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Originally Posted by Linny
I couldn't agree more. First off lets begin with the premise that a G1=G1. This means that all G1's (within each division) is EQUAL. Now, does anyone think that the Donn H and the BC Classic are equal? Then why do they carry the same grade. Racing has changed and G1 horses are starting less and less often. As such we need fewer not more G1's. If races like the BC, the Derby etc are "better" or "more important" that races like the Donn or the Foster or the Florida Derby or the Hollywood Gold Cup, why do they carry the same grade. G1 races should be the elite races, not those who, back in the history of the game were won my G1 horses.
I love the history of the game and am saddened to see races like the Ladies Handicap run for $65k, with no grade, no fanfare. It's one of the oldest races in the US. It seems to me that it should have some honored position in the summer with all the history polished and shining every year, but it doesn't. Same for the Fall Highweight and the now dead Lawrence Realization. Sadly though, the game has changed and the best horses cherry pick spots and appear 4-5 times a year.
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The problem is that the BC has disrupted and ruined just about every part of racing.
Grade one races used to be just that, grade one races. In order to earn accolades and status you had to run and compete in them.
Now the BC has overshadowed everything. races like the Fall Highweight and Lawrence no longer matter, and attendance is no longer required at early year grade ones as noone remembers them at the end of the year anyway, its all BC based.
BC is the worst thing that ever happened to racing. Its rendered most of teh year meaningless and turned a bunch of races that used to be real nice and important into 5 horse "prep" races. Extremely sad.