Last Sunday afternoon was a recovery day of sorts for me after a fun Friday and Saturday near the “city of brotherly love” Philadelphia . We made the trek downstate early Friday morning and if not for the “bottle neck” on the New Jersey Turnpike leading into Bensalem Pennsylvania , the trip was event-free. Got to see recent maiden-breaker; Redboard King, run pretty well after stretching out from five furlongs on the grass to a mile and a sixteenth for the first time. Had a wonderful dinner after that race with Dee Tee Stable partners; Michelle & Joe “the Dude”. Went to the barn early Saturday morning to see our other two runners based there; Missus Mayflower and Kickin N Screamin before her race that afternoon. Then, topped the trip off with seeing our old mare; Kickin N Screamin make her final career start under the lime green and slate blue silks. Soon after it was fighting the traffic back up the Jersey Turnpike and home by midnight, to kick back and watch the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth on Sunday afternoon at home. Here is where I question what direction our sport is going in.
It’s been pretty widely known that thoroughbred racing coverage on television isn’t quite what it used to be. The NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) claimed that there was little revenue to give to the networks for coverage of our sport. Yet, money was found for ABC to present the Haskell Stakes for the three year old colts. I have NO problem with that and was glad that racing was back on the “tube”. A top quality field was assembled for this race and in the end; the “best” three year old colt was victorious. Lookin’ At Lucky showed he was much the best and the LEADER of this year’s three year old colt division. It's what transpired after the race and the next few days that got my blood to boil.
Our racing analysis friends on ABC never once mention the Travers Stakes as Lookin’ at Lucky’s next race. All that was said kept mentioning the Breeder’s Cup Classic at Churchill Downs this Fall. One would think that the next logical step for this colt would be the “Mid-Summer’s Derby ” at Saratoga . But, no…..the word “ Saratoga ” and that race was never mention. On Tuesday afternoon we learned that Lookin at Lucky had “spiked” a small fever and would not compete in the Travers. Then it was reported on DRF, that Lookin at Lucky would next start in the Pennsylvania Derby at the end of September or the Pacific Classic at the Del Mar meet. I couldn’t figure out why Bob Baffert couldn’t wait a few days to a week to see how Lookin at Lucky came out of the race before making his decision. To win the eclipse award as best three year old colt, the Travers Stakes must be included on his résumé whether he wins or loses.
The whole avoiding the New York based races and their stakes have been bothering me too. The Haskell Stakes wasn't mention on NYRA press releases and I’m sure Monmouth Park will do the same in return when the Travers Stakes gets closer. ABC has no interest in Saratoga races this year, since Madison Square Garden Network (MSG plus) will cover the Saturday stake races throughout the meet. So all the racing coverage through to the Fall will focus ONLY on Breeder’s Cup based races on ABC, since the event will be on their sister cable station; ESPN. So much for our sport's top organization; the NTRA working together for the betterment of the sport and why is Bob Baffert not sealing the deal with a race in the Travers Stakes and victory at the Spa to lock up the three year old championship? These are questions that boggle my mind and sometimes I think there really is an anti – New York or NYRA sentiment. In order for this sport of thoroughbred racing to succeed in the future, ALL racing entities have to work together. The days of regionalism are over in my book and the thing to do is what’s right for the sport. Recognize ALL the racing circuits whether they have internal problems or not.
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