Breeders Cup Marathon Made 1 3/4 miles
 

Seems like another really swell idea. Where are horses going to prep for this? Five times around Charlestown?

http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=38307

I know I've talked with friends at BC and the discussion of why not make it 2 miles came up. Also though not as popular how about adding a steeplechase race?

there is a steeplechase race, just not where the bc is held.

Not since 2007. The BC ended the tie-in to the NSA.

As to the distance switch, 14f is much more appropriate as a 'Marathon' than 12f.

They should keep running all day.....it will give the neophytes something to do between races.

well, what do you know.
and yes, a marathon should be longer than 12f.

What difference does it make anyway?

1 1/2 or 1 3/4? Either way it is a strange distance for American horses. What will they do when they go to a regular dirt track with that race?

If the breeders cup comes up with a starter 5k going 1 3/4 I'll point Love Dubai there.

Considering it is the Marathon, 14f would be the minimum distance. Fair play to organisers..

Funny I heard Ralph Beckett say that last year's winner Muhannak probably wouldnt go it now as he wouldnt 'stay'.

Any relation to Josh Beckett?

:)

id have to check that up - Paddy Harrington is sorta related to some QB Joey Harrington though!!

In the 1 3/4 Polar Expedition at Arlington should be a perfect springboard. Nothing like a $50K overnight as your prep for the BC....

...which strangely enough is probably going to come up like a 5k starter.

handicapping should be pretty straightforward this year = look for the best european turf horse...

but when they switch back to real dirt - a 14furlongs BC race has a possibility of being a really great betting race for a handicapper, so long as there isn't a tiny field or just one obvious dominant runner.

Paddy and Joey are definitely related in one sense: Neither can play QB. Although I would at least give Paddy a chance throw a few quick slants before I could be certain my statement is totally acurate.

cousins

Malibu Moonshine can't get more then 1 5/8th's

I thought he died

In the last month?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...153/index.html

Just a related aside, but I was at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita last year and the Marathon unexpectedly became one of my fave races of the day for viewing.

It was uniquely cool to be able to go all the way to the back of the infield to watch the horses load "up close and personal" on the backstretch. And then to stay on the backstretch fence to watch the pack come around again after a mile, with still another half mile to go.

And then dash to the infield side of the finish line to see the finish the 1/2 mile later.

I don't think I'll ever wager to much $$ on a marathon, but this fall at Santa Anita I'll definitely make certain to move to the infield again to watch the marathon in similar fashion.

Geesh the 1 3/4 marathon, I like it, has turned into a marathon for the fans in the infield. It would be cool to see a pack of fans join you in the infield event .

Only if there were snipers using rubber bullets.