Breeders' Cup Going for Grade 1's Again

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Cardus

It would be more sensible if tracks coast-to-coast established series of turf sprints first, and then a BC turf sprint were added.

Adding a BC turf sprint in the hopes that tracks would subsequently establish such races is the tail wagging the dog.

I guess that horse left the barn awhile ago, though.

BUt that's what happened with the turf Mile. There were precious few turf mile stakes races run in the USA before the Breeders' Cup started, and none of them respected. Mostly they were run as part of series of prep races for the BIG turf race of the meet at 12f (or 14f at Santa Anita), or as a consolation race for lacking the stamina for the BIG race. The Dixie Hcp was 12f on turf. The Hialeah Turf Cup was 12f. The Hollywood Invitational Turf H was 12f. Turf racing was all about classic distance (12f) racing until the Turf Mile came along. Now all the big racetracks have big turf mile races which have, in some cases, stolen the thunder from the longer distance races.

The BC is insidious; it has shaped the entire US racing program to its format, to the detriment of racing as a whole. Why were the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Vosburgh S, Super Derby, and others shortened? To get in line with the BC.