A different kind of top ten list
 

The International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities released their first ever list of the top 50 Grade / Group 1 races:

http://ifhaonline.com/resources/2012...0_G1_Races.pdf

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...n_World_Top_50

Keeping in mind I don't mean which are your favorites or where do you want to visit, what would your order look like?

What are the top ten?

8 out of the top 28 races are 8 furlong turf races... and the Breeders Cup Mile is the #2 race in the entire world?

Alrighty then.


To avoid being a joke, something like this should have been broken up into a top 5 and sorted by divisions, range of distance, and surface.

These lists are almost always jokes though... one of the reasons I'd rather hear how people here would rate them.

Do you have (if not ten) a top 5?

Too general.

Categories should be:

Open races:

Dirt Sprint: BC Sprint

Dirt Mile: Met Mile

Dirt Route: Breeders Cup Classic

Synthetic: Dubai World Cup

Synthetic sprint: Bing Crosby or Triple Bend

Turf Sprint: Obviously an International race.

Turf Mile Race: Obviously an International race...and it sure isn't the BC Mile. The connections of Frankel never even considered it. Wise Dan was only there because he's gelded. With anything resembling a stallion pedigree he would have passed on the BC Mile and went in the Classic if he was ungelded.

Turf Route: Arc or King George and QE Diamond

Turf marathon: Obviously an International race like the Ascot Gold Cup or something.


3-year-old races:

Dirt Route: Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, Haskell, Travers

Dirt sprint: King's Bishop

Turf sprint: International race

Turf Mile: International race

Turf Route: International race


2-year-old race:

Dirt: Breeders Cup Juvenile

Turf: Some International race

If you mean... do I personally have a top 5?

For me, my favorite races are when a group of talented horses from a strong division meet.

The Breeders Cup Classic is almost always going to be in the top 5.

The Kentucky Derby is always going to be the most intriguing race of the year.

They are the two constant staples in the top 5. The other 3 depend on how strong a field or interesting a race.

The Melbourne Cup and Arc de Triomphe are my two favorite races not run in the USA.
They carry as much prestige as any race anywhere, and both deserve to be ranked way up there.

Kinda stunned that the Melbourne Cup isn't on the list

I judge things by big race days. Not being a homer, but I truly believe NYRA consistently offers the best big day cards. I'd go..... Belmont day. That card is usually better then the Derby day card. Wood Day is always good, even better this year with other big races being added to the card. Travers day is always great. Actually can you argue against any weekend at Toga? Always big Stakes. Always nice allowance races and MSW races.JCGC card is always loaded and will be better when the BC starts making good decisions. I have always liked Arlington Million day. BC weekend is obvious. Met Mile is great. I liked betting the Colonial turf races when they were restricted to 3yr olds. Churchill stars of tomorrow cards are fun to bet. Gulfstream Saturday cards are usually fun. I have not been a fan of the last 2 though. I don't like claiming races being mixed in with the good races.

Using this list...

In 2012, Frankel won the #'s 1, 8, 9, 12, and 23.
In 2011, Frankel won the #'s 6, 8, 26, and 40.

--Dunbar

BC Dirt Mile will soon be seen as an elite race IMO.

The Arc is still my favorite race. I also place the King George up there, the Queen Elizabeth II, Champion Stakes, Marois, Met Mile, and Japan Cup.