tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post1012503935012684181..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Notes - Aug 23Alan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-19547487436663812892007-08-23T12:19:00.000-04:002007-08-23T12:19:00.000-04:00"Street Sense is the first KY Derby winner to run ..."Street Sense is the first KY Derby winner to run in the Travers since 1995.", note all of the Travers stories this week. So, why none of the usual Travers Week "buzz" that goes with it? Because all of the other serious contendahs have skipped the Travers and are looking for the easy route to an Eclipse by betting the farm on a win in the BC Classic.That's what the present system insures, i.e., the KY breeders and their Oil Sheihk clients make out handsomely but the rest of the racing industry is just barely treading water. We can start by reforming the Eclipse voting and instituting a point system for the number of Grade I wins and in-the-money finishes. This will reward the true horsemen and their runners and put the emphasis back on bringing fans out to the track. We can also increase the purse money in many Grade I's as further incentive. Hopefully the NY franchise bidders have a plan to address this vital issue before the 139th edition of the Travers next year. Nonetheless, as always, I will be at the Spa on Saturday to see the most historic 3 YO stakes race run at the most historic racetrack in North America, Ky Derby, Churchill Downs, and BC Series being the johnny-come-latelies when compared to the Ever-Glorious Spa!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com