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Friday, February 04, 2000
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: Richard Eng
Jury's still out on 'Champions on Fox' racing series
Quick trivia question: Who won the finale of last year's "Champions on Fox" series, the $1 million Pacific Classic?
Don't rush. I'll have a doughnut and coffee while you think about it.
River Keen?
Is that your final answer?
Yes, you can use a lifeline.
General Challenge?
You are correct!
The Fox series concluded with a dull thump, a far cry from the grandiose plans in spring to crown a handicap division champion in Del Mar's biggest race.
In fact, the big race that weekend that deservedly earned the lion's share of publicity was the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Lemon Drop Kid won to prove his Belmont Stakes upset was no fluke.
The intentions of Champions are admirable. Getting more racing on national television is extremely important. Putting up more purse and bonus money to horsemen attracts quality fields. Big fields of quality horses are what bettors desire.
But the frailty of the equine breed conspired to destroy the fragile fiber that held Champions together. Instead of an opportunity to showcase the sport's stars, Champions became a showcase for the opportunistic.
For example, the top 10 horses in the 1999 Champions final standings looked like a weekly NFL injury report. Victory Gallop (2), Free House (tied-4), Silver Charm (7), Event of the Year (tied-8) all retired during the season.
Real Quiet (3) and Puerto Madero (tied-4) were both sidelined. Hopefully, they can return.
Behrens (1), the points leader, bypassed the Pacific Classic to await the Belmont Fall meet, then run in the Breeders' Cup Classic. His dismal seventh-place finish in the Classic eroded his stock so badly he wasn't even in the top three in the Horse of the Year balloting.
Catienus (tied-8) and Budroyale (tied-8) did not enter the Del Mar race.
Thus, only General Challenge (tied-4) and River Keen (tied-8) ran in the Pacific Classic. And it took the bonus points they earned for finishing 1-2 to move them into the top 10.
The NTRA fine-tuned Champions this year.
There are five Grade I Super Series races: the Donn Handicap (Saturday, Gulfstream), Santa Anita Handicap (March 4, Santa Anita), Pimlico Special (May 13, Pimlico), Sempra Energy Hollywood Gold Cup (July 9, Hollywood Park) and the Whitney Handicap (Aug. 6, Saratoga).
Any horse who can sweep all five races will earn a $5 million bonus. A five-race sweep? I think the odds of winning the $34.9 million Megabucks jackpot were better. Win three of five, and you earn an extra $1 million.
Fourteen additional graded stakes will apportion bonus points to top finishers.
Champions begins Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a solid dozen in the $500,000 Donn Handicap. The field of 12 in post position order are Stephen Got Even, First American, Behrens, Salty Sea, Pleasant Breeze, Call Me Mr. Vain, Stone Bridge, Golden Missile, Sir Bear, Almutawakel, Best of Luck and Rock and Roll.
Trainer Jim Bond entered favored Behrens and Pleasant Breeze with the idea of running just one. Eclipse Award-winning rider Jorge Chavez was named on both.
Short term, will the Donn be a good race? Sure. Long term, will the series hold up this year? That's debatable.
A harsh reality is that injuries are a part of the sport. There is no guarantee any of the Donn horses will make the last leg, the Whitney. At the heart of the matter, though, is whether the public cares about a bonus-point system. It didn't with the Triple Crown or the Breeders' Cup.
The NTRA marketing equation included Fox Sports, the racetracks, their stakes, the horses and tons of money for the horse's owners. What's missing?
Possibly, the fans?
Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday and Sunday. He can be contacted via e-mail at rich_eng@hotmail.com.
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