Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Pam S. — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:35:14 GMT

GreyK,

Katie wasn't being any snarkier than the "Dirt, dirt, dirt" posters. Mary is right, snarky isn't the word, it's petty and childish.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

GreyK — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:27:01 GMT

Art, your drinking game is right on. ESPN is awful. Tim, you got it. I can't take a day off work this year to watch the "ladies" - and what a stupid name change that is. I'm going to be really ticked off if Zenyatta runs on Friday, not in the Classic. Seeing the replay on HRTV isn't quite the same.

Katie: horses do break down on synthetic surfaces, including Santa Anita. No need to be all snarky because it didn't happen in the BC last year. I hope you are right again this year and I can't wait for next year back on dirt.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

eeebayou — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:29:58 GMT

What's the most talked about TV show in horse racing? It's not the Breeder's Cup, it is Jockeys!!It is amazing how the TV show "Jockeys" is recreating Derby Trail history. On the latest episode, the show had Alex Solis WATCHING the Santa Anita Derby from the jock's room. Funny, although Alex's original mount scratched from the race, he RODE Take the Points to a 4th place finish (if memory serves me right he was a last minute replacement for Chris DeCarlo)!! If Alex can be in two places at once, he deserves immediate placement in the Hall of Fame.

And if Alex has those kind of talents, how did he get beat on Captain Bodgit for Team Valor in the Derby? The phony race calls, life and death race scenarios and canned scenes are one thing (creative license?)---blatant misrepresentation of facts on the show is another!!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Householder — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:13:02 GMT

Gin. Didn't MTB run dead last at Santa Anita?

Art. I would join in with you game but a small beer cost 10.00 and a shot 12.50 not including tip come race day.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Joe B — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:06:13 GMT

Let's face it folks does it really matter where the BC is held?? Next year you will have less europeans and you will have the horses that perform well on the poly or synthetic's not going to Churchill because they won't perform as well on the dirt. An old saying I have. "It is what it is". We just have to deal with it. I think no matter where it is it's still the best two day's of racing.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Katie — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:38:40 GMT

Why would anyone want to watch the Breeder's Cup being run in the slop? In case anyone hasn't noticed, in November on the east coast, it's usually raining, as it has the last few times the Breeder's Cup has been out that way. Absolutely miserable weather. As I recall, more horses broke down and had to be euthanized on sloppy Breeder's Cup DIRT tracks. Anyone remember George Washington? Pine Island? Fleet Indian? She was the lucky one! Who broke down at Santa Anita last year? Anyone? Anyone?

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Tim — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:33:51 GMT

I love the idea of Ladies Day. I think it is a smart idea to make sure that nobody watches the best divisions in the sport this year. In fact, I would move Ladies Day to a Wednesday and maybe even move it to a different track, say the LA County Fair, just to make sure absolutely nobody watches those races. Keep up the great work.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Gin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:11:09 GMT

glad Bryan hit it on the head first! I am looking forward to the turf races and the Euros again to do well. Hard to predict how horses will take to plastic for the first time. Plus if its hot that surface gets real hot and hurts their hooves. You try running on hot coals see how you feel! It was 114 degrees last year and gee Mine That Bird didnt like it so hot. Dont blame him.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Karen in Indiana — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:53:52 GMT

Wow, Art, they'd be carting people left and right to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. LOL!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

wista — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:07:26 GMT

The Euros will again do well at Santa Anita. No steroids and a synthetic surface will"even the playing field' again this year. Imagine how well they would do if Lasix and "bute" were also on the "no-no" list!

But if we did away with all of the chemicals, half of the so-called trainers would have to find some other line of deception . . er, work, I meant .

At every track you can find a list of the number of victories for trainers and jockeys. It is helpful to many bettors. Would it be too much to ask for a list that would show the number of "positives" for each trainer over the past ten years. If you know who the most obvious cheaters are ,it would certainly factor into your race analysis!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Mary — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:42:06 GMT

I like the Breeders Cup 360 site, especially the handicapping and video sections. Both should prove useful tools.

The divisional blogs are a worthy addition, too. I like the one writer focusing on one race format.

Enough of the complaining about the BC at SA. He asked for feedback concerning the new web features. If you must gripe, at least provide some useful feedback about those features, too.

How can you expect the NTRA to keep asking for your feedback when you use every post Waldrop makes as an excuse to off-topic whine about the BC at SA? Read back through these posts. The answers make Bloodhorse readers look petty and childish.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Carolyn in ND — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:59:05 GMT

ck, I don't know what state you live in, but Ky IS my home state!!!!! Churchill IS a major track!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

DMB — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:52:01 GMT

Dirt ! Dirt ! Durt ! Dirt! Dirt !

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

ck — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:23:22 GMT

You folks need to deal with reality.

Why do you think Santa Anita is hosting the BC for a second consecutive year?

Churchill Downs isn't even a major track. The Kentucky Derby aside, the rest of the year sucks in the entire state.

New York and Southern California are the Meccas for the sport.

So, you girls know what you can do with your dirt.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

needler in Virginia — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:55:02 GMT

Promotion, hype, glitz, bling and just plain over the top....all these apply, but dirt should be the word we're using! I hate to rain on the BC parade (or maybe NOT!) but two years at Santa Anita smells a bit AND puts a halt to our seeing any horse who hates the synthetics. After Curlin HATED the surface last year, we know Mr Jackson et. al. will not be back, and while I don't believe it crucial for Rachel and the Big Z to meet, it really is a damned shame Rachel won't be there proving her quality in the Classic. So it's sad for racing. We will get to see some pretty amazing international critters running their eyeballs out, but I fear mostly synthetic trained and acclimated horses from the US will be there, so again that's sad.

Ah, well.....TO NEXT YEAR IN LOUISVILLE!!!! But I'm NOT gonna get all excited over this year's episode at SA.

Cheers and safe trips.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

rideandcook — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:43:28 GMT

Right on, Bryan!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Robin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:32:25 GMT

Bryan, I agree!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

skipaway2000 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:23:42 GMT

Amen Bryan!! Can't wait 'till the BC is back at Churchill.

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Bryan — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:25:26 GMT

What I'd like to see can be summarized in one word. DIRT!!!!!!

re: Attention All Breeders' Cup Fans

Art — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:35:20 GMT

How about a Breeders' Cup drinking game? That's always fun -

* Take a swig of beer every time Hank Goldberg stutters.

* And a shot every time Jerry Bailey references a ride that he gave.

* A jello shot every time they mention Rachel Alexandra's name.

* A shot anytime somebody brutally butchers somebody's name, or calls a horse by the wrong name.

* A drink of beer anytime ESPN reminds us in any way that college football is being shown on other channels of the 'family of networks.'

* Anytime the camera crew inadvertently cuts to a reporter who isn't ready to speak, leaves the camera on a reporter after he/she has finished speaking, or cuts a reporter off mid-report, shake your head and take a drink.

* Take 2 shots for any 'feel good' story that has nothing to do with the Breeders' Cup races.

* 1 drink for every useless John Nerud commentary.

* 1 drink anytime the on-track microphone doesn't work after the race when attempting to talk to the winning rider.

* 2 drinks anytime the mic works, but you can't understand a word the rider says (either due to his accent, or static)

* 1 drink anytime an announcer picks a European horse that he probably hadn't heard of until 2 days before the event.

* 1 drink anytime they refer to it as "glorious Santa Anita"

* 1 drink anytime the synthetic surface is praised

* 3 drinks anytime the synthetic surface is bashed

* 1 shot anytime a horse with odds of greater than 10/1 wins

* A shot for every flying dismouont