Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Julie L. — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:55:48 GMT

I think everybody had better quit whining about "plastic" surfaces, California isn't the only state in the union to have them. We now also have a sires list for synthetic surfaces so though I am a "dirt" fan I too have to get use to the idea. Also Cheryl from the UK made a valid point in the fact that the European horses come over here and have made the switch to dirt and have won so I'm not so sure we can continue to make excuses for the horses we love not doing well on synthetic, maybe they just need to have more training time on this surface and not rushed to compete on it until they are ready.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Hildegard — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:57:07 GMT

If the two day format remains, it should be held on Saturday and Sunday. In order to watch the Ladies Classic (ahem, Distaff) last year, I had to take a scheduled break at work to go to the coffee shop in my office building and beg the barista to allow me to change the channel on the TV. Ridiculous. Most people have Saturday and Sunday off of work. If an audience is ever to be recruited, the programming needs to be available to the general public.

As for surfaces... sure, rotate tracks. But to eliminate all "plastic" (which is actually an inaccurate term) tracks would be to eliminate major tracks in North America... Keeneland and Woodbine (as someone else suggested as possible venues), all CA tracks, Arlington, etc. I say just rotate -- east, west, dirt, polymer, whatever.

But at least I have a chance to go this year, unlike last. So the two years at Santa Anita has worked in my favor, at least!!

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

joe — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:10:47 GMT

I managed to know about the Breeders' Cup living in NASCAR drenched S.C.-pre internet days-by way of Sharon Smith's weekly racing show-remember that-on ESPN. I attended the Cup 1998-2003, missed 04, and got to Belmont 05 and CD 06. The two day event killed attending for me-prices up, etc. Even watching it over two days was a muddle. Go back to one day, maybe retain two of the new races at most, and rotate it among S.A. (if it survives), Churchill and Belmont. My Tiznow memories are the greatest!

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

downhomesunset — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:17:52 GMT

One day is enough- drop the insulting "Ladies Day". Bring the Distaff back as is.....No one else wants to point out that F & M have been holding thier own in the Sprint and Mile(including last year). Last but not least, get rid of "Win and You're In". A silly concept that only helps a fluke longshot....

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Whatever — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:05:09 GMT

The Breeder's Cup Classic needs to stay on real dirt. Holding this race on a synthetic surface takes away from the overall purpose of this race. It's a known fact that the only horses who perform well on synthetic surfaces are turf horses. It's very disheartening to see this once classic race turned into a charity event for the european turf horses who could not win it over a real dirt surface.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

John T. — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:18:47 GMT

Royal Ascot has had a very successful 5 day meeting for many years not because of large prize money,but because all the races are

''Interesting''I can,t think of one race over the 5 days that is not well supported year in and year out.On the last week in July it will be the turn of Glorious Goodwood and they also will have a successful 5 day meeting,although

they have top class races like the Sussex,Nassau,and Richmond Stakes a

large percentage of that 5 day meeting is made up of competitive

handicaps.When we think of some of the famous horses in North American racing history,they are famous because they carried large weights in handicaps.How many handicap races to we have at the Breeders Cup? Not a single one. Horse Racing does not have to be ridiculously out of this world prize money,horse racing has to be interesting.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Old Timer — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:04:31 GMT

I absolutely agree that we don't need the extra races that were added the last two years. However the one that I would miss is the Marathon. Plus I'd like to see it run at 2 miles. Just because there is no comparable race. Forget the two juvenile turf races. Filly & mare sprint? - they can compete with the boys in the Sprint and have shown that in the past. Dirt mile is a joke as it is not on "dirt" anyway. They already have the Mile and the Turf on grass, plus the Sprint, making the turf sprint redundant. Plus who can get off work on Friday anyway? Go back to one day -- Saturday only!

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

RobfromBMore — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:00:41 GMT

Breeders Cup should go back to one day. I wrote to the Breeders Cup two years ago and I never got an answer. We have so many rich diverse tracks to run at. How about Keeneland, Saratoga or Laurel Park in Maryland. Let's get back to rotating the tracks (Arlington, Woodbine, Gulfstream, Lone Star). Make the like the Super Bowl and let's change this big venue each year if possible. Two days is too much. Put it all in one action packed Saturday and back on the major networks please.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Soldier Course — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:20:08 GMT

I wish it were possible to get folks as excited about the Breeders' Cup as they do about the Triple Crown series.

