When Affirmed won his Triple Crown in 1978, the Breeders’ Cup was still six years from inception.
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The turf race on Thursday’s card was switched to the dirt and John Gosden said: “It is soft, good to soft in places. I just wish I was part of it”.
That is saying a lot.
Then we have the best four year old on the East Coast, Honor Code. The daily pounding of training took a toll.
“When I send him out there, there is always a little pressure”, he said. The Preakness drew 8.9 million viewers. “The Triple Crown, I wanted that for the fans and for the sport”.
Those television numbers are important.
“As long as he brings his “A” game… if he gets out-run, he gets out-run”.
Keeneland has been known more for selling Breeders’ Cup contenders than hosting them. It was 45 degrees and she was shivering.
The previous record was $10 million, which was set in 2010 at Churchill Downs, but he said by the end of the weekend ticket sales at Keeneland will be more than $19 million.
But to do that, people need an invitation to horse racing and a reason to watch.
I loved his last race, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on October 3, when he characteristically broke poorly, trailed by 16 lengths after the first quarter, and came roaring home to lose by only a neck to Wild Dude. Within a day, she appeared back to normal. “And this is an addiction once you’re involved”.
“She’s just training great and running very well and we think that she will run very well”, McLaughlin said of Wedding Toast.
In addition to live turf racing in East Rutherford, Monmouth Park is hosting a Breeders’ Cup Viewing Party in the William Hill Room Saturday from 10:30 a.m.to 6 p, m. Reservations are still being accepted and walk ups are welcome for this annual event with a $50 ticket including private reserved seating, track program, exclusive Breeders’ Cup selection sheet from track handicapper Brad Thomas and lunch buffet.
Before owner Jerry Moss had finished accepting the trophy for the Classic, Eclipse Award discussions began (in fact, fans nearby the winner’s circle started a “Horse of the Year” chant as Moss gave an interview to ESPN cameras). He wants to be in the winner’s circle again, this time for the horse. That puts a spotlight on Marion County.
More important, Beholder is the real deal. In the Classic expect his rider, Victor Espinoza, to go right to the front, or to near the lead, right from the starting gate.
He will stand at Coolmore’s Kentucky-based Ashford Stud after the Classic. The buzz among the Kentucky hardboots is that he’ll be so coveted as a sire that his initial breeding fee could be as high as $200,000.
Early Thursday, Edie Dickenson, 66, pressed against the rail of the workout track at Keeneland. She wanted just a glimpse.
The closer proximity to the east coast, along with cooler and wetter weather conditions, are a few of the reasons why more European runners will be on hand this year.
After the awful news Thursday morning that champion Beholder would have to scratch, This seems to be American Phaorah’s race to lose.
But winning is not important, Dickenson said.
The Triple Crown is forever. “He’s already done that”.
“It’s like seeing Secretariat”, said the retired social worker from Illinois.
“For now…I’d like to see a wonder horse”.
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“I said let’s not talk about it until we have to”, he said. Invasor powered to victory in the Breeders’ Cup feature in 2006, and subsequently landed McLaughlin the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba.
