Good: Breeders Cup less than two weeks away.

Bad: Discreet Cat, an undefeated specimen who has been brilliant in all four of his starts, probably will not run.

Good: I have only observed casually and from afar, but Keeneland's first synthetic surface meet seems to have produced safe and competitive racing.

Bad: The "chiclets". What a waste of the top half of a TV screen. An utter distraction which detracts from the enjoyment of watching thoroughbreds in full stride.

Indifferent: Belmont closes for the year. As Steve Crist pointed out in his DRF editorial there is very little distinction any more between the quality of racing at Belmont and Aqueduct. And as Michael D pointed out throughout the Summer,even racing at the Spa is watered down with too many NYB and maiden (and NYB maiden) races.

Good: Todd Pletcher continues to break all training records at the high end of racing.

Bad: Because he is accorded the huge advantage of having first dibs on a lot of the high priced bloodstock which races in the United States, because his far reaching racing empire is given huge stall allocations at any venue where he requests them, we will never know if this young man is a tremendous horseman or merely a tremendous businessman.

Good: Racing moves forward -- synthetic surfaces, Trakus, extensive simulcasting, the racing exemption from Congress' ban on internet wagering, the popularity of handicapping contests, etc.

Bad: Racing in the major venues-- NY, California, Florida and Maryland-- is continually impeded by greedy and ignorant politicians, a situation which will not end until racing puts forward a united front and flexes its muscles. This is a huge nationwide industry which remains fragmented and without power.

Good: Funny Cide and Perfect Drift. They keep hanging around. I think you could drop them both into 20K claiming races and they would invent a way to lose. And I will say it again: Barclay Tagg, probably having his best year ever, just can not figure out how to get Funny Cide to run. Would love to see Pletcher, Frankel or Dutrow have a chance with FC.

Bad: Overpriced precocious runners who are too well bred to ever have any impact on Racing,to ever have a career long enough to bring excitement to racing fans.

GOOD: This year's Derby champ. CTC (who is probably currently in his "bunker", trying to figure out a way to knock holes in all the BC favorites) posted that breeders would shy away from Barbaro because of his perceived fragility. Barbaro's survival evidences a toughness and intelligence which is beyond question. I know this can not be taken into consideration, but Barbaro's mere survival against all odds should garner him at least a few votes for Horse of the Year.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2006 01:43AM by richiebee.