Ladies' Day - Two Sides

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

dana — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:02:54 GMT

Bradgm said: "However, in the Classic the females could run if they want".

I think you mean if the connections are willing to run them against colts, which is sadly not that often.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Bradgm — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:29:23 GMT

Jordan, like we talked about Zarkava isn't coming to the Breeders Cup. Hey maybe she would have if she hadn't been hidden away on Friday's card.

Worksonfridays,

I feel your pain. I'll cheer for em on Friday in your honor. No female that I know who likes racing likes this. However, in the Classic the females could run if they want to so the Gentlemen's Classic is out and I think it's still the case if the females want to run in a couple others on Saturday they can.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

worksonfridays — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:15:20 GMT

Jeff, attaching 'sexism' to this discussion is completely appropriate and extremely relevant to the conversation, insomuch as a condescending attitude toward women informed both the race's ridiculous new name and the downgrade to Friday's card. Just try giving this sort of name to a different race. Would they rename the classic the 'gentleman's classic?' no. because in addition to being asinine, it also makes the event sound ludicrous. It's time to stop trying to make it sound cute that female athletes are performing - especially in a sport where there's not even enough sexual dimorphism to make single-sex races a necessity. Marketing ploy or not, it's pretty off-putting to female fans that the biggest fillies and mares of the year will not be running under the spotlight they deserve.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Kateinabox — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:29:21 GMT

What is sad is that the fillies and mares have done so much this year. They have been so entertaining and there are like a dozen top class horses going to post on Friday, but people will miss it. Sure the Sat's Classic will be amazing... but the fellers have left a lot to be desired this year. Other than than Sat's Classic... all the races I want to see are Friday!

Though strangely enough... being in Japan... US Friday is my Saturday and US Saturday is my Sunday. So it works out well, on this side of the Int'l Date line.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

JordanA — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:36:49 GMT

Well Bellweather, I'm not one of the girls but all of them I know are worked up and so am I. I think Zenyatta, Zarkava and Stardom Bound deserve to be seen on Saturday, the premier day of racing. The first two have that chance only if they run in the Classic and Star has no chance at all to run on Saturday. No it's not going to hurt her feelings one little bit but it is going to hurt the handle, the simulcast, and online betting. It's also going to hurt that the average everyday person who might be intrigued to see Zenyata and Zarvkava hook up and if they run like they should, provide one of the greatest Distaff's ever. Then to miss Stardom Bound, maybe she didn't win by Landaluce's margin but watching the video that's who she reminded me of along with Winning Colors and Lady's Secret and all the other great ones.

Jeff, Not sexism?

Maybe not in the true sense but in respect to the fact that was what all the hate mongering was with Larry and Eight Belles, running a filly against the colts, anything to prove just how magnificent these females are and how competitive might go a long way to shut them up. You don't think the people who tormented Larry aren't saying "See they don't even think the females are as good as the males, they always run them on a different day, they know which are capable of running so hard." That is a direct quote to me by one PETA fool at my work who never fails to get the digs in.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Eric — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:42:50 GMT

We wonder why racing is always accused of being stuck in the past and not being able to adapt to change or do enough to draw new fans.

Maybe the short-sighted, jumping-to-conclusions, "purists" who refuse to try out new ideas are to blame, rather than racetracks, breeders or television networks. Give it a chance - if it's a disaster, the worst thing that happens is they rework the schedule next year. Otherwise, we can always continue in the mold of resisting change, refusing to adapt to the times and watching as the sport we love continues to fade into oblivion.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

lobieb — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:05:26 GMT

Demeaning, injustice you name it that is what the BC has done this year. When you have something that works why try to mess it up. Who can take off from work on Friday to watch the races, I certainly can't and we don't have TV as many have said that they do so that most of the races will be missed. Are we not as important as the males, bull crap to that angle or are all the people on the BC board males. Put all your new races on Friday and leave Saturday racing the way it was. Why do they consider the fillies and mares second class citizens, without them the stud farms would really be in trouble. Sorry but I am so frustrated at the format they are trying to sell us that it makes me sick. Leave what isn't broken alone.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Jeff — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:13:41 GMT

First of all these are female horses not female human beings so attaching "sexism" to this decision is out of place. However, clearly the Breeders Cup didn't do enough research. They tried to create a Ladies Day similar to the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Kentucky Derby which they affectionately call "Ladies Day". The BC even is running promotions for Susan G Komen breast cancer awareness. They clearly have honest intentions. They want to create an exciting day of Friday racing and create a Ladies Day environment with marketing directly towards female fans.

I love the 2 day format and was hoping for it a long time. Ascot runs their meet for 5 days with great G1 racing every day. Having the BC run for 2 days makes it almost like a "meeting" of its own.

