My Changes to the Breeders' Cup

You don't need to be Greg Avioli to know that something will change next year. Less races, less days, less of something for sure. So, you all already know how I feel about W&YI (Graded stakes = standings = gate choice). Here's what I'd do w/ the schedule. I'd stay with 2 days. The argument of making it a long weekend and creating some sort of lead up to the big day is a sound one. And, one I obviously agree with. The BC is "LIKE" our year end championships, so maybe it's time to move some awards to the day. Day 1: Ladies' Day - Focus on BC, NTRA, and local charities. Give out an annual service award to someone in racing who's given back (Is there already an award? Just move it to this day). Jockey competition for the day. Any way to move the Woolf award to here as well? It would be even better to give out the Jockey Eclipse but it's hard to make people vote once yet alone twice. Juvenile Fillies, Marathon, Dirt Mile, Turf Sprint, F&M Turf, Ladies' Classic Day 2: Juvenile Turf, Juvenile, Turf Mile, Sprint, Turf, Classic I'm axing the Juvenile Fillies Turf, F&M Sprint. Because of this I'd guarantee 5 spots to Fillies and Mares in the Sprint and Juvenile Turf. I'm not cutting more races because I like the idea of a rolling pick-6 bet.

Zenyatta Cynicism

I just think Zenyatta has no chance in the BC Classic and is really only there to lose gracefully. I just get the feeling, call me crazy. But the win streak was SOOOO important that Zenyatta went out of her way to keep it going, and yes she's the champ and someone should come to her to beat her, but... I don't know... It just seems like maybe the connections knew that either BC race would be tough, and a loss is possible when you have a closer (whose winning margins are shrinking), and that losing in the Classic is better than losing in the Ladies' Classic. Am I way off base here?

Working Around Technology

I just heard Twinspires now has the ability to cancel wagers once you've placed them. I know when I first got on 4njbets.com that was my first complaint. I guess all ADW's are the same, but not Twinspires anymore. It's a big difference, and hopefully other ADW's take note (and copy the code). In other Tech news, the TBA has updated their Free past performance search engine. Go check it out (read the instx), and let me know what you all think. thanks!

A Silver Lining

Official Word has come down, I'm a horse owner again, and I'm excited with what went down. At first I thought we owned hip number 24 because Ferris Allen our trainer bought that filly. I was wrong, and in my haste and happiness might have sent out a few wrong signals, but now I'm 110% sure who we own, and it's blowing my mind! I'm now part owner of hip #410 (dam is Greta's Joy) A filly that RNA'd in July at $35,000 and in November at $37,000 for $6,500. This filly has a ton of upside (love that word) She's by first year sire Silver Train who won the Stallion making Met Mile, but the dam is where it gets interesting. Greta's Joy is a direct female descendent of Turn To Talent: Half-sister to blue hen mare Too Bald and Granddam of Broad Brush. You're saying, "Yeah that was 4 generations ago." But this family recently got hot again. Greta's Joy half brother is Surf Cat. Yes, that Surf Cat. So, this filly is the 2nd filly from an extraordinary family. I have a dream filly, and all we paid was $6500 at the sale. Wow. I've experienced the lows of horse ownership. I'm counting on this being anything but. Check out That's Amore, who runs the show.

Sea The Stars

Everyone would love to have Sea The Stars line up in the BC, but what would come of it from a marketing perspective? I understand, and you who are reading this blog understand, it's not everyday a horse puts together a year like StS just had and watching him race would be compelling, but outside of us.... who cares? The Breeders' Cup are trying their darnedest to introduce us to possible starters through Win and You're In, and trying to make it easy for novice fans to get a grip of the sport. You all know I'm a quasi-fan of the idea of W&YI, but again it won't have a chance to succeed if StS comes to America. The NTRA just finished its annual marketing meeting and the next stop is the Eclipse. If StS wins the BC Classic he would be a strong candidate for HOTY. How do you market a horse who made 1 start Stateside as our champion? Does that help the sport grow in America? Some interesting questions, that I honestly don't know how to answer (or at least not change my mind 10 minutes from now).

Safety And Itegrity Alliance

I'm a supporter, I believe in the idea, but..... the reason this was started was to create some good coverage of racing, that there are tracks doing the right thing, and to show that we do care for the animals and people in this business, and to get everyone on the same footing when it comes to these issues. The Alliance does this but.... Keeneland, Saratoga, Monmouth, Del Mar were never the tracks giving the industry a black eye in the first place, and I would bet would have passed the test years ago. Wake me when they get around to looking at Mountaineer. When that track doesn't get approved the thought is players (us gamblers) shouldn't bet there. The trick is.... Mountaineer is one of the cheaper venues to bet as a player.... and seeing that not a lot of discussion has gone on around take out .... good luck getting people not to bet it. When something like this happens and tests the Alliance I'll be on the edge of my seat.