We have two very challenging half-year seasons in racing each year: Jan-June for the TC preps and races, and then July-Nov for the BC preps and races. Both seasons should be exciting for the average fans, but something's missing for the BC season.

It has to be marketing. I had never even heard of the Breeders' Cup until 2002, when I began subscribing to The Blood-Horse.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Dianne — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:35:20 GMT

The whole concept of moving the fillies and mares to the lesser of the two days of the Breeder's Cup is distasteful--somehow fillies and mares aren't worth the effort to showcase on the main event day. We have consistently seen that the females can race with the boys (think Rags to Riches and Rachel Alexandra) but the Breeder's Cup doesn't seem to think that the females are worth the hoopla. If we can get fillies and mares to race in some of these races that seem to be only colts, then North American racing has gotten a whole lot better. I would rather see exceptional fillies race on the Main Event day than push them off on another day that doesn't even get tv coverage!! And I love the "Marathon" which is a stupid name. We need to find the distance horses in our thoroughbred bloodlines and keep them viable. The Breeder's Cup committee needs to go back to the drawing board, check the pulse of the economy and think creatively.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Soldier Course — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:00:16 GMT

The Breeders' Cup suffers from an "identity crisis",and your suggestions can help it recover. The two-day format is not working, and if it continues I believe it's going to be hard to find a TV network to air the event.

There needs to be a feature about the Breeders' Cup during the pre-race TV coverage of each of the three Triple Crown races. Not a commercial, but an eye-popping feature. There's a huge captive audience, and one that's already inclined to an interest in horse racing.

The BC venues need to be announced several years in advance. The current trend of announcing venues so late has a drip, drip quality with a negative psychological impact. It suggests that the viability of the event is being assessed year by year, with no long-term confidence in its survival.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Cheryl, Newmarket, UK — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:19:47 GMT

Just to play Devil's Advocate, do you not think that us European's have been unhappy for the period 1984-2007 having to bring our horses and run them on an unknown surface (dirt) for the so-called World Thoroughbred Championships? It is about darn time we had a chance seeing as we pay the same fees to run in the BC Day races.

Dirt is NOT a universal surface, and as so many different Synthetics are available (Tapeta, Pro-Ride, Polytrack, etc) perhaps we should think about switching all racing to turf only - the only NATURAL surface for a horse.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

micclay — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:40:01 GMT

I went to 19 straight BC's until the two day Mommouth event (and I live 4 hrs away). Dan - great idea. Go back to one day, cut the new meaningless races. Less is more. Plastic tracks are dead. Too many soft tissue injuries (latest is Pioneer of the Nile). California and Key man Shapiro made a big mistake (Ready,Fire, Aim). The BC needs to recognize the times, recognize their mistakes and move on. Get rid of Greg A.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

skip — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:52:50 GMT

Personally i believe the Breeders Cup board needs as much re-vamping as the program itself. One can always wish to improve on its product, strengthen and enhance it, but when economic times are barreling down on you ,you don't blatantly expand that product when you know your revenue is going to shrink.You don't take away the stakes program that throughout the year benefits a much larger group of players.You certainly don't try to arragantly go head to head with the oil sultans of the world. You don't have the resources. I thought the original intent of the program was to offer races all year long for nominated horses by a large number of stallions to help promote "them". The breeders pay in, the stallion nominators pay in but only a select few chose to cut the bread and butter stake races throughtout the season and expand a successful year end championship program to a costly two day event. I also do not favor having the event in the same locale two years in a row.Internal organization "should" allow for determining and announcing where future events will be staged two years hence. Better business acumen and leadership is needed. It's a tremendous program that we should all be grateful for. Please try to right this ship. God bless John Gaines

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Karen in Indiana — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:24:50 GMT

So do I have this wrong - one person, Sheik Mohammed, can support races in Dubai that include some of the richest in the world, but we, as a whole country, can't support races that aren't even that rich?

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Dutch — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:42:54 GMT

The BC became totally diluted when the races were increased and the days went from one to two. The experiment failed, so move the event back to one day and bring back the original races.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

only one more — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:21:14 GMT

BC could be looking at Del Mar again, now that HP is very soon out of the mix. this would give a west coast and east coast rotation. i am also cognizant that it would be plastic (poly and Pro-ride) verus dirt. You have to really love what Mr. Shapiro has tried to do to the once grand CA racing.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Carolyn in ND — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:13:25 GMT

I agree on the one day. I would like to see the 2 yr. old racers reduced or cut as they shouldn't be racing that young. A 10 or 12 race day in CA isn't a bad thing, but in other areas like Arlington, Churchill, Belmont, etc.... it gets a bit chilly later in the day. In this aspect, night racing wouldn't work to well either.

