Ron Ellis claims East Coast Bias

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The "usually when they hook our California horses, reality sets in" line doesn't exactly prove true.

The last four horses to really establish themselves as clear-cut leaders of the handicap division in Southern California have been Lava Man, Rail Trip, Richard's Kid, and Game on Dude.


Game On Dude didn't run in California until about his 7th start. He came up at Gulfstream Park before Baffert went and got him.




Richard's Kid was a Maryland horse. Ran a bunch of races in the Mid-Atlantic before Baffert went and got him.

Rail Trip was a horse who came up in Southern California -- but he didn't do so hot when he came East.

Lava Man was a horse who came up in Northern California ... and was another one who improved under a fine So. Cal trainer.


Zenyatta is the only California based horse to win the Breeders Cup Classic since 2003 -- and she did it on Pro-Ride.

The last 6 times the Breeders Cup Distaff/Ladies Classic has been run on dirt -- no West Coast horse has won it.

No West Coast horse has won the Breeders Cup Mile since 2004.

There's only been one West Coast based winner of the Breeders Cup Turf since 1994 ... and that was Johar who dead-heated for a share of the win.

The way Ellis described it -- you'd think the California based horses win these races every single year.

Yeah, California supremacy is long dead.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Yeah, California supremacy is long dead.

That implies that there was a supremacy, which has never been the case.

I would say the sprinter thread brings up a decent example of a true east coast bias, if you won the Vosburgh, pre BC, you were basically the sprint champion despite your other accomplishments. Since many Cal horses were not in that race they had very few sprint champions pre BC, since the BC was instituted the Sprint division is arguably their strongest area, did they suddenly get good and produce more champions, unlikely, they were never really considered.