So call me a fan of the changes. I also love the addition of the Juvenile Turf (although 2 divisions seems a bit much), Sprint Turf, Dirt Mile, F&M Sprint and Dirt Marathon (encourage some stamina in the breed). Granted all but the F&M Sprint are not G1 race quality but every race at Royal Ascot is not G1 quality either. They have some listed stakes, G2 and G3 races as well.

I expect over time these races to grow in stature and quality.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Bellwether — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:47:57 GMT

boy you folks got the girls all worked up!!!...LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!!& THE DIRT!!!

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

JordanA — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:02:04 GMT

Sarkava, Huh?

The sexism part, well that's what we're trying to do away with, so we can have quality. We just want the best races on the day when EVERYBDODY can watch. Traditionally Sunday races draw far less than Saturday. Football is in full force right now and truthfully you don't get as many gamblers or spectators to the track, or as many watching TV. My opinion Friday is fine, for the UNGRADED STAKES all 6 of them I believe it is. The big name, big performing horses a lot of the time are the Fillies and Mares, in particular the Juvenile F and the Distaff. This year it will be amazing and those poor folks who have to work or go to school, cannot get off, will have to miss those races. A travesty for the horses, the connections and the fans. They talk about racing shooting themselves in the foot, well they got a lot of help from the powers that be in the Breeders Cup Ltd and ESPN/ABC. Yes to the person who asked ABC will be broadcasting the races on Saturday from 1-3:30 ET will switch to ESPN and crikey the girls are on ESPN 2.

Is the idea maybe to hide them away on Friday in hopes no one WILL see them and be looking to shout their moral outrage if one is injured? I think the amazing performances that will occur will not be seen by those who deserve it and that is all.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Sarkava — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:00:17 GMT

Do they race on Friday. I thought we raced on Sunday. Anyhow, I'm disappointed that relatively few will will be able to see the girls from Europe run -- we typically put on a very good show -- along with the American ladies in the Distaff.

Worse yet, the re-run of my race on Saturday, if I come, will be reduced to my stretch run. Maybe they will at least replay Kenny Mayne saying "I'm only going to say this once -- Zarkava!!!!!!!"

Blast you Yanks. You are all caught up in the sexism stuff. We horses are all talking about QUALITY. Did they open the Dark Knight on Monday?

Truly Yours, Zarkava

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Kateinabox — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:57:55 GMT

I honestly don't know why they can't have it on Sunday. Right now I am living in Japan and Sunday is like their biggest race day. And thousands of people show up. Not just 2,000... more like 10,000! And these have been GII and GIII days! (I'm off to a GI tomorrow...) Now there isn't the christian association with Sunday here... so maybe it is easier to get away with. But Santa Anita has live racing on Sunday anyway, so way not the Breeder's Cup! Give people a CHANCE to go or to at least watch it! Friday poses much more of a problem. Not everyone can watch TV at work. So viewership will be down, attendance might not be as high.

I am not opposed to the split... though the renaming of the Distaff is pretty lame (something we all seem to agree on), I wouldn't go so far as to call it sexiest, maybe just poor judgement.

If all tracks were dark on Sundays, then I would understand why they would not choose Sunday. But they aren't, so there is no reason to have the F&M card on a Friday.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Old Timer — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:01:12 GMT

I can't say that I like the idea of this "Ladies Day" nor do I like the name. What was wrong with "Distaff"? Filly & Mare Classic is at least a little bit better.

Zevida had a wonderful idea in separating the turf races and maybe some years have them at Colonial; Europe; etc. I guess that I am a purist. Why not have the old, original 6 races on Saturday, keeping the Classic and Distaff together and have the later "second tier" races the day before? Nothing against them, but really, the dirt mile; juvenile turf races; marathon; etc. are a notch below the Classic & Distaff.

Personally I am taking the day off Friday and going to bet the filly and mare races. They seem like they will be awesome this year. Go Zenyatta! Go Stardom Bound.

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

SundaySilenced — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:44:08 GMT

If they must do this, then they should have left the original line up on Saturday the same. Can't help it if the new races will not be enough of a draw to bring people to watch, let it catch on like other races have, but donot change the line up. That's crazy! I don't understand why they don't solicit fans and workers in the biz opinions before changing what works, then we are told it's for the good of the sport and we must accept change. I bet the races viewed on Friday would have the same viewing as Sunday football day as most will be working,getting dinner together, taking their teenagers and littleones where they need to get to, so I don't think the EXCUSE that we cannot compete on Sunday is valid. The powers that be forget households have more then one tv nowadays, but a job or school is much harder to cut out then turning on another tv to watch on "football" sunday!

re: Ladies' Day - Two Sides

Teresa at Brooklyn Backstretch — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:13:27 GMT

Thanks, Emily, for pointing out the error. I'd still say that it's not a great name for a race for fillies/mares of any age.

And to be clear on another point: I never suggested moving the filly/mare races to Sunday, well aware that the conflict with the NFL makes that untenable. I'm not objecting to racing over two days, just to using the sex of the horses as the criteria to decide who runs on what day.

Thanks for the comments.