now you're talking...you're the man with the plan...

this way after they have won a grade 2 or better maiden they can justify retirement

seldom, have you made so much sense!

don't misunderstand me...I think that there should be graded opportunities for 2YO on turf...but I also think that one should lay a foundation before building a house...it should be a progression, not just bang here's your BC 2YO turf...
but we get our butts kicked because we don't really breed for, or train for turf...dirt is king in the US and probably will be for a long time

out of interest.. who were the top US juvis on grass last year??

Dreaming of Anna :D :D

There are thousands of horses who are bred for the turf born in the US every year.

Nobody really knows because there are so few stakes for them (except Dreaming of Anna)

Well in this case I don't think that foundation was getting built if they didn't get a kick in the butt. So they just built the house and now that foundation has to get built. I think it will be rocky this year and next but in a couple years we will be very glad this race was added.

Only going to speak on what I have an opinion on and can make sense of - taking this event to 2 days. Bad move and here is why, what I love about The Breeder's Cup, as I am sure others do as well, is that it is a day jam packed with 8 of the best of the best races. Now, what they have done is made the Cup an 11 Race event, but dragged it over 2 days in what seems an attempt to generate more revenue - I don't see any other reason. Why could they not just run all 11 Races on the same day and drop those 2 early races? It seems to these vigin eyes that this is a feebile attempt at generating more revenue not only for the host track but of course the host city as well.

I don't see, by the way, people changing plans as we speak to make sure they are at the host track to see those 3 races Friday evening - not too mention this question that BEGS to be asked -

Does ESPN expect to get any kind of ratings on their Friday telecast of these 3 Races?

Just my 2 cents - pack it all into 1 day and you have a blast - 1st post at say 10:30 am?

She would have ran in that race instead of winning the Juvy Fillies, kinda intersting if you think about it AND Barbaro would have ran in it two years ago probably

I don't think ESPN gets any ratings...did you see the BC ratings from their telecast last year?? They cancelled Wire to Wire which was shown at 2 pm ET on Tuesday...what show gets any ratings at that time...evidently even at that odd time they decided to cancel it thinking anything would get better ratings. The general public doesn't care about the BC and never will. The Ky Derby is all people care about here and even that interest is fading rapidly. The Preakness has a little interest and the Belmont gets big interest only if you have a triple crown possibility. I am afraid in 10 years or less the BC will be a TVG or HRTV event in this country. I wish it wasn't the case, but hard to think otherwise.

No, ESPN I can't imagine expects ratings. It's a miracle I think they show the sport at all. I am appreciative for any coverage they have.

Just the unfortunate state of racing today. Very sad, but it ain't the 30s anymore.

I'm sure that sat morning TV ratings are not all that great plus you are now putting the start at 7:30 am Pacific time which seems a wee bit early for our left coast friends

I just find it hard to believe that there is now a $4 million dollar day of racing the day before the Breeders Cup and supposed racing fans seem to have only negatives to say?

I enjoy going to the BC, I enjoy betting the races, but I think it's overall effect on the game has been negative.

I think what you said earlier, you have to have a foundation to build a house.

Me, as I see it, the NTRA/BC and horse racing in general has no foundation at all. It has the house and has no idea what to do with it.

I would much rather see a SOLID product EVERY day, then two days a year.

This is one of those situations where the whole industry just needs to be BLOWN UP, restructured with knowledgeble, happy, go get them type people where money is 2nd on their mind, and success is 1st. It is like building a good college sports program. Some years you are all freshman, and you suck, make stupid mistakes, but you have the talent, you built and mold and structure and put your heart and soul into it, and boom, you have a successful program, with the right knowledge and will power.

my opinion.

I'll give you a perfect example and this might be a little extreme. IMAGINE, if you took a human being like Byk and put him in charge of the NTRA. He might not know everything about the industry, but he sure as hell know where to get the right information, and the right people to listen to, and STRUCTURE it well, for the OVERALL good of the industry and the horses. Money would be low on his list. He would force tracks to become part of a 'conference' or association and get things like uniformed medication rules. He would at least try. More so what I am trying to say, is that his personality and 'heart' is what is needed.

BYK for NTRA '08

I tend to agree with you that the overall effect has been negative but this is the hand we have been dealt and I find it hard to believe that poeple are complaining about another day of top class racing. I mean if you would rather spend the day before the big event betting a card like the one at CD this year ( and I did very well btw) or the one at Belmont last year than a day with 6 stakes races I'm not sure how to respond.

I have no idea what you are trying to say