I did injoy the 2 days last year of BC. Friday was spent getting souviners & meeting people & Sat. was mostly for watching the races. I have tickets already for this year & look forward to meeting with my friend to go to BC!

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

CDFAN — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:03:06 GMT

I agree with a one Day Breeders Cup. While I understand the concept of "Ladies Day" mirroring Oaks Day in May, I don't think it works in Late October, it just seems like much more is going on then. Go back to the one day of racing. IF the host track wants to have for example the Churchill Marathon, that's fine. In the great Depression, The Kentucky Derby purse was cut, so I think purses can be scaled back until the BC is on a more secure footing. I also think it's apparant that for now, rotate the Breeders Cup between Belmont, Churchill, and Santa Anita since no other track has the capacity to put the show on.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

ColetteMarie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:42:34 GMT

I would hate to see the Breeder's Cup go back to one day. Two days makes it that much more exciting, I think. You watch one day of excitement & know that you have another one to look forward to the next day. Besides that, many trainers & owners plan their entire year gearing towards the Breeder's Cup. If races were to be eliminated, it would be so unfair to them. IMO, it would be far better to keep the races & lower the purses. Yes, some would not be happy with that, esp. the winning connections, but at least all the horses & their connections training & racing up the the Breeder's Cup would get a chance to participate.

ColetteMarie

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Brownie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:38:49 GMT

As a new player to this game, I do get annoyed with the lack of long term management (naming future locations, 1 year only please) and the disdain for different ideas in this sport. However, I will not criticize the Breeders Cup board for trying something different.

I actually do not think it is a bad idea for 2 day Breeders Cup and look forward to the diversity of races that can showcase different styles of running....Marathon, Dirt Mile, etc. I also do not see where returning to 1 day is going to do anything for the sport. The marketing and lack of organization issues are so deep, it does not matter how many days the event is. What did turn me off was the running of the Classic on Pro Ride 2 years in a row. I watch this race because I want to see the best DIRT 1 1/4 mile horses in the world. I already watched the turf races and the 2 surfaces are too similar. I have no intention of watching it this year. I do give Mr. Jackson and Curlin credit for their effort and sportsmanship, knowing in advance that Curlin did not perform at his best on this surface.

With the Breeders Cup current marketing efforts, I do not think it matters if the event is 1 day or 10. You HAVE to hire better marketing expertise and SOON !!!

Do you even remember a memorable breeders cup ad on tv or in print ? The marketing was poorly executed nationally, the television and print coverage marginal, and consequently you are going to have trouble securing advertising interest going forward.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Jane — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:43:38 GMT

Amen! The two-day BC has always seemed like an awful idea to me...who are its most vocal supporters, and is there anyone on the committee who is opposed to it?

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Race Fan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:13:51 GMT

Your comments make complete sense. I would add two things. The host site should rotate between tracks located on the two coasts and the central part of the country. Also, and more importantly, we have three racing surfaces in the US. Synthetic, turf, and the primary surface in the US, dirt. To ignor that fact makes the Championship Day(s) not a true championship. Synthetic makes up the lowest percentage of the three racing surfaces in the US. A repeat performance is Santa Anita is a huge mistake if not a joke. based upon a formula, perhaps based upon the number of races held in the US on each surface. Turf can be included each year, but they should rotate between synthetic and dirt based upon the the number of races (or stakes races) held in the US on each surface each year.

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Anthony — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:24:55 GMT

I think of the World Series of Poker which started out as one event, and through the years has grown to 55 events each year that award bracelets to the winners. It has cheapened the event for the sake of greed by the host.

100% agree they should scale back...

re: Cut the Cup - By Dan Liebman

Bill Yates — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:57:53 GMT

One thing that would help is to never again hold the Breeders Cup on plastic, there are three surfaces in racing change the classifications to reflect same.

Dirt is dirt and plastic is plastic, they are different and it isn’t fair-minded to force a dirt horse to run on it.

Good article about this dilemma at: oddsonfavorite.blogspot.com