In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

JordanA — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:42:40 GMT

The Graded Stakes committee declined to grant graded status to ANY of the races that were added last year. Bill Farish asked the committee to table the decision. Wasn't it just on one of these blogs that someone said there are already too many Graded Stakes?

This brings back my point of moving the non-graded races back to Friday and having the graded stakes on Saturday.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

Cheryl from Maryland — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:23:53 GMT

I was so looking forward to the Dirt Marathon because Evening Attire is one of my all-time favorites and I think he would have won it in a gallop. I guess we'll never know. But even without him it will be an interesting race. Maybe after the race is more established some of the better distance-loving horses will go in it-maybe not the ones that can compete in the classic, but the ones who are just a cut below.

To da3hoss-there already is a BC Steeplechase. It is run at Far Hills, usually about the week before the Breeder's Cup. I wish they could run it at the same track as the other BC races.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

da3hoss — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:57:49 GMT

I think the marathon should be 2 miles, but am happy anything is called a Marathon...hopefully as the race gains respect more qualifying races will be offered.

I also think a BC Steeplechase race would be fun.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

Larry — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:58:29 GMT

The Marathon is an excellent addition to the BC, but it should be at 2 miles. It should also have the benefit of year long races run at various tracks over distances from 12 to 16 furlongs leading up to it. (Win and Your IN). Making it graded and $1 million would help.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

SG — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:58:04 GMT

The Wellington Cup and Grand Prix de Paris are both now run over 1 1/2 miles.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

VP — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:57:06 GMT

The Classic should be run at a mile & a half & the Ladies Classic should be run at a mile and a quarter. They should be your test of class and stamina in a Grade 1 event. Not many even want to run over a mile & an eighth anymore. It would be nice to see other tracks start to lengthen their distances. I think the G1 dirt/synthetic races should be moved up to longer distances (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles). Until you can get horses to run longer through out the year, I don't see the Marathon taking off anytime soon or having much quality in the field. I would have to agree with you. It would be nice to see long distance races run in the future. I would love to see more stamina added back to the breed.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

Amberoid — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:57:41 GMT

A "marathon" BC race is not unlike the "Field of Dreams" concept - "Build it and they will come". But they will come quicker, and in greater numbers, if the distance was two miles and the purse was equal to other BC events.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

Pam — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:06:08 GMT

I agree that the Marathon should be longer, at least 2 miles in my opinion. And I'm guessing it's not graded yet because it's in its first year at the BC? Once it gets graded, perhaps they'll raise the purse. I don't know whether or not a distance dirt race would attract more Europeans, but having it graded and with a bigger purse should give breeders some incentive to breed for more distance in the future. I hope...

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

Kateinabox — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:13:49 GMT

I have to say I am kind of happy they created a longer race. It is sad that all the long races are being cut down. I was one who was a little put off by the added races. But after some soul searching I think it is good. With the added turf races, you get more global participation. And with the marathon we might get to see some of those world wide champion stayers do their thing... which might make some people want to try to produce similar horses.

I agree that the race should be 2 miles though. The Belmont being called the test of a champion... means that a 2 miler would be a marathon... or that is my way of thinking. Plus I would love to see a 2mile race here in the states. But I think it should be raced on the Turf and not on the dirt. Since most of the longer races around the world are all on turf. The race would attract more prominent distant horses away from the BC Turf and to the BC Marathon.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

LittleGuyBreeder — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:54:46 GMT

There were many of us who cheered when the Marathon was announced, but disappointed in the distance, but it's a start. Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of horses in America who would benefit from a 12 furlong non-grass race for quality money. The sad thing is that most of our distance races are aimed at grass horses. Remember a few years ago when the ran MAIDEN Nolan's Cat in Afleet Alex's Belmont - because they figured the distance was about right for him? Had the field been less qualified, he would have had an excellent shot of breaking his maiden at 12 furlongs! Think of how many catalog pages that could be improved if we wrote more distance races, in all classes, for horses that need room to get going? They aren't all grass horses and this is a step in the right direction, in my opinion. Anyways, I hope to breed the winner of this race, one day.

re: In Defense of the Dirt Marathon

VonCram — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:47:00 GMT

Of the new races that they have added for Breeder's Cup, the Marathon is the one I've been most looking forward to. I think it's a great addition to the BC races, and it probably will take a few years before it really catches on. The field has some good horses in it, but it's a shame that Evening Attire won't be there. I think Delightful Kiss will win, with Zappa a close second.