The Breeders' Cup will get to benefit from the presence of a Triple Crown winner for the "first time in its three decades of existence" this fall, as American Pharoah could race at the event, according to Gregory Hall of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Breeders' Cup COO Bob Elliston said that the organization "is eager for that new marketing opportunity." Hall notes Breeders' Cup marketing efforts "typically focus on boosting attendance, attracting more wagers on the races and increasing" the TV audience. But attendance "isn't a concern since the tickets for the Oct. 30-31 racing at Keeneland are sold out." Elliston said that marketing efforts for the wagering and TV audience "gear up after Labor Day." This means Breeders' Cup officials "can develop two plans -- one based on American Pharoah, who is a Breeders' Cup Classic contender, running, and one where he isn't running." Elliston said that American Pharoah running in the Classic also "could boost the international attention given to this year's race" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/9). Meanwhile, in San Diego, Ed Zieralski writes Del Mar officials "would like nothing more" than for American Pharoah’s connections to choose the track for one of his next races. However, Del Mar is unlikely to "move back" the $1M TVG Pacific Classic to "lure the colt to the beach this summer." The Pacific Classic is Aug. 22, while the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park is Aug. 2 and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga is on Aug. 29. Del Mar President & CEO Joe Harper said, "I think we go with the program the way it is on the schedule. We just have to make it attractive enough to snag him.” He added that sponsor money "could be added to increase the purse of the Pacific Classic to attract American Pharoah." Harper: "Del Mar, like a number of other race tracks, is going to try and come up with a plan to lure them for their next start. We want to make sure we’re in position to compete for his appearance." Ahmed Zayat, who owns American Pharoah, has said that "it likely will be" the Haskell Invitational for the horse's next race (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/9).
HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR: NBCSN’s Randy Moss said the plan is to keep racing American Pharoah through the end of this season, which is "good news for the sport." He noted too many "superstar" horses in recent years "have been prematurely rushed off to the breeding shed, where they can make a lot of money.” Moss: “Long-term, I guess it’s questionable as to exactly what the Triple Crown will mean. It’s certainly going to be a shot in the arm for the rest of this year” (“Yahoo Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 6/8). A CHICAGO TRIBUNE editorial noted American Pharoah is "not done racing yet," and the millions of people who "got goose bumps watching him sprint to victory in these iconic races can look forward to more." The "temptation for the owner of a successful racehorse is to divert him immediately to a less demanding and more lucrative pastime: producing offspring." A horse that keeps racing is "subject to the fatal physical dangers that go with the sport." A horse that keeps racing but stops winning "can only reduce the demand for, and price of, his reproductive services." But Zayat on Sunday said, "We owe it to the sport to do the right thing" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/9).
A SHOT IN THE ARM: Reactions continued to pour in from yesterday's afternoon TV shows regarding whether or not American Pharoah's Triple Crown win could help the horse racing industry. SNY’s Jonas Schwartz said American Pharoah “has re-energized a sport that’s been fading in popularity for some time” ("Daily News Live," SNY, 6/8). SNY’s Marc Malusis said the next time American Pharoah races, “it’s going to be an event across this country” (“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 6/8). L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said horse racing is “on life-support,” but American Pharoah's win is “one moment in the sun that maybe will carry over to the Breeders’ Cup." Plaschke: "Maybe they’ll get a little bump out of it.” ESPN’s Pablo Torre said it was a “very nice thing for an old, dying sport” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 6/8). ESPN's Michael Wilbon called the Triple Crown win a "big deal," but he added, "I just wonder, is it possible that this is passed by so many people now -- 38 years worth of people -- they're not as interested as they should?” Wilbon: “If you're going to tell me this is a significant event, then it can't just end with the Triple Crown” (“PTI,” ESPN, 6/8).
LACKING DRAMA: SNY’s Sal Licata said having a Triple Crown winner may actually hurt the sport because “it takes away some of the interest, all the build-up for these 37 years” ("Daily News Live," SNY, 6/8). Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw said he did not know if it would help the sport. He said, "Next year, we'll be on the show talking about this is something that hasn’t been done in 12 months. There’s not a lot of drama in that” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 6/8). ESPN's Dan Le Batard: "I can't tell you the next time that I'm going to care about horse racing now that this has happened. We tend to care about history when it happens in sport, even if we don't care about your sport that much anymore. Of course doing something that hasn't been done in four decades is the only reason that people outside the sport have come over and gathered for these couple of minutes. But now I don't know what this sport does” ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 6/8).
