I'm sure they had to prove they could expand to hold the crowd before they were given the slot. It's like how a city has to prove they can or will eventually be able to handle a lot of things before they get the Olympics. Athens barely made it but they got close enough. I figure tracks are going to try to build a killer Friday undercard if it sticks in future years.
I don't think you can justify a turf sprint until you deal with the effects of a BC Turf Juvie on American breeding/racing. I'm sure there'll be snorting and guffawing about that but I think American breeders are missing out on a big opportunity for money by ignoring an internationally popular surface. The Derby didn't used to be that big of a deal compared to now but with enough promotion it became the biggest 2 minutes in sports. A Turf Sprint for 3yos and up would do what exactly? It just means horses that gun for the lead and fall back in the BC Turf will have somewhere to go unless they were just a rabbit for Better Talk Now,etc. The Euro style is hanging back then exploding right? So how would a turf sprint inspire them to come? A Turf Juvenile might actually inspire more focus on the American preps for turf horses and then they'll have more interest in 3yo turf races. This improves the lead in for the Grand Slam of Turf and means we're getting to know these horses much sooner than the end of their 3yo years. I'm sure there's a lot of breeders who would love it if they didn't have to worry that a horse was more suited for turf because it'd still be valuable in the auction ring. The right promotion could do it.
Frankly that was a bonus. The Dirt Mile made me happy but a Juvenile Turf, good times.
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