No One Gives Credit

I've seen a lot of people say that Jess Jackson is being greedy for asking the NYRA to up the Woodward purse. Really? The Travers is $1,000,000 Rachel would be the favorite. The Woodward was HALF that, and Jess Jackson asked if NYRA could do something about that discrepancy I'm sure. They made it $750k, still 25% less than the Travers, and nowhere close to being greedy in my book. The connections are running for 25% less than where they could be running, and in a more difficult race (always depends on who shows up, but no filly has ever won the Woodward... anyways...) It's a vicious cycle. The Road to the Triple Crown makes 3yo colts mainstream famous, tracks want to be mainstream important so they'll do everything to lure those 3yo's to their tracks, meanwhile the open races (the more difficult races) get smaller purses because the older horses (and F&M Turf, Sprint, Turf) aren't as mainstream famous. If you want horses staying around longer you need a way to make your older horses more mainstream important, and the money will follow them. Standings that lead to gate choice.