetic is another animal all together. Could Secretariat do well on sythentic?? One will never know but it is a possibility he wouldn't have. Correct me if I am wrong but has Curlin proven himself on synthetic? I don't even like to watch a race on synthetic. I just don't get it.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:42:50 GMT

Thanks for the blog.

In the great scheme of things all that really matters is that all of the horses end of healthy.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Mercedes — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:26:06 GMT

The "Hangin' With Haskin" blog is one of the best things The Blood-Horse has ever done.

You don't have to wait to get an Eclipse Award Mr. Haskin.

It speaks for itself just to look at how many comments you get the first day your piece of writing is published.

Thanks a lot. All the best.

Mercedes

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Mercedes — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:20:24 GMT

Are prominent owners and trainers willing to take their dirt and turf horses to the synthetic Breeders' Cup?

Besides the money, why would they?

They are the ones who could make a difference by not having great contenders in Breeders' Cup so the owners of the event would be forced to gather and consider how not to take the prestige the tournament has earned.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Huh — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:24:47 GMT

jj:

Although I agree certain tracks have alot of small fields, your line "There's a reason why Churchill Downs, Saratoga and Belmont are big names in racing. They get great horses and high quality FULL fields. None of this nonsense 5 horse field grade 1, 2 and 3 races" is incorrect because the G1 Acorn only had 4 or 5 horses and the G1 Man o' War has 6 horses.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Steve Haskin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:54:56 GMT

Kevin, a Secretariat-like lead? Wow, thanks. I would been thrilled with an Affirmed-like lead. I appreciate it.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

Racefan66 — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:42:28 GMT

Steve: I had a really good laugh at your blog and have enjoyed your comments!

As for the Ladies' Classic... it sounds like a deoderant brand to me! Hopefully after this year they'll return to using the more dignified term "Distaff".

I'll miss seeing the girls run on Saturday, but as a non-bra-burning broad I'll be sure to skip work and tune in!

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

jj — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:41:03 GMT

GregB:

Lava Man, your best horse for a little while from the West coast, came to the East coast and was beaten badly more than once. That says enough about the quality of California horses. They can win in their own state, but anywhere else don't put a bet on 'em. There's a reason why Churchill Downs, Saratoga and Belmont are big names in racing. They get great horses and high quality FULL fields. None of this nonsense 5 horse field grade 1, 2 and 3 races.

The west coast has Del Mar and Santa Anita, and that's it.

It's hard to compare Emerald Downs, Ruidoso and Portland Meadows to Belmont, Churchill, Saratoga, Keeneland and Gulfstream. Delaware and Colonial Downs have their share of quality races themselves, but they're another level.

We have a bases for our whining and if you don't see the inequalities in synthetic surfaces vs dirt then I kind of question your racing knowledge.

re: Breeders' Cup Ramblings

jj — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:29:25 GMT

It'd be great if Z ran in the classic - the classic classic, not that other nonsense - and kind of redeemed horse racing with a win. Y'know, a filly can beat the boys in a tough, premiere race and not get hurt. I mean, I know that can happen, but the general public might not. It would be good for horse racing.

As far as the Distaff renaming;

it's like universities or high school teams that are the Bucks. Instead of the girl's teams going by 'Does' they often choose 'Lady Bucks.' Does this imply a cross dressing buck? It sounds ridiculous and incorrect.

As far as Polytack Older Horse/etc that sounds like a reasonable solution. It IS after all a different surface, and we DO after all have awards for turf horses singularly.