Five New Grade I Races in 2007; Two Others Drop to Grade II

Originally Posted by oracle80

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.

Amen Oracle. It has turned racing into a 6 month campaign (if that long) for some horses. Now three year olds are different since they have to "earn" their way into the Derby. I know we are speaking of the best of the best--but these horses are way makes our sport. On the Derby trail, you get real good racing from Feb to June. Then you get a little low until the fall when the three yeard olds gear up again for the big fall purses. We essentially get 7-9 months of good three year old racing. When it comes to older horses--well we get from Sept to Nov if we are lucky. The Breeders Cup intention is good, but it sure has screwed up racing for the older